Business

How To Make A Portfolio – A Step-By-Step Guide To Success

The search for a new job opportunity, potential clients, investors, or business partners can be a long, rocky road. From sourcing these categories of people to sourcing opportunities to speaking with them and impressing them with your work and finally getting the job, it’s anything but easy. Add in the possibility that you may have to interview online, and things become that much more complicated.

Thankfully, digital technology has made it possible for us to be where we cannot go physically, like sending a representative or mouthpiece that gives an impeccable impression of what you have to offer. This is what online portfolios provide.

Having a portfolio online will show your next client, boss, investor, partner, etc., exactly what you are capable of and how you can deliver that same genius or even better.

If you have ever tried to make a portfolio or website and have been at a loss to start, this article will show you what to do. We will give you a step-by-step procedure of how to make a portfolio for different fields and the tools you will need to start the creative process.

Ready? Set? Let’s go!

Creating Your Portfolio

What Is a Portfolio?

Essentially, a portfolio is a collection of items that you present as proof that you can do what you say you can do. This is only a lay definition.

Portfolios vary and can be used for different purposes. Therefore, the contents of a portfolio online will differ based on the purpose you want to use it for. A portfolio is a compilation of materials that proves your skills, qualifications, education, training, or experiences. It shows the other individual or company reviewing your work that you have what it takes to deliver on the job.

A portfolio is not a resume; however, you can use it with a resume to provide practical examples of what you have presented in your resume so that the recruiter can see your skills live.

A good portfolio website or online portfolio should adequately represent your best abilities, display your best work and align your capabilities and strengths with what the employer or recruiter is looking for.

Portfolio

Why You Should Have A Portfolio

Why is having an online portfolio important?

In a professional world, it’s more about what you show you can do than telling. Whether you’re searching for an online teaching job, proofreading job, or even a live chat operator job – no matter the case having something in your application that’s unique matters. Remember, recruiters deal with a thousand and one resumes daily, and for you to stand out, it may take more than a one-page resume. It would help if you did something that will attract them to glance at your application.

A good online portfolio can do that for you. When you build your own online portfolio, it establishes your work on the web. Not only are you more visible on search engines, but it also gives your work some credibility.

Your online portfolio is also the key to building your own network of like-minded professionals in the field. Here you can form partners and collaborate on new projects together and feature your work online for potential customers and employers to find you.

It’s a smart move!

Elements of a Good Online Portfolio

To showcase your successful projects, graphic design samples, writing samples, social media accounts you have successfully managed, and a host of other good work you have done, you may need more than a one-page website, even if those are also great.

We suggest an online portfolio that is built to stand out. A good portfolio should have:

  • Impeccable web design
  • Unique color scheme
  • Navigable web pages
  • Your work samples
  • An easy-to-find contact page
  • A project page that describes your work

Incorporating these elements into your portfolio page will make your portfolio stand out and ensure that search engines can easily find your page.

Types of Online Portfolios

There are different types of portfolios. Many people prefer to create an online portfolio because it is much easier to share on the internet with only a website link.

To achieve this, they build a portfolio website that projects their skills and abilities, with a contact form for potential clients and prospective employers who may want to reach them.

Listening to music while writing

Before choosing to create your own portfolio website, and starting the website building process, check out the different categories and the best one for you.

You would also find how to get started on creating your online portfolio website building, with some helpful tips below.

1. Art Portfolio

While many artists sell on sites like Etsy, you may be looking to up your game and a solid art portfolio is a great way to get noticed. This is a collection of the best artworks an artist has ever done. The purpose of this portfolio is to showcase their preferred style(s) of work. It also helps new clients to see how versatile the artist can be – creative, thorough, and other good qualities the artist may have.

A good art portfolio should have at least 10 – 20 high-quality images of their most recent pieces. The better they are, the more impressive the work will be. While quantity matters, the quality of work is what will make you outstanding.

2. Writing Portfolio

This is a collection of a writer or student’s writing samples. It should contain their best writing efforts and content pieces that they have done. Whether you’re an academic writer, copywriter, ghost writer, freelance writer, or any other niche of writer, your portfolio should contain about 10 – 20 pieces of great articles, excerpts from journals, or published written work of yours.

It is also necessary that your portfolio contains past work that you have done for former clients that match the field you’re looking to apply to. So, if you’re building an academic writing portfolio, it should comprise academic articles or journals that you have completed online or any written academic project you have worked on.

If you’re looking to make money writing online, there are certain design features and elements you should present in your portfolio. Below is how to build a writer’s portfolio website.

Be specific about your portfolio

Select specific examples that relate to the writing you do. Ensure that you choose your best work regarding the clippings or articles you will upload to your portfolio.

Choose a good portfolio website builder to host

The website you host your writing portfolio also matters because some sites are not designed to highlight your work. Go for a website with themes and web design elements that project your work.

