The Slixa team highly values communication and collaborative processes, and we think that engaging with all of you is vital to making Slixa the best it can possibly be.

Our most recent new features are Professional BDSM and Tantra badges for your ads and profiles. Now, in addition to getting your photos verified to let consumers know that the pictures on your profile actually represent a gorgeous you, we offer something specific for BDSM and Tantra professionals. If you are offering BDSM or Tantra services, you can receive a "Professional" badge letting site visitors know you are a recognized professional in the BDSM or Tantra community.

Since we launched Slixa, we have received a LOT of feedback from our Tantra and BDSM providers. Their number one concern has always been how to stand out in a sea of entertainers who offer a variety of services while advertising in the BDSM or Tantra categories. It has been a common complaint that other advertising platforms don’t ensure category integrity. Specifically, they do not recognize the training that these providers have done to offer specific services (either in addition to companionship or as a stand alone). Also, we understand that consumers are not always keenly aware of what differentiates specific services. We want to make it easier for clients to connect with providers that are offering what they are looking for -- regardless of which category they advertise in or what services they may offer.

Of course, we cannot (and do not wish to) certify the actual skills of a provider. This is not feasible, nor do we feel it is our place to attempt to do so. Instead of certifying skills, we’ve approached the problem in a different way. We’ve decided to verify a past history of professional involvement in the BDSM/Tantra communities. If you say you offer BDSM or Tantra services, what history do you have that verifies this?

A careful client, for example, might Google the entertainer’s name to look for a history of BDSM or Tantra ads, forum discussions, etc. before contacting them for a session. This wouldn’t guarantee the entertainer would have certified training or be a safe practitioner, but it would be a first indication that they actually have some involvement in the BDSM or Tantra lifestyles. This is essentially the purpose of the Slixa BDSM/Tantra Professional status. We are creating the first step in a total process that leads clients to connecting with providers who suit their needs.

We’ve received a lot of feedback on this, and we wanted to address some of the most common questions we found in our inbox:

If you aren’t verifying training or skills, then why are you asking for all of this information?

All of the information we ask for is optional. Essentially, we’re trying to take into account a whole picture of a provider’s history with BDSM or Tantra. Training and skill-development tend to connect people within communities, and knowing that information makes it easier to determine if the entertainer is really a part of the communities they’re claiming to be part of.

Who is performing the verification?

Initial verifications will be performed by members of the BDSM and Tantra communities that have been affiliated with Slixa since we launched. In addition to that, one of the things you can include when you request a professional badge are other verified BDSM/Tantra Professional entertainers that can vouch for you. This is a temporary solution until we have enough professionals with badges to make community verification possible. Eventually the system will maintain itself with previously verified professionals vetting other providers interested in the badges.

If you ever have concerns about the community verification process, please come and talk to us about it.

If I am only paying for a basic ad, are my chances of getting verified lower?

No. Like photo verification, the BDSM and Tantra professional badges are absolutely not contingent on how much advertising you are paying for. The only requirement to be considered for the badge is that you have an ad in the appropriate category (eg: BDSM or Tantra).

So how are you guaranteeing that providers are skilled enough to be safe and reliable?

We aren’t. The Slixa BDSM/Tantra professional badges are not certifying skills or training and are not intended to verify or guarantee safety or reliability. We highly recommend that both consumers and providers approach their meetings with compassion, caution, and common sense. Slixa’s professional badges are only a first step in determining whether a client and professional are compatible for a possible session.

Do my clients get a say in whether I am verified?

No. Professional badges are based purely on the information an entertainer provides us when requesting verification. We do not solicit or use input from clients or client reviews.

A prominent person in the community doesn’t like me. Does that affect my verification?

No. Personal disagreements are not factored in to this process. We rely on the information you provide for us and we don’t solicit third parties without your permission. Gossip is not a valid verification tactic, nor is it something we are interested in.

What if I don’t have the training but I sort of offer some of these services?

You are still welcome to request a professional badge. We welcome self-taught individuals who are integrated in the community in other ways. We always encourage you to contact us with additional information that is unique to your own situation that can assist us with your verification.

Can I still advertise in the BDSM or Tantra category if I’m not verified?

Yes. Like photo verification, BDSM/Tantra professional badges are an enhancement to your advertising, but do not impact your ability to advertise in your preferred categories.

In summary, Slixa welcomes any and all feedback and is completely open to improving and refining a system that can make verification an asset for the community. Part of being a revolutionary platform means trying new things and tweaking them as we get feedback from the most important people we know: the wonderful providers who are a part of the site and want a say in what we do to make our platform the best it can be. Our door is open. You can always contact us with any questions or concerns at help@slixa.com.

Addendum: After further consideration and discussion about the feedback we have received, we tweaked the language of this new feature (as well as this post) to better reflect its intended purpose. Previously the "BDSM/Tantra Professional" badges were referred to as "BDSM/Tantra Verified".