Is there a way to increase my exposure with OnFrontiers' customers?
The information you share on an expert profile with OnFrontiers is unlike what you may find on other professional networks. Whereas some platforms help showcase your professional potential and suitability for your next full-time role,
OnFrontiers clients often engage experts in one-hour calls to acquire knowledge based on prior firsthand experiences. Because of this subtle difference, our clients are more likely to look for experts who have been in positions or have worked on projects that specifically align to their ongoing business needs, and are less likely to “bet” on someone’s soft skills or problem-solving abilities.
Because of this, we’ve developed a series of tips and best practices based on our most frequently engaged experts.
Focus on what you’ve recently accomplished.
We understand you don’t want to jeopardize any potential conflicts with a current or very recent employer, and we wouldn’t expect you to consult on those opportunities. But we also understand that very specific and nuanced knowledge can have a shelf-life. The longer it has been since you’ve engaged on a topic, the less likely it is that you will remember all of the small details. We’ve found that operational knowledge on projects in the past 1-3 years is a real sweet spot, with generalized knowledge extending to 10-15 years.
Be a specialist, not a generalist.
We can’t tell you how many times we see people create profiles that focus on broad subjects such as health, international business, the environment, or public policy. These are massive fields in which it would be impossible to answer every single question from around the world. But if you, for example, understand how to implement electronic health record software in large hospital systems, maintain regulatory compliance in Vietnam, or enhance zero trust cybersecurity principles for small businesses, then you become valuable to a potential client. Your goal should be to become the “go-to” expert for a very specific item in your field, rather than answer every question under the sun.
Make your headline, bio, and career experiences outcome-oriented.
Often, we see experts use their OnFrontiers headline as a placeholder for their current position. While this may be useful for some, it’s best to highlight the specific outcomes you can deliver to a client. Our clients need to be able to draw a clear line between the problem they’re attempting to solve and your profile. The more assumptions they have to make about your ability to answer their questions, the less likely it is that you will receive the opportunity. If you can, for example, provide a list of best practices for assessing your ability to win government contracts, showcase that in your profile.
Emphasize projects vs. experiences.
Because clients aren’t searching for experts based on their professional potential, it’s often not enough to simply say you’ve been a leader in your field for fifteen years. Our clients are trying to solve specific challenges with specific projects and they can’t always discern your individual strengths simply from reading the job titles on your profile. Let’s say you’re trying to implement a new applicant tracking system (ATS) for your hiring practices – would you rather speak to an expert who simply says they have been an HR executive for ten years or someone that says they have experience implementing ATS software at four different companies in the past eight years?
PRO TIP: Experts who can translate their knowledge and project experiences into service offerings (e.g., a new template for a P-Win calculator, a strategic roadmap for entering a new market, etc.) tend to get even more profile visits.
Keep your profile up-to-date with industry keywords.
Make sure your most recent positions are added to your profile and insert as many relevant keywords as possible. Citing keywords that are related to the projects you have worked on increases your ranking in our searches. Keywords popular in your industry can also be added to your Headline and Bio to improve traffic and showcase your relevancy to specific opportunities.
Engage and respond to OnFrontiers requests.
Experts who get back to advice-seekers within the first 24 hours from when it was sent are prioritized in search rankings. Completed calls and positive reviews also contribute to a higher ranking.