Is Stan Store worth the Hype? My Opinion and Review
Our world now rewards creativity more than ever before, and creators have a better chance to monetize their content. Sadly, it’s often challenging to juggle content creation and business without feeling burnt out.
That’s where platforms like the Stan Store become pretty valuable. They reduce the complexity of monetization and help streamline the business side of the digital economy.
In this review, we’ve set out to verify if truly Stan Stores keep its promises to users. We will explore the platform’s features and compare its offering to what’s obtainable from other established brands.
In the end, readers should have enough information to decide if Stan Store fits their needs or choose a preferred alternative.
What is the Stan Store?
Stan Store is an eCommerce platform for content creators that works within social media interfaces. Think of Stan Store as the everything storefront: a bridge between your social media handles and digital products. It boasts features that allow creators to sell digital products and services.
Apart from the e-commerce capabilities of Stan Store, it also provides tools for service providers. Creators can easily handle Business activities like bookings, lead generation and management, and digital marketing funnel building.
Usually, these services often come at a premium on other platforms. However, Stan Store bills them along with the subscription plan. We’ll provide further details about its future later in the rearview.
Who is Stan Store For?
We agree that Stan Store offers immense value to customers through its robust features. However, is the platform ideal for everyone?
Ideally, the Stan Store is a creator’s store. Hence, Its target audience is mostly Gen Z, i.e., people sharing content on social media and online platforms.
At best, it is designed for anyone who shares content on TikTokers, YouTubers, Instagram influencers, or creators who push out content to audiences across networking platforms. The simple design and interface make it ideal for beginners and experienced creators.
Stan Store Features
Stan Store targets a broad range of users. Therefore, it integrates several features to ensure users get excellent results when using its services. While researching the platform, We found several features that creators can’t do without, and below is a quick look at what we found.
Direct Selling from Social Media
Social media integration is the primal selling point of the Stan Store. The goal is to ensure creators can monetize their following by offering products, services, or training programs. The tools and systems to get the job done are provided on the platform.
Automated Calendar Booking
Turning down bookings manually when your plates are full can be very distracting. Stan Store’s automated calendar allows creators to integrate their Google Calendar into their stores. With that, your potential customers see the exact dates you’re available.
Other exciting aspects of this feature are the automated meeting invites and time blocking it does on the user’s behalf. Sadly, the calendar feature only works with Google Calendar for now. The platform claims it’s working on providing support for other third-party calendars.
Email List Building
Traditionally, companies’ solo entrepreneurs often have to pay separate fees for web hosting and email services. However, Stan Store allows creators to pay for all those features in a single package. With the Creatore Pro plan, users often get email list-building services and other essential services to help increase conversion rates.
Sales and Funnel Builder
Funnels and landing pages are generally the most essential tools of online marketing. Unfortunately, creators often must go through the rigor of learning to code or optimize user experience before getting their funnels up. Funnels and landing page builders are some of the tools that come with the Stan Store.
Moreover, creators can manage a sales system from email marketing to payment handling. Also, the tools allow users to create private landing pages with exclusive features to suit their premium audience.
Email Flows and Broadcasts
The funnel systems of the Stan Store also come with an email flow system. Unlike email broadcasts, the flow strategies allow creators to nurture their customers throughout their journey with their offerings. It will enable creators to categorize their audience according to their stage in the customer journey spectrum.
That way, it’s easier to lead them to conversion. This tool also comes in handy when looking into email courses. It’s essential to know that a regular funnel strategy may require creators to pay separately for this kind of service.
3rd party integrations
The platform supports several third-party services, starting with social media handles. Third-party storage systems, payment handling, video conferencing, recruitment, and email services. Some support platforms include Zapier, Mailchimp, Paypal, Zoon, Google Calendar, etc.
Sell digital products
If you’re researching about Stan Store, there’s a chance that you wish to sell a digital product or provide services online. The platform provides all the tools and supportive customer service to ensure that users have successful sales and rewarding online business.
Stan Store comparisons with other platforms
Suppose you’re wondering how Stan Store stacks up with alternative platforms like ETSY, WooCommerce, Link Tree, Shopify, and others. The highlight below should give you a quick idea of what to expect.
Stan Store vs. ETSY
ETSY is one of the most popular digital products marketplaces on the internet today. It earns a reputation as a creative marketplace. However, creators might have to make peace with the fact that they’re not the only ones in the market.
