From initial job posting to final payment, here's a step-by-step overview of how the Profoundly Marketplace facilitates successful collaborations:

1. Customer Posts a Job: The Customer initiates the process by outlining what they need.

2. Profoundly notifies Profoundly Certified Pros: The platform informs Pros about the job, via email and the jobs board.

3. Pro submits a proposal: Interested Pros respond with their offers, pricing, and timelines.

4. Profoundly presents proposals: The Customer reviews the proposals from different Pros.

5. Customer selects a proposal: The Customer chooses the Pro that best meets their requirements.

6. Notifications: Both the Customer and Pro are informed of the proposal selection.

7. Pro fulfills the job: The Pro performs the service.

8. Customer confirms completion: The Customer indicates they are satisfied with the services rendered.

9. Pro initiates invoicing: The Pro sends an invoice for completed services.

10. Customer completes payment: The Customer pays for the service via Stripe.

11. Pro is notified of payment: The Pro is informed that an invoice has been paid.

12. Transaction complete: After final payment, the job is archived.

This process ensures a smooth and efficient experience for both Customers and Pros, facilitating successful collaborations and delivering high-quality HubSpot solutions.

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A strong profile is key to success. Please see this example for inspiration.  Follow these steps to stand out:

1. Complete Your Profile

   • Add a professional headshot.

   • Write a clear and concise title and bio.

   • List your certifications, services offered, and experience with HubSpot.

   • Customize your profile to highlight unique strengths, such as:

     • Specialized Expertise: Bullet points showcasing your unique insights.

     • Customer Impact: Customer testimonials and references.

     • Professional Background: Context on your career and achievements.

2. Showcase Your Work

   • Use a “Related Content” section with links to relevant projects or materials.

   • Reference case studies, testimonials, or examples of past work.

3. Set Market-Aligned Rates

   • Research market trends to align your pricing with customer and market expectations.  The Salary Guide can be a useful resource.

Detailed job posts are crucial for creating smoother, more efficient projects. They enable Pros to quickly assess their suitability for the job, leading to more accurate and tailored proposals. Furthermore, clearly defined deliverables within the job post help Pros understand what success looks like for the job, leading to even more accurate proposals and ensuring clear expectations are set from the outset for both parties.

This level of clarity—including specifics like HubSpot subscription level, internal/client portal details, preferred Pro profile (individual/agency), and payment structure—significantly reduces back-and-forth communication, saving valuable time for both the Customer and the Pro.

Job posts typically include:

• Job Title: A specific and attention-grabbing title

• Job Description: Detailed information about the job requirements. Customers should ideally provide context about:

  • Their HubSpot Hubs (Marketing, Sales, Service, CMS, Operations).

  • Subscription tier (Starter, Professional, Enterprise).

  • Current status of their HubSpot usage.

  • Team context and HubSpot experience level.

  • Timeline expectations.

• Budget: A budget range to help Pros understand the scope (e.g. $75/hr - $100/hr, $3k - $5k, $5k - $10k). Providing a budget range helps Pros understand the scope of the job and tailor their proposals accordingly. It also prevents mismatched expectations and saves time for both parties.

• Timeline: Clear deadline expectations. A timeline indicates when the Customer needs the job started and completed. This helps Pros determine if they can accommodate their schedule and provide realistic timelines in your proposals.

When responding to Customer requests, keep these tips in mind:

1. Be Prompt: Customers often place a premium on well-crafted, timely proposals.

2. Clarify: Customers may occasionally submit requests for help with incomplete or unclear requirements. This is normal and should not deter you from responding. When additional details are needed, here’s the recommended approach:

   • Submit a $0 proposal, indicating in your response that more information is required.

   • Use the platform's messaging feature to communicate with the customer or schedule a live call to clarify the details.

   • Once you have the necessary information, update the original proposal with an appropriate price.

3. Craft Your Proposal: Address the customer’s specific problem and how you’ll solve it. Include:

   • A clear explanation of your solution.  

   • Be professional.  Use clear, friendly and professional language in your reply and proofread before submitting.  To the extent possible, highlight your unique value and include information on why you’re a good fit.  To establish trust, it can be advantageous to include any relevant certifications or project examples.

   • A timeline for delivery.

   • A cost estimate

   • Select Your Payment Terms. Choose from: (1) All upfront, (2) 50% upfront / 50% on completion, or (3) Full payment on completion

4. Click “Create Proposal”: This action will submit your proposal to the customer for review. Once the proposal is shared, it’s important to actively monitor the platform for any replies or follow-up questions from the customer. Prompt and clear communication helps establish trust and demonstrates your commitment to solving their problem.  If the customer responds with additional details, clarifications, or requests for changes, be prepared to update your proposal accordingly. Timely engagement increases the likelihood of a successful collaboration and showcases your professionalism.

