Editorial Policy
Last updated: [TODAY’S DATE]
Smart Hustle Guide is committed to publishing accurate, useful, and trustworthy information about personal finance, side hustles, freelancing, and related topics. This Editorial Policy explains how we create, review, and maintain our content.
1. Our Mission
Smart Hustle Guide exists to help everyday people build financial stability and increase their income — without gimmicks, hype, or get-rich-quick promises. We publish content that is:
- Accurate — based on primary sources and current information
- Useful — actionable, specific, and grounded in reality
- Transparent — with clear disclosure of how we make money
- Human-written — not mass-produced AI filler
- Updated — reviewed and revised when laws, rates, or best practices change
2. Who Writes Our Content
All content on Smart Hustle Guide is written by [YOUR REAL NAME], the founder and lead writer, unless otherwise noted on the article byline.
[YOUR REAL NAME] — Founder and Lead Writer
[Add 2–4 sentences here describing your background. Example: “Jericho Scott spent X years working in Y before starting Smart Hustle Guide. He has personally [paid off debt / built a freelance income / invested through market cycles / built an e-commerce business], and writes from direct experience. He holds [any relevant credentials, or state ‘no formal financial credentials — the content reflects lived experience and primary-source research.’]”]
Every article on the Site includes the author’s byline, a photo, and a link to their full biography.
If we ever publish guest contributions in the future, those will be clearly labeled, and contributors will be required to disclose any relevant affiliations or conflicts of interest.
3. How We Research Content
We rely on primary and authoritative sources whenever possible. These include:
- Government agencies: IRS.gov, SEC.gov, CFPB.gov, SSA.gov, Federal Reserve (federalreserve.gov), Department of Labor (dol.gov), FTC.gov
- Academic research: peer-reviewed studies, .edu publications
- Industry-standard publications: with explicit attribution
- Primary documents: laws, regulations, official program terms
- Direct experience and testing where possible — e.g. testing a side hustle, using a product, tracking our own results
Whenever we cite a figure, rate, statistic, or legal claim, we link to the source so you can verify it yourself.
We do not rely on anonymous forums, scraped content, or unverified secondhand claims as sole sources for factual statements.
4. Fact-Checking Process
Before publishing, every article is reviewed for:
- Accuracy — every claim, figure, date, and name is verified
- Currency — tax rates, contribution limits, and program rules are checked against current official sources
- Clarity — the article is readable and understandable by a general audience
- Completeness — the article actually answers the search intent it targets
- Absence of bias — recommendations are not influenced by affiliate relationships or advertiser pressure
If we cannot verify a claim, we remove it — we do not publish speculation as fact.
5. Corrections and Updates
We correct errors as soon as they are identified.
To report an error: email [YOUR REAL EMAIL] with the subject line “Correction” and include:
- A link to the article
- The specific statement you believe is incorrect
- A source supporting the correction (if available)
We will review any correction request within 5 business days and, if warranted, update the article with a note explaining the change.
Update cadence: Financial topics change quickly. Articles covering tax rules, contribution limits, savings rates, and program eligibility are reviewed on a rolling basis at least once every 12 months — more frequently when laws change. Every article displays a “Last updated” date at the top.
6. Independence and Advertising
Smart Hustle Guide is reader-supported. Our revenue comes from:
- Display advertising served by third-party networks
- Affiliate partnerships with products and services we genuinely use or believe in
- [Add: digital products, newsletter sponsorships, etc. — only if applicable]
We do not accept payment in exchange for positive editorial coverage. Advertisers and affiliate partners have no input into our content, recommendations, or reviews.
Affiliate links are disclosed on any page that contains them, and our full affiliate disclosure is included in our Disclaimer.
7. AI and Automation
We use AI tools only for narrow, non-editorial purposes such as:
- Grammar and spelling checks
- Generating initial keyword research
- Formatting outlines into drafts for human editing
All published content is written, fact-checked, and edited by a human. We do not publish unedited AI-generated articles. Every article reflects original writing, research, and analysis.
8. Sources and Citations
We credit sources clearly. When we cite a study, law, or statistic, we link directly to the source. When we quote someone, we attribute them by name and, where relevant, their affiliation.
If we ever use a copyrighted image or quote, we do so under fair use or with permission. If you believe we have infringed your rights, contact us at [YOUR REAL EMAIL] and we will investigate promptly.
9. Contact
Editorial questions, corrections, and tips:
Email: [YOUR REAL EMAIL]