The competition might quickly become fierce, especially if you’re in a competitive niche. Instead of having an interface like Stan Store, where you have total control and can collect visitor’s information for remarketing, you lose customers to competitors on the platform.
On the upside, the exposure from ETSY is quite impressive and can quickly help you turn a profit. The distraction of managing your store on ETSY and handling your content creation process makes Stan Store a viable alternative. However, for best results, creators can combine the two platforms.
Stan Store vs. Link Tree
Anyone who has used Link Tree may argue that there’s not much difference between the two concepts. However, Link Tree primarily focuses on link sharing, while Stan Store is a robust eCommerce platform built off of social media experience. It includes a lot more than pushing links online. Moreover, the platform helps creators project more professionalism than Link Tree.
Stan Store vs. Shopify
Shopify and Stan Store share several similarities. However, Stan Store’s cheaper pricing and better flexibility give it the edge over Shopify. Due to the required commission, creators often have to part with a large chunk of their earnings when using platforms like Shopify. Experts and creators who’re just kicked off monetizing their content should opt for Stan Store as a way to lock in most of their earnings.
Stan Store vs. WooCommerce
Stan Store streamlines the steps it takes to go from the top of the funnel to the final stage. With platforms like WooCommerce, visitors have to go through some clicks to reach the product and make payments.
On the other hand, Stan Store visitors experience the business side of a content creator’s offering without leaving the social media experience. The concept increases the chance of conversion, which is one of Stan Store’s upper hand over WooCommerce.
What Sets Stan Apart?
Each eCommerce or digital product platform has its strengths and weaknesses. For Stan Store, it builds its strength on conversion optimization. Ideally, anyone would go into an online business mainly to generate income. Stan Store is praised for its high conversion rate compared to other alternatives.
Apart from the impressive conversion rate, the platform also ensures users keep their profit by chagrin with zero commission on sales. It also costs nothing to create product pages or list products. The only cost users incur for using the service is the monthly or annual subscription fee.
Also, the simplicity of the Stan Store design and the part where audiences can interact with a creator’s store without exiting the social media experience is impressive. It creates a smooth feel, with less shift in paradigm. With that, conversion is much easier compared to alternatives that require a higher number of click-throughs.
And Stan Store combines all the features of popular ecommerce platforms, which is a rare feat. It’s hard to find a single platform that combines essential features like Course hosting, appointment setting, payment processing, analytics tools, email marketing, funnel building, etc.
Plans and Pricing
Stan Store adopts two pricing models: Creator and Creator Pro plan. Each of the options offers unique benefits and fits different categories of customers. Below is a breakdown of each plan and what users get for their money.
Creator-$29/Month
With the creator plan, users pay as little as $29 monthly to gain access to:
- Mobile & Desktop Optimized Store
- Calendar Invites & Bookings Product
- Analytics
- Unlimited Course Products
- 1-Tap Checkout
- Recurring Subscription Products
- Audience/Newsletter Builder
The plan is best for individuals just starting in the creator economy. The simplicity and flexibility allow one to experiment to see what works before investing more money. Plus, creators can cut the cost by 20% if they pay annually.
Creator PRO-$99/month
The pro plan comes with everything the creator plan offers but with unique extras. Some of the additional offers you can expect with the pro offer include.
- Advanced Pricing & Payment Plans
- Discount Codes
- Limit Quantity
- Payment Plans
- Order Bumps & Upsells
- Funnel Builder
- Affiliate Share Feature
- Email Marketing
- $99/mo or save 20% with our annual plan of $948/yr
The plan works best for creators with experience with the digital business but wishes to improve their conversion and increase their earnings. It furnishes them with the tools and systems to guide the audience, from visitors to customers.
Ideally, Individuals, corporate organizations, and teams looking to scale up their monetization and digital business have more to benefit from the Pro than the creator’s plan. Besides, buying with the annual payment arrangement will cut 20% off the cost.
The Pros and Cons
Anyone who’s explored the features and offerings of the Stan Store would acknowledge its impressive upsides.
Nevertheless, users must also clearly understand the downsides as they may become formidable speed bumps to their monetization efforts. Below is a quick summary of the Stan Store’s pros and cons.
Pros
1. Sell Digital Products Like A Pro
eCommerce, Digital product sales, and monetization are Stan Store’s value propositions. It provides the necessary tools and interfaces that allow anyone to profit from sharing content online, particularly on social media.
2. Affiliate Link Made Simple
You can manage an efficient affiliate program with the Creator Pro plan. Doing this with a traditional website could require significant investments. Thankfully, Stan Store already has this feature included in the plan.
