Quick Answer
Industries determine which referral leads your organization receives and which business directories feature your listing. Select at least one industry (required) and up to 10 total from the hierarchical picker. Choose both broad categories and specific sub-specialties for the best matching results.
Overview
The Industries section is required for organization listings and directly controls two critical functions:
Lead Matching: Which referral requests your organization is matched with
Publication Placement: Which business directories (like IranianBusinesses.com or IranianRestaurants.com) your listing appears on
Unlike display-only sections, 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 Organization 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
You can either:
Browse: Click a top-level category to see its sub-categories
Search: Type in the search bar to find specific industries
Step 4: Select Your Industry
Click on a category to select it. For best results, select:
The broad category (for wider matching)
Specific sub-categories (for targeted matching)
Step 5: Add Additional Industries
Repeat to add more industries. You must select at least one; you can select up to 10.
Step 6: Submit Your Changes
Click "Publish Draft" to submit for review.
Selection Strategy
Select both broad and specific categories for comprehensive coverage:
Business Type | Recommended Selections |
Persian Restaurant | Food & Dining, Restaurants |
Immigration Law Firm | Legal Services, Immigration |
Medical Practice | Medical Services, [specific specialty] |
Real Estate Brokerage | Agency Services, Real Estate Agencies |
How Industries Affect Lead Matching
When someone requests a referral, the system:
Identifies the service type needed
Searches for organizations with matching industries
Applies additional filters (location, language)
Delivers the lead to matched organizations
Without the relevant industry selected, your organization won't receive those leads.
Removing or Changing Industries
To Remove:
Expand the Industries section
Click the trash icon (🗑) next to the industry
Click "Publish Draft" to submit
To Change:
Remove outdated selections
Add new selections
Click "Publish Draft" to submit
Note: You must always have at least one industry selected. Changes go through the approval process and may affect publication assignments.
Important Notes
Required: Organizations must select at least one industry
Maximum 10: Prioritize your core business areas
Always visible: The Industries section cannot be hidden
Combined with Community: Industries + Community Connections = specific publication assignment (e.g., Iranian + Restaurant = IranianRestaurants.com)
FAQs
Why is Industries required for organizations? Industries categorize your business so leads and visitors can find you. Without industry selection, your organization can't be properly matched or placed in relevant directories.
Can I select industries for services we plan to offer soon? Only select industries for services you currently offer. Misrepresentation can lead to poor matches and violates platform guidelines.
How do Industries differ from the organization description? Industries control lead matching and publication placement (functional). Your description tells your story (informational). Both are important but serve different purposes.
What if my business spans multiple unrelated industries? You can select up to 10 industries across different categories. For businesses with truly distinct service lines, consider creating separate organization listings.