Key takeaways:
- Your digital portfolio is an opportunity to express who you are as a professional. With it, you can share your thoughts and vision for the future.
- An online portfolio can make or break your career. So, take the time to solidify your style. It’s alright to start small. You can always build and expand as you go.
- Run your portfolio by someone else. Ideally, a peer in the same niche. You never know what you might miss.
You know the feeling you get when you’re presenting a proposal or sitting in an interview? You feel ready. You’ve practiced your pitch a thousand times. When the moment comes, the words just don’t feel enough.
How do you sum up months or even years of work in a single paragraph? It’s tough, right? But what if you didn’t have to explain anything at all?
With an online portfolio, your work does the talking for you. It gives potential employers a peek into your mind and your style. It’s something even the most polished resume can’t pull off. Not sure how to create an online portfolio? Let’s break down all you need to know to build yours.
What is an online portfolio?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s take a step back and talk about what an online portfolio actually is. If you’ve hired a professional photographer before, you’ve probably seen them carrying around a thick folder. Inside, you’d find their resume, certificates, and samples of their best work.
An online portfolio is basically that, but digital. This makes it accessible anywhere, and it can have behind-the-scenes footage, tutorials, blogs, anything that polishes your professional image. The best part? Clients might lose your business card, but a portfolio link? That lasts forever. Plus, it can easily be shared.
7 steps to create your online portfolio
Having an online portfolio is a great way to boost your professional image, no matter what industry you’re in. Creative fields may have started it, but others have been catching on. Architects, web developers, and even consultants are getting in on the action. You should too!
Here’s how:
- Find inspiration from other digital portfolios
- Design your portfolio
- Showcase your best work
- Use the right content and features to strengthen your portfolio
- Focus on your portfolio website’s search engine optimization (SEO)
- Use honest feedback and user data to improve user experience
- Promote your online portfolio
It may seem like a lot, but it’s simpler than you think. We’ve broken it down into easy, digestible steps. Keep reading to discover how you can create your own portfolio and turn your ideas and skills into something marketable!
1. Find inspiration from other digital portfolios
Your portfolio is an extension of you. It should reflect who you are, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look to others for inspiration. It’s not about copying their design choices; it’s about finding what resonates with you. Check out places like Etsy, Instagram, and Pinterest for ideas on layouts, fonts, and color schemes.
If you’re feeling a little lost, write your ideas down or even record yourself to get the ideas flowing. Once you’ve got a better sense of what you want, create a mood board or vision board. This will help you organize your ideas and keep you focused as you get started working on your online portfolio design.
2. Design your portfolio
Grab your vision board and start exploring. Your online portfolio should showcase your work in the best light. Think about how galleries use lighting, furniture, and decor to bring out their artworks’ full potential. Your portfolio should do the same for your work.
Start with your wireframe. Think about questions like:
- What pages will you have?
- Where do your buttons go?
- What will users see when they scroll down?
You don’t have to fill in the visuals yet. This is just a rough draft (a blueprint) of what your portfolio should look like.
If wireframing feels too abstract, consider using an AI website builder. You simply need to feed it your ideas, and it’ll generate a web design that you can tweak to fit your style.
The goal is to guide clients and future employers through a journey. Your online portfolio can do just that with the help of interactive design features. These are some of the common techniques you can try out:
- Scrolling animations. This is where visual elements of your portfolio move or change as users scroll through. It could be as simple as changing font colors or images shifting. It makes the experience feel dynamic and adds that “wow” factor that keeps users hooked.
- Hover effects. These are perfect for drawing attention to images or titles. When users hover over them, more details pop up. It keeps things neat while making the experience fun and exciting.
- Gallery sliders. Sliders are ideal for photographers or creatives with lots of images to showcase. Instead of clicking through pages, users can smoothly glide through your work. It’s interactive and makes it easy for people to find their favorites.
- Parallax scrolling. This effect makes parts of the page move at different speeds as the user scrolls. It adds depth and flair and makes your portfolio feel more dynamic.
3. Showcase your best work
Your portfolio’s success is determined by its quality. Display only your best work. Resist the temptation to fill up your web pages just for the sake of it. Quality over quantity is key.
Remember, everyone can see your portfolio, and once something’s online, it’s out there for good. Some creatives choose minimalistic designs or layouts when they’re starting out to highlight a few select pieces.
