Feedback on Backboard

"Let us know what you like about Backboard, and if there is anything we could do to make it better for you."

— Increo Team

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Frequently Asked Questions

Backboard

Who uses Backboard?

Backboard is a simple utility designed to help you get feedback on whatever you are working on:

Managers might use Backboard to gather input on product plans.
Marketing teams can collaborate and gather feedback on graphic designs.
Web designers can get client feedback on their latest concepts.
Students might discuss and evaluate ideas for class projects.

And much more…

What type of documents do you support?

Backboard can gather feedback on documents (Word (DOC/DOCX), Excel (XLS/XLSX), PowerPoint (PPT/PPTX), WPD, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, Text and PDF), images (GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP and PSD), web pages or other URLs, and free-form text.

Inviting Collaborators

How do I invite teammates to give feedback on my document?

Once you create a Backboard, you will be taken to a form where you can enter email addresses of teammates. We will send them an email with a link to your Backboard. Anytime you view your Backboard, click the share button near the top of the screen to access this form and send additional invitations.

User Accounts

Do I need a user account?

No. You can create and leave feedback on Backboards without a user account. When you create and confirm a user account, all the Backboards you have participated in with that email address are automatically added to that account. This allows you to find your backboards if you have misplaced the links.

Why should I create a user account?

A user account saves your information so that you don't have to enter it every time you create or leave feedback on a Backboard. It also helps you keep track of your Backboards and your contacts, so you can quickly and easily get feedback on all your projects. A user account is also required for some features such as creating and replying to restricted Backboards. For more information on what type of user account is right for you, see our plans and pricing.

What is a sponsored user account?

Some premium user accounts enable you to sponsor other user accounts. The users you sponsor then have all the premium features of your account without having to buy a premium plan individually. For more information on what type of user account is right for you, see our plans and pricing.

Why do some users have photos beside their feedback?

Backboard supports gravatars, or globally recognized avatars. Visit the Gravatar website to associate a gravatar with your email address.

Creating and Editing Backboards

Can I delete a Backboard once I have created it?

Yes. Click on My Backboards and then click the X next to the Backboard you would like to delete.

How do I upload a new version of my document?

You need a user account to upload a new version to your Backboard. When you are logged in, you can upload new versions of the document by choosing the "Add New Version" button on the Backboard. All the versions will display as tabs on the main Backboard so reviewers can see changes from one version to another.

How do I use a Backboard to help choose between two versions of a document?

Backboard makes it easy to ask for input when considering two different versions of a logo or other document. Simply upload one document when you are creating the Backboard and upload the alternative document as a new version (choose the "Add New Version" button). You can give the new version a title, and prompt reviewers to choose between the two options. Note: you need a user account to upload a new version to your Backboard.

I misplaced the email link to a Backboard I set up. How can I access it?

You need a user account to find your Backboards. From the Backboard front page, click on “Find my Backboards” and create/log in to your account.

How do I use Backboard-by-Email?

Backboard-by-Email makes it quick and easy to create a Backboard. Simply copy create@getbackboard.com on your next team email and attach a document you want feedback on. Put your comments in the body of the email. We will create a new Backboard from your document and send a link to you and everyone included on the email.

Adding a Backboard to your team email allows your team to leave feedback in one centralized place.

You can use a variety of optional email addresses to customize your Backboard-by-Email:

create+accesskey@getbackboard.com – Access Key Protected
create+secure@getbackboard.com – Restricted Access
create+approval@getbackboard.com – Prompt for Approval

Combinations of these keywords also work, such as create+secureapproval@getbackboard.com.

Please note that if you attach multiple files or specify several secure settings, we will create a Backboard from the first file or most secure option you specify. At this time, Backboard-by-Email only supports Backboards created from attached files. You will need to visit the Backboard website to create Backboards from URLs or entered text.

How do I use Backboard Express?

Backboard Express is a desktop application available for Mac OS X and Windows that makes it quick and easy to create a Backboard.

Start by downloading the lightweight Backboard Express application. To create a Backboard, simply drag your file to the Backboard Express desktop icon. Backboard Express will launch your browser and walk you through customizing and sharing your Backboard.

For your security, Backboard Express uploads your files with industry-standard SSL Encryption. Backboard Express supports the following operating systems: Mac OS X Tiger and later, and Windows XP SP2 and later.

At this time, Backboard Express only supports Backboard created from uploaded files. You will need to visit the Backboard website to create Backboards from URLs or entered text.

Privacy and Security

Who will be able to see my documents?

All of your documents are protected by url obfuscation--we locate your backboard at an extremely difficult-to-guess url. When you create your Backboard, you can choose more advanced security settings such as "Requires a secret Access Key" or "Restricted to people I invite".

Why should I choose "Open to anyone who has the URL"?

All of your documents are protected by url obfuscation--we locate your backboard at an extremely difficult-to-guess url. This security level makes it quick and easy to get feedback from collaborators. Invitees can share your Backboard with others by selecting "Share this Backboard". URL obfuscation does not require you or your invitees to have an account.

Why should I choose "Requires a secret Access Key"?

