Review: StoreStacker - an affiliate store builder for only $1?!

I can only assume Scott Trimble is insane in some capacity. He contacted me regarding a paid review of StoreStacker - an affiliate store builder.

Why is he insane? Because StoreStacker is actually a really good product? No. Because it allows you to do more than other paid solutions? No. Because he'll let you run the full version for 2 weeks for only $1. Madness.

So what is StoreStacker?
It's an affiliate store builder that allows you to import products from eBay and Amazon, import RSS feeds from Clickbank and other affiliate campaign managers, import articles from RSS feeds and load Youtube videos... Essentially it's a device that allows you to aggregate useful content and affiliate-incentivised products all in one place. From the website: "Product pictures, descriptions, prices and your affiliate ID are all imported and embedded automatically. StoreStacker can be used to build a new website (no outside site builders needed) or added to any website or blog."

Nice features
One thing that you don't see very often is an effective use of geo-targetting; something StoreStacker uses for eBay - ensuring your visitors get the correct localised version. Obviously promoting the US eBay on a UK site isn't going to convert very well. Geo-targetting isn't hard to do in development terms, but it's used so rarely this should give Scott a decent edge on the competition.

Import RSS feeds
This is crucial for any store-builder these days; affiliate campaign sites like TradeDoubler and Clickbank can provide you with RSS feeds for specific product lines which means your store can largely run itself. I've seen a few other plugins and applications that do this so it's good that StoreStacker does too.

SEO optimisation
Irrespective of what you want this for, a high level of SEO optimisation is going to be beneficial. Apparently StoreStacker is optimised to hit the long tail - which as any e-marketer will tell you - is a good thing. The website proclaims "StoreStacker's architecture was specifically engineered to excel in the search engines. Keywords in your urls, efficient linkage, keyword tag clouds, related products, LSA-derived keyword lists, Google sitemaps, and the ability to import hordes of keyword heavy RSS content, make StoreStacker a juggernaut in the search engines."

So through the art of deep-linking and using strong cross referencing (along with proper markup and keyword rich titles/urls), the system can give you a bit of an edge on the search results. Sure you won't be contending for the top spot because this is more a tool to create a website that generates revenue, rather than a website of substancial theoretical worth.

How much does it cost, how much can I use it?
Well Scott is selling StoreStacker for $1 for the first 2 weeks with the entry level package costing $96 (which you pay after 2 weeks if you want to keep running with it). Once you've bought the license you can use it as many times as you like on as many domains as you like... So I guess Scott is pretty confident that you're going to see some good results within the first two weeks, otherwise he'd extend that introduction period.

I also like the business model he's running. People say bad things about micro-payments but this is a great example of them being used well. $1 is barely even a token gesture, it's certainly worth spending to see if you can make more than $1. If you can't make $1 in two weeks using this then I'm pretty sure you should eat your shoes, because StoreStacker even allows you to integrate Google Adsense - so you're not just running off the CPA model, there's some CPC in there too.

Not convinced? Check out the demo and a load of testimonials.

I'm very impressed with StoreStacker, I've looked around a couple of other shop builders and this one seems to be the best - and it's certainly the only one worth noting that offers a 2 week trial for only $1. That's insane.

And finally
It's very, very rare that I review something and don't have any feedback at all, so I just want to metaphorically slap Scott's hands for having a website built using tables. That's right, the only thing I can criticise with StoreStacker is the website that he's using to promote it. He's got a super product here and certainly one geared towards making money - give it a go. You never know, spending that $1 might be your first step to something much bigger...

Enjoy this article? Why not subscribe to the full RSS feed?