We provide you with analytics in order to help you get the most out of your Tryst.link profile. We also use an algorithm to create fair search results, instead of encouraging users to pay us for constant boosts. Because this creates variation in your search placement, your analytics will help you see the whole picture.
The Tryst ranking algorithm
Tryst works a little differently to most other directories, since we use a dynamic algorithm to order the results for each query. This ensures that all providers at a given plan level get proportionate visibility, even in busy markets like New York or San Francisco.
Most platforms use a list-based system, where users pay for a "bump" to boost them to the top position of search results for a given location (or sometimes the whole site). This style of search placement originated on classified sites like Backpage.com, where listings were generally presented by category or location pages as a list, without a flexible search feature. Even though most directories have the ability to build a more dynamic search system, they often use boosts anyway, since providers were already used to paying for that top position.
This creates a never-ending cycle. You pay to boost your profile, but if others boost theirs, you're knocked off that top position and will gradually end up lower and lower in the list until you pay again. This is particularly bad in busy markets where you might not even get a few hours on the first few pages. It heavily favours those who can afford to pay for lots of boosts over those who can only afford the occasional boost.
How the algorithm works
When someone browses Tryst and clicks on a location, we do a few things to determine what order they see the profiles in. After we filter for location, we consider a few things about your profile, like what plan you're on, how recently you've activated Available Now, and how recently you were last active on Tryst. We use these to help position your profile in each search, but add a random factor as well. This means that we present a different order to every user on every search. You might not show within the first few pages for your test search, but you may be showing up there for someone else.
We added this shuffle to search results to ensure that everyone who is paying for a plan tier gets a fair number of placings higher up the list, rather than prioritising the latest person who paid. This is especially important in large cities, like NYC or San Francisco, where there are a large number of listings overall, and a large number of people paying for upgraded listings. We want everyone to get maximum value from their listing without needing to pay to constantly boost it.
So what about the Available Now button? When you mark your profile as Available Now it will apply a small boost to your position after the shuffle is completed.
Other ways to improve your visibility: Ensuring that your profile is filled out and updated regularly will give you more ways to be seen. We also only show people the kind of profiles they are looking for — if someone searches for providers who offer services to female clients and you're marked as only catering to male clients, you won't appear in that search. You can adjust how your profile appears using the caters to options on the edit profile page.
Going on tour? Creating tours will ensure that you appear in searches for those locations as well, up to the limit of your plan tier, at the same grouping you pay for in your home base. We give your current location the biggest boost, whether that is your home base or a tour you are currently on. For example if your home base is New York City and you have a tour listed for today in Miami, your profile will be boosted more in Miami than New York for the plan tier group you are on.
Exposure outside of search results
Search isn't the only place your profile is shown on Tryst. When we designed Tryst, we wanted to make sure it would scale well and offer everyone exposure no matter how large the platform became.
Similar profiles
Located at the bottom of every profile, the similar profiles list is filled out based on profile attributes that you configure from the edit profile page. For example, if your profile lists you as a brunette provider in Melbourne, this area would be filled predominately with brunette women located in Melbourne, Australia. Your position in this list will also be based on your profile tier and how many attributes you share in common with the profile that's being viewed.
Don't want to take part in this feature? Deselect the option to Appear on other profiles from the edit profile page. When you deselect this option, your profile will no longer show in the similar profiles section on other providers' profiles.
Categories and the homepage
Having your profile fully filled out allows us to show your profile not only on category pages but specific search requests. Based on your profile content you will show up in categories like 420-friendly, curvy, and available now. We're always looking at expanding these categories — keep an eye on any new sections that appear in your edit profile area, or any announcements on the dashboard!
We also show profiles on our homepage, highlighting recently active and providers new to the platform. These lists are also prioritised based on plan level and randomised so the providers listed vary for each visit.
Search varies from person to person, so just performing test searches for your profile won't give you a full rounded picture of where your profile appears for everyone. That's why we have an analytics suite available for all profiles, with more insights available on paid plans.