Answers to the questions we hear most about boosting, including the details that most often catch people out. New to boosting? Start with Guide: Boosting Your Projects.
Before you boost, know these three things:
- Your project is locked once you submit it. You can't edit it, including its cover, title, or images, while the boost is in review or running.
- You have 30 minutes to change your mind. If you cancel within 30 minutes of submitting, your credit is returned. After that, cancelling uses up the credit.
- Credits don't stack. Each month your balance is topped up to 1 credit. An unused credit doesn't turn into 2 the next month.
So finish and double-check your project before you boost it.
Jump to:
- Before you boost
- While your boost is in review or running
- Rejected boosts and moderation
- Reach and results
- Boost credits
- About the beta
Before you boost
Why don't I see the Boost option on my project?
Your account and the project both need to qualify.
Your account must:
- Have an active Behance Pro membership, on the same Adobe account you use to sign in to Behance
- Be verified
- Be in good standing, with no restrictions from moderation
The project must:
- Be published and public. Drafts, private, link-only, and password-protected projects can't be boosted.
- Not be premium or subscriber-only
- Not be marked as containing mature or adult content
- Not be hidden or restricted by moderation
- Not already have a boost in review or running, including one started by a co-owner
If the Boost option is missing on one project but shows on others, it's almost always because of something on that project. Check its visibility settings and any notices on the project page.
It says I need Behance Pro, but I already have it.
This usually means your Behance Pro plan is on a different Adobe account from the one you're signed in to Behance with, for example a personal account versus a business or school account. See I bought Behance Pro but don't see it.
What does the review check for?
Boosted projects are shown to people who don't follow you, so every boost is reviewed against our Community Guidelines before it starts. Boosts are most often rejected for:
- Advertising: projects that mainly promote a product, service, or business, for example product listing images for Amazon or other marketplaces, or projects centered on contact details, prices, or "order now" calls to action
- Spam: projects that send people to off-platform services or inauthentic accounts
- Adult or explicit content
- Fraud or scams
Is there a best time to boost?
Boost a project when it's finished. Since you can't edit during the boost, fix typos, choose your cover, and confirm your tags first.
While your boost is in review or running
Why can't I edit my project or change its cover?
Projects are locked from the moment you submit a boost until the boost ends. This makes sure people see the same project that was reviewed. To make changes, you'll need to cancel the boost.
I need to fix something. If I cancel, will I get my credit back?
Only if you cancel within 30 minutes of submitting the boost. This applies whether or not the boost has been approved yet. After 30 minutes, cancelling ends the boost and the credit is used up, even if the boost was still in review.
I boosted the wrong project by mistake.
Cancel it right away. If it's within 30 minutes of submitting, your credit is returned and you can boost the right project.
To cancel: go to your profile, hover over the project, click the Settings icon, select Boost, then click End Boost.
What if I delete or repost a boosted project?
Deleting a project also deletes its boost, and the credit isn't returned. If you need to change a boosted project, cancel within 30 minutes and edit it, rather than deleting it and uploading it again.
How long does review take?
Most boosts are reviewed quickly, usually within a day, though it can take longer during busy periods. You'll get an email when your boost is approved or rejected. Once approved, your boost runs for one week.
My boost was approved, but now it shows as cancelled or stopped. Why?
A running boost can stop early if:
- The project is restricted by moderation while it's boosted. In this case your credit is returned.
- Your Behance Pro membership ends. See Boost credits.
- You're removed as a co-owner of the project. Boosts you started on that project are cancelled.
If none of these apply, contact us with the project link.
How do boosts work on co-owned projects?
Any co-owner with Behance Pro can boost a co-owned project, but only one boost can be in review or running at a time. Only the co-owner who started the boost can see its results.
Rejected boosts and moderation
My boost was rejected. Why doesn't the email say what was wrong?
Rejection emails don't list a specific reason. Compare your project with the common reasons in What does the review check for?. Projects that work mainly as advertisements, such as marketplace listing images, are the most common.
