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Editorial Guidelines and Standards

Last Updated: December 11, 2025

1. Our Editorial Mission and Commitment to E-E-A-T

1.1 The Stack Manual Mission

Our mission is to empower users with unbiased, expert, and data-driven knowledge to make informed decisions about technology. We are dedicated to providing the most accurate and transparent reviews and comparisons in the fields of Web Hosting, AI Tools, VPNs, and SaaS.

1.2 Our Commitment to E-E-A-T (Google Quality Standards)

Every piece of content is created to meet the highest standards of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness:

  • Expertise: Content is written by, or heavily reviewed by, named experts (Ali Raza, Sara Bilal, Zaid Khan) with verifiable backgrounds in the technology sector.
  • Trustworthiness: We maintain full financial independence by adhering to a Zero-Commission Policy (see Section 2). Our methodologies are transparent, and all technical claims are evidence-based.

2. Integrity and Financial Independence (Zero-Commission Policy)

2.1 The Pillar of Unbiased Reviewing

The Stack Manual operates under a strict Zero-Commission Policy. Our editorial decisions are never influenced by any potential payment, affiliate structure, or financial relationship with the vendors we review.

  • No Commissions: We do not earn money when a user purchases a product through a link on our Site.
  • Monetization: The sole third-party revenue source is non-intrusive advertising displayed via Google AdSense. This advertising is segregated from editorial content and has no bearing on our ratings or recommendations.

2.2 Handling Conflicts of Interest

All authors, editors, and contributors are required to disclose any current or recent financial, professional, or personal connections to the companies or products being reviewed. If a material conflict exists, that individual will be recused from testing, writing, or editing the affected content.

3. Review Methodology and Standards

Every review published on The Stack Manual must follow a rigorous, repeatable testing protocol.

3.1 Review Phases (The 4-Step Process)

  1. Selection & Access: Products are chosen based on market relevance and user demand. We typically purchase and test the software or service just as a regular user would to ensure the experience is authentic.
  2. Quantitative Testing: For performance-centric products (Web Hosting, VPNs), we use industry-standard tools (e.g., custom scripts for uptime monitoring, speed tests from multiple global locations) to gather objective data. This raw data forms the foundation of the review.
  3. Qualitative Evaluation: The expert team tests the user experience (UX), ease of setup, customer support quality, and feature sets. This phase assesses the value of the product beyond just the numbers.
  4. Rating & Conclusion: The final score is derived from a weighted average of quantitative and qualitative data. The conclusion clearly summarizes the product’s strengths, weaknesses, and the ideal user profile it fits.

3.2 Evidence and Sourcing

All factual claims must be supported by evidence:

  • Technical Claims: Must be verifiable through screenshots of testing results, public vendor documentation, or direct experimentation.
  • Third-Party Sources: We cite and link to authoritative external sources (e.g., industry white papers, verified research reports) where appropriate. We avoid citing unverified social media or non-expert forums.

4. Editorial Style and Formatting Guidelines

Consistency in presentation enhances trust and readability.

Area

Standard for The Stack Manual

Tone & Voice

Authoritative, Neutral, and Helpful. We use an expert, yet approachable, tone. We avoid sensationalism, hyperbole, or overly aggressive marketing language.

Formatting

We use H2, H3, and H4 tags logically to break up content and aid scanability (for both users and search engines). We use bold text sparingly for key terms.

Linking Policy

Internal links must connect related content (e.g., linking a Web Host review to a guide on “How to Choose the Right Server”). External links are used only to cite sources or point to the official vendor page.

Grammar & Spelling

Adhere to [Associated Press (AP) Style or Chicago Manual of Style]. We use active voice and concise sentences.

Data Visualization

All charts, graphs, and tables summarizing technical data must be clearly labeled, sourced, and easy to interpret.

5. Content Maintenance and Review Process

5.1 Fact-Checking and Review

Before publication, every article undergoes a two-step review:

  1. Technical Review: An expert (e.g., Ali Raza for hosting, Sara Bilal for AI) verifies the accuracy of all technical data, steps, and claims.
  2. Editorial Review: An editor checks for clarity, grammar, style compliance, and adherence to the Zero-Commission Policy.

5.2 Content Update Policy

In the fast-moving tech niche, content must be continually refreshed. We maintain a schedule to update all core reviews and comparisons at least every 6–12 months or immediately upon major product changes (e.g., a major pricing shift, security incident, or the release of a new AI model). All updated content will include a “Last Updated” date to signal currency.

6. How to Contact Us Regarding Our Guidelines

We take our commitment to editorial integrity seriously. If you have questions about our methodology, believe content is inaccurate, or wish to report a potential conflict of interest, please contact our Editorial Team:

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