CAREIMO
This page explains how advertising works on CareIMO, how provider rankings and the leaderboard are determined, and how we keep paid placements separate from organic results. We believe in transparency, and this disclosure is part of that commitment.
1. Advertising on CareIMO
How ads are displayed
CareIMO displays advertisements provided by third-party advertising networks. On our website, advertisements are delivered through Google AdSense. In our mobile applications, advertisements are delivered through Google AdMob.
Advertisements may appear on various pages and screens throughout the Services, including alongside discussion content and within the provider directory. The placement, type, and frequency of advertisements are determined by CareIMO and its advertising partners.
How ads are labeled
All advertisements on CareIMO are clearly labeled. Third-party advertisements are identified with labels such as “Sponsored,” “Ad,” or “Advertisement.” If you see one of these labels, the content is a paid advertisement.
What ads are not
What data flows to advertising partners
Our advertising partners may use cookies, device identifiers, and similar technologies to deliver relevant advertisements and measure ad performance. CareIMO does not share the content of your health questions, answers, clinical images, or provider search queries with advertising partners. For details on what data advertising partners receive and how to opt out, see our Cookie & Tracking Technologies Policy at www.careimo.com/cookies and Section 6 of our Privacy Policy at www.careimo.com/privacy.
2. How Provider Directory Rankings Work
Default ranking
When you browse the provider directory without applying filters, providers are ranked based on platform activity metrics. The primary default ranking factor is the number of helpful votes a provider has received from the community. Providers who have contributed more helpful votes appear higher in the default view.
User-controlled filters
You have control over how provider results are displayed. You can filter and sort providers by:
When you apply filters, results are adjusted based on your selections. The ranking within filtered results is based on platform activity metrics, not payment.
What rankings are based on
Provider directory rankings are based on platform activity metrics only. These metrics may include factors such as helpful votes received, number of answers posted, recency of activity, specialty relevance, and other community engagement indicators. CareIMO may adjust, add, or modify ranking factors over time to improve the quality and relevance of results.
What rankings are NOT based on
Payment does not buy a higher organic ranking position. Paid and organic results are kept separate, as described below.
3. How the Leaderboard Works
The provider leaderboard ranks providers based on their platform activity and community engagement. Leaderboard placement is determined by contribution metrics such as the number of answers posted, helpful votes received, and overall participation on the platform.
Leaderboard placement is not influenced by payment, subscription tier, or sponsored status. A provider cannot pay to appear on or rank higher in the leaderboard.
CareIMO may adjust leaderboard methodology over time to better reflect the quality and relevance of provider contributions.
4. Featured and Sponsored Providers
What sponsored placement is
CareIMO may offer verified providers the opportunity to purchase sponsored placement within the provider directory or other areas of the platform. Sponsored placements may include:
How sponsored placements are labeled
All sponsored provider placements are clearly and conspicuously labeled. You will always be able to distinguish sponsored placements from organic results. Sponsored placements are marked with labels such as “Sponsored,” “Featured,” “Ad,” or similar disclosure, in compliance with FTC guidelines.
Sponsored placement does not affect organic rankings
Purchasing sponsored placement does not change a provider’s position in the organic directory rankings or on the leaderboard. Sponsored placements appear in designated areas that are separate from or clearly distinguished within organic results. A provider’s organic ranking continues to be determined solely by platform activity metrics, regardless of whether that provider has purchased sponsored placement.
5. Contribution Metrics
CareIMO tracks and displays contribution metrics for providers, which may include the number of responses posted, helpful votes received, and other community engagement indicators. These metrics are visible on provider profiles and may be used in directory rankings and leaderboard placement.
What contribution metrics represent
How contribution metrics are calculated
Contribution metrics are calculated using platform-generated activity data. CareIMO may adjust, recalibrate, or modify the methodology used to calculate contribution metrics at any time to improve accuracy, prevent manipulation, or better serve the community. Metrics are calculated independently of any paid status, subscription tier, or sponsorship arrangement.
6. What “Verified Provider” Means
“Verified Provider” means that CareIMO checked a provider’s professional credentials at a specific point in time. It does not mean that CareIMO endorses, recommends, or guarantees the provider’s competence, clinical quality, or suitability for any purpose. For more information, see our Safety Disclaimer at www.careimo.com/safety-disclaimer.
Verified Provider status is not a paid designation. Providers do not pay to become verified. Verification is based on credential review, not payment.
7. Editorial Independence
CareIMO’s content moderation decisions, ranking algorithms, and platform features are developed and operated independently of advertising relationships. Advertisers do not influence which content is displayed, how discussions are moderated, which providers are verified, or how organic rankings are determined.
CareIMO is a user-generated content platform. CareIMO does not exercise editorial control over user-posted content and does not endorse user content. For more information, see Sections 3.6 and 3.7 of our Terms of Service.
8. No Referral Relationship
CareIMO is a discussion platform and provider directory. CareIMO does not receive compensation for referring, recommending, or directing users to any provider. Provider subscriptions, directory listings, leaderboard placement, and platform participation do not constitute referral fees or kickback arrangements. For more information, see Section 12.6 of our Terms of Service.
9. Changes
CareIMO may update this disclosure from time to time to reflect changes in our advertising practices, ranking methodology, or available features. If we make material changes, we will update the date at the top of this page.
10. More Information
For more details about the topics covered on this page, see:
If you have questions about advertising, rankings, or this disclosure, contact us at support@careimo.com.
A provider booking link is not a paid ranking placement. Booking-link availability may be exposed as a user-controlled filter or profile feature, but CareIMO does not receive booking commissions, referral fees, affiliate fees, or vendor compensation from external booking systems.