I'm building a SaaS review site with ZERO affiliate links (and here's why that matters)
Hey IH! 👋 I’m leaving $10k/mo on the table to build a review site you can actually trust.
I just launched TrulyCritic a SaaS review site with absolutely zero affiliate links.
The Problem: The "Best of" Greed Loop
Every time I searched for a CRM or email marketing tool, I was met with "review" sites that are actually just affiliate machines.
The dirty secret: Most of these sites earn 20–30% commissions.
Tool A: $50/mo ($15 commission)
Tool B: $20/mo ($5 commission)
Even if Tool B is objectively better for your startup, Tool A will always be ranked #1. It’s not a review; it’s a sales pitch.
The Solution: TrulyCritic
I built TrulyCritic to kill the bias. No kickbacks, no hidden agendas—just brutal honesty.
Current Progress: 24 deep-dive guides (3,000+ words each).
The Stack: Next.js + Vercel (lightning fast).
Scope: CRM, PM tools, Email Marketing, AI, and Design.
Real Data: Side-by-side pricing and feature comparisons without the "Buy Now" fluff.
The Risky Bet 🎲
By removing affiliate links, I’m ignoring the "easy" $10K–$50K/month model that most competitors use. I’m betting on Trust as a Service. My plan is to build the highest-integrity audience in the SaaS space first, then monetize through transparent ads or premium features later.
What I’ve Learned So Far:
Quality wins SEO: 3,000+ word deep-dives are outranking 800-word "top 10" fluff posts faster than expected.
Trust is a magnet: The feedback from early users has been incredible—people are tired of being sold to.
Link building is the real boss fight: It’s much harder to get backlinks when you aren’t part of the affiliate "circle-jerk."
Launching on Product Hunt next Tuesday (April 8)! I’d love to have the IH community in my corner.
Check it out: trulycritic.com
I’d love your take on 3 things:
Does "Zero Affiliate Links" actually make you trust a site more, or are you indifferent?
Which SaaS category is the most "corrupted" by affiliates right now? (I'll review it next).
How would YOU monetize this without selling out?
Thanks for the support! 🚀
