Editorial Policy
The standards used to choose products, create reviews, handle commercial relationships and publish recommendations on IM Review HQ.
Editorial Independence
IM Review HQ may earn money from affiliate links, but compensation does not guarantee a positive review, a specific conclusion or a recommendation. Products are evaluated against the research evidence available.
Product Selection
We focus on tools that fit the site's core subject area and are useful to readers researching online-marketing software. We do not need to review every product launch. Editorial relevance and the ability to create a useful review matter more than publishing volume.
Research-Based Review Standards
Research-based reviews are the editorial format used on IM Review HQ. They may use official sales pages, product documentation, public demos, current pricing pages, checkout information, policies, vendor screenshots and credible third-party corroboration. They must not contain invented product use, fabricated outcomes or unsupported factual claims.
Research Evidence and Limitations
Each review should explain the evidence available and its limitations. Vendor demonstrations, case studies and performance screenshots are labeled as vendor-provided. When a fact cannot be independently confirmed, the review should say so rather than imply certainty.
Evidence and Attribution
Specific claims should be supportable by current product documentation, checkout information, official demonstrations, screenshots or clearly identified sources. We do not fabricate customer numbers, revenue figures, product outputs, support conversations or personal results.
Where practical, IM Review HQ links directly to the primary page used to verify changing facts such as pricing, refund terms, OTO structure, platform requirements and official feature documentation. If current and older official vendor pages conflict, the review should identify the conflict rather than silently choosing the more favorable version.
Affiliate Links and Sponsored Access
Affiliate links should use the appropriate rel="sponsored" relationship. If a company provides complimentary access, a review account or another material benefit, that relationship should be disclosed when relevant to the reader.
Written Verdicts
Research-based reviews do not use numeric product ratings or star scores. We use written verdicts that explain buyer fit, strengths, limitations and unresolved questions without implying a level of measurement the evidence does not support.
Comparisons and Alternatives
Alternative products should be selected because they are relevant competitors, not simply because they offer an affiliate program. The reviewed product does not automatically receive the top recommendation.
Use of AI
AI may assist with research organization, outlining, drafting, editing, formatting and image preparation. Final factual claims, pricing, limits and recommendations are reviewed against the available evidence. AI must not be used to invent product experience, outcomes or unsupported facts.
Updates
Reviews may be updated when pricing, features, plan limits or other important product information changes. Material revisions should use an updated date that reflects the actual change.
Corrections
We correct factual errors when they are identified. See the Corrections Policy for how readers and companies can request a correction.