A portfolio is a collection of completed works, projects, and other documents that demonstrate your professionalism and experience. It is used to find potential employers and customers and increase credibility in the industry. A portfolio was a folder with printed texts and mock-ups that employees took for interviews and meetings with clients until ten years ago. However, nowadays, more and more people are choosing to create a portfolio site and showcase skills online.
This format has several advantages. For example, portfolio sites on the cloudretouch provide a wide range of templates and tools to help you present your work in the best possible light. In addition, online portfolios are indexed in Google and other search engines, which means that potential employers and clients can find the site even without any effort on your part.
The article will tell you what a portfolio site is, what it consists of, and who can use it and attach a step-by-step guide to creating an online portfolio.
What does a portfolio site consist of?
Examples of work that you are proud of are always the centerpiece of an online portfolio. However, depending on the type of activity, you can include other elements:
- Resume
- Project plans
- Recommendations
- Awards
- Publications in specialized media
Need some inspiration? Check out 13 great online portfolio examples.
Who needs a portfolio website and why
An online portfolio is especially useful for creative professionals such as copywriters, photographers, designers, and architects. However, experts in other fields can also benefit from creating such a site. For aspiring models, building a portfolio website can be an important step towards an agency contract and first orders.
As we mentioned above, an electronic portfolio has many advantages over a physical one:
Availability. A portfolio site is easy for anyone with the internet to find – including your potential clients.
Easy to use. You can add new works, delete old ones, reply to customer messages, or update the “About me” text in just a couple of clicks.
Visibility. Animations, videos, special effects like parallax – all these showcase your projects better than a static image on A4 paper.
Building a reputation. If someone searches the internet for your name, your e-portfolio is the first thing they see. A quality website increases your online presence – and with it, your brand.
How and when to use an online portfolio
Depends on the situation. If applying for a job, be sure to include a link to your portfolio in your resume and send it along with your opening letter. This will allow the employer to assess your experience and skills before inviting you for an interview.
The online portfolio is also useful for employed professionals who want to demonstrate their value – for example, visually. It is time to ask for a pay raise or a transition to a new position. In this case, you can create a separate page with projects for this company, provide each job with a detailed description of the workflow and attach an analysis of the effectiveness of the completed project.
Read More: How to Write a Resume: a Comprehensive Guide
How to make a portfolio website
- Choose a domain
- Choose a template
- Think about the structure
- Customize the site for yourself
- Check before posting
1. Select a domain
Choosing a domain name determines how easy it is to find your portfolio site – so it should be memorable and sound professional. We have already covered how to choose a domain name and register it.
2. Choose a template
A template is the foundation of the site: the appearance of the portfolio, layout, navigation features, and much more will depend on it. cloudretouch offers a variety of portfolio templates, from minimal landing pages to multi-page business card sites. You can always change individual details, so don’t try to find the perfect one – choose the template that best reflects your style. To make it easier for you, we have compiled a selection of the most interesting portfolio site templates for creators.
3. Think about the structure
Having chosen a template, proceed to fill the site with important information. Here are the sections you need to pay attention to:
Homepage. This is the first thing your visitors will see – so make sure your home page makes a powerful impression and grabs attention. This will help you with an extensive and sincere title, high-quality images, and an exciting introductory text.
Page with works. Forget the more, the better. Analyze your work carefully and include only those you are truly proud of in your portfolio. This way, the visitor will not get lost in the abundance of projects, but at the same time, he will be able to form a clear impression of your experience and skills.
Section “About me.” Tell us about your biography, education, experience – everything that made you a master of your craft.
Summary. Create a separate page for it or just link to the PDF. Update your resume regularly, so you don’t miss out on promising employers.
Contacts. Email, phone, links to social networks – everything that will help visitors contact you quickly and easily.
4. Customize the site for yourself
Now is the time to make your portfolio site different from the rest. Which design do you like – calm and minimalistic, or provocative and filled with many details? Do you prefer a landing page or a multi-page site? Text on a white background with a couple of images or a whole visual presentation with animation and special effects? Whatever you decide, make sure to use high-quality pictures. You can use free cloudretouch images or stock photos.
In addition, it is a good idea to conduct keyword analyses and incorporate them into the texts on the site. This will improve SEO and bring the site to the top lines of relevant search queries (for example, “Designer Moscow” or “Hire a copywriter Krasnodar”). You can go even further and create a blog – this will improve search engine indexing and increase your credibility in the industry.
5. Check before posting
Before publishing your portfolio site, show it to a friend or colleague. A fresh look can help you spot design, text, or page structure weaknesses and make any necessary adjustments.
Read More: How to Take Pictures of Clothes Without Mannequin
