Contacting an Investigator from a public profile
You can reach out to an Investigator directly from their public profile, with or without an account. This article explains the choices on a profile page, what the Investigator sees, and what to expect after you send a message.
You can reach out to an Investigator directly from their public profile, with or without an account. This article explains the choices on a profile page, what the Investigator sees, and what to expect after you send a message.
Where the message button is
On a public profile, look for the contact panel near the top of the page. The primary action is usually a button labelled to message or contact the Investigator. Some profiles also expose a phone number, a website link, and an option to request a quote, depending on what the Investigator has chosen to share.
Anonymous inquiry vs signed-in messaging
- Anonymous inquiry. If you are not signed in, you can send a short inquiry by entering your name, email, and a message. This is useful when you want to ask a question before committing to creating an account.
- Signed-in messaging. If you have a Client account, your message goes into a real thread that you can revisit from your dashboard. The Investigator can reply in the same thread and, if appropriate, invite you into a Case.
Both paths reach the Investigator. The signed-in path keeps the conversation organized and lets you exchange files and share context over time.
What the Investigator sees
The Investigator sees your message, the contact details you provided, and the page you came from. They do not see your browser history or any other information from your computer. If you contact several Investigators, they do not see each other's threads.
What to put in a first message
A useful first message answers three questions:
- What is happening, in one or two sentences.
- Where, in terms of city or region.
- What outcome you are hoping for.
You do not need to disclose sensitive details before you decide to engage. Most Investigators will follow up with a short qualifying conversation before quoting work.
Response times and follow-ups
Investigators often work in the field. A first reply usually arrives within a business day. If you have not heard back in two business days and your matter is time sensitive, sending a brief follow-up is reasonable. You can also try a different Investigator from the same area.
Reaching multiple Investigators at once
If you would rather have several Investigators reach out to you, use the Client intake flow on the marketplace. It notifies a small set of Investigators in your area at once, which can be faster than messaging each one individually.
If a profile has no message option
A small number of imported listings may not yet support direct messaging because the Investigator has not claimed the profile. In that case, look for a website link or use the marketplace contact form.
Related
Related in Marketplace
Blog posts vs Help Center documentation
NearbySpy publishes two kinds of long-form content: the blog and the Help Center. They look similar from the outside but they exist for different reasons.
Featured placements in directory and search
Featured placements are paid slots that promote your Investigator profile to the top of NearbySpy's directory and search results within a specific geographic area.
How Investigator search and filters work
The Investigator search on NearbySpy is built on Algolia, with rules that combine location, specialty, credentials, and reputation. This article explains how results are ordered and how the filters change what you see.
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