Pump up your profile

A well-done Tether Directory profile is the best way to showcase what you do, who you are, and what makes you stand out. A completed, up-to-date profile is the key to enticing people to reach out to you and getting the right gigs.

Here’s how you can really maximize your Directory profile:

Fill out the whoooole thing

In a survey that included small business owners, agencies, and corporations, people said they were more likely to reach out to creators with completed profiles because it shows they take their work seriously.

It doesn’t have to be long, just complete.

Use the Profession and Specialty tags sparingly

Tags are used to help people search and find you by your Profession and Specialty. Most people can do more than a few things, but selecting too many makes you seem unfocused.

Think about your sweet spot (the professional one, ahem) and try to limit yourself to three (3) Professions and five (5) Specialties. Choose the tags that best describe what you want to do, not just what you can do.

Keep your profile’s “Business Card” clear and to the point

Your Profile “Business Card” is what people see when they’re browsing the directory: one photo and up to 10 words. Make it count!

Use a picture of yourself—people want to see who they’re working with.
Use a square photo instead of a landscape one for your profile image—you get a bit more real estate (and visibility!) on the page.
Your description should read like an Instagram bio: short and sweet. Include what you do (eg. “Wardrobe Stylist”) and for whom (eg. “for freelance photographers and agencies”). People will scan this part as they scroll, so make it clear!

Use photos and videos in your profile when you can

Adding photo and video to your profile is a shortcut to showing people what you can do and how you do it. Video has grown exponentially in the past few years, so giving people a chance to see you or your work in action can help seal the deal.

Keep in mind: imagery should focus on examples of the work you want to do more of.

Use your Profile Description to show some personality

This is where you really shine—be succinct and add a li’l personality where you can. When someone reads your profile it should feel like y’all had a brief but friendly conversation in line at a coffee shop.

Use common search terms and keywords in your profile description. There’s no need to “game the system” (this ain’t Google), but if you want people to come to you for restaurant websites, you might say something like “I make cool restaurant websites” in your description.
Make it easy to read and find information. You can format text, add bullet points, etc. in the Profile Description section. Space things out when possible—people are less likely to read big blocks of text.
Proofread! Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
A few things you could include are:
- 1-2 sentences about your professional background or how you got started doing what you do
- a brief list of services you offer
- clients you’ve worked with
- your process—how you get from idea to finished product
- how you stand out, especially personal or professional experiences that enhance your expertise

Put your dream project out there!

The “What are your favorite types of projects to work on?” question is your opportunity to describe your ideal project or collaboration—go ahead and put it out into the universe!

You don’t have to name specific companies (though you can), but briefly describing your dream project or client can help us make the recommendation and connection when it comes along.