If narrowing down feels difficult, consider conducting surveys or polls. Ask family and friends for input or look at trends in your industry to see which of your works resonates with a wider audience. Focus on what truly represents your skill. Here are a few things to take note of when choosing what to showcase:
- Be selective. Don’t just choose your best work. Upload high-quality images that truly do them justice.
- Use strategic organization. Arrange your work thoughtfully. For example, architects should show sketches before the final output to highlight their process. This makes more sense and makes their digital portfolio dynamic and exciting.
- Don’t be scared to highlight individual projects. What matters is the effort and thought you put into them. Ask yourself: Is this something you’re proud of and ready to put out in the open? If so, it’s worth putting up there.
4. Use the right content and features to strengthen your portfolio
An online portfolio is for you to showcase work and connect with clients and potential employers. The best way for them to get a feel for who you are is to cover all the necessary web pages and features that make up a comprehensive portfolio.
Let’s look at what you need to include.
Home page
This page is what your clients see first, so make sure it makes a strong impression. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or drown visitors in images. Instead, keep it simple and focused, highlighting the key areas they can explore. This means having your main menu out in the open. You can add impactful visuals, your own slogan, or even your vision.
Unlike more common forms of websites, a portfolio doesn’t have much to add to its home page, so make sure you fill it out.
Here are a few great examples to inspire you:
This is the homepage of illustrator Emma Lesley. It features a captivating image of a woman surrounded by purple flowers. At the bottom right, you’ll find her personal insight on what illustrations are.
SheRocks@College by Clarissa, the teacher/tutor features a welcoming pic that matches her content. To her right, you’ll find what she offers and a button to download her free guide
About me page
This page is your chance to tell your story and connect with clients on a deeper level. Share what led you to choose this path and what your thoughts are. Did you take it up in college? Is it a passion project you’ve been working on? Has someone inspired you?
Suffice to say, it should include a short bio, but feel free to get creative with it. For inspiration, check out Geraldine Deruiter’s “About me” on theeverywhereist.com. She includes an excerpt from Time Magazine on top of her bio. It’s catchy, unique, and a great way to make a memorable impression!
Contact page
The contact page is where clients, visitors, and potential employers can reach you. While you can include a contact form on your home page, it’s good to have a separate one for easy access.
Make sure to include your phone number, professional email, and a contact form. Adding your social media handles is also a good idea, so they can check your most recent work there. However, it’s best for you to create business accounts for your social channels. This keeps your professional and personal life separate.
Clients and testimonials page
Your clients are the lifeblood of your brand. They’re who you’re creating your portfolio for. If you have some lined up, ask for their thoughts on your work. Keep it short and consider offering an incentive like backlinks or a discount on future services.
Also, ask early. While any testimonial is valuable, the fresher the project, the more personalized and impactful their feedback will be.
Blog page
A blog page is a great way to share your thoughts, experiences, and expertise. This is especially useful for industries where visuals aren’t the main focus. But even if your work is visual-heavy, they still add value by giving context and depth to your work.
Regular posts can also help boost your SEO and keeps your portfolio relevant and discoverable. Whether it’s industry tips, personal insights, or thought leadership, a blog is a great way to show potential clients and employers what you know.
5. Focus on your portfolio website’s search engine optimization (SEO)
What is SEO and what does it have to do with your portfolio? SEO is simply the process of making sure your website ranks well on search engines like Google and Firefox. It’s about making sure when someone searches for a ‘ghostwriter in Oregon’, your online portfolio pops up first.
SEO can be tricky to navigate, but here are a few of the things you need to do to keep yours on-point:
Update your meta title and description
While your readers won’t see it, search engines do. Meta data tells them what your web pages are about, helping them target the right keywords for users’ search results.
Use competitive keywords
Everyone asks questions differently, so your keywords need to reflect that. For example, if you’re a coffee enthusiast sharing brewing techniques, your blog might include words like “how to make cold brew,” “drip coffee,” or “dark roast.” Focus on the terms people are most likely to search for.
Design your website portfolio for mobile devices
People use their smartphones for everything. In fact, the average person spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone daily. If your portfolio isn’t designed for mobile devices, you’re missing out. Luckily, most site builders are designed to automatically accommodate mobile-friendly layouts. However, you still need to manually compress images and videos to ensure your site loads quickly on all devices.
Make use of SEO tools
With the right SEO tools, you can pinpoint what needs work and helps your content rank. Here are a few to explore:
- SEMrush helps you see the keywords your competitors rank for on similar topics. You can also use it to audit your site by tracking rankings, backlinks, and technical issues.