Design a good portfolio page

Your website design is part of the factors that bring out the good work you have done. With the help of a graphic designer, create graphic design to accompany your work. Include a link to your contact page on the website footer for easy access.

Include your samples

Here, your actual work should come in. Add 10 – 20 samples of your best work as you set up on the website builder. You can include these using links to published articles or PDF files to improve the clarity.

Add your bio

A bio helps those viewing your portfolio understand you and your work better. Your bio can also include your contact details so that potential work partners or clients can get you easily.

3. Portfolio for Designers

Professional designers need to show evidence of their work, allowing their personality shine through every project they have accomplished. This is one of the things a detailed designers’ portfolio should do.

It doesn’t matter what type of designer you are; all designers need to create a portfolio. Web designers, graphic designers, interior designers, etc., should have a portfolio website page that displays high-quality images of about 20 design pieces that you have worked on in any design project.

Below are some important tips for how to make a portfolio for designers.

Be yourself

Don’t lift designs from other people’s portfolios or websites. If you have no designs, create mock-up companies or clients and craft designs around them.

Show your personality

Designs are a good way to reflect your personality and unique process of work. Let your graphic design samples or any other design you’re showcasing have a clear structure and theme that employers or recruiters can grasp.

Add your work samples

One common mistake people make is adding only a few samples. A single page of work samples is not enough to show your versatility or ability to work in different areas. Thus, it is an absolute must to include enough samples of your work in your portfolio online.

Add a contact form

Let your contact information, links to your social media accounts, and other ways your potential work partners can reach you be on your portfolio page. If you have a social media account for your designs, it can also serve as social proof of your work to give you credibility.

4. Web Developer Portfolio

Web developers, like web designers, also need an online portfolio to showcase past work they’ve done on a web developing project. You can provide links to actual work you have done as a website developer on your online portfolio.

As a website developer, creating your portfolio should be an easy task. You can even add your personal touch once you start creating your website, which may also impress the client, depending on its flawlessness, operationality, and overall tech skills.

To build your portfolio online, here are a few things you must include:

  • Your contact information
  • An “about me” section
  • Relevant projects you have worked on
  • More links to your work on Github
  • Other relevant skills
  • Personal website projects you may have
  • A downloadable resume

Photography and Videography Portfolios

Creating an online portfolio website to display your work as a photographer or videographer helps you share your unique style of taking shots with prospective employers. Here, you can provide context for your high-quality images that explain your unique style in more detail and allow your personality to shine through.

By providing the essential information about your pieces, you help new clients and even former clients looking to do more work get a more detailed picture of all that you offer.

Your photography portfolio should detail your creative process, bonus points if you provide context for your work. Below is how to create a solid photography portfolio.

Create Subcategories

Create subcategories of portfolio pages to match different themes. E.g., event photography, nature photography, child portraits, etc., to help hirers find what they need easily.

Use Top Examples

Select only the best examples of your work to showcase your skills. If you don’t have enough samples, shoot more.

Make It Pop

The first few high-quality images on your page should be captivating. The right color schemes will bring out the beauty of your work.

Find Photography Themes

Choose a portfolio website that has themes for photographers. this will ensure your images stand out on the portfolio pages.

Best Portfolio Website Builders

1. For Writers: Squarespace

Portfolio Website Builders-Squarespace

Squarespace is a great drag-and-drop website builder for writers. It costs up to $12 per month, although it comes with a free trial. You can check out the features to see what works for you.

Click Here To Get Started

2. For Web Designers: Behance

Portfolio Website Builders-Behance

Behance is one professional website builder tool for every web or graphic designer. It is free of charge and allows you to network with other designers and even find job listings to connect with your next client.

Click Here To Get Started

3. For Photographers: Wix

Portfolio Website Builders-Wix

Wix is a high-end tool that allows you to build your website at no cost. You can choose to upgrade to a paid plan if you have more ideas you will like to implement to show off your work samples.

Click Here To Get Started

4. For Artists: Adobe Portfolio

Portfolio Website Builders-Adobe Portfolio

Adobe Portfolio is a great site for your creative work. All you need to do is pick a layout and customize it as you wish. It is free for 60 days but comes at a charge of $9.99 afterward.

Click Here To Get Started

5. For Students: Wix

Portfolio Website Builders - Wix

Again, this website provides easy-to-use template websites for students who would like to build a portfolio of their accomplishments and school work achievements to stand out during internship applications.

Click Here To Get Started

Kevin Martin

Kevin is an ambitious entrepreneur that is obsessed with all things related to finance. From a young age, Kevin has always been involved with side hustles ranging from online selling to freelance work. Over the years, Kevin graduated from side hustles and started launching multiple online and offline businesses. Kevin is a serial entrepreneur who loves starting new businesses and exploring all things related to business and finance. He is constantly looking for new ways to save money, invest money, and create income streams.