What This Page Is
This document describes how StoreStarter produces editorial content. It explains how we choose topics, how we evaluate platforms and tools, how we structure roundup rankings, and how we keep editorial decisions separate from commercial relationships.
If you ever spot an inconsistency between this page and what you see on the site, email [email protected]. We will fix it.
Who We Write For
StoreStarter serves first-time ecommerce sellers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with focused coverage of UAE and Saudi Arabia. Our reader is researching their first store, evaluating platforms, comparing payment gateways, looking for apps. They are at the decision stage, not casual browsing.
Every article is written for that reader. We do not write for advertisers, search engines, or the industry. We write to help one person make one decision.
How We Choose Topics
Topics come from three places:
- Keyword research. Real search queries from GCC and SEA markets, ranked by intent and volume.
- Reader requests. Questions sent through our contact form and scorecard responses.
- Editorial judgment. Gaps in regional coverage that established US-centric publishers do not address.
Sponsored articles target keywords the sponsor selects, but the keyword must serve a real reader need within our coverage area. We will decline sponsor topics that exist only to manipulate search rankings.
How We Evaluate Platforms and Tools
For platform reviews and roundups, we evaluate against fixed criteria:
- Pricing in local currency for the target market, including hidden fees
- Payment gateway compatibility with regional methods (Mada, STC Pay, Tabby, Tamara, etc.)
- Language and RTL support for Arabic markets
- Customer support availability in the target time zone
- Real seller experiences sourced from public reviews, forums, and (where possible) interviews
- Documentation depth for first-time users
Where we have used the product, we say so and describe what we tested. Where we have not, we are explicit about that and rely on documented sources.
We do not run AI-generated reviews. The August 2024 FTC rule banning fake and AI-generated reviews aligns with our policy.
How We Rank Tools in Roundup Articles
Roundup articles (“Best Shopify Apps for UAE Sellers”, “Best Payment Gateways in Saudi Arabia”) use a transparent methodology:
- We define the criteria for the category before researching specific tools
- We score each tool against those criteria
- The highest-scoring tools rank highest, regardless of any commercial relationship
- Featured Sponsor cards appear at the top of the article in a visually distinct format, clearly labeled “Sponsored”
- Sponsorship does not move a tool up or down in the editorial ranking
If a Featured Sponsor also appears in the editorial ranking, it is because it earned that position on the criteria. The Featured Sponsor card and the editorial ranking are separate.
How We Disclose Sponsorship and Affiliate Relationships
Every article that contains a commercial relationship carries a disclosure:
- Sponsored articles carry a banner at the top: “This article is sponsored by [Brand]. StoreStarter received compensation.”
- Affiliate links are noted in a disclosure at the top of the article and individually marked where appropriate
- Featured Sponsor cards carry a “Sponsored” label on the card itself
- All sponsored outbound links use
rel="sponsored"as required by Google - Arabic-language content carries the disclosure label in Arabic
For the full commercial policy see Advertiser Disclosure.
What Sponsorship Cannot Buy
Sponsorship money does not buy:
- Editorial ranking position
- Removal of competitor mentions
- Suppression of negative findings
- Inflated ratings or fabricated testing results
- Influence over our methodology
If a sponsor asks for any of these, we refund their fee and end the engagement.
How We Handle Errors
If you find a factual error, email [email protected]. We will:
- Verify the claim
- Update the article if the claim is correct
- Add a correction note dated and signed where the error materially changes the recommendation
We do not silently edit articles to remove embarrassing past positions. Updates are dated.
Authorship and Bylines
Articles are signed by the named author who wrote or led the work. We do not publish anonymous reviews or paid editorial. Sponsored articles carry both the author byline and the sponsor disclosure. Roundup articles built from multiple contributors may be attributed to “StoreStarter Editorial” with the lead reviewer named in the methodology section.
How We Handle Conflicts of Interest
The StoreStarter team and ownership disclose any direct financial interest in tools we review. If we own equity in or are paid by a tool we cover, that fact is stated in the article.
Independence
StoreStarter is independently owned and operated. No platform, sponsor, or third party has editorial control over what we publish.
Questions
For editorial questions, email [email protected]. For commercial inquiries, see Advertiser Disclosure or download a Media Kit: GCC or SEA.