General FAQ

What is 1 Cool File?
1 Cool File is a new innovative, international and English based service that allows software authors, bloggers, themes/plugins authors and advertisers to reach thousands by submitting their "creations" in the many available categories.

For software authors(freeware/shareware), it's a way to reach new potential users.

For bloggers, it's a way to reach new readers and earn more money from paid reviews and the member program.

For themes/plugins authors, it's one more way to show off your themes or plugins to other bloggers.

For advertisers, freeware/shareware or themes/plugins authors, it's a way to find a blogger that will do a paid review for you.

You get:
Freeware, shareware, pluings, themes...
Blog Directory(marketplace)
Advertisers(files or services) and bloggers for paid reviews
Our member program to make money

Do we have you on File? Be Cool and submit!

Why add my blog?
The Blog Directory is allowing us to create a pool of real bloggers and it also help reduce "dead blogs". Advertisers(shareware/freeware...) will be able to select from that pool for ordering reviews. Because it’s “public”, any outside advertisers can also find a blogger willing to do a paid review for them just by searching the 150+ categories. This is a good marketplace for you. You can even pay another blogger to review your blog. You also have the option to be in the member program.

Your Buy Now URL will send the advertiser to your review rate landing page. You could have one just for 1 Cool File or any third party services you want(PayPerPost, ReviewME, SponsoredReviews ...). But be aware that an advertiser may still want to use a third party services. They may use us or any of third party services.

By asking a small fee(yearly or one time) from the blogger, we will not ask any cut of the amount that you charged the advertiser. If you go the direct route and handle all communications with the advertiser, you will be able to keep 100% of the review fee. Your first review will cover the cost of the Blog Package and after that, it’s all profits for you. The fee is for other features that we can give you.

This is not a paid link because you have the option to add your blog for free. The fee is for you to get extra features only and get approved faster if you don't want to wait. It's traffic that is more important. Natural linking is better to build your PageRank. This is to be in accordance with Google and paid links. For example, the nofollow will be used in direct link to the advertiser site.

Why do I need to create an account?
You will be able to change the description, your paid review rate... later if your want. When you add a file(software, theme or plugin) or a blog, it will be link to your account. So, a visitor can see your other "creations".

What does the Editor's Rating mean?
It's a rating given by us or on our behalf via a paid 1 Cool File Review. The rating is rare and not given to everyone.

Examples of awards(Editor's and User's):

What does the Escrow Reviews mean?
It is for blogs only: It's a number representing how many time our escrow service was used for paid review. So, a number of 1 or more would mean that a blogger used our escrow service. Each escrow is worth 1. For example, Platinum members start with 10 because they want to demonstrate their commitment to the paid review process. Reviews that were not done by a blogger will decrease it by 2. They are no maximum or minimum. See below for more information.

My blog is not showing?
If a blog does not meet our guidelines, it will be deleted regardless of the blog package(free or paid) you used. We want real blogs only. We don't want: adult blogs, automatically generated blogs(RSS scrapers), blog networks(paid links), blogs with text from other sources ... We want original content blogs. The content is not obscene, libellous or defamatory (more info on what that means), hateful or racially or ethnically objectionable, and does not violate the privacy or publicity rights of any third party.

You can submit a 1 day old blog but we suggest to wait a few weeks or posts. New blogs are not very attractive to advertisers because of their lack of traffic. You could create a quality post on day 2 that could attract the attention of many bloggers. By building on that, you could have a steady traffic for weeks. That's why we don't put a minimum of days. But if you are not looking for advertisers, then do submit your blog.

What is a "dead blog"?
If a blog was not updated in the last 3 months, it will be considered a "dead blog" and thus will no longer be visible. After 4 months, it will be deleted regardless of the blog package. If you feel you don't want your blog anymore, offer it in the Blog For Sale category while it has still some value. The goal is to keep the directory clean with fresh content for visitors and advertisers.

I have too many things to fill out to add my blog?
The instructions are written to offer the maximum of information. Not everyone are technology savvy and those step by step instructions respond for their needs. You can enter the basic information but some of the information will be used by advertisers. You must remember that this is not just a simple blog directory where you submit a blog and forget it. We do have a paid option to enter the basic information, create accounts.... for you.

How to contact 1 Cool file?
We can be reached via contact form. Make sure you give a working email because we had a few email and could not reply to the person.

Business hours
9:00 till 17:00 (EST), Monday through Friday except public holidays.

What is PayPal?
PayPal is the main payment processing solution that we use. Your PayPal address is the email address you used to register with PayPal. For example, we pay our members with it. You can get a free PayPal account here.

