Skip to content
SmallBizTech

Contributor Guidelines

Last updated

These guidelines apply to everyone who writes for, or lists a tool on, SmallBizTech. You accept them when you set up your account. They exist so that every page on the site meets the same standard as our own editorial policy.

Be honest and specific

  • Never invent experience. Don't describe testing, results, screenshots, customers, quotes or reviews that didn't happen. If you haven't used a product, say what your information comes from (vendor documentation, public pricing page) and that you haven't tested it yourself.
  • Source your facts. Prices, limits and feature claims need a link to where you found them and the date you checked. Software changes often; an undated price is a wrong price waiting to happen.
  • No unverifiable superlatives. "Best", "fastest" and "cheapest" need evidence in the same paragraph, or shouldn't be there.
  • No advice you aren't qualified to give. General information about software is fine; legal, tax or financial advice is not.

Write it yourself, and make it useful

  • The work must be your own. Don't copy or lightly rewrite someone else's article, and don't reuse a piece you've published elsewhere unless you tell us first.
  • AI tools can help you outline or tidy your writing, but you are fully responsible for what you submit. Anything you couldn't defend as accurate and from your own experience or research doesn't belong in it.
  • We don't publish mass-produced, templated or "SEO filler" posts. One thorough article beats five thin ones.

Disclose your interests

If you earn money, get a free account, or have any other relationship with something you write about (including your own product), say so clearly near the top. Affiliate links must be marked, and must never change what you recommend. See our affiliate disclosure.

  • Posts are written in Markdown. Raw HTML and scripts aren't supported: a post containing HTML tags can't be submitted, and anything that slips through is never shown.
  • Choose one main topic and keyword per post. If the site already covers that topic, we may ask you to pick another angle.
  • Only link where it helps the reader. Paid links, link exchanges and links to unrelated or low-quality sites are not allowed.
  • Each post can have one cover image, which needs alt text, and you must have the right to use it. Images inside the text aren't supported yet.

Tool listings

A listing links out to your own tool. It is not an endorsement by SmallBizTech, and we don't run, sell or embed your tool.

  • You handle everything commercial. If your tool takes payments or subscriptions, that happens on your website under your terms, and you handle billing, refunds and support.
  • Pricing must be accurate and current. Choose the pricing model that's true (never "free" for something that isn't), and give the real price for paid and subscription tools. Update it when it changes.
  • Say something real. Write a description in your own words of what the tool does, who it's for and what makes it different, of at least 80 words. Don't paste marketing copy or list features you don't have.
  • One listing per website. The link must be a working https:// address to a public website. We check it when you submit and again before publishing, and it's published as a nofollow link.
  • Only list tools you make or run, and say so if you have any other relationship with them. We may unlist a tool that stops working or misrepresents itself.

Review and moderation

Everything is reviewed by an editor before it goes live. We may ask for changes, edit for clarity or policy, decline a submission, or unpublish something later, for example if it turns out to be inaccurate or out of date. Publication is never guaranteed, and we'll tell you why when we decline.

Your account

Accounts are by invitation and personal to you. Don't share your sign-in details. We may suspend an account that breaks these guidelines.

Ownership and licence

You keep ownership of what you write. By submitting it, you allow SmallBizTech to publish, display, edit for clarity, and promote it on this site and in its feeds and newsletters. You can ask us to remove your work at any time, and we'll do so within a reasonable period.

Questions

Ask us through the contact page.