Managing Your Industries and Specialties

Quick Answer

Industries define what your business does and directly affect lead matching. Go to the Industries section, select up to 10 industries from the hierarchical picker, and choose specialties within each. Your industry selections determine which client referrals you receive.

Overview

Industries are one of the most important fields on your Organization listing. Unlike Skills (which are display-only), Industries directly impact which leads and referrals you receive. The Heritage Web matching system uses your industry selections to connect you with clients seeking your specific services.

Why Industries Matter

Purpose	Description
Lead matching	Primary factor in matching you with client referrals
Publication placement	Affects which community directories feature you
Search visibility	Helps clients find you when browsing by category
Relevance	Ensures you receive appropriate client inquiries

How Industries Work

Hierarchical Structure

Industries use a two-level hierarchy:

Top-level category: Broad industry (e.g., "Legal Services")
Specialties: Specific practice areas (e.g., "Immigration Law," "Family Law")

Example Structure

Legal Services (Top Level) ├── Immigration Law ├── Family Law ├── Criminal Defense ├── Personal Injury ├── Estate Planning └── Business Law  Medical Services (Top Level) ├── Family Medicine ├── Internal Medicine ├── Pediatrics ├── Cardiology └── Dermatology

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Access the Industries Section

Go to your Organization listing edit page
Scroll to the Industries section
Click to expand if collapsed

Step 2: Select Your Industries

Click Add Industry or browse the category list
Select a top-level industry category
Choose specific specialties within that category
Repeat for additional industries (up to 10 total)

Step 3: Prioritize Your Selections

List your primary services first
Add secondary services as appropriate
Remove any industries you no longer serve

Step 4: Save Your Changes

Review your selections
Click Publish Draft to save
Changes may affect your lead matching immediately after approval

Selection Guidelines

How Many Industries to Select

Scenario	Recommendation
Specialized practice	2-4 focused industries
General practice	5-7 industries covering your range
Full-service firm	Up to 10 industries maximum

Choosing the Right Industries

Do:

Select industries where you actively take clients
Include all practice areas your team can handle
Be specific—choose specialties, not just top-level categories
Update when you add or discontinue services

Don't:

Select industries you don't actually practice
Choose overly broad categories without specialties
Max out at 10 just to appear in more searches
Include aspirational services you don't yet offer

Industries and Lead Matching

Your industry selections directly affect the referrals you receive:

Client submits a referral request for "Immigration Law"
System searches for listings with "Immigration Law" industry
Your Organization appears in matches if you selected that industry
Other factors (location, languages, licenses) further refine matches

Match Quality

Selection Accuracy	Result
Precise match	High-quality, relevant leads
Too broad	May receive irrelevant inquiries
Too narrow	May miss relevant opportunities
Inaccurate	Poor matches, wasted time

Important Notes

Industries are required—you must select at least one
Maximum of 10 industry selections
Industries directly affect lead matching (unlike Skills)
Changes take effect after listing re-approval
Review and update industries as your services evolve

FAQs

How many industries should I select? Select all industries where you genuinely provide services, up to 10. Quality matters more than quantity—accurate selections lead to better matches.

What's the difference between Industries and Skills? Industries affect lead matching and determine which referrals you receive. Skills are display-only keywords that don't impact matching.

Can I change my industries later? Yes. Edit your listing anytime. Changes go through review before taking effect.

Why am I not getting leads in an industry I selected? Lead matching considers multiple factors: industries, location, languages, and licenses. Ensure all relevant fields are complete and accurate.

Should my Organization have the same industries as my Profile? Often yes, but not always. Your Profile reflects your personal expertise; your Organization reflects business services. A law firm (Organization) might cover more practice areas than any single attorney (Profile).