1. Cookies and local storage, briefly
Cookies are small files a website saves in your browser. Local storage does a similar job: it lets a website remember something on your device between visits. UK law (the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, or PECR) treats them the same way. A site can use them without asking if they're strictly necessary for something you've asked for. Anything else, like tracking or advertising, needs your permission first.
2. What this site stores
This site doesn't set cookies of its own. It uses your browser's local storage for the free preview, so it works the way you'd expect:
| Name | What it's for | How long it stays |
|---|---|---|
ms.builder | Your progress in the free preview (business name, trade, style, colour and which step you were on) so you can come back to it | Until you clear it |
ms.name | The business name you typed, so previews on other pages show your name | Until you clear it |
ms.niche | Your trade, so the site shows templates and examples for it first | Until you clear it |
ms.builder.logo | The logo you added to your preview, so it is still there when you come back | Until you clear it |
What you type into the preview stays on your device until you enter your email address. Then your preview details are sent to me so I can email you the link (see the privacy policy). Because they're needed for the preview you asked for, they don't need a cookie banner. Your logo is never sent.
3. How you found MonthlySite
When you first arrive from a link that carries a campaign tag or ad click code, or from another website, this site notes it in your browser. It keeps only the first one and never updates it. If you later enter your email in the free preview, it's sent to me with your preview details, so I can see which adverts and links bring people who actually want a website. It isn't used for anything else. Nothing from it is shared with advertisers.
| Name | What it holds | How long it stays |
|---|---|---|
ms.attr | The campaign tags (utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_content, utm_term), the advert's angle tag and Google or Meta click code from the link you first arrived on, with that page, the site you came from and the time | Until you clear it |
ms.ref | The first other website that linked you here, the page you landed on and the time | Until you clear it |
ms.attr.off | Only there if you use the button below: it tells this site not to note how you found it again | Until you clear your browser's site data |
This isn't needed for the preview to work, so you can switch it off. The preview works exactly the same either way.
Remembering how you found this site
Checking…
You can also delete it by clearing site data for monthlysite.co.uk in your browser. With JavaScript turned off, this site stores nothing at all.
4. See and clear what's stored
Stored in this browser right now
- Checking…
Clearing keeps your "don't remember how I found MonthlySite" choice, if you made one, so this site doesn't start noting it again.
You can also clear it from your browser's settings, by clearing site data for monthlysite.co.uk.
5. Analytics
There's no analytics running on this site at the moment. If I add some, I'll use Plausible Analytics, which doesn't use cookies or collect personal data, and I'll update this page.
6. Other services
- Paying with Stripe. When you choose a plan, you pay on Stripe's own checkout page. Stripe uses cookies there to process your payment and prevent fraud, as explained in Stripe's cookie policy.
- Template previews are part of this site, so they follow this page too.
- Fonts are served from this site, not from Google or anyone else.
- There's no Facebook pixel, no Google Analytics and no advertising tracking.
7. If this ever changes
If I ever add cookies that aren't strictly necessary, like advertising or tracking cookies, I'll ask first with a clear yes or no choice, before anything is set, and I'll update this page.
8. Controlling cookies in your browser
Every browser lets you see and delete cookies and site data, and block them if you want to. The Information Commissioner's Office explains how on its cookies page. If you block local storage, the free preview will still work, it just won't remember your progress.
For how I handle personal details more generally, see my privacy policy.