Do I get my credit back if my boost is rejected?
In most cases, yes, your credit is returned automatically. Credits may not be returned for clear spam or repeated violations.
My boost was rejected and my project was made private. Are these related?
They can be. The review checks the whole project against our Community Guidelines. If a project breaks them, we may also take action on the project itself, such as making it private, not just reject the boost. You'll get a separate email about the project with instructions for appealing. Boosting doesn't create new rules; the same guidelines apply to every project on Behance.
Can I edit my project and boost it again?
Yes. Once the boost is rejected, your project is unlocked. Update it to follow the guidelines, then boost it again with your returned credit.
Reach and results
Where does my boosted project appear?
In the For You feed and Search results for members in your audience, marked with a Promoted badge. Boosting doesn't change where your project appears for everyone else.
My boost shows lots of impressions but few views or appreciations. Why?
Boost results count impressions: how many times your project was shown. Views and appreciations depend on whether people choose to click on and engage with it, which depends on things like your cover, title, and how relevant the project is to your audience. Boosting increases how many people see your project, but it can't guarantee engagement.
My boost didn't reach as many people as estimated. Can I get my credit back?
- The estimated reach is a projection. Actual reach can vary with seasonality, the number of active members, and how many other boosts are targeting a similar audience.
- If your boost finishes well below its estimated reach, we automatically return your boost credit when the boost ends. Your boost completion email will let you know.
- Boost credits are returned as credits. They aren't refunded as money.
I can't find my boosted project when I search for its title.
Boosting shows your project to the people in your audience. It doesn't change how your project ranks in regular search results for everyone. For how search works, see How Behance Search Works.
My project was shown for search terms that don't really match it.
The default audience is broad. It's based on your followers, people who've interacted with your work, and the creative fields and tags on your project. For tighter targeting, create a custom audience and choose specific creative fields, locations, and search terms. Accurate tags on your project help too.
Will my project only be shown in the locations I pick?
Not only there. Choosing a location prioritizes members there, but your project can also be shown to people elsewhere who match your other targeting.
My audience is very small. How can I make it bigger?
Add more creative fields, search terms, or locations to your custom audience, or use the default audience.
Does boosting hurt my project's organic performance?
No. Boosting only adds extra visibility while the boost runs. When the boost ends, your project continues as it would have without it.
What is the Boost goal for?
It helps us understand what members want from boosting. It doesn't change how your boost is delivered.
Boost credits
How many credits do I get, and when?
You get 1 credit a month while you have Behance Pro. Your next credit arrives on your monthly subscription date, or 31 days after your last credit, whichever comes first. The date shown in your Boost menu is the one that applies to you.
Your new credit is added the next time you open Boost on or after that date. If it hasn't appeared, sign out of Behance, sign back in, and open Boost again.
I didn't use my credit last month. Shouldn't I have 2 now?
No. Unused monthly credits don't carry over or stack. Each month your balance is topped up to 1 credit. The only way to hold 2 at once is if a credit you used is returned, for example after a rejection or a low-reach boost. You can hold a maximum of 2.
I just started Behance Pro, or a free trial, and it says I have no credits.
New members start with 1 credit. If you don't see it:
- Sign out of Behance and sign back in.
- Make sure you're signed in with the Adobe account that has Behance Pro.
- Make sure your account is verified.
If you still see 0 credits, contact us.
What happens to my credits if my Behance Pro membership ends?
When Behance Pro ends, for any reason including a missed payment:
- Running boosts stop
- Unused credits are removed
- Custom audiences are deleted
If you subscribe again, you start with a new balance of 1 credit. Removed credits can't be restored.
Can I buy more credits?
No, additional credits aren't available at this time.
About the beta
Why is boosting in beta?
We're still testing and improving boosting based on your feedback, so details may change.
Where can I share feedback?
We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in this feedback survey.