Building a Portfolio that will Win you New Clients

Tips for putting together a great digital portfolio

A digital portfolio is essentially the one-stop-shop for potential clients to learn more about a business, the skills they offer, their qualifications and examples of work. While they can take some time and effort, it is worth it as it allows businesses to show what they can accomplish rather than just tell a client what they can bring to the table.

Here are some tips for building a great digital portfolio that will win you new clients:

1. Research your industry and target audience

Depending on your industry, the standard for your digital portfolio will vary. For example, a photographer’s portfolio will be different to a blogger’s portfolio. One of the best ways to gauge industry standards is by researching portfolios for your particular industry and understanding what competitors are doing online. Another effective way is by reading job postings and seeing what businesses are looking for.

All of this research will aid in your understanding of what your intended audience is expecting, which in turn, will ensure your portfolio is up to standard. Further, it will help others see what differentiates you from your competitors and how your brand stand out.

2. Decide what you want to show and how you want to show it

Firstly, you have to decide what medium works for you. A website is not always financially feasible for some businesses so you may opt for a PDF or PowerPoint document that you can send to clients upon demand. Certain industries also have platforms better suited to their content, for example, photographers use apps like Pic-Time or Pixieset. Either way, find a format that is easy to navigate and use for both you and your potential customer.

Once you have solidified the platform then you can decide what content to show. Your portfolio should not include all your work. It is meant to reveal the abilities and capabilities of your business. Therefore, you will want to show the projects that you are proud of, work that you got excellent feedback on and even work that you think directly represents your business and its values. Your portfolio must have a relative navigational flow, for example, if your bio says that you are creative and always “thinking outside the box” then you will want to showcase work that reflects that.

3. Make an Impression Early On

The harsh reality is that many of your potential clients may be looking at other portfolios when viewing yours, that is why making an impact as early on in the portfolio is important. The best way to ensure this is to have a clearly defined design that flows through the entire portfolio and distinct sections that the viewer can easily find.

Design: if your business has a style guide or general design rules, try to stick to that; this could be certain colours or fonts used. However, a portfolio must have a consistent design that is simple for the viewer to see and navigate.

Sections: whether it’s a document or website, a portfolio should have clearly defined sections or tabs that help the potential customer find what they are looking for. Try to keep in mind that some people may be skimming through to find something particular so you want to make it easy for them to find it. Some sections you should include are:

● A home page: your homepage should have two to three sentences briefly describing your business and what services or products you offer, captivating images of your products or service and if necessary short descriptions of those products.

● A projects page: this is the main point of the portfolio so you will want to take your time here! Ensure the design really showcases the work and as we previously mentioned show your best work! It is also really beneficial to write a few words about each project, this could be about the idea, the execution or even just a short synopsis on the whole process.

● About Page: an about page is really important as it tells people who you are or what your business is. An about section should include a brief history and defining moments, however, freelancers especially can include little insights into who they are, for example, their hobbies or interests.

● Contact Page: a contact page should have a variety of contact options for the person viewing, this can be an email, phone number, a contact form or even a location, either way, it is important to ensure that the person can reach you quickly and easily.

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Still not sure where to go with your digital portfolio? Connective Pros can help! Contact us via our website or send us an email at info@connectivepros.com to get a consultancy for your digital portfolio!