Qassia: Build Backlinks While Sharing "Intel"
Qassia combines two popular trends of Web 2.0 -- social networking and user-submitted content. Qassia has two goals: to build a library of user-submitted information, called "intel", and to provide its intel-writers with backlinks to their websites and blogs.
Qassia was opened to the public by invitation only (here's yours) on January 4th, 2008. I tried it and got some hits on my websites. Like most social media methods of self-promotion, you get traffic while you participate, and traffic tails off when you stop.
[UPDATE March 2009] This page was written as a review of Qassia during beta testing, inviting other users of Qassia to post their experiences and opinions of Qassia as it developed (see Qassia users' reviews and feedback below). My original review was open-ended, since Qassia was still building its basic features. At this point, I've come to the following conclusion:
My verdict is: BUST. I stopped using Qassia because it was a lot of work, there was a lot of lousy intel (I hear this has improved), and I wasn't getting enough traffic or ratings to find it a good ROI. Other users have reported problems with Qassia (see below). Still others have reported success, and I salute you! However, I believe there are better online sources for information, backlinks/SEO, and making money through content submission.
That said, since some people have found success with Qassia, I'm leaving the rest of this page alone: what is Qassia, what is intel, and how does it work. You might find it works for you!
But you'll probably want to skim the reviews by other Qassia users posted below in the Debate Module and Guestbook.
How Qassia Works: Intel, Backlinks, and Adsense
Each user gets a standardized profile page with a photo, a textbox for sharing personal info or other comments, contact info, a list of "My Sites," an index of intel you've published, and a list of your user referrals.Intel is the chief commodity of Qassia. Qassia invites users to submit first-hand information about things, such as people you know, local attractions, companies you've worked with, and topics you're familiar with.
Once you submit intel, it goes to screening. After ten Qassia users have screened and rated it, assuming they don't reject it for violating copyright or a few basic rules like "no pornographic content," it's published. At the bottom of the article is a credit line with your username and one "follow" link to a URL of your choice. So each Intel you submit nets you one backlink.
Qassia also pays users for Google ads, which appear only to other users viewing your intel and profile. 100% of the Adsense revenue from your profile/intel pages is credited to your account. You must have a Google Adsense account to use this feature, and Qassia bans users caught with duplicate accounts.
Poll: Who's on the Qassia Bandwagon?
How Qassia Works: Qassia Dollars
Qassia dollars are not real-world money, but serve an important function for getting links.
The bottom of the front page of Qassia lists the top sites and users by their Qassia dollars.
You choose how to divide the Qassia dollars you've earned among the sites you've chosen to register as "My Sites."
Drawbacks to Qassia
The main problem with Qassia is they're not getting as much information as they are touchy-feely opinions, although this problem has been mitigated somewhat by ratings and the front-page tag cloud. There's now (as usual) a lot on making money, ,uch of which is dubious.
(1.31.08) After reading the page on what kinds of things make good intel, I thought Qassia wanted information on things. However, I received low ratings for my short, informative but un-hip intel on obscure topics such as "Who is Sophocles?" and "Who are the twelve gods of Olympus?" These are the sorts of Google searches that land many visitors on my Ancient Greece Odyssey travel blog, which does not address Cliff Notes type questions on Greece, so I thought I'd answer some in Qassia format.
I earned better ratings when I switched tactics, writing opinion-pieces such as my take on the War on Terror and a "deep thoughts" essay on Immortality and the Internet. I found that humorously-written "did you know?" articles like "Why Are There 12 Hours on a Standard Clock?" and detailed but concise product reviews and website reviews also did well.
In short, the Qassia dollars/ratings system is going to tilt intel towards breezy submissions that can be written and rated speedily. Opinions, top ten lists, and other easy-to-whip-off snippets like cooking recipes are winning out over facts and more precise, in-depth information.
Your Opinion of Qassia
Debate time! What do you like about Qassia? What don't you like? Good idea, or no?
What do you think of Qassia?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byGreat Site
Occitania says:
What I like about Quassia is their reinforcement of standards and if going after "Rogue" users is seen as extreme by some, I for one like that. Too many other sites don't have high standards resulting in people having many duplicate accounts and giving low marks on purpose, yes! there are a few people who thrive on this. Besides, having free links to our pages is always great no matter how high our "intels" are rated. We can express creativity, a plus! Also true one has to contribute on a regular manner to be more visible but that goes for all online sites and shops!
Posted January 26, 2009
Beautiful_GreenBeans says:
When the masses are the moderators, the quality of content will ebb and flow. I will probably excerpt intel from my other writings, rather than devoting too much time to a new piece, as there is also time required for rating other intel. It is still a great way to share your creativity, and the backlinks can't hurt.
However, there is only so much time in the day, and I don't always fancy the inmates running the asylum that day :)
Posted January 16, 2009
Aakash says:
I just signed up... After finding a link. I wish I had known about this service sooner.
Then again:
All of these web features, networking sites, and money-making online products seem to be proliferating cyberspace, at a rate that is too fast, for most people to keep up.
I have no idea how some people manage to work regular jobs, while also blogging so frequently, and managing all of these different online systems, widgets, programs, and services.
This is getting intense...
