Editorial Guidelines

Editorial Independence

Our content is created independently. We maintain a strict separation between our editorial content and any business relationships we may have.

This means:

• Companies cannot pay for favorable reviews or higher ratings
• Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial opinions
• We include negative information about companies when warranted
• We review and recommend non-affiliate companies equally
• Sponsored content (if any) is always clearly labeled

Our recommendations are based on what we believe is genuinely helpful for our readers—not what benefits us financially.

How We Research Companies

Before featuring a mystery shopping company on our site, we conduct thorough research:

Verification Steps

• MSPA Membership: We check if the company is a member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association
• BBB Rating: We review Better Business Bureau ratings and complaint history
• Company History: We research how long the company has been operating
• Shopper Feedback: We consider feedback from the mystery shopping community
• Payment Practices: We investigate reported payment reliability
• Personal Experience: When possible, we draw on firsthand shopping experience

Red Flags We Watch For

• Requests for upfront payment to access jobs
• Promises of unrealistic income
• Lack of verifiable company information
• Patterns of non-payment complaints
• Pressure tactics or aggressive marketing

Content Standards

All content on Mystery Shop Starter adheres to the following standards:

Accuracy

• We verify facts before publishing
• We cite sources when presenting specific claims or data
• We update content when information becomes outdated
• We correct errors promptly when they’re identified

Clarity

• We write in plain, accessible language
• We explain industry terminology when it’s first used
• We structure content for easy scanning and comprehension
• We provide actionable steps, not just general advice

Honesty

• We disclose our affiliate relationships transparently
• We acknowledge limitations in our knowledge
• We don’t make promises we can’t keep
• We distinguish between facts and opinions

How We Handle Updates

The mystery shopping industry changes frequently. We handle updates as follows:

• Regular Reviews: We periodically review existing content for accuracy
• Reader Feedback: We investigate when readers report outdated information
• Industry Changes: We update content when companies change policies, rates, or status
• Transparency: Significant updates are noted with a “Last Updated” date

If you notice information that appears outdated, please let us know so we can investigate.

What We Don’t Do

To maintain our integrity, we commit to the following:

• We don’t publish content we haven’t verified to the best of our ability
• We don’t accept payment for favorable reviews or ratings
• We don’t promote companies we believe are scams or predatory
• We don’t make income guarantees or unrealistic promises
• We don’t hide negative information to benefit affiliate partners
• We don’t present advertising as editorial content without disclosure

Our Background

Mystery Shop Starter is created and maintained by John Herwick, who brings both mystery shopping experience and content marketing expertise to this project.

With approximately 150 completed shops across multiple company types—from retail audits to high-ticket evaluations—plus six years of content marketing experience, John understands both sides: what mystery shoppers need to know and how to present information clearly.

Learn more on our About John Herwick page.

Corrections Policy

We take accuracy seriously. When we make an error:

• We correct it as soon as it’s brought to our attention
• We note significant corrections at the bottom of the article
• We don’t try to hide that a correction was made
• We thank readers who help us identify errors

If you spot an error in our content, please contact us so we can investigate and correct it.