How does a polished profile win jobs? DJ Rob Goldberg worked with a team of Thumbtack experts to make his (already strong) profile into exactly what customers want to see. Here’s how polished photos and tighter copy made a difference in Rob’s Thumbtack business.
“I spent a lot of time setting up my profile in the beginning but I never made the investment in professional photos. I pulled things from wherever I could. The difference has been night and day.”
About this pro: Craft something skimmable, friendly — and spell-checked.
A strong Thumbtack bio does more than just run through your business’s services — it gives your customer an idea of who will be knocking on their door. Balancing the two requires some calibration, and the advice of friends and pros with a fresh perspective.
Pros with bios under 600 words are hired 40 percent more on average than pros with longer bios. Rob’s bio is perfectly skimmable. At around 150 words, it takes under a minute to read.
“My bio was long. I consolidated everything down to 3 key points. 1) When you hire me, you’re hiring a trained professional. 2) I use the highest quality equipment and the the most recent techniques. 3) I love what I do. That should be enough to get a customer’s attention. The rest goes in my Q&A.”
See what customers are saying about your profile to write a bio that wins them over.
Headshot: From good enough to polished.
Pros with a headshot are at a big advantage when competing for jobs on Thumbtack. Your headshot is the first thing a customer sees after submitting a request — their first clue about who you are and what you can offer.
“I grabbed the first decent photo I could find when getting set up on Thumbtack. It was taken from far away in low-resolution. The headshot I have now is infinitely better. I’m dressed professionally and the picture is crystal clear — it looks like a studio shot. I want to show my quality in everything customers see. My new headshot does that.”
Need a headshot? Take one that looks professional using your camera phone in 10 easy steps.
Q&A: Answering all the right questions.
Most DJs hear the same handful of customer questions. What’s included in your price? Do you charge by the hour? What kinds of events do you work? Do you do light design too? Rob still answers every Q&A section, but gets to the answer faster with writing that’s shorter and easier to skim. By the time Rob’s customers reach out, they’ve already answered their biggest questions — making them that much closer to hiring him.
“My personality is to try to answer everything upfront and give customers as much to consider as possible. I still do in my new Q&A — it’s just easier to get through. You need to prove your worth in every way you can, especially if your prices are a little higher than the median. At the same time, you can’t make things too hard for the customer.”
Here are a few things Top Pros wish they knew about filling out the Q&A section of their profile.
Photos and videos: Communicating quality and fun.
The photos and videos on your Thumbtack profile tell a story about your work — the range, quality and types of jobs that you take on. Customers like to see your best work and examples of what they’ll be hiring, especially the range of events you work. Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, corporate parties — show them all.
Over 80 percent of pros who are hired on Thumbtack include at least one example of their past work.
“You have to include images of audiences having fun: a packed dance floor, people smiling, a happy bride and groom. My DJ equipment was a $35,000 investment — it’s what sets me apart from other DJs. I want hi-res photos that show it off and videos of the sound quality.”
Check out this professional photographer’s secrets for showing your best work on Thumbtack.
Want more tips? Check out these 3 profile updates that every DJ should make.
