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Profile Setup

Essential

Create a compelling freelancer profile that attracts clients

Last updated Jan 25, 2025 • 15 min read

On This Page

→ Why Your Profile Matters→ Basic Information→ Professional Details→ Skills & Expertise→ Portfolio Showcase→ Trust & Verification→ Profile Completion Score→ Visibility Settings→ Best Practices→ FAQs

Why Your Profile Matters

Your profile is your storefront on PayHeld. A complete, professional profile increases your visibility, builds trust with clients, and directly impacts your earning potential.

First Impressions

Clients spend an average of 8 seconds deciding whether to contact you. A polished profile with clear skills, portfolio work, and verification badges makes the difference.

Search Ranking

Profile completion score directly affects search ranking. Profiles with 90%+ completion appear 3x higher in search results than incomplete profiles.

Trust Signals

Verified badges, Top Rated status, and completed portfolios increase hire rates by up to 65%. Clients prefer freelancers who invest in their profile.

Conversion Rate

Complete profiles (90%+) convert 4x better than basic profiles (50-70%). Every section you complete increases your chances of getting hired.

70% Completion Required for Public Search

Profiles below 70% completion are hidden from public search and directory listings. Complete at least 7 out of 10 sections to become searchable and start receiving client inquiries.

Tip: Focus on bio, skills, and portfolio first — these sections carry the most weight.

Basic Information

Start with the fundamentals. These fields establish your identity and help clients find you.

1

Profile Photo10 points

Upload a professional headshot with clear facial features and good lighting. Avoid group photos, logos, or heavily filtered images.

Clear face visible, professional attire
Good lighting, neutral background
No sunglasses, hats, or group photos
2

Name & Username

Use your real name to build trust. Your username creates your public profile URL: payheld.com/u/your-username

Name Best Practices

Use your full legal name or professional name. Builds credibility and trust with clients.

Username Requirements

3-30 characters, letters/numbers/hyphens only. Once set, cannot be changed easily.

3

Professional Title (Tagline)10 points

A concise headline (max 100 characters) that appears below your name. Make it keyword-rich and specific to your expertise.

✓ Good Examples
"Full-Stack Developer | React, Node.js, AWS"
"Brand Designer specializing in SaaS Startups"
"SEO Content Writer | 500+ Published Articles"
✗ Avoid
"Hard worker" (too vague)
"Best designer ever" (unprofessional)
"Looking for work" (desperate tone)
4

Bio20 points

Your bio is the most important section (20 points). Write 100-500 characters telling your story, highlighting expertise, and explaining what makes you unique.

Bio Structure Formula:
1. Who you are: Your role and years of experience
2. What you do: Specific services and specializations
3. Why clients hire you: Results, certifications, unique value
4. Call to action: "Let's discuss your project!"
Tip: Use keywords clients search for (e.g., "React developer," "logo design," "copywriting") to improve search ranking.
5

Location & Timezone

Location helps clients find local freelancers or those in similar time zones. Timezone is auto-detected but can be manually adjusted.

Improves search filtering (clients search by location)
Sets expectations for communication hours
6

Languages

List all languages you speak fluently. Multi-language support increases your client pool and enables better collaboration.

Default: English • Add more languages to match with international clients • PRO users get real-time translation (100+ languages)

Professional Details

Set your rates, availability, and work preferences to help clients understand if you're the right fit.

Hourly Rate10 points

Set your hourly rate ($1-$10,000 range). This helps clients filter by budget and sets clear expectations upfront.

Pricing Tips:
Research competitor rates in your category/location
Start slightly lower to build reviews, then increase as you gain Top Rated status
Update rate quarterly based on demand and experience

Availability Status

Let clients know when you can start new projects. Updated status improves search visibility.

✓ Available Now

Can start immediately (best for search ranking)

⏰ Available in 1 Week

Finishing current project soon

📅 Available in 2 Weeks

Booked but accepting future work

🚫 Not Available

Hidden from search (use Vacation Mode)

Response Time

Set realistic expectations for how quickly you respond to messages (e.g., "Within 24 hours," "Same day," "1-2 business days"). Fast responders rank higher in search.

Vacation Mode

Temporarily pause your profile visibility when taking time off. Your profile is hidden from search but existing projects remain active.

Tip: Enable Vacation Mode instead of setting "Not Available" to maintain your search ranking when you return.

Skills & Expertise

Skills are critical for searchability. Add at least 3 skills to earn completion points and appear in category searches.

Skill Selection15 points

Minimum 3 skills required to earn completion points. The more relevant skills you add, the better your search visibility.

