How StoreStarter Makes Money
StoreStarter publishes free content for first-time ecommerce sellers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Producing that content costs money. We fund it through three channels:
- Affiliate commissions. When you click a link to a platform we review (Shopify, Salla, WooCommerce, etc.) and sign up, we may receive a commission from that platform. The commission has no impact on the price you pay.
- Sponsored articles. Brands occasionally pay us to publish a dedicated article about their product. These articles are clearly labeled “Sponsored” at the top, and outbound links use the
rel="sponsored"attribute as required by Google. - Featured placements. In our roundup and “best of” articles, brands can pay for a Featured Sponsor card, visually distinct from the editorial ranking. The card is clearly labeled. The editorial ranking itself is independent and merit-based.
What Our Sponsors Do Not Get
Sponsorship money does not buy:
- Position in our editorial rankings
- Removal of competitor mentions
- Inflated ratings or scores
- Suppression of negative reader reviews
- Influence over our methodology
Editor opinions, ratings, and rankings are decided independently of any commercial relationship.
Our Editorial-Commerce Wall
The team that writes reviews and rankings is separate from the team that handles sponsorships and affiliate partnerships. Editorial decides what to cover and how to rank. Commercial adds sponsor cards and affiliate links after editorial decisions are made. The two functions do not negotiate over content.
When We Decline Sponsors
We turn down sponsorship requests when the product:
- Falls outside our coverage area (ecommerce platforms, payments, shipping, apps, tools for first-time sellers)
- Targets vulnerable audiences with deceptive promises
- Operates in categories we do not cover (crypto trading, gambling, MLM, get-rich-quick courses)
- Cannot demonstrate it is a real, working product
- Conflicts with reader interests in ways we cannot resolve through disclosure
When We Remove Sponsored Content
We reserve the right to remove or annotate sponsored content if the sponsor:
- Ceases operations
- Faces regulatory action or significant consumer complaints
- Misrepresents the product in ways that harm readers
- Violates our partner agreement
- Creates ongoing reputational risk to StoreStarter
For removals not for cause within the first 12 months, we refund pro-rata.
Compliance With Regional Rules
Sponsored content on StoreStarter complies with:
- Google Search Essentials (paid links carry
rel="sponsored") - US FTC Endorsement Guides (clear and conspicuous disclosure)
- UAE Media Council requirements for paid promotional content
- Saudi GCAM (General Commission for Audiovisual Media) content rules
Arabic-language sponsored content carries the disclosure label in Arabic.
Questions
If you have questions about a specific article or want to confirm whether a piece of content is sponsored, email [email protected].
For our editorial methodology, see Editorial Guidelines.