When faced with a vague job posting, Profoundly Certified Pros' goal is to collect additional information needed to define a proper scope of work and contract value. When this occurs, apply these best practices for an initial proposal:

1. Acknowledge the lack of detail: At the top, write "[MORE INFORMATION NEEDED]".

2. Express interest: In the body, express enthusiasm for the job and the type of work involved, while politely reiterating that the job lacks the detail necessary for an accurate proposal. For example: 

   • "I'm very interested in the [Job Type] job and believe my experience in [relevant skills] aligns well with your needs. However, the current posting doesn't provide enough detail for me to accurately estimate the scope of work and provide a fair price."

3. Highlight relevant expertise (briefly): In the body, show the Customer why you're a good fit. Briefly mention relevant experience, skills, or past successes. Keep this concise and focused on what's relevant to their job. For example: 

   • "In the past, I've successfully completed similar jobs involving [relevant skills/technologies], delivering [positive outcomes]."

4. Clearly state what information is needed: Be specific about the information that's required. This demonstrates professionalism and helps the Customer understand the proposal process. For example: 

   • "To provide an accurate proposal, I would appreciate it if you could provide more details on the following: [scope of work (detailed description of deliverables, desired outcomes), job timeline (start/end dates, milestones), budget considerations (budget range or allocated budget), target audience, examples of desired style/aesthetic, existing assets (logos, branding guidelines, content), etc.]."

5. Propose a next step: Suggest a way to obtain the needed information, demonstrating initiative and making it easy for the Customer to respond. For example:

   • "Would it be possible to schedule a brief discovery call to discuss the job in more detail?", or "Could you please provide a more detailed job description or answer the questions above?"

6. Close professionally: End with a professional closing and method for asking follow-up questions. For example:

   • "Thank you for your time and consideration, if you have any questions please click "Send a Message" on the proposal page to connect with me. I look forward to hearing from you soon."

Yes, Customers can request a proposal directly from a specific Pro. To do so, they should:

1. Sign into the Profoundly Marketplace.

2. Navigate to the "Certified Pros" page.

3. Find the desired Pro and click the "Get Help From Me" button on their profile.

4. Complete the "Post New Job" form.

Note that the requested Pro's name will be displayed at the bottom of the "Post New Job" form, confirming that the request is being sent directly to them. This type of job posting will be exclusive to the chosen Pro; no other Pros on the platform will be able to see or respond to it.

Profoundly Certified Pros have flexibility in setting their pricing on the platform. However, to help you get started, here's some guidance:

1. Hourly Rates: Pros typically charge between $80 and $200 per hour, depending on their expertise, the complexity of the job, and the Customer's specific needs. Know your target hourly rate up-front, and how it might vary based on factors like job duration, specialized skills required, and the urgency of the job. This is your foundation for pricing both hourly work for recurring services, and fixed-price jobs.

2. Fixed-Rate Jobs: For jobs with clearly defined scopes, Pros may offer a fixed-rate price. To determine a fair fixed-rate, estimate the total number of hours the job will require and multiply it by your desired hourly rate. Be sure to include a buffer for potential revisions or unforeseen challenges.

3. Payment Options: Profoundly supports both hourly and fixed-rate payment structures, allowing Pros to choose the option that best suits their job and Customer. Recurring services are often billed hourly, but can also be billed at a fixed rate, per billing cycle.

4. Tips for Pricing:

   • Set your hourly rate: Know your target hourly rate up-front, and how it might vary based on job type and duration. This is your foundation for pricing both hourly work for recurring services, and fixed-price jobs.

   • Offer a discovery call: A brief conversation helps clarify Customer needs and ensures accurate pricing. It also serves as a differentiator by demonstrating professionalism, showing a Profoundly Certified Pro is engaged and trustworthy.

   • Be upfront and transparent: Clearly outline what your price includes, by avoiding vague descriptions that could lead to misunderstandings. Building trust through transparency is crucial for your reputation as a Profoundly Certified Pro, and for Profoundly's brand reputation in the ecosystem.

   • Price for the core need: Focus on the Customer's explicitly stated needs in an initial proposal. Once accepted, Profoundly Certified Pros can discuss additional services and the opportunity for a more comprehensive job scope. For example, if a Customer needs an email campaign, it's tempting to propose a full event strategy including social media, landing pages, and analytics. However, only the email campaign should be priced in the initial proposal. A broader job scope and a separate proposal for those add-ons can be discussed.

5. Pricing Insights: While Profoundly does not set strict pricing guidelines, we will provide pricing insights as data evolves over time to help Pros make informed decisions.

To bill an hourly rate for recurring services:

1. Quote the hourly rate: Quote an hourly rate in the proposal, with no upfront payment required.

2. Send the proposal for review and acceptance: Once the Customer accepts the proposal, the engagement "starts".

3. Invoice for completed work: After completing the work, at the mutually agreed-upon time (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, monthly), revisit the original proposal and click "Send Invoice" to issue an invoice for the actual hours worked. Click "Add a Line Item", and update the description, hours, and rate.

