HOW TO CREATE AN ONLINE PORTFOLIO TO LAND YOUR DREAM JOB.
Whether you are looking to get hired by your dream company or you are just starting in the freelance space, an online portfolio is the best method to promote your work and attract potential clients.
The word PORTFOLIO has become a daily thing in the social space. It’s either someone is asking how to get their way around it or an employer is asking potential employees to drop a link to theirs.
Going by the traditional approach, creating a portfolio can be so daunting. While you are finding a way of putting your previous work together and in the middle of it, you get lost and probably have to start again.
So, what is an Online Portfolio?
An online portfolio is a digital compilation of details about your previous/present work, experiences, or achievements that you wish to share with your potential clients through the internet. Online portfolios are simply your “work samples”.
So, let’s talk about the free websites that can help with yours. Here are free online portfolio websites to create online portfolios:
- NOTION: https://www.notion.so/
Notion is a tool that provides features such as calendars, databases, and reminders. It’s a game changer when it comes to integrating components to construct your systems, which may be any form of tracking, project management, a repository for UX processes, note keeping, and other things like establishing landing sites.
Notion allows you to construct easy and personalized landing pages without requiring any technical skills; which means no coding is required. The good news is that you can build your portfolio on this free platform like without investing time, money, or effort in creating your own page.
2. CONTENTLY: https://contently.com/
Contently is a content marketing platform that provides you with options that help you create unique brand stories, attract new audiences, and allow you to clearly share your projects and expertise.
Contently is ideal for freelancers since it provides a free platform for displaying all of your work. It generates minimalist portfolios that are always tidy and well-put-together, regardless of how many items you’ve shared. It’s also simple to share your portfolio with possible new clients.
3. PORTFOLIOPEN: (http://www.portfoliopen.com/)
Portfoliopen is an online portfolio website majorly created for designers. It is an easy-to-use online portfolio site that enables designers to construct a professional-looking portfolio in minutes without any coding. It allows you to establish a professional design portfolio site by selecting well-designed themes. You may also freely upload your design works and photographs with up to 3GB of online storage space. Also, reading comments from diverse site visitors can provide you with immediate feedback and recommendations.
4. BEHANCE: (https://behance.net)
Behance is one of the most popular online portfolio platforms, with millions of UX/UI designers, artists, and photographers registered. It’s also simple to use, as it allows you to arrange your work by project, list projects in progress, and solicit comments from followers. Furthermore, the website allows you to connect your portfolio to your social network profiles.
Behance’s enormous digital community makes it a fantastic choice for getting your name out there, especially because recruiters and interviewers scour the site for talent. The platform also displays the number of individuals who have viewed and loved your work, which may be more beneficial than a plain online portfolio.
5. WIX: (https://www.wix.com/)
Wix is a user-friendly and flexible website builder. It offers an easy-to-use editor that allows you to rapidly construct a gorgeous portfolio website, and it is quite economical. It also provides excellent help for SEO newbies, making it simple to expand your audience. Furthermore, Wix is our top-rated eCommerce builder, allowing you to sell your work as well as showcase it.
6. DRIBBLE: (https://dribbble.com)
Dribbble, which is quite similar to Behance, is another popular free online portfolio website among UX/UI designers. You can quickly establish a free account and share tiny screenshots of your design processes, design draughts, interactive prototypes, app design thoughts, and other designs.
Furthermore, being an online site created specifically for designers to exhibit diverse design projects at the start, Dribbble is an excellent platform for designers to display new design works, enhance design abilities, discuss and communicate design ideas.
7. WORDPRESS: (https://www.wordpress.org/)
WordPress, a popular content management system, allows you to set up a free blog with a separate portfolio page. While not specifically designed for freelance writers, WordPress has over 100 free themes to help you create a unique blog, promoting your writing and it’s versatile enough to allow you to showcase a variety of creative work. If you want total creative control over your portfolio, this is an excellent alternative for you.
Now that we know what an online portfolio is and few options you can start with, how do we begin to compile it?
A lot of people think or let’s assume that an online portfolio is only for people with past employment opportunities but that’s wrong.
Whether you have the opportunity to work for people or you are hoping to land a job, you must have a portfolio. But HOW?
The best way to build your portfolio is to be the first person to hire YOU. Be your first client. Look for things around your skills and work on them. Write those articles and publish them on medium. Create those designs and post them across your social media pages.
Start with yourself. Start with your friends and family’s projects. Don’t wait!
So, how can you build an ONLINE portfolio?
To build an online portfolio follow the steps;
STEP 1: CHOOSE THE RIGHT WEBSITE AND SET UP YOUR THEME.
The first step to building your online portfolio is to decide on the right website to use. Choosing the website that will work for you can be daunting; As they say, different strokes for different folks; online portfolios work differently so choose the one that will present your work well.
After you’ve chosen a platform, it’s time to build your website and exhibit your best work. Examine your work objectively and choose the areas you want to include. Rather than emphasizing a single technique or style of work, aim to highlight the range of your expertise.
STEP 2: STRUCTURE YOUR SAMPLES
To begin, collect the best samples that you know will help you stand out. You may always add additional galleries and categorize your work in the future. Your portfolio should focus on the quality of your work rather than the quantity.
Consider this a highlight reel. When someone visits your website, you want them to leave with an accurate and pleasant image of your job. A quick and simple gallery to scroll through quickly provides visitors with a glimpse into your work that is apparent as soon as they land on your page.
STEP 3: CREATE YOUR DESCRIPTION SECTION
Your description or About page is one of the crucial aspects of your portfolio. It stands as the page that visitors will most likely click on, so you have to create it with positivity in your mind. No one expects you to write an essay. Who even has time to read one? So make it a point to clarify who you are, what you do, and where you are. Including a clear photo of yourself.
STEP 4: PROVIDE TESTIMONIALS AND REVIEWS FROM YOUR PAST EMPLOYERS OR CLIENTS.
The concept of social proof states that people are more inclined to buy or perform something if others have shown happiness with it. For example, if you want to download an app on play store or apple store, you’re most likely going to check the reviews before downloading the app, right?
A similar method may be applied to your portfolio website. Social evidence is provided through testimonials and reviews. They demonstrate to potential clients that others believe in and appreciate your work.
In case you don;t have any, you can email previous clients or friends that you’ve worked for and request a few sentences on what they enjoyed about your work. Implement a method for asking each customer for feedback after completing a job.
STEP 5: BE PRESENT ONLINE
Now that you’ve developed your portfolio, what next? The next thing is to show up on your social media platforms. Showing up and sharing your work on social media is one method to attract your potential clients.
Also learn to share your portfolio on your social media profiles. This will make it easier for clients to locate you. You are free to choose one or two sites as your professional social media handles. As long as it is a platform where you are engaged, where people may readily discover you while searching, and where your clientele is.
Remember, it’s not about how many portfolios you use; it’s about using the correct one that suits your purpose.
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