Design

Figma, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, UI/UX

Development

React, Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, WordPress

Writing

Copywriting, SEO, Blog Posts, Technical Docs

Marketing

Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, Email Marketing

Video

Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut, DaVinci

Business

Virtual Assistant, Accounting, HR, Legal

Tip: Add both broad skills ("Web Design") and specific tools ("Figma") to maximize search coverage.

Featured Skills (Top 5)

Select your top 5 skills to highlight on your profile card. These appear in search results and directory listings.

Future: Skill validation tests will be available to earn "Verified Skill" badges and boost credibility.

Portfolio Showcase

Portfolio items are worth 20 points — the highest value section. Upload at least 3 projects to demonstrate your work quality.

Portfolio Items20 points

PRO: Unlimited

Minimum 3 portfolio items recommended. FREE users: 5 items max. PRO/BUSINESS: Unlimited.

What to Include:
Title: Clear, descriptive project name
Description: Brief overview of the project, your role, and results
Image: High-quality screenshot or mockup (drag-and-drop upload)
Project URL: Link to live site or case study (optional but recommended)
Drag-and-Drop Reordering

Arrange portfolio items to showcase your best work first

Featured Project Toggle

Pin your top project to appear first in your profile

Portfolio Best Practices

Show diverse projects (different industries/styles)
Include before/after comparisons when relevant
Highlight measurable results (e.g., "+40% conversions")
Keep images high-resolution (min 1200px wide)

Trust & Verification

Build trust with clients through three verification levels: Payment setup, Identity verification, and Top Rated status.

1

Stripe Connect Setup15 points

Required to receive payments. Connect your bank account and verify tax information (W-9 for US freelancers).

Bank account verification
Tax form submission (W-9/W-8BEN)
Identity verification via Stripe
Instant setup (5-10 minutes)
Set Up Payments
2

Identity VerificationVerified Badge

Manual verification process to earn the "Verified" badge. Increases hire rate by up to 40%.

Required Documents:
Government ID (passport, driver's license, national ID)
Video selfie verification (liveness check)
Social profile links (LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolio site)
Review Time
24-48 hours
Badge Display
Profile, directory, search results
3

Top Rated BadgeEarned Status

Earned through exceptional performance. Top Rated freelancers appear at the top of search results and get 3x more client inquiries.

Requirements:
90%+ Job Success Rate
Consistent excellent reviews
$5,000+ Total Earnings
Proven track record
5+ Completed Projects
Minimum experience
4.5+ Average Rating
High client satisfaction
Zero Active Disputes
Professional conduct
Auto-Recalculated Weekly
Maintain standards to keep badge

Profile Completion Score

Your profile score (0-100) determines search visibility. Profiles below 70% are hidden from public search.

Score Breakdown (100 points total)

Bio (100+ characters)
Well-written professional summary
20
Portfolio (3+ items)
Showcase your best work
20
Stripe Account
Payment setup complete
15
Skills (3+ added)
Define your expertise
15
Professional Title
Tagline/headline set
10
Hourly Rate
Pricing information set
10
Profile Image
Professional headshot
10
0-49% Incomplete

Hidden from search

50-69% Basic

Limited visibility

70-89% Good

Searchable, good ranking

90-100% Excellent

Featured, top rankings

Visibility Settings

Control who can see your profile and how clients can contact you.

Privacy Controls

Profile Visibility
Control who can view your full profile
Public: Anyone can view (best for getting hired)
Logged-in Only: PayHeld members only
Private: Hidden from search, direct link only
Allow Messages
Enable or disable unsolicited messages from clients
Show Phone Number
Display phone on public profile (not recommended)
Vacation Mode
Temporarily hide from search while keeping profile active

Best Practices

Do's

Use a professional, clear headshot
Write a detailed bio (100+ characters)
Showcase your best work in portfolio
Keep availability status updated
Respond to messages within 24 hours
Set competitive, realistic rates
Get verified to earn trust badges
Aim for 100% profile completion

Don'ts

Use stock photos or logos as profile image
Write vague or generic descriptions
Show outdated or irrelevant portfolio work
Ignore client messages or inquiries
Lowball rates to undercut competitors
Leave profile incomplete (<70%)
Provide fake credentials or plagiarize work
Copy other freelancers' bios or portfolios

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Build Your Profile?

Start by completing the essential sections (bio, skills, portfolio) to reach 70% and become searchable.

Complete Your ProfileUpload PortfolioGet Verified
Profile Setup | PayHeld Documentation