More than 1 dog owner has commented lately that they are having trouble finding me on the site or the App was not working correctly .
Could you provide a little more information? How are they searching for you?
If I search for sitters in your town, you show up for me #10 on the first page of results. I can't speak to how it works with the app, only from a desktop.
Rover does not give customers the ability to search for a sitter by name. However, you can always send those new customers a link to your profile or, if they are repeat customers, then they can always get to you from a previous booking in the Inbox. Or you can even initiate the booking.
I understand. But being a programmer by profession, a search algorithm is NOT platform dependent. The same search (using exactly same parameters) done on different devices SHOULD yield the EXACT same results. There is no reason the search on different devices should offer
“Jane” in position 1 on device A, but on device B, not list “Jane “ in the top 200 results. This was not me, and “Jane “ had 5 stars and repeat clients
I was surprised to have such extreme differences by device when I made the comparison (above). After all is said and done, this is just one more of the many 'how does Search work?' conversations that Rover sitters have asked online for years. Rover intentionally keeps mum on the subject.
Agreed! Rover knows this is an extreme issue because people complain all the time. In fact, each time I complain to Rover I get my profile buried for days as a punishment.
I did some testing, with some surprising results.
I did searches for sitters for both your area and mine, using the same filters. As far as dates go, I searched with no dates, and also specific dates you and I are available, for 2 separate date ranges. My tests were on both laptop and mobile app (Android based). I found a consistent pattern of sorts, but not a mobile-friendly one.
Laptop - For me, spots 1 or 2, for you spots 10 and 12 These were fairly consistent regardless of date range (or lack of) selected
Mobile Device - for me, spots 15 and 16. For you, in the 60's or so (I lost count).
Also, in doing brief scans on both types while looking for you and me, I noted other sitters were also showing up in different places.
If others care to do the same testing, I'd love to see results.
So what it's looking like, if people are looking for a sitter on their laptop you (and I) are both in favorable positions in the results. If they look for a sitter on their mobile device, I will probably still be an option, you will probably never get a request. Definitely surprising to see such a difference in rankings. I didn't expect the results to match exactly, but I didn't expect the range to be so extreme.
Fascinating! I recently did a search for me because someone said they couldn't find me. I was way way back, mainly because of the uselessness of putting in a zipcode and getting a zillion sitters all over the city. The only way I come up in a decent position is by using filters and the map.
I have that happen to me all the time … people put in my zip code and end up with sitters 40 min away coming up so they don't even know I'm available … and I'm a very high volume sitter … so I notice it more than most sitters would!
Im currently having this same issue. Earlier today I was #1 or #2. Tonight, I’m unable to be found anywhere. Even when I use my zip code or streets near me. I don’t know how to fix it?
I've had many issues with the app and website in the last few months. I know they've made some changes to the app (some of them I really like), but apparently there was some regression testing that was missed. It's just buggy sometimes. But, as you all pointed out, the search function sucks. I had a former client not be able to find me in past bookings one day but I was there the next. I've gotten inquiries from people who thought they were contacting a different sitter. One of my clients, who is a developer, and I (who used to do functional processes) always joke about wanting to get our hands on the app and website to make it work better. And, YES! to what Tamra said - it shouldn't matter what platform you're using, the search results should be the same! Seems like maybe Rover has something in the code to throw different results for each log in or it is so badly coded it's essentially not working.
I did a search which I found extremely interesting. I searched my zip code for a specific service (drop-in). I left all other parameters open. Using my iPhone with the Rover app I was in the top 3, using the iPhone with Safari I was in the top 8, iPhone and Firefox gave a different result altogether.
The interesting part was the sitter which was 1st one of the searches (Firefox I think) didn’t show at all in the top 200 of the other (iPhone Rover app). I also compared results on an android with the app and with Firefox, and on a laptop using Firefox, Edge and Chrome. They were all significantly different (though it did surprise me that all of the searches on the laptop looked to be consistent with each other). I spent most of yesterday designing a spreadsheet with my results that I was going to submit to Rover. It is a very large endeavor.
The algorithm on where we show up allows for lots of variations. And yes where you show up never remains static. Submitting to Rover will get you now where, but it was a good exercise for you.
Rover uses a complex search algorithm. But the biggest thing is they give new sitters page 1 rank for a while to get clients/reviews. IMO this is the key...if you don't establish a number of reviews during this time, it'll be extremely difficult to be competitive when you lose that advantage.
I understand. But being a programmer by profession, a search algorithm is NOT platform dependent. The same search (using exactly same parameters) done on different devices SHOULD yield the EXACT same results. There is no reason the search on different devices should offer
“Jane” in position 1 on device A, but on device B, not list “Jane “ in the top 200 results. This was not me, and “Jane “ had 5 stars and repeat clients
And I searched Quakertown for boarding and you showed up at #12. I did notice that only a few sitters have lots of reviews and repeat clients, they are your main competition. Make it a habit to update your availability at least every two days as this helps move you up the search rankings. And I noticed most of your pictures on your profile are fuzzy this is something you can work on to make your profile show better. Best of luck
Rover throttles sitters, based on bookings, return visits, and money made. Which effects the search results by very small margins. I was regularly blown away by the leading sitter, always being the one with little to no reviews and irregular responses or availability. Rover purposely takes inquiries and gives them to less experienced and less popular sitters to keep local prices down.
Yes, my regular customer cannot find me to rebook and she doesn't appear on my rebook page on the app. I have to desktop or internet to book. The zip code search doesn't work to find me but a city search does. Also, I had an owner request a walk a couple of times thinking I was her walker.
Same issue. I have had several complaints and sometimes when I search for myself I can't find myself at all. My thoughts is Rover is using an algorithm and let's new sitters go to the top and hides the feeds of busy sitters so they are not contacted. They should be allowed to search by name.
I tell my clients at the first pick up that everything went well and I would love to have them as a regular client. I tell them they can message me before they book with their travel dates to reserve a spot (helps, blocked on app during pending bookings) I also can modify and rebook for them.
As a pet owner, if i am not able to search sitters by name, then I don't trust Rover and won't use it. Totally fishy and not cool.