You've Got Questions?

What Is ScratchBack?
ScratchBack is an online "tipping" system. It allows you, the publisher, to accept tips and "give back" links or images in return (all links are nofollow). You name your price on your tips, and you earn money from every interaction through our easy-to-use automated system. It's free to sign-up, and you can have a TopSpot widget on your website or blog in minutes.

Can I Make Money With This?
Yes, and we believe you can earn more with this fun solution than you can with other traditional solutions. ScratchBack was built to do more than "make money online" however. It was built to allow you and your readers to interact with each other beyond just comments.

So People Are Buying Ads On My Site?
Technically, yes, but not really. You're not really "selling" ads, you're accepting tips. Advertisers (your readers) do get something in return; a link or an image that displays on your site, but it's not an ad buy. They're "scratching your back". :) Example: "I love this gal's blog, it has great information. I wish I could tip them and give them a few bucks to say thank you." Now you can offer that to them, with some fun benefits.

This Is Like A Fancy, Fun Tip Jar Then?
Pretty much, except it's better because the tipper actually gets something in return. You ever see those boring "donate" buttons on people's sites? Well, ScratchBack takes it a step further. Now, you can get someone to donate to your efforts, and they can get a little something in return.

Readers get the opportunity to display a text link or image, plus a custom message on mouseover, on your website or blog in return for their tip. Neato.

Why Would Someone Tip Me In This Manner?
Because it's fun and readers are grateful for good information. Why wouldn't someone want to throw a few bucks your way if you're giving them high-quality, helpful information? With Scratchback, they can tip you, have some fun, and participate beyond just leaving comments.

Who Is This For?
It's built for everyone, from small blogger, to HUGE publisher, regardless of traffic. Smaller sites or blogs will find that their TopSpots can generate some extra income that they might not be getting from other sources. Big publishers can use their TopSpots to allow everyone to participate on their sites beyond just reading or leaving a comment. If you like to have fun, and you think your readers like the information you have to offer, than this is something for you.

Give Me One Reason Why I Should Try This?
Again, this isn't about "making money online". That's why this is different. This is about allowing your readers to "give back" to you in a fun way. It's about engaging your readers and letting them participate with you beyond just leaving comments. Sure, you're going to earn tips from this, and that's great, you should. Your readers should be happy they can do this for you, and get something back in return for their tip.

You want one reason? It's new, different, fun and unlike anything that exists. Wait, that's four! :)

How Much Do I Make From Each Tip?

Scratchback takes a commission from each tip to pay for bandwidth, hosting and administrative fees. Please note... The current commission structure has been switched to 90% for the publisher during this beta! View details in this post.

It will be readjusted after the beta to a lower number, but still very fair and better than the 50% launch fee. Please stay tuned to the ScratchBack blog and our terms for updates.

What Is A TopSpot?
This is the name for the widget that you create and put on your website or blog. It's highly configurable, see below.

What Is Auto-Bumping?
This is the default method for setting up a TopSpot. Auto-bump means that every time somebody new tips you, that person moves to the top of the TopSpot list. Example: If you have 10 TopSpots available, and Reader A is in the #1 spot, and Reader B tips you after Reader A, then Reader B moves into the top spot, pushing Reader A one spot down. This also means that eventually, Reader A will be pushed off the list completely.

What If I Don't Want To Use Auto-Bumping?
No worries, you can change your TopSpot to a 24-hour, 7-day, or 30-day listing instead. That means that each listing would stay in the TopSpot list for the period of time chosen by you in creation. Example: If Reader A tips you for a TopSpot you setup for a 7-day listing, then Reader A's listing will stay in your TopSpot for 7-days from the time of purchase, then automatically remove itself.

Do I Use Text Links Or Images?
It's your choice, have fun with it.

How Much Do I Charge For My TopSpot?
Totally up to you (minimum $1.00). We suggest you set your pricing for tips based on your own perceived value of your website or blog. Here are a few scenarios for you to ponder when thinking about pricing.

Scenario #1 - You could keep your pricing low, let's say at the minimum of $1.00. That will allow pretty much anyone visiting your site the ability to tip you and get a TopSpot listing. The great idea about this is that many of your visitors could participate, earning you a lot more through volume of purchases.

Scenario #2 - You set your pricing a bit higher, based upon what you think your readers might want to tip. For example, if your site is getting 1,000 visitors to it a day, you may value your TopSpot spaces at a much higher premium. So you could make 10 spots available at $25.00 each.

Those are just two simple scenarios.

What If Someone Writes Something I Don't Want To Show Up On My Site?
Then login and delete it. You are under no obligation to show or approve any listing you find questionable for ANY reason. There are no refunds either. Your readers are tipping you for your efforts. Once they send the money into the system, it's recorded as a tip for you and they cannot have it back. Note: You can turn on manual approve during TopSpot creation so no listings will appear until you have seen them first.

How Do I Get Paid?
Payments for earnings are ONLY paid through PayPal. If you don't have a valid, working PayPal account, you shouldn't use Scratchback as a publisher because you won't ever get paid. In the future we may add alternative payment methods so stayed tuned. Payments are made at the end of a thirty-day cycle. It can take up to 15 days to remit payment to your PayPal account at the end of each cycle. Publishers must earn at least $25 to initiate payment.

Is There An Affiliate Program?
Not at this time.

Do My Links Pass Page Rank?
They do not. Every single link, including the link back to Scratchback, in the TopSpot widget has a "nofollow" hard encoded in them. The code is delivered in Javascript format as well. That means that Google and other search engine spiders "won't follow" the link. It doesn't mean your link isn't clickable, it is.

You cannot remove that code, nor should you attempt to as per the user agreement every publisher and advertiser agree to upon registration. Google has made it perfectly clear that "selling page rank" is not something they believe in. We don't believe in it either. This system is built for fun. There are plenty of other solutions out there you can use if you want to "pass Google juice", just not this one. Did you hear that Google? :)

Will Google Penalize Me For Using This?
Nope. See above.

Can I Have A TopSpot Widget & Google Adsense On The Same Page?
Yes. TopSpots are not contextual in any way and do not conflict with Google's terms.

Is There A Marketplace?
Nope. We don't need no stinking marketplaces. This is about spur-of-the-moment tipping, not "buying ads". You see a site or blog that you like that is running the TopSpot widget, then you go and tip that person, quick and easy, everyone is happy.

What Can/Can't I Do With My TopSpot Widgets?

• You CAN put the same widget on multiple websites/blogs.
• You CAN create as many TopSpots as you wish for use on multiple pages or sites.
• You CAN'T put more than one widget on a single website page... It won't work, don't try. Only one will show up.

Can I Get A Custom Design For My TopSpot?
Yes, read this page for information about custom designs. A small fee may apply.

Who's Behind This?
JFK Services, LLC is company owned by long-time online marketer and blogger Jim Kukral. Google Jim for hundreds of pages of information, or visit Jim's blog. Scratchback is powered through Rackspace servers.