Quick Answer
Industries determine which referral leads you receive and which professional directories feature your listing. Select up to 10 industries from the hierarchical picker, choosing both broad categories and specific sub-specialties for the best matching results.
Overview
The Industries section is one of the most important parts of your profile. Your selections directly control two things:
Lead Matching: Which referral requests you're matched with
Publication Placement: Which professional directories (like LegalGlobal.com or DoctorsGlobal.com) your listing appears on
Unlike the display-only Skills section, Industries actively filters leads and determines your visibility across Heritage Web's network.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Open the Industries Section
Navigate to your Edit Profile page and expand the "Industries" section.
Step 2: Click Add Industry
Click the "Add Industry +" button to open the category picker.
Step 3: Browse or Search Categories
You can either:
Browse: Click a top-level category to see its sub-specialties
Search: Type in the search bar to find specific specialties
Step 4: Select Your Industry
Click on a category to select it. You can select:
A top-level category (broader matching)
A specific sub-specialty (more targeted matching)
Both, for comprehensive coverage
Step 5: Add Additional Industries
Repeat to add more industries. Select up to 10 total.
Step 6: Submit Your Changes
Click "Publish Draft" to submit for review.
Selection Strategy
For the best results, select both broad and specific categories:
Strategy | Example | Result |
Broad only | Legal Services | Matches any legal lead, but may miss targeted matches |
Specific only | Divorce | Only matches divorce leads, misses related family law leads |
Both | Legal Services + Family + Divorce + Child Custody | Matches broad legal leads AND specific family law leads |
How Industries Affect Lead Matching
When someone requests a referral, the system:
Identifies the service type needed (e.g., "Divorce Attorney")
Searches for profiles with matching industries
Applies additional filters (location, language, license status)
Delivers the lead to matched professionals
If you haven't selected the relevant industry, you won't receive those leads.
Removing or Changing Industries
To Remove an Industry:
Expand the Industries section
Click the trash icon (🗑) next to the industry
Click "Publish Draft" to submit
To Change Industries:
Remove outdated selections
Add new selections
Click "Publish Draft" to submit
Changes go through the approval process and may affect your publication assignments.
Important Notes
Maximum 10 industries: Prioritize your core services
More specific = better matching: Sub-specialties create tighter matches
Industries always display: This section cannot be hidden
Different from Skills: Industries affect matching; Skills are display-only
FAQs
Why am I not receiving leads for a service I offer? Check that you've selected the relevant industry. If "Immigration" isn't selected, you won't receive immigration leads—even if it's listed in your Skills.
Should I select as many industries as possible? Only select industries where you genuinely offer services. Selecting irrelevant industries to get more leads violates platform guidelines and leads to poor matches.
Can I select both a category and its sub-specialties? Yes, and this is often recommended. Selecting "Legal Services" AND "Immigration" AND "Deportation Defense" ensures you match broad legal leads plus targeted immigration leads.
How do Industries differ from Skills? Industries control lead matching and publication placement. Skills are display-only keywords that help visitors understand your services but don't affect which leads you receive.