Social & Networking
How to explain matching in three steps
A how-matching-works page earns trust by showing what information goes in, how suggestions are formed and what the person does next. This guide walks through a clear structure with one worked example.
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Step one: say what you collect and why
Begin with the inputs. List the few things a person provides, such as goals, interests, availability and preferences, and give each a one-line reason. Keep the list short, because every extra question lowers completion. Example: a mentoring program asks for a career stage, one skill to build and weekly hours free. Explain which answers are required, which are optional and which are never shown to others. Visitors should finish this section knowing exactly what they are agreeing to share, which makes the later results easier to accept and the whole process feel fair.
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Step two: show how suggestions are formed
Describe the logic in plain language without implying more precision than exists. Say whether matches rely on shared interests, complementary skills, proximity or timing, and which factor counts most. In the mentoring example, the program might first filter for the requested skill, then for overlapping hours, then for the mentor's capacity. Mention that a person can adjust preferences and see updated suggestions. If humans review pairings, say so. A readable explanation lets users judge a suggestion for themselves, and it protects the brand from sounding mysterious or from promising outcomes it cannot guarantee.
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Step three: make the first response easy
End with what happens after a suggestion arrives. Give the person clear options to accept, pass or ask for another, and offer an opening message or agenda so the first contact is not awkward. In the example, the mentee receives two suggested mentors, each with a short reason, and can send a prepared request proposing a thirty-minute call. Explain how to report a poor fit and how feedback improves later suggestions. Finish with expectations about response time. A good page turns matching from a mystery into a short, repeatable routine.