What is AlertPay?
AlertPay is is alternative payment processing solution that we use. Again, you email is used address you use to register with Alert Pay. For example, advertiser can use it if PayPal is not available in their country. Also, fees are less with AlerPay. You can get a free AlertPay account here.

I don't have a blog, can I still join?

No, you need an active blog.

What to I get with my Blog Package?
You will be in the member program and get other features if you do paid reviews.

Can other people in my household join?
They must have a valid unique e-mail address and valid unique PayPal address/account to register with our program.

Can I have more than one account?
No. There is no need to maintain more than one account. If you've lost your login information, you can request to have it sent to your e-mail address. If you are caught with more then one account open (we have a very strict auditing process before payments are sent) your account(s) will be terminated, your ip address(es) will be banned and you will not receive any earnings.

How much money can I make?
You can do paid reviews that will also add to your total income.

How can I cancel my account?
We can be reached via the contact form.

Why I have not received my welcome email or password request?
You need to make sure that mail from the 1 Cool file domain is not being blocked. Try adding "webmaster@1coolfile.com" to your address book.

How do I get paid?
Currently, we only make payments via PayPal or AlertPay.

When do I get paid?
Soon after you have published your review. See below for more information.

Why did I get paid less then what I was owed?
If you have a business account with PayPal, they charge a 2.9% transfer fee plus an additional $0.30 base fee when you receive funds. If you have a premium account with AlertPay, they charge a 2.5% transfer fee plus an additional $0.25 base fee when you receive funds. You can get a free AlertPay account here.

What is the "Escrow on Paid Review" in the member page?
This is the amount that we will take on paid reviews $10 and above that you or the advertiser requested. It's only optional. See the advertiser section for more information on this.

What is the "Escrow Reviews for 1 blog"in the membership page?
By buying a membership, you will get that number added to your Escrow Reviews on 1 blog. That way, you will start with 10 and this will show that you are serious about paid reviews. If the membership is not renewed, you will have that number reduced.

Are there any restrictions on advertising on 1 Cool File?
Your ad cannot promote adult content or illegal activity. We also do not accept sites that use frame breakers. We use nofollow on all links.

How does paid reviews/advertising on a blog work?
Select a blog and click on the Buy Now and you will then be sent to the blogger's price per review page on the blog or click the Home page.

Paid review: We are not involved in any way at this point. From there, you can enter in contact with the blogger by asking for a a paid review. The blogger may offer to you to use us(Escrow) or a third party review services(PayPerPost, ReviewME, SponsoredReviews ...) . It is better to open an account first with any of these services. Bloggers may want to use the nofollow on paid reviews or they risk losing their Google PageRank.

Advertisement: The blogger may also sell you advertisement(banners, text link) too if you don't want a review.

What is an Escrow Review option?
We offer an escrow option for reviews $10 or above. The advertiser will send the money to us and we will pay the blogger once the review is done. This option can also be requested by the blogger. We don't make any judgement on the quality of the review. We also take a very small percentage for that reason and to cover our cost(transfer fees). Using a blog with an higher Escrow Review will be best for you. Each time an advertiser use the escrow options, we add 1 to the blogger's Escrow Review once the review is done. If the review is not done after the timeframe that both party agreed, the advertiser will be refunded minus a small fee and the blog with be deducted 2 plus a negative review will be added to the blog.

The main goal is get serious bloggers and quality reviews for advertisers. After a while, the blogger's own reputation will negate the use of any services. By being less involved, it leaves more money in the pocket of the blogger.

What are the steps for an Escrow Review?
This is the normal way:

1. Advertiser: Select a blog and negotiate the maximum date for the review to be publish.
2. Blogger: Email us the blog URL, advertiser name, price, PayPal or AlertPay payment option and maximum date to be publish. The same email must be sent to the advertiser.
3. Advertiser: Send us the payment with the payment option taken thus confirming the email.
4. Blogger: Publish the review. Email us and the advertiser with the URL of the review.
5. Us: We verify that the URL exist on the blog and we pay the blogger minus our fee.

What if something goes wrong with an Escrow Review?
We are not a conflict manager and that's why we ask for a lesser fee but we have penalities:

If the review is not done within the date of the last official email to us, the advertiser can email us for a request for a partial refund minus our fee(10%). We will not pay the blogger and substract 2 from the Escrow Review and double the blogger's escrow fee for the next review.

If the blogger can't do the review, a email must be sent to us and the advertiser before the maximum date. No penalities will be given to the blogger. It should give time to the advertiser to turn around and find another blogger.

If the maximum date is only an expected goal(i.e. not a product/service launch), we suggest that both parties work out a way to finish the review.

You must remember that it is optional and most bloggers are responsable. Before investing on a paid review, you should read previous reviews by a blogger.