|
#1: What is Backwash?
|
Backwash is a social network website that harnesses the Internet community to find the best content on the ‘net and organize it around your personality! Launched in 1997, we are run by volunteers, growing slowly but steadily through word of mouth. In 2000, USA Today called us the first community search engine. But we’re a bit of everything.
All of the features we offer are designed to accomplish two things - help you meet people with tastes similar to your own and help you discover great content that you might otherwise miss if not for Backwash.
|
|
#2: How does Backwash work?
|
There is so much great content on the Internet that we miss because no single person can review it all. By joining Backwash, you’ll always be in the loop with the latest stories and most interesting content the world has to offer.
First, register and create a profile. Next, invite your friends to grow your Friend Cluster. Then, bookmark your favorite links on the ‘net, or your favorite items you find on Backwash. Anything you bookmark gets shared with your friends automatically so you can quickly find content that your friends enjoyed. After that, it’s up to you!
|
|
#3: What is a Friend Cluster?
|
| It is your circle of friends. Whenever you read anyone’s profile, you can see if and how you are connected to them, by up to four degrees of separation. The more friends you add, the bigger your cluster becomes and the more content and features you have available to you.
|
|
#4: What are Reciprocating Friends? Why are some photos outlined in red?
|
| Backwash lets you select anyone as your friend, without their approval, so that you don’t have to worry about potential rejection. If the person that you add as a friend then selects you as THEIR friend, the two of you become Reciprocating Friends, and you will have access to a host of special features including birthday reminders, free private messaging and much more. You can identify your reciprocating friends by the red boxes that surround their thumbnail photos.
|
|
#5: What can I do on Backwash?
|
Backwash makes it easy for you to communicate with the people you know, as well as people you want to meet.
- Discover links to great content on the Internet-hand-selected by our team of talented moderators and delivered to you through our directory, search engine, columns, communities, and more.
- Save your own personal bookmarks, share them with friends and see where your friends are surfing as well.
- Build and grow your Friend Cluster with features like linked-interest profiles, private message boards, tributes and more.
- Write an online journal, and share your daily thoughts with select friends.
- Remember your friends’ birthdays automatically with our Birthday Reminder service and send them free e-cards!
- Participate on message boards devoted to column, community and link discussions. Everyone also receives their own free journal.
- Read original feature essays, fiction, reviews and more by our top-notch columnists!
- Get your FREE personalized Home page where you can create a unique profile, complete with the ability to upload photos!
|
|
#6: How Does Instant Messaging Work?
|
| Instant Messaging is a premium feature. To send instant messages, upgrade to premium now. Note: Anyone can REPLY to an instant message, but only premium members can INITIATE an instant message. For this feature to work you need to allow popups on your system.
|
|
#7: How much does it cost?
|
| On Backwash, you get all the basic features FREE, including profiles, basic search, personal message boards, private messaging, journals, original content and more! When you upgrade to a Premium Membership, you get access to a host of advanced features.
|
|
#8: How do I get started with Backwash?
|
| It’s easy! Register and write your profile. Invite friends to join Backwash, and voila! You’ve created your Friend Cluster! Don’t forget to bookmark your favorite links as your surf the net!
|
|
#9: What are the caricatures for?
|
| The caricatures make it easy to identify our columnists and contributors - the folks who moderate Backwash and keep things running smoothly for the whole community.
|
|
#10: Can I get a caricature?
|
| Not yet, but stay tuned for details.
|
|
#11: What are Columnists and Contributors?
|
| There is so much content on the Internet that in order to filter and recommend it effectively, we need a huge group of people to handle the task. At Backwash, this work is done by our Columnists and Contributors. If you’d like to join our team, read here for more details.
|
|
#12: I have more questions about Backwash!
|
| And we have answers! Backwash has hundreds of columnists and contributors who will gladly answer your questions. You can also send your questions or suggestions to feedback@backwash.com
|
|
For Webmasters
|
|
#13: How do I get links to my content on your site?
|
If enough people either bookmark it or click on it (See question #2,) your site link will automatically be reviewed by one of our moderators for inclusion in our directory, search engine, webfeeds, link recommendations and more.
In addition to the standard method, we also offer guaranteed review, in which one of our editors will review your link without you having to bookmark it. If the link meets our standards and specifications, it will quickly get added to Backwash as regular content. If it does not match our format, it will get added as a Sponsored Link instead. Read here for more details.
|
|
#14: Can I put Backwash content on my website?
|
| Of course you can! We offer a variety of free webfeeds in both java and RSS formats, including our Daily Top 25 and broad topics including Sports, Music and Film & TV. With a Premium Membership, you can create up to three different personalized RSS webfeeds for your personal website. For commercial sites, we offer personalized webfeeds that come with additional features, such as click tracking and more. Click here for more details.
|
