Profile settings

In this article, we'll describe the inner workings of your various profile settings. To access them, click the gear icon at the top of the page and select Settings from the drop-down menu. 

In your Settings panel, you should be able to see a section titled Profile in the sidebar to the left. It lists three tabs: About, Verifications, and Offerings.

Let's go through these one at a time. Click the About tab to start.

As you can see, the About tab is used to edit the details about yourself and your business which will appear on your profile page.

Under Background and experience, tell your prospects who you are and what you bring to the table.

Under Vehicles, list and describe any vehicles, trailers, and other specialty equipment that you're using.

Also, if registered with the US Department of Transportation, you can enter your USDOT number here.

OK, so let's move on to the Verifications tab now. If you're editing your profile for the first time, it should look something like this:

This is where you can submit the information necessary for us to run your background check - phone number, physical address, etc. Click here for more information on these checks and how they can be expedited. As soon as you've done submitted the information, you should be able to start bidding - your profile will look like this:

 

Additionally, if registered with the USDA, you can upload your registration so we can verify it and display it on your profile page. See our article on USDA registrations for further details.

If you have any additional licenses or certificates you'd like displayed on your profile, you can email our support team and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

Now let's click the Offerings tab and see what that's about:

This new feature (as of June 2020) allows you to showcase any additional services you're offering. For example, if your customers can get GPS trackers attached to their pets' collars for extra security, simply check the box next to "GPS Tracking" to let them know. This information will be clearly displayed on your profile page, accessible to all who visit it.

Profile photos

Going back to the gear icon in the top right of your screen, click it again, but this time select Photos from the drop-down menu.

This opens your photo gallery, allowing you to upload a profile pic and any other photos you might want to share with the customers. 

Photos are a great way to improve your profile and reduce customer anxiety. In addition to what's shown in the screenshot above, here's a couple more tips on getting the best shots for your profile:

• Get plenty of natural light. Go outside or stand by a big window.
• Don’t do hip shots or webcam shots in poor light. (These can look a bit eerie 😬)
• Try to appear positive and professional. Smiling is recommended.
• For your main profile pic, choose one with your face in it. This is the first impression your customers will receive, and they’ll want to see a person they can trust rather than some van.

In addition to personal photos, feel free to also upload any of the following:

• Sights from the road. These help customers see what it'll be like working with you.
• Snaps of your vehicle. Customers will want to visualize how their pet fits inside your car.
• Special equipment. If transporting cargo that needs special gear, it's a good idea to show it.

And finally, here's a handy video tutorial summarizing all the information outlined above. 

What to read next

For more advice on setting up your account, see the articles on account settings (2-min read) and registrations (3-min read).

For advice on making your first steps on the CitizenShipper platform, see Getting your bearings.

For advice on winning shipments, see Bidding and payments.