4. Create and send the invoice: After updating the invoice, click "Create Invoice" to send it to the Customer for payment.

If a budget is not mentioned in a job post, Pros can politely ask the Customer for a budget range to help tailor a proposal. Pros can also recommend a range based on similar jobs they have completed.

To help Profoundly Certified Pros further understand what Customers are looking for and how to craft winning proposals, see:

• Job Posts: Among other topics, the Profoundly Blog offers insights on what Customers should include in their job posts, along with practical examples of successful requests. To get started, see How to Write a Winning Job Post on Profoundly.

• Case Studies: Profoundly publishes case studies to our LinkedIn that showcase successful Pro-Customer engagements. These case studies Profoundly Case Studies: Profoundly publishes case studies to LinkedIn that showcase successful Pro-Customer engagements. These case studies provide insights into real-world jobs, including the initial job post, the Pro's approach, and the job's outcome. To get started, see From Endless Back-and-Forths to Breakthroughs | How One Manufacturer Cut Quote Time by 65%.

By reviewing these examples and case studies, you can gain a better understanding of what Customers are looking for and how to present your expertise effectively.

Politely decline, stating that this violates the Profoundly's Terms of Use.  All Profoundly Certified Pros, by joining the marketplace, have agreed that any Customer met on Profoundly will be managed through the Profoundly platform in perpetuity, and that all invoicing must be processed through Profoundly. This policy is in place to protect both Profoundly Certified Pros and Customers, and to ensure the continued development of the platform. While Profoundly is exploring incentives like reduced platform fees for milestones, off-platform work can result in penalties, including account removal. Thank the Customer for their understanding.

1. Respect customer privacy: Do not contact customers outside the platform without consent.

2. Collaborate positively: Treat fellow Profoundly Certified Pros as colleagues, fostering a supportive community.

3. Stay active: Regularly check for new opportunities and updates on the platform.

4. Abide by platform rules: Follow all terms and conditions. All billing must occur through Profoundly; off-platform transactions are prohibited.

1. Deliver High-Quality Work: Exceed customer expectations to earn positive reviews and build credibility.

2. Communicate Clearly: Keep customers informed throughout the job to establish trust.

3. Request Reviews: After completing a job, kindly ask for a testimonial to enhance your profile.

Profoundly Certified Pros are responsible for manually creating and sending invoices to Customers via their connected Stripe account, as all payments are securely processed through Stripe. This ensures a reliable and transparent transaction process for both Customers and Pros.

Note that invoices are NOT automatically generated and sent via Stripe. Here's a breakdown of the process:

• Proposal Acceptance: When Customers accept a proposal on the Profoundly Marketplace, the Pro receives a notification via email.

• Manual Invoice Creation: When ready to send an invoice, Pros:

1. Navigate to the Profoundly Marketplace “Jobs” page;

2. Click “View Proposal” on the applicable job;

3. Click “Send Invoice” on the Job-specific page;

4. Click “Create Invoice” on the “Create an Invoice” page; and

5. Follow the prompts in Stripe to create an invoice. The invoice should clearly outline the agreed-upon:

   • Payment schedule (e.g. 100% upfront, or 50% upfront/50% upon completion),

   • Payment terms (e.g. due upon receipt, net 15, net 30, or net 60), and

   • Total payment amount

• Customer Payment: Once an invoice is sent via Stripe, the Customer receives a notification both in email and in-app, and makes a payment directly through the secure Stripe platform.

Avoiding over or under billing is critical. If you have any questions about billing and invoicing, please submit a ticket to Profoundly Support for help.

While Profoundly Certified Pros can view their invoices in their Stripe dashboard, direct editing or deletion of invoices is not available for Pros. This measure is in place to maintain accurate financial records and prevent discrepancies.

If needing to void an invoice, submit a ticket to Profoundly Support, and include the invoice number and an explanation of the issue which needs to be resolved. We will confirm your request, and void the invoice for you.

Stripe is a reputable and secure payment processing platform that ensures safe and reliable transactions. Using Stripe allows Profoundly to provide a seamless payment experience for all users.

Pros can view their Profoundly transaction history within their Stripe account.

Yes! Bank debits are available as a payment method through Stripe, which means Customers in the US, Canada, Europe, and the UK can pay directly from their bank accounts.

The process for Customers to select bank debit will vary slightly depending on whether they're logged into their Stripe Link account:

• If your Customer is NOT logged into Stripe Link: They'll see the bank debit option clearly displayed among the available payment methods during checkout.

• If your Customer IS logged into Stripe Link and doesn't have a bank account linked: They'll need to click on "more payments" and then "add a payment method." The bank debit options will then appear for them to select and link their bank account.