Whether you are a seasoned web design veteran or just starting out as a Web Designer, you must make a web design portfolio. It is perhaps the most decisive element when finding and landing clients and new projects. Plus, making a web design portfolio will drastically boost your branding and professional image.
Here are some tips to help you create an impressive web design portfolio-
Know your purpose
Creating a portfolio for web design and development work is a different process than for a graphic designer or programmer. You need clear goals and specific ways to achieve them. To better understand your needs, ask yourself these three questions:
- What kind of work do I usually do?
- Who are the potential clients I want to attract?
- How will I integrate the portfolio into my job role?
Certificates and recognitions
Certificates, courses or any professional recognitions can help to add credibility to your professional image. You can leave a space for your academic training and other courses from a validated source. Do not forget to include the certifications you achieved in your profile.
Focus on your skills
Identify what you do best and let them shine through when creating your web design portfolio. Your specialities, such as Communication design, User experience (UX) design, Color Theory, Typography, or whatever you excel in, should be prominently displayed in your portfolio. This way, potential clients will know what to expect from you and what projects you like to work on. The important thing is that you create a consistent impression and communicate clearly.
Your best work comes at the beginning
Put your best work at the top of your portfolio. Creating a striking first impression makes visitors more likely to stick around to check out the rest of your work.
When making your web design portfolio, try to see it through the eyes of an employer. Is it attractive enough? What can you do to make it stand out from your clients?
You can look at other portfolios for inspiration if you are short on ideas. Study your favorites and try to figure out what it is about them that makes you like them.
Gather testimonies
Having testimonials on display is the most effective way to build credibility. It's tangible proof that you've worked with others and that your work is being used in the real world.
Don't be shy about reaching out to your clients to ask for a testimonial. If you're proud of your work and have a good relationship with your clients, they'll likely be willing to leave a good review.
Be concise
Your visitors or potential clients should be able to identify what type of project they are looking at first glance and should be able to navigate through your entire web design portfolio without getting confused. They should have a clear overview of your service and talent.
Use social media
Your web portfolio may be your most important platform, but social media allows you to create new contacts and maintain an ongoing relationship with your followers and clients. Your social media will be the starting point, and your web portfolio will be the point of arrival for prospective clients.
Make it easy to navigate
Make your online portfolio easy to navigate. Organize your projects into categories for easy understanding, and if you use an unorthodox layout, make sure it's still understandable.
With a clear strategy, your online portfolio will be more consistent, and you can align it with your personal goals. Instead of showing everything you've done, focus on sending a unique but powerful message. Ensure that the works that best represent your goals have the most visible places and reach your targeted audience.