• What is SlapStart?
• How much do SlapStart reviews cost?
• What information do we need from featured sites to begin a review?
• Can sites select keywords to be included in the article?
• How much traffic does SlapStart receive?
• What are your Alexa and Google Page Rank?
• Can start-up teams help articles go viral?
• Can site owners copy or repost the article in its entirety?
• We noticed you have the same name as the person who’s ascribed with coining the term, “Spyware.” Are you him?
• How many people write for SlapStart?

What is SlapStart? <top>
SlapStart features tech start-ups. Most typically these are websites but we also review mobile apps and occasional desktop applications. Our goal is to write the most creative and compelling review a site will ever receive. SlapStart reviews are intended to be both memorable and accurately represent the product. We liken them to Super Bowl commercials. They’re promotional in nature but everyone watches them since they’re creative. The sites we feature are by selection only. If you’d like your site to be considered inquire within.

How much do SlapStart reviews cost? <top>
Reviews posted on SlapStart are most typically free, by selection only. From May 2009 through mid 2011 we allowed companies to sign up by paying a fee. After much contemplation we realized we wanted to select the sites that inspired us most and lent themselves to the most compelling articles. We do still honor our old agreements with previous clients and prospects if they’d like to sign up.

This FTC mandate requires us to disclose that historically we charged for online reviews. Occasionally we still do.

What information do we need from featured sites to begin a review? <top>
At a minimum, nothing. We write the majority of reviews based upon the information we find on the site. Optionally, some clients provide us press releases, business plans, and other information that isn’t readily available on the site.

Can sites select keywords to be included in the article? <top>
After two years of writing articles we made the decisions to no longer allow sites to select keywords. Instead we decided to write articles by humans, for humans. Further, we greatly enjoy referencing multiple sites throughout the web along with the featured site. This keeps our articles both informative and interesting. We write articles for people, not nebulous SEO wardens that lurk in the dark corners of the web.

How much traffic does SlapStart receive? <top>
Here’s our latest traffic results.
Quantcast.com

What are your Alexa and Google Page Rank? <top>

Can start-up teams help articles go viral? <top>
Yes! We noticed some articles gain much more traffic over time than others. After interviewing site owners we identified a few simple things teams can do to put their articles on the fast track. All significant viral articles are from Stumbleupon or Google.

• Have the team submit, like, share, and upvote the article on the major social networks. Sharing buttons are on the page for Facebook, Stumbleupon, LinkedIn, Twitter, Digg, and Reddit. Client votes count far more than ours since they’re anonymous.
• Post a link back to the article on a blog, press page, or home page. Any link is great but the SlapStart badges are a particularly attractive way to show users your site was featured.

Can site owners copy or repost the article in its entirety? <top>
Sites can repost SlapStart articles under the following conditions:

• One week has passed since the original was posted on our site. This allows Google to index our site first.
• Include a link back to the original article. Include the author’s name as well
• Put it on a site they own or are part of the core team. Not just on any site that accepts posts.

Alternatively, sites can repost excerpts with links back to the original article. In general we prefer this option but allow the full repost if desired.

We noticed you have the same name as the person who’s ascribed with coining the term, “Spyware.” Are you him? <top>
Nope. He can be found here. There was also someone in my High School with the same name. He always got busted and I would be called in and lectured by the Vice Principal until I could convince them that they had the wrong guy. The defense, “It wasn’t me, I swear!!” never really holds much water.

How many people write for SlapStart? <top>
We’ve had a handful of writers since our May 2009 launch. Typically we have a few main writers with an occasional guest writer.