An online portfolio is one of the main resources that graphic design professionals should have available for new job or business opportunities.
It is an essential tool when presenting what we know how to do and showing our personal stamp.
Many companies ask for candidates for certain jobs and some recruiters ask for the portfolio, instead of a resume. Because today, demonstrable experience has a higher value than the courses or degrees that you may have hanging at home.
Don’t have a portfolio yet?
Well, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll show you how to make a good online portfolio, as well as some websites where you can create one for free.
5 Tips for Creating an Online Portfolio
In the age of digital communication, it is already rare to find recruiters or companies that request the portfolio in a physical document. Especially when it comes to jobs that involve creating creative digital content, it makes sense to create an ideal portfolio for this medium.
This is above all the best option for designers and other artists of this type, due to the visual strength that a digital creative portfolio has.
But, before showing you how to make an online portfolio, it is necessary to know some important aspects to take into account when creating your own.
What to put in the portfolio? What are the works to highlight? How to organize information?
In this section we will be answering these and other questions about how to create a creative and unique portfolio.
1. Out with the complexes
Sometimes, professionals are very reserved with our projects and are afraid to show some of the work we have done. However, if you want to get new job opportunities, attract clients or simply improve your brand image as a creator, making an online portfolio is your best option.
2. Be selective
We know you’re a great professional and all your jobs are great.
However, in online portfolios it is necessary to show only the best of your arsenal. Considering that clients or recruiters need to check out other creators’ work as well, they’ll only have the time to see some of your work.
Make sure they are the best.
3. Think about your ideal audience or customer
Each creative works for a specific audience. Not everyone is interested in your work.
Therefore, it is essential to define who your ideal customer is in order to make the perfect online portfolio for the person who is going to read it.
Who is your audience? What needs do they have? What are they looking for? How do they communicate?
Knowing the answers to these questions will help you better build your portfolio around your ideal client.
If you have multiple potential customer profiles, you can always create a portfolio for each one. Although our recommendation is that you close the circle as much as possible so that you focus on the most qualified customers for your service.
4. Start with a short presentation
Before listing your best jobs, we recommend that you make a brief presentation of who you are and what your training is. Make sure it’s a unique exposure that you can connect with from the very first sentence with your potential customers.
Don’t forget to point out the most important contact details, as well as the communication channels you use for your brand or to showcase your work.
5. Constant Updating
An essential aspect of portfolios is their updating.
Especially with creative professions such as design or animation, it is necessary to keep the portfolio up to date in order to show the use of new techniques or the most modern trends.
Where to create a free online portfolio?
Currently on the Internet you will find numerous tools that will allow you to make a digital portfolio for free. This way you can show your audience everything you can do.
Discover below the 4 most popular portfolio creation tools among creatives of different specialties.
1. Behance
If you are a designer, animator, illustrator or belong to any profession related to visual creation, you will surely love Behance.
This is not only a platform where you can show your work as a digital gallery, but you can also acquire followers and get inspiration from the work of other creators.
This application is free, although it has a paid version that allows you to customize your profile, in addition to other very interesting features. Investing in these types of platforms can be profitable in the long run, considering Behance’s popularity in the world of professional design.
2. Dribbble
Like Beheance, Dribbble will show you how to make a good online portfolio. It is very useful for creative artists, especially for professionals in web design, graphic design, illustration or UX/UI design.
Before, an invitation was required to enter, so it was considered an extremely exclusive platform. However, you can currently access it for free, although it also has interesting paid plans.
3. Charge
Unlike previous platforms, Cargo has a higher level of customization. It has numerous templates from which you can choose the best option to showcase your work.
The only limitation is that it can only be accessed through invitations from other professionals who are already on this platform. This makes it a much more closed community of creators.
Hence the importance of making yourself visible on social networks with your work so that you can be part of these communities.
4. Artistation
With Artistation you can display high-resolution images, videos, short clips, 3D scenes, and even 360-degree panoramas.
This platform provides a simple and powerful way to showcase your portfolio and be seen by the right people in the visual arts and 3D design industry.
You can share your work in progress and also sell your digital creations and prints. Analytics allow you to see who has reviewed your portfolio.
Conclusion
The portfolio is an essential tool to showcase your work to potential clients. It is a resource that you can rely on when you need to demonstrate all your talent to recruiters, clients or colleagues.
In this article we have shown you how to make a good online portfolio and some of the sites where you can create your own for free.
So, you’ve run out of excuses. If you don’t have your portfolio yet, what are you waiting for?