Your Portfolio: Dull or Dynamite?

No matter what your business — whether it’s providing Christian forums or graphic designs — more clients and employers are looking at your portfolio. Maybe that golden goose of an idea really took off and now you’re considering building forums or designing logos for more clients.

More important than any resume or cover letter is your portfolio. Showcasing your best work in an electronic, easy to navigate, and diverse portfolio is what helps build your career and your reputation. How can you know that you’re putting your best foot forward?

Do’s of Killer Portfolios...

Do consider the target audience of the portfolio. What kind of clients do you want and what kind of people does your particular style attract? Does a blog or web site work better? Build your portfolio based on who’s going to be looking at it. Keep things simple. Your samples will speak clearly without the need for additional bells and whistles. The point of a portfolio is to showcase your talent as easily as possible.

Do take full advantage of the “About Me” section. Be playful. Be unique. Be wholly you. This is the place to be a little quirky, engage the reader, and get that potential customer to like you – and hire you. Do think of questions you’d want answered and answer them in advance.

...and the Don’ts

Don’t use an email contact form. It feels impersonal, takes more time to fill out, and might drive a client away. Provide a professional email address and phone number. Make it as easy to contact you as possible. Don’t shrug off SEO elements. Consider what key words and phrases clients will be searching for. If you’re a party planner in Portland, make sure “party planner Portland” is peppered throughout your portfolio.

Don’t forget to keep things updated – especially if you choose the blog option. Include new samples, keep the “About Me” page fresh, and make sure contact information is current.

Get Superficial

Your portfolio is all about looks. Choose your best samples that highlight your skills. Sometimes less is more and it’s always quality over quantity. Don’t be tempted to include every single project you’ve ever completed. Try to include a diverse sampling. If you’re just starting out, it’s perfectly fine to use college projects.

Organization is also key. Include the most desired types of projects first as well as the samples you are most proud of. When you’re passionate about a particular project, that dedication will shine through. Just because a portfolio is virtual doesn’t make order any less important than the old school hardcopy portfolios.

Rave Reviews

After you’ve completed a particular project for a client, don’t be shy – ask for a written review of your work and for permission to publish the comments in your portfolio. References can go a long way. These personal statements on your work can help you land a client.

Most satisfied clients will be happy to write a review. The best part? It’s a win-win situation. Offer to include the reviewer’s name, business, and link to their web site in exchange for their kind words.