Portfolio websites can be a great way to show your work off to potential employers. Some are just a resumé, but others include a variety of things. People with IT degrees can include photos of websites they’ve built and lists of systems they’ve worked on. They may even include an example of a problem they encountered and how they went about fixing it. Artists can create beautiful pages displaying their art work and how they made them.
A portfolio site is basically just a site with your professional work on it. The Following is a step by step process of how to create your own portfolio website.
1. You’ll want decide what you want to be and organize your information accordingly. If you want to be a graphic designer, include all relevant work pertaining to the position. Organize all your relevant information and get it ready to post on your page.
2. There are three options to choose from when creating a portfolio: blog, website or simple portfolio. A blog is free (unless you purchase a domain) and you can post just about anything on there from pictures to written material. A website costs a monthly fee but it isn’t restricted to one page. The simple portfolio also has a monthly fee but is typically simpler than a website and is usually restricted to one page.
3. Once you have decided which type you of site you want, you can begin designing. There are many website creating tools out there on the web including web.com and godaddy.com. If you are computer language savvy, you may be able to create your own template.
4. Don’t forget to include a pitch for yourself. Why should an employer hire you? Besides looking at your work, they don’t know a whole lot about you. You’ll need to be able to market yourself if you want to get hired.
5. Other than creating a personal pitch for yourself, you should definitely include an about page and a contact page. The about will allow employers to learn more about you and your character. You do not need to go too in depth and personal, but give the employers a reason to come back to your portfolio. The contact page will allow them to get in touch for that second date.
6. Place all of your relevant projects and information on the site. The potentials are going to want to see your work before they give you an official interview. Make sure you use your best work and describe how you created each piece. It will give the employer a better view of who you are.
7. An employer can’t find your portfolio without traffic. Traffic is good; it means people are coming to your site. Give people a reason to come by. Start a blog. Give tutorials on how you created your work. And keep updating and adding to your site more and more awesome projects showing employers why they should employ you.
Voila, you have a strong portfolio site that employers can find and of course contact you.
10 comments
bbrian017 says:
Aug 2, 2011
Hi Thomas , I’ve built up a portfolio website for myself. I’m still working on the portfolio part but at least I have a place to keep it all now. I used my name http://www.brianbelfitt.com and I think it’s looking great so far.
I don’t link to all my websites but any website that is clean and worth sharing I have added there.
Irfan says:
Aug 2, 2011
I just have launched a portfolio website Irfan Siddiquito showcase my designing talent. I wish every person who is about to launch a portfolio should read this article.
Regards
Irfan says:
Aug 2, 2011
I just have launched a portfolio website Irfan Siddiqui to showcase my designing talent. I wish every person who is about to launch a portfolio should read this article.
Regards
Paul Salmon says:
Aug 2, 2011
I have thought about starting a portfolio website, but unfortunately time is at a premium for me right now. I have seen some really good photography portfolio websites, however.
Mike the Bath Guy says:
Aug 3, 2011
Portfolio websites are great ideas, I keep putting mine off but I really have to do it! If you really want a great portfolio and are willing to spend the cash, getting a domain that matches your name is really important. Have a couple pages for “About” and “Contact,” but you should seriously consider a blog as well. Blogs can get traffic to your page, but also, blogs can solicit links from external sources (which are very valuable if you want your profile to rank well and be visible). Blogs also help your site get crawled by major search engines faster and more frequently (since they constantly refresh the site with new content). Blogs, in general, are just great for SEO. And once your portfolio site is finished, make sure you tell all your friends on Twitter/Facebook?LinkedIn. Maybe you can get some links from them, or at least some traffic and some shoutouts! For linkbuilding, just be active in your blog commenting, especially on dofollow blogs – and target your name, obviously, as your major keyword. Don’t forget to use your social profiles to link to your site, and don’t forget to use the rel=author tag on your blog posts!
Thiru says:
Aug 5, 2011
Great tips dani.. Just now my friend asking me for making design work portfolio. Hopefully he will make use of this tips.. Good day.
Aurea says:
Aug 7, 2011
These tips are quite useful and very beneficial for those who do not know what they should do or how they would present their portfolio in such a way that it will become popular.
John says:
Aug 11, 2011
I think the best portfolio is a list of sites you have already done and the opinions of their owner about your work. It is just like in any other business – show what you can,
John from iphone application development company.
makingyourownwebsites says:
Sep 9, 2011
Building a portfolio website is probably the best thing you could do to attract as many clients as possible. Once you have your own photo website, you can then start promoting it so it can reach a lot of online users who will visit your site.
First, go to http://www.makingyourownwebsites.com/photography and make your photography site quickly. The steps to follow are very easy. You don’t need to be a techie to get your website running in no time.
Richindesign says:
Nov 17, 2011
As a web designer you struggle to capture the idium of what you want for your portfolio, ive been through around 5 revamps now http://richindesign.info
id suggest going to http://about.me.com for non designers as it can give you a one page portfolio