Focusmate Guides is a program that allows experienced users to welcome new users to the platform. Guides are matched more often with members who are new to Focusmate, creating a warm and welcoming experience.
Being a Focusmate Guide is easy, and makes a big impact. Just show up for your usual sessions, and Focusmate will preferentially match you with new users as needed.
How do I qualify to be a Guide?
To become a Guide, you’ll need at least 15 completed sessions and a profile photo. You'll also need to maintain good attendance and timeliness records in order to be prioritized for matching with new users. Once you qualify, simply make sure that your Focusmate Guides Preference in your Settings page is set correctly.
How does the preferential matching work?
If you’re a Guide and a new user is doing a session during your time slot, our system will try to match you with them instead of selecting a partner at random. You won’t always match with a new user, but you’re more likely to if one is available.
Do I need to do anything different during the session?
No, but we do encourage you to do your best to make it a great session! If you'd like to be extra welcoming, here are some totally optional ideas:Simply saying "Welcome to Focusmate!" can make a big difference.
Share (briefly!) about how you use Focusmate, and how it has impacted you.
Offer to answer any questions they have about how to use Focusmate.
Will new users be able to override my direct booking?
Nope. Direct bookings always take priority, whether you’re a Guide or not. If you’ve directly booked a session with someone, your Guide status won’t change anything.
How do I opt out?
You can go to your Settings page and set your Focusmate Guide Preference to "Never". You can also use the "Occasionally" and "Often" options to change how often you are preferentially matched.
If I opt out of the Guides program, can I still match with a new user?
Yes. Opting out just means you won’t be prioritized to match with new users. But if they’re the only partner available during your session, you’ll still be matched with them as usual.
Who counts as a new user?
New users are defined as anyone with fewer than 3 completed sessions.