IMDbPro: What Are You “Known For”?

 

I’m not a huge fan of IMDb.

One of the biggest issues I have with the site is it gives actors very little control over the content that it lists about them.

But, times they are a changin’…and IMDb has made a change, too!

I was so excited recently when IMDb announced that now anyone with a Pro account has total control over selecting which credits are listed in the “Known For” section.

This is a big deal because these highlighted credits are the first thing another Pro user sees when going to your page. And, since IMDbPro has become the industry’s ‘go-to’ source for looking up an actors credits, this can have a big impact on establishing a positive or negative first impression with decision makers.

Previously, the site gravitated towards listing film credits over television. To the point that even Zooey Deschanel doesn’t have her TV show New Girl listed in her “Known For” section…seriously?!

Now that you have some control…which credits should you select? Well, you can only pick 3 to display, so consider them wisely.

For one, I would suggest selecting the most well-known project. Why? Because people want to be able to quickly understand the types of projects you’ve appeared in. A recognizable credit instantly delivers some important details, like the medium (film, TV, etc) and genre (drama, comedy, horror, etc).

You might also consider your largest role…even if the project isn’t as recognizable. Why? Because this is the project that gave you the most opportunity to shine and is probably a big part of your demo reel — which should also be added to your IMDb profile.

The other thing to think about is the age of the project. Why? Because the year the project was released is listed next to the title name. So, if your credits are equal in terms of size and familiarity, using the freshest of the bunch will simply give the visitor an idea that you’ve worked recently.

Still not sure which credits to list? Talk to your Rep and ask them which credits they think industry insiders will gravitate towards. After all…that’s who you’re interested in impressing with the “Known For” section, right?!

Once you’ve determined which credits to use, it’s pretty easy to do. Simply login to IMDbPro, visit your Profile page and look for the edit icon in the “Known For” section right next to your image. It might take up to 24 hours to update, so be patient if you don’t see the change immediately.

And, don’t worry…if you feel like changing it again next week — now you can!