Posted August 26, 2008
The Wholesale Products Guy Sez.. says:
I just got finished "authenticating" my site with Qassia. Basically, what that means is that they are going to start dropping affiliate sites from their ranks.
So, I guess if you were thinking about putting a landing page that "Does not add to the user experience", it will not be accepted into the system. I don't know what mechanisms are in place to know the difference between what is, and is not, an affiliate site, but I am sure they got it covered.
You have to put a snippet of code on your website, log into your account, and hit the "authenticate" button. I think this might qwell some of the spam, but I am not sure. So, far, I have not had much traffic from Qassia, but I still need to add more "Intel"..
Posted August 21, 2008
foolonthehill says:
As a repository of information it will never rival Wikipedia, but Wikipedia doesn't give back links. My Alexa rank has improved enormously since I joined Qassia. from more than 3 million to 785,000 now. I'm in the top fifty on Qassia and have about 300 articles of 'intel' so far, but only half are self written, the rest are pasted from articles I possess, which doesn't earn you many 'qassia dollars' but does give you a backlink.
Posted June 02, 2008
Waste of Time
Greekgeek says:
Flametastic, Futirist: I hesitate to offer an opinion since I haven't used Qassia myself for a while, but from what I'm reading below, and from my own experiences... I, at least, have found it a waste of time. Your mileage may vary. But good luck to those using Qassia -- we all find success in different ways in this new frontier called Web 2.0.
Posted March 22, 2009
Flametastic says:
Another point - of my 125 articles, some of which a of a really decent quality, I get almost no traffic, if I had submitted those to ezine articles I would have had a ton more traffic, so I am going to delete them and add them there now!
Posted March 17, 2009
Flametastic says:
I don't like it, it's cumbersome to use and they are ridiculously strict and rude. If you rate a piece of crap intel bad and others (including fake accounts) rate it good, then you get banned or have your rating priveledges banned and if you argue they ban you.
I don't use them anymore and I tell people to use Goarticles or Tumblr to get fast, yet high quality backlinks.
Qassia SUCKS
Posted March 17, 2009
thenyouknowit says:
I have added about 10 articles now and they don't attract any traffic and I also doubt if the backlinks have any value at all. Besides, search for your articles in Google, as specific as possible. Will they show up in the SERPs? I have never seen them in Google's top rankings!
Posted January 25, 2009
Futurist says:
Also forgot to mention that the website scraping feature is seriously faulty. My site was found only 3 times out of 9. Again, they refused to determine why that was the case. As a result, I missed out on thousands more of Q$ for the scraping. And if the scraping doesn't work, then I have to question whether the back-links work all the time either.
Posted August 23, 2008
Add Your Qassia Links: Good Intel
Share your links to GOOD intel you've found on Qassia, then vote on the best. I'm going to screen these a bit: I want to see stuff that's informative, interesting or useful to the general reader, not just a "why I'm a dog person and not a cat person" type ramble.
Link Building 101 - Intel by adac - Qassia
If you spend time trying to promote your website t more...1 point
http://www.qassia.com/seo-research-search-engine-optimization-in-bangkok-thailand
SEO Research: Search engine optimization in Bangko more...1 point
Rock and Roll Never Forgets
An aging boomer's reflections on the lessons of ro more...0 points
Facebook Applications Security and Privacy
First-person experiences and concerns with Faceboo more...0 points
Photographer's Letter to Wedding Customer
Suggestions for weddings all start blurring togeth more...0 points
Important News about Apples
The health benefits of apples: some specifics.0 points
Know Your Steak - Intel by The Cool Cook
An excellent steak glossary! My veggie ex wouldn' more...0 points
California Impressionist Artists
Short article on a uniquely Californian art moveme more...0 points
Jacksonville, Florida - Where Florida Begins
Qassia is an auto-cascading website directory, pow more...0 points
Zazzle 101 ... How to make a profit on Zazzle - Intel by bdkz - Qassia
Top 10 Zazzle Tips Zazzle is one of the Print-on-d more...0 points
Guestbook and Sound Off Spot
Shameless Plug Widget
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Favorite it!
Like anything else, different people will have different opinions. So, if you've got something to add (and not just "please visit my lens"), speak up!
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- Timewarp Timewarp Jun 1, 2009 @ 5:56 am
- Thanks for the honest info, good to find a page that isn't just trying to recruit more members. I don't think I will bother with Qassia.
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- SammySpam SammySpam Mar 14, 2009 @ 12:59 am
- I heard about Qassia just as it was coming it. It sounded like a great idea, but i just don't think its taken off, at least yet. I still use it from time to time.
Great lens filled with some good info. :)
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- mgwalk mgwalk Sep 7, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
- I joined about 2 weeks ago and have 3000 Qassia dollars
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- CynthiaBlue CynthiaBlue May 8, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
- I just created a profile and Intel on Qassia yesterday. It's an interesting concept, though not sure it's one that is going to take off. The layout, for instance, needs to be prettier and catchier, if you ask my opinion. :) And it will be interesting to see what kind, and quality, of Intel will be submitted.
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- NorDac NorDac Mar 13, 2008 @ 12:08 am
- I've been on Qassia for about 30 days. My profile and 3 of my 4 intels have been indexed. Not ranked but at least indexed.
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