Why I Ditched Stan Store and Built My Own Funnel
I once believed that using a platform like Stan Store was the height of efficiency. Until one day, I looked at my dashboard and realized something unsettling: I had no idea who bought from me.
No emails. No behavior data. Just numbers in a box.
That’s when I knew—this wasn’t freedom. It was a leash.
The Illusion of Freedom
Platforms like Stan Store, Beacons, Linktree, and Koji promise you autonomy. But what they really offer is convenience with a catch .
You trade customization for speed. You give up your audience for access. And in doing so, you let someone else decide how your brand looks, feels, and grows.
The truth? You’re not building a business—you’re paying rent on someone else’s stage.
<blockquote>“If your funnel lives on their domain, your people live on their terms.”</blockquote>
The Moment of Clarity
I was selling digital products, making sales, and checking off goals. But then I asked myself:
What if Stan Store shuts down tomorrow?
What if my link tree gets buried in an algorithm update?
What if I never actually owned a single lead?
And it hit me like a supernova: I was renting my empire.
Not building it. Not growing it. Just leasing space until the next pivot.
What I Built Instead
So I built my own funnel—from scratch. Here’s the stack I used:
- Carrd for fast, beautiful landing pages
- Stripe for direct payments (no marketplace fees)
- Google Drive for instant delivery of digital goods
- ConvertKit for email capture and automation
It cost less than $50/month. Took under 48 hours to launch. And it all lived on my domain , not someone else’s.
This isn’t just a funnel. It’s a revenue engine I control .
How It Changed Everything
Ownership changed everything.
I now know exactly who clicks, buys, and returns. I can build sequences, run retargeting, and create product bundles based on real behavior—not guesswork.
Profit margins went up by 17% overnight. Launch time dropped by half. And best of all? I’m not at the mercy of third-party updates or black-box algorithms.
This is not a profile page. This is my kingdom.
Your Roadmap to Independence
Here’s how you can do it too:
- Buy your domain : Start with your own URL. It's your foundation.
- Build a landing page : Use Carrd, Webflow, or even Notion to craft a high-converting front door.
- Set up Stripe : Connect it directly to your site. No more middlemen taking a cut.
- Capture emails : Embed a form right on the page. ConvertKit, MailerLite, or Substack work great.
- Deliver instantly : Google Drive, SendOwl, or Gumroad are perfect for digital goods.
- Track and optimize : Use Plausible or Fathom for privacy-first analytics.
It’s not about being techy—it’s about being strategic.
Empire Over Platform
Let’s be clear: Platforms aren’t evil. They have their place. But if you want to build something lasting, you must build it on your own soil.
Your funnel should reflect your vision. Your brand. Your voice.
Don’t settle for a booth at someone else’s market. Build a castle of your own.
👉 Download my free guide: The No-Code Sales Hub
Everything you need to build your own funnel, fast and future-proof.
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— Dan, Vespera Studio
Helping creators take control of their tools, their traffic, and their revenue.