- SurferSEO acts as a keyword-focused writing assistants. You just need to enter your target keyword. From there, it’ll give a suggested heading structure, related phrases, and guidance on usage to match top-ranking pages.
- Google Analytics gives you clear insight into your site’s performance by showing which pages attract the most visits, where users spend the most time, and where they drop off. It’s one of the best ways to see what’s working and what needs improvement.
6. Use honest feedback and user data to improve user experience
You can easily create your online portfolio with today’s website builders. But what matters most isn’t how fast you get it online but that it clicks. It’s not about your style; but your audience’s experience with it.
Is it easy to navigate? Does the placement of your buttons make sense? Does it take time to get from one section to another? To you, these may seem easy. After all, you know your portfolio’s ins and outs, which is why you need to ask for others’ opinions. They may find blind spots you’ve missed. Check in with friends, family, industry peers, and potential clients.
Make use of A/B testing to sort out different features and designs.
7. Promote your online portfolio
Your portfolio promotes you, but the work doesn’t end once you’ve clicked publish. Think of it like a brochure that still needs to be shared. No matter how comprehensive it is, you need to make sure it reaches the right audience. SEO is one of the best ways to do that, but there are more active approaches you can take. Here’s how:
- Start local. If you’re new to the industry, target your local market. Look for potential clients or employers in your community who already know a bit about you and your work ethic. Not only are they likely to trust you more, but they can provide personalized testimonials, which are a great reference for future clients.
- Use email marketing. Email marketing automates your outreach, lets you stay in touch with leads, share your latest work, and offer updates. Plus, using a professional email adds credibility and makes you appear more trustworthy. As a bonus tip, add your personal email signature. That way, after every message, your name lingers.
- Create a page for your social media accounts. Social media is a great way to promote your portfolio. Create pages for your brand on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. If you want to speed things up, try using their ad systems to get your work in front of the right people.
Let your portfolio website do the talking
You’re ready to put yourself out there. With these tips and our tools, create a portfolio that’s purely you. Find your style with our pre-made templates or let our AI-powered website builder bring your vision to life.
At Network Solutions, we offer SEO tools and marketing services to help you get the most from your digital portfolio. Start building today and let your work speak for itself.
Frequently asked questions
A portfolio is a visual-heavy website that showcases your style, expertise, and professional outlook. It should be easy to navigate, with images or projects that demonstrate your work in action. While it may resemble a blog at times, a portfolio is more focused and specifically designed to highlight your work.
A good portfolio is clear, relevant, and eye-catching. It’s about showcasing yourself with a clear purpose. Each design, content, buttons and even the “about me” page should be aligned with what you’re offering or the industry you’re in.
You don’t! Even if companies ask for your portfolio, they typically want a link instead. It’s much easier for them to review, and they can quickly check your social media to see if your values align with theirs. If you’d prefer to hand out something tangible, simply print the link to your online portfolio on your business card.
Think of your portfolio as an upgraded resume. It covers the basics like your name, contact info, and professional background, but it also shows what you bring to the table. This could include examples of your work, your professional vision, and even testimonials from clients or employers when possible.
It depends on how much you want to include, but typically, it takes about 1 to 5 weeks. Don’t rush it. Take your time to fully explore the design process. If you’re starting small, keep it simple and add more as you go.
Not at all! Our website builder makes it easy to create your portfolio without any coding experience. Plus, there are plenty of tools, plugins, and resources to help you customize it to match your style.
Yes, you can and should! Blogs are a great way to share your voice and keep things fresh. Even if your site is visually focused, a blog can give clients something to connect with. And on that note, additional pages are always welcome as long as they add value to your portfolio.
Use tools to track your portfolio’s performance and update your content regularly. Make sure your site is fast, easy to navigate, and free of malware. Regular maintenance will help keep your portfolio in top shape and appealing to potential clients or employers.
Share it! Your portfolio is meant to be flaunted. A single link is all you need. Plus, social media can help you reach a bigger audience with the right algorithms and ads.
It really depends on how often you’re able to create consistently. As a general rule, try to share something new every 1-2 weeks. But remember, portfolios aren’t like traditional websites, so don’t feel pressured to constantly add content. It’s a nice bonus, but potential clients are there to see your work unless, of course, you’re in the writing niche.