3. Affordable Pricing
With as little as $29 monthly, creators can monetize their content. It becomes even more rewarding when one has the right audience size. In a matter of months, creators can recoup subscription fees, thanks to Stan Store’s high conversion rate.
4. Creator Community Exclusive Access
The Stan.me initiative offer allows users to join a growing community of users. It offers a sense of belonging as creators become a part of a global network of like-minded people. The opportunity also presents a chance to draw inspiration from what others do in their niche.
Cons
1. Limited Marketplace Exposure
Sadly, Stan Store offers limited exposure; creators have to manage their marketing by themselves. It comes in contrast to alternatives like ETSY, which has large monthly visitors. Thus, creators may require significant followers to turn a profit.
2. Limited Customization for Creators
Since you’re not building the interface from scratch, creators may have to adapt to the Stan Store UI. Overall, the branding options with Stan Store are pretty limited.
3. Fewer payment options
Another downside with Stan Store is the payment options. Creators must choose one of the few payment channels available on the platform. It contrasts with the robust options offered by alternatives like Shopify, which sometimes include cryptocurrencies.
4. Dependency on Social Media
Outside of social media, it’s relatively impossible to use Stan Store. Hence, creators might have to think deeply about the offer as their stores are only limited to customers willing to visit their social media platforms.
Customer Service Reviews
As you already know, poor customer service can ruin a great product. In the case of Stan Store, the store is excellent, and it also sports great customer service.
Stan Store customer service is staffed with real humans who listen to the concerns of users and respond promptly. Reviews on Trustpilot share impressive reports about users’ experiences with the support team.
Is the Stan Store worth it?
In a fast-paced creator economy, speed to market is a formidable competitive advantage. Waiting to set up a robust self-hosted storefront or course website can take the edge away from one’s business.
Platforms like Stan Store make the job relatively easy. And the best part is that creators have their store in an already familiar environment.
Also, web surfers and audiences don’t have to leave the social media environment to experience the courses or products creators offer.
They click through without having to leave the interface. Hence, the store experience is live within the social media platform.
This simple tweak makes Stan Store one of the most innovative content hosting or eCommerce platforms at the moment. Creators should try it out.
FAQs
Can the Stan Store replace a website?
Providing a conclusive answer to the question might be challenging. Even though Stan Store does not eradicate your need for a website, it can serve as an interface between you and your customer, pending the time you’ll set up your website. Most of the time, the website is primarily the information powerhouse of your business.
And if it’s an e-commerce site, it would serve as the storefront. Stan Store, combined with your social media platforms, takes care of this function. It means anyone who knows how to use them effectively can kick off their digital business, pending the time they’ll invest in a functional website.
Who uses the Stan Store?
Creators or anyone who wishes to earn income in the digital space should use Stan Store. It makes it easier for creators to monetize their content through platforms like social media accounts. With that, there’s no need to hunt down a web developer to create a separate e-commerce site.
Likewise, it limits the need for online storefronts, email marketing forms, or landing pages. The Stan Store handles most of the business side of a creator’s monetization process. As a result, their social media becomes their landing page and product page.
Is stan store better than linktree?
Unlike Linktree, Stan Store doesn’t just point users or audiences to a third-party platform, and it converts a creator’s social media platform to their storefront. With that, monetizing one’s content and increasing conversion becomes easier.
Stan Store’s ability to take distraction out of the sales process makes it an effective tool in the sales process, particularly in the aspect of customer retention. Even though Stan Store and Linktree differ in their unique value proposition, combining the two platforms could also improve conversion and profitability.
Can you build a course on stan store?
Yes. Stan Store has features that allow creators to host content in several media formats. It supports videos, text, and other file types. Moreover, it provides spaces where creators can upload content like workbooks and other downloadables.
It is also possible to impute course description or further details. However, despite the intuitive and robust design of the Stan Store, things like assessments and user interaction are not possible when hosting courses on Stan Store.
Conclusion
Selling online does not have to be that stressful, and from what we’ve seen, Stan Store takes the hard work out of the process. Compared to established alternatives like ETSY, creators using Stan Store encounter lesser distractions from the business side of their efforts.
Thus, users have most of their energies channeled towards what they love: shunning content to their Audiences. By our metrics, we can answer affirmatively to the fact that Stan Store is worth the price, and creators can experiment with it.
More importantly, using it with other eCommerce platforms like Shopify and ETSY for improved results is best.
