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.
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.
What the search looks for
When you type a query, the search matches against the parts of an Investigator profile most useful for hiring decisions:
- Display name and agency name.
- Service area, including cities and metro regions.
- Specialties such as infidelity, missing persons, surveillance, fraud, and other categories from the standard NearbySpy taxonomy.
- Credentials and license badges that have been verified.
How results get ranked
Inside a relevant set, results are ordered by a blend of signals. The exact weights are tuned over time, but the principles are stable:
- Distance from the location you searched, when location is part of the query.
- Quality of the match between your filters and the profile.
- Profile completeness, including verified license details and a clear list of services.
- Reputation signals from booked-Client reviews. See How reviews work on profiles and in the dashboard.
- Featured placement, which is a paid promotion limited to Investigators on a qualifying plan and tied to specific geographies.
Featured cards are clearly labelled. They never replace the rest of the ranking signals. Read Featured placements in directory and search for how that program works for Investigators.
Filters you can use
- Location, including a city, ZIP code, or broader region.
- Specialty or service type.
- Credentials and licensing.
- Languages spoken.
- Rating threshold based on Client reviews.
Combining filters narrows the result set. If a filter brings the list to zero, try removing the most restrictive filter first.
Why two searches can return different results
Search results update as Investigators verify credentials, add specialties, or change service areas. New reviews and bookings also affect rankings. If a profile you remember from yesterday is no longer at the top, it usually means a different profile improved relative to it, not that anything is wrong.
Browsing without typing a query
If you prefer to browse rather than search, use the location browse pages. See Understanding location browse pages.
Starting a conversation from search
Each result card has a primary action to view the public profile and a secondary action to start a message. See Starting a message thread from search and Contacting an Investigator from a public profile.
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.
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.
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.
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