Your Thumbtack profile is your company’s online storefront. A profile that looks thrown together is far from inviting — and it’s no surprise when a customer passes you by. Luckily, maintaining a great looking profile is easier than you think. Here’s a quick primer on how to do it.
Tips for picking a great headshot.
Customers are hiring a person — and they want to see who that person is. That’s where a professional looking headshot comes in. According to Top Pro photographer Tri Nguyen, “People always ask to take at least one photo where they’re not smiling. I take it, but I know it’s not going to be the one they choose. Generally, customers don’t want to hire someone who is scowling.”
What to do:
- Wear a neutral color. Avoid crazy patterns or stripes.
- Pick an outfit that reflects the work you do. If you’re a dog groomer, don’t wear a three-piece suit.
- Use natural light. It adds brightness and texture to the photo.
What not to do:
- Wear sunglasses. Think of how hiding behind shades will play for the customers who are interested in hiring you.
- Use a filter or banner on your photo. Like sunglasses, it’s not professional.
- Crop a group photo in a headshot. It never looks as professional as the real thing.
For more on taking a great headshot, check out these 10 step-by-step tips.
Tips for writing a strong introduction.
The introduction section of your profile is your chance to tell customers a little bit about who you are and what you do. It should strike a balance between explaining your experience while being customer focused. “If you have a lot of experience teaching, say what you’re experience is, but that should be couched in the message that you’re an approachable person. You want to get across that you care about your students — and while they’re investing in you, you’re also investing in them,” explains Top Pro music teacher, Matt Kass.
What to do:
- Keep it short. Most customers are looking at more than one pro — so make your profile easy to skim. You’ll have plenty of time to go over the smaller details once they’ve hired you.
- Check your spelling and grammar. There is nothing professional about misspelled words.
- Link to your personal website. It’s an added layer of legitimacy and another place to point to past examples of your work.
What not to do:
- Write a one sentence bio. Unless that sentence goes on for a paragraph (in which case, it’s time to edit it down) your customer needs more information.
- Focus only on yourself. The customer wants to know about you, as long as it relates to what you can do for them.
- List all your pricing details. If you have special pricing details, list them in your Q&A section or address them in your follow-up message.
Write a great bio with these tips from Thumbtack Top Pros.
Tips for showing your credentials.
There’s a reason that referrals are so powerful — customers want to hire a pro with a proven track record of success. Reviews are one of the most powerful ways to show off your work, and licenses are another strong sign that you’re qualified for the work you do. We also know that pros with a background check badge on their Thumbtack profile are significantly more likely to get hired than those without.
What to do:
- Add a background check to your profile. It’s easy and free — and the whole process takes less than five minutes.
- Ask customers to review your work. It’s one of the most powerful ways you can show off your skills, in your customers’ words.
- List licenses and credentials. Then verify them so you can show them on your Thumbtack profile.
What not to do:
- Let your background check lapse. Don’t forget to retake your background check every 18 months to keep things fresh to help give your customers peace of mind.
- Forget to ask for reviews. Ask all your customers to review you, so you build up a base you can depend on when new customers look.
- Oversell your services. Focus on what you’re good at and trained in — that’s where your success will come from.
Follow this link to take a background check and put your customers’ minds at ease.
Tips for presenting your best work.
Whether or not your job is particularly visual, customers are going to be hungry for examples they can see. If you’re a lawyer or CPA that might mean providing photos of your office space and team. Top Pro music teacher Michelle Maves has this advice: “Personalize your profile. We include photos from lessons and recitals to show that we’re a fun service — lots of happy, smiling faces. I think people are willing to give a new business a chance if they feel like they can connect with you. But they need some help to see why are you different.”
What to do:
- Include only your best work. Odds are you have only 10-15 photos to impress your customer before their attention drifts. Pick the best of the best.
- Show the full range of services you offer. You’ve explained it all in your bio and Q&A sections — now show it off in your photos and videos.
- Make sure you have permission to post the photos. It’s always best practice to have subjects agree (in writing) to be featured on your profile.
What not to do:
- Post photos that have nothing to do with your business. No comic book strips. No screenshots. No sayings. Your photos and videos should be of your work and about your work.
- Pick photos that are too similar to one another. Diversity is key here — show customers what you’re capable of.
- Select your photos and leave them. You should be adding new photos and taking old ones off as you go to showcase your latest work.
We helped these 3 Top Pros fine-tune their profiles. Check out how we did it and why it works.
