Setting Up Your Individual Professional Profile
Quick Answer
Your Profile listing represents you as an individual professional on Heritage Web. To set it up, navigate to your dashboard, click "+ Free Profile Listing," enter your real name (no business names), complete your bio and specialties, and submit for approval. Remember: you can only have one Profile per account, and it cannot be deleted once created.
Overview
A Profile listing showcases your individual expertise and connects you directly with clients seeking professional services. It's ideal for lawyers, doctors, therapists, accountants, real estate agents, and other service professionals. Profile listings receive priority for lead matching and typically have higher conversion rates than Organization listings.
Step-by-Step Setup Instructions
Step 1: Start Your Profile Creation
Sign into your Heritage Web dashboard
Navigate to the Profile section
Click "+ Free Profile Listing"
System creates a blank profile and redirects you to the edit page
Step 2: Enter Your Name (Required Field)
Critical Rule: Use your actual personal name only.
Acceptable formats:
John Smith
Jane Martinez-Williams
Dr. Sarah Johnson (though "Dr." is optional)
Mohammed Al-Rahman
NOT acceptable:
Smith Law Firm
Johnson & Associates
Your Business Name LLC
Marketing taglines like "Your Trusted Advisor"
Note: Using a business name in the Profile name field is the #1 reason for rejection.
Step 3: Craft Your Professional Headline
Write a brief tagline that describes your expertise (100 characters max).
Good examples:
"Immigration Attorney Serving the Iranian Community"
"Bilingual Family Therapist - 15 Years Experience"
"CPA Specializing in Small Business Tax Planning"
"Pediatrician Accepting New Patients"
Step 4: Write Your Professional Bio
Your bio is where you showcase your expertise and build trust.
Include:
Your professional background and experience
Areas of specialization
Your approach to client service
Languages you speak
Community involvement
What makes you unique
Avoid:
Putting contact information in the bio (use designated fields)
Generic marketing language
Copying from other websites without customization
Step 5: Select Your Industries/Specialties
Choose up to 10 specialties that match your expertise.
Best practices:
Select all that genuinely apply
Balance broad and specific categories
Think about what clients search for
More specialties = more potential lead matches
Example for a lawyer:
Immigration Law
Family Immigration
Business Immigration
Deportation Defense
Citizenship & Naturalization
Step 6: Add Your Professional Information
Licenses and Credentials:
Enter all active professional licenses
Include license numbers and states
These will be verified by Heritage Web
Education:
List relevant degrees and certifications
Include school names and graduation years
Start with highest/most relevant degree
Professional Associations:
Member organizations
Board positions
Special appointments
Step 7: Specify Languages and Communities
Languages You Speak:
List all languages with proficiency levels:
Native/Bilingual
Fluent
Conversational
Languages Your Team Speaks:
Include staff/colleague languages
These count for lead matching too
Community Connections:
Select communities you authentically serve
This determines additional publication placements
Be genuine - these will be verified
Step 8: Add Contact Information
Office Location(s):
Enter complete addresses
Can add multiple locations
Each location gets its own 75-mile service radius
Phone Numbers:
Office phone
Mobile phone (optional)
No distinction shown to visitors
Website:
Include your professional website
Helps establish credibility
Hours of Operation:
When you're available
Include lunch hours or breaks
Specify time zone if serving nationally
Step 9: Configure Optional Features
Free Consultation Option:
Toggle Yes/No
Attracts more inquiries if offered
Calendly Integration:
Add scheduling link for easy appointments
Social Media Links:
LinkedIn (highly recommended)
Facebook professional page
Other relevant platforms
Video Introduction:
YouTube or Vimeo link
1-2 minute introduction builds trust
Step 10: Submit for Approval
Click "Publish Draft" to submit your profile for review.
Review timeline:
Free listings: 2-3 business days
Sponsor listings: 1 business day
Multi-Language Content Setup
If you serve multiple language communities:
Complete your main profile in English (or primary language)
Scroll to bottom of Bio section
Click "Add" button
Select publication from dropdown
Select language for that publication
Write your Name, Headline, and Bio in that language
Save the language set
Repeat for additional languages
Note: More publication options become available after approval.
Profile vs. Organization: Key Differences
Aspect | Profile Listing | Organization Listing |
Represents | You as individual | Business entity |
Name field | Your personal name only | Business name |
Priority | Higher for leads | Lower for leads |
Quantity | One per account | Unlimited |
Can delete? | No | Yes (via support) |
Best for | Solo professionals | Firms, companies |
Common Setup Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake | Why It's a Problem | How to Fix |
Using business name | Causes rejection | Use only your personal name |
No photo uploaded | Lower trust/clicks | Add professional headshot |
Vague specialties | Fewer lead matches | Be specific about services |
Missing languages | Missed opportunities | List all languages spoken |
Incomplete bio | Lower conversion | Write detailed, personal bio |
Hidden contact info | Harder to reach | Display phone and website |
After Your Profile Is Approved
What happens:
Status changes to "Active"
Profile goes live on HeritageWeb.com
Heritage Web assigns relevant community publications
You start receiving matched leads
Can begin accepting pro bono cases
Publication assignments based on:
Your specified community connections
Languages you speak
Industry selections
Bio content analysis
FAQs
Can I create multiple Profile listings? No, you're limited to one Profile per account. You can create unlimited Organization, Event, and Job listings.
What if I work at multiple businesses? Create one Profile for yourself, then create separate Organization listings for each business.
Can I change my name after approval? Yes, but any edit triggers re-review (1-3 business days).
Why was my Profile rejected? Most common reason: using a business name instead of your personal name. Check your rejection email for specific reasons.
Do I need a Profile to receive leads? No, but Profile listings get priority and higher conversion rates than Organization listings.
Next Steps
Upload a professional photo to increase trust
Add all professional licenses for credibility
Configure your specialties for better lead matching
Consider sponsoring for $25/month to get unlimited pro bono access
Add team members to help manage your profile