This security level makes it easy to get feedback from large groups. When associates arrive at your Backboard’s URL, they are required to either enter an Access Key that was sent to them by email or log in to their confirmed, password-protected Backboard account. You, the creator, will never see this key; you automatically have access to your Backboard when you are logged in to your Backboard account. Invitees who have entered the correct key can share your Backboard with others by selecting "Share this Backboard". This is perfect for large groups where you might not know in advance everyone that needs to approve or review your work. This security level requires you to have a (free) account, but it does not require your invitees to have one.

Why should I choose "Restricted to people I invite?

This security level provides the maximum security for your Backboards. Only you can grant access to your Backboard to another person--great for a small team working on sensitive documents. We protect your Backboard by requiring all viewers to log into their own confirmed, password-protected Backboard accounts, and then allowing access only to the people you've chosen to access your Backboard. This security level requires you to have a paid Backboard account, and your invitees to have or sign up for a (free) account.

Why do I need to confirm my account?

When we create your account, we look for Backboards you have created with that email address in the past, and add those Backboards to your account. We need to make sure you really are the owner of that email address before we show you these Backboards, or let you access restricted Backboards.

Why do you need my email address?

We use your email address to identify you within our system, and communicate with you specifically about your Backboards. We respect your email privacy, as detailed in our Privacy Policy. Please note that each Backboard participant will be notified when there is new feedback, but we make every effort to make email notifications non-obtrusive.

Address Book and Groups

How do I add new contacts?

Whenever you share a Backboard, the email addresses you enter are saves as contacts in your address book. The next time you begin typing those emails, we will automatically complete the address. You can also import contacts from Outlook, Gmail, LinkedIn, Yahoo and Hotmail. You can organize your contacts into groups, which allow quick sharing with several contacts at once.

How do I import my existing contacts?

You can import contacts from Outlook, Gmail, LinkedIn, Yahoo and Hotmail as you are sharing a Backboard by selecting the appropriate service under "Import Addresses From…". Enter your username and password (or, for Outlook, follow the directions on the screen to upload your contacts). We do not save your login information. After import you will see a list of contacts with check boxes. All your contacts will be saved to your account (if you have one), but only the contacts you check will be invited to view the Backboard you are sharing. You may also access the Import Contacts screen from your Address Book.

What is a Group?

To make it convenient to share Backboards with the same group of contacts (such as a project team) repeatedly, use Backboard Groups. By saving a list of contacts as a group, you can share a Backboard with that group by selecting the group name under "All Groups" or "Recently Used". Think of groups as a shortcut for typing emails into the share screen: one contact can be in several groups, you can share the same Backboard with multiple groups, and it’s easy to fine-tune a group (adding or excluding members) when you are sharing a Backboard. You can edit your groups and manage your contacts in your Address Book.

Payment and Billing

How does billing work?

We bill monthly by credit card so you never need to make a long term commitment, you can downgrade to a free account anytime. There are no contracts and no surprises. If you upgrade your plan, you'll see the benefits immediately, but you won't be charged the higher rate until the following billing cycle. If you downgrade, you will be charged the lower rate at the next billing cycle. We work hard to keep things simple for you, so please understand that we cannot issue refunds and do not prorate for partial months of use.

How does the 30-day free trial work?

We want you to have every opportunity to experience what Backboard has to offer. Your first premium plan is free for the first 30 days; if you downgrade to the Free plan before the trial is up, you pay absolutely nothing. Please note that if you downgrade to the Free plan during your free trial, you forfeit the remainder of your trial.

What is a premium Backboard account?

We use the term "premium account" to refer to any of the paid plans: Individual, Team, or Office. These plans offer additional functionality over free Backboard accounts.

How do I change my plan?

Premium Backboard service is pay-as-you-go, so you are never stuck in a contract or long-term commitment. Select Account Settings, choose your new plan, and we will adjust your rate for the next billing cycle. If you no longer want a premium Backboard account, you can downgrade your account to the Free plan.

How do I add sponsored accounts?

Once you sign up for a plan that supports sponsored accounts, you can designate the email addresses of the people you would like to sponsor on the Account Settings screen. Once you add an email address, Backboard will notify them of your sponsorship. If the email address is already associated with a Backboard account, we will automatically upgrade that account. Otherwise, we will send an email inviting that person to sign up for their sponsored account.

How do I downgrade my account if I have too many sponsored accounts?

If you try to downgrade your account and you are sponsoring more users than the new account supports, you cannot downgrade until you reduce the number of users you are sponsoring on the Account Settings screen. Users you stop sponsoring will be notified and their accounts downgraded to Free accounts. Once you are under the limit for the new plan, you will be allowed to downgrade.

How do I change my billing information?

You can change your billing information at any time by clicking on the link on the Account Settings screen, located beside your next billing date.

How do I cancel my account?

If you need to cancel your paid account, please change your account type to the Free plan. You will still be able to access your old Backboards, but you will no longer be able to create new Backboards with premium features.

Technical Specifications

What browsers does Backboard support?

Backboard supports Internet Explorer 6 or later, Safari 2 or later, and Firefox 2 or later.

What operating system do I need to download and run Backboard Express?

Mac OS X Tiger and later or Windows XP SP2 and later

Increo Corporate

What is Increo?

Increo Solutions is a software company located in Mountain View, CA. We produce easy-to-use software to support teams throughout the innovation process.

What do I do if I have a suggestion?

We are constantly working to make Backboard better. If you have found a problem or have a suggestion for Backboard please contact us.