Best Practices for Profile Listings

Quick Answer

Profile listings represent individual professionals and have the highest conversion rates for leads. Optimize yours by using your actual name (never business names), uploading a professional photo, listing all credentials, specifying languages and community connections, and creating multi-language content sets for different publications.

Overview

Your Profile listing is your professional identity across Heritage Web's network. It takes priority over Organization listings for lead matching and can only be created once per account. Following these best practices ensures approval, maximizes visibility, and increases lead conversion.

Critical Requirements

Name Field (Most Important)

MUST Use: Your actual personal name

First and last name
Professional titles (Dr., Esq.) acceptable
Middle names or initials optional

NEVER Use:

Business names ("Smith Law Firm")
Marketing names ("Your Trusted Lawyer")
Organization names ("ABC Counseling")
Generic descriptions ("Experienced Attorney")

Common Rejection: Using business name in Profile name field accounts for 30% of all rejections.

Essential Elements

Professional Photo

Use YOUR photo (not logo or stock image)
Professional headshot preferred
Minimum 100x100px, max 5MB
Clear, well-lit, recent
Business attire recommended
Optional but highly recommended

Headline/Tagline

Create compelling tagline:

60-80 characters ideal
Include specialty and location
Example: "Immigration Attorney Serving Iranian Families in Los Angeles"
Avoid generic phrases

Bio/Description

Structure your bio:

Opening: Who you are and what you do
Experience: Years practicing, specialties
Credentials: Education, certifications
Community: Languages, cultural understanding
Call-to-action: How to contact you

Maximizing Lead Matching

Professional Licenses

List ALL active licenses
Include license numbers
Specify states/jurisdictions
Keep expiration dates current
Remove expired licenses promptly

Specialties (Up to 10)

Choose strategically:

Primary practice areas first
Include related specialties
Consider niche services
Balance broad and specific
Think about client search terms

Languages

Specify all capabilities:

Languages YOU speak
Languages your STAFF speaks
Include proficiency levels
Remember: Full match if anyone speaks the language

Geographic Coverage

List all office locations
Each gets 75-mile radius by default
Request adjustments via [email protected]
Consider virtual service areas

Community & Trust Building

Community Connections

Be comprehensive:

Select all genuine affiliations
Include heritage/ethnicity
Add religious connections
Specify professional identities
List language communities

Professional Associations

Include memberships:

Bar associations
Professional organizations
Community groups
Alumni associations
Certification bodies

Education Credentials

List completely:

Degrees earned
Universities attended
Graduation years (optional)
Honors/distinctions
Continuing education

Contact Information Strategy

Display Options

Balance accessibility and privacy:

Phone numbers (office and/or mobile)
Physical address(es)
Website URL
Calendly link for scheduling
Message button (can be disabled)

Sponsor Advantage

Remember the key difference:

Free: Contact details behind login wall
Sponsor: All details visible immediately

Multi-Language Content

Creating Language Sets

Complete default content (usually English)
Click "Add" at bottom of Bio section
Select publication from dropdown
Choose language
Write content in that language
Repeat for other publications/languages

Language Strategy

Default: Professional English
Community publications: Native languages
Cultural adaptation allowed
Maintain consistent facts
Adjust tone appropriately

Important Notes

One Profile per account — Cannot be deleted once created
Priority over Organizations — Profile matches first for leads
Higher conversion — Better rates than Organization listings
Cannot use business names — Will be rejected
Team languages count — Include staff capabilities

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Business name in name field (instant rejection)
Logo instead of photo (wrong image type)
Expired licenses listed (affects matching)
Generic descriptions (poor conversion)
Missing community connections (fewer publications)
Single language only (missed opportunities)
Incomplete contact info (lost leads)

FAQs

Q: Can I create multiple Profile listings? A: No. You can only have one Profile listing per account. It cannot be deleted once created, only paused.

Q: What if I don't have a professional photo? A: The photo is optional. You can create a Profile without one, but having a photo significantly increases trust and response rates.

Q: Should I list expired licenses? A: No. Only list active, valid licenses. Expired licenses will exclude you from lead matching and may be marked publicly.

Q: Can I use my firm name anywhere in the Profile? A: Yes, but not in the name field. Include it in your bio, headline, or create a separate Organization listing for your firm.

Q: How do I indicate I work with specific communities? A: Use the Community Connections field (primary method), mention it in your bio, and list relevant languages spoken.