4 Secrets To Building A Killer Portfolio

When it comes to showing yourself professionally, it is critical to demonstrate and tell. After all, while many individuals perform the same type of work as you, no one does it quite like you. That is why having an online portfolio is so beneficial. Whether you want to attract new customers, offer employers a sense of your skills, strengthen your brand, or make yourself more visible on the web, a website that exhibits your work will help you achieve your goal.

1. Define What You’re Showcasing

You must first grasp what you want others to view before you can figure out how to best design your online portfolio. Even while you have a lot more space online than you do on your resume, you should be just as picky about what you include. People have short attention spans, so only upload samples that best represent your talent and experience—and display the type of work for which you want to be hired.

Make a master list or collection of your work if you don’t already have one. Then, score the projects based on how remarkable they are, and select the top 10-20. Look for multiple projects that each highlight a particular service or talent. You should also consider what you want to achieve. Are you utilizing your portfolio to complement your resume or to attract new clients? Show off your best work or what has gained you the most attention.

Those are the fundamentals that everyone should examine.

2. Maintain Simplicity

When it comes to displaying your work, less is more. We recommend presenting your projects in a basic way on one web page (or, better yet, a “My Work” or “Work Samples” area of your website), with the ability to examine more details and give them context about your work by looking at each individually. When putting together all of your various work examples in one spot, try to keep it brief and basic to make it more cohesive and less visually overwhelming for the viewer.

3. Make it easy to Navigate

Another approach to make it easier for readers to traverse your portfolio? Make use of categories. When you have a lot of work to show off, putting it all on one page can be intimidating. It can also be deceptive—if your first three projects are all about digital strategy, potential clients may assume you don’t offer any other services and overlook the web development projects lower down the page.

In addition, categories can demonstrate your range. If you’re a marketing generalist who handles social media strategy, press outreach, and blog copy, you should probably classify your work as well.

After all, you wouldn’t want someone seeking Instagram assistance to have to sift through the magazine spots you’ve obtained for previous clients.

4. Keep in mind that it is not just about your work.

While your previous work is crucial when someone is considering working with you, keep in mind that that person isn’t looking to hire your work, but the person who created it.

An excellent portfolio is enhanced when it is part of a comprehensive personal website that includes information about your story, background, and the type of person you prefer to work with.

You work hard at what you do, so show it off with an impressive online portfolio. With these approaches, you’ll have a site that highlights your talents and moves you closer to your career goals.