Why add a portfolio to your website?
In several articles, we presented the main pages of a website. Generally, a business site will include a homepage, an about us page, a page to present your offers, and a contact page. We can also add a portfolio page to this list, a place where you can show examples of past work and projects.
There are many advantages to having a portfolio page. First, it is the perfect place to show your expertise. It is possible that your potential clients might be looking for ideas or the right person for what they have in mind. Your portfolio page can convince them that you are the company they need. Also, if you are working in a field related to design and arts, your visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about your style.
What should you keep in mind when creating a portfolio page?
Now that you have learned more about why adding a portfolio to your website could be relevant, what can you do to ensure the final result is a success and help you convert potential customers? We found five things to consider.
Only display your best work
To ensure a portfolio page is efficient, adding dozens and dozens of examples is unnecessary. In other words, you do not need to add all the projects and work you did until today. Only display the projects you are really proud of or find great. They should also reflect what you are capable of doing.
For example, if you are a photographer, you could display a few photos according to your area of expertise: portrait, family, motherhood, wedding, professional, etc. Do not hesitate to use categories to ease the browsing experience.
Ask for permission
Next, some might need to remember the terms of use or intellectual property. It is not because you have completed a project for a client that you automatically have the right to display it as an example on your website's portfolio page.
Unless your contract says otherwise, we recommend that you contact your clients to ask for their permission to display their projects on your portfolio. It could be easier to get their approval if they seem satisfied with your work.
Optimize your page
To achieve good search engine optimization, all your website pages, including your portfolio page, should be optimized. Where to start?
First, you must consider the basics: every page should have a title tag and a meta description using the most relevant keywords related to your business. Then, add enough content so search engines can quickly understand what your website is about. Regarding portfolio pages, a mistake to avoid would be to add too many images, which could harm the loading time. A way to prevent this would be to compress the pictures or use JPG photos.
Learn more about this in our article What is SEO and how it impacts a website.
Add explanations
Adding only photos is often insufficient for a successful portfolio page. Take this opportunity to tell a story and explain how you achieved the desired result. Every example and project should then have some content. This will allow your visitors to learn more about how you work.
For example, if you are working in construction, you could explain that your clients had a problematic situation and you found a solution that met their needs. If it is relevant, you could also tell more about the project’s budget, used materials, or needed work period.
Take a look at other websites
You may not know where to start or need inspiration to create your portfolio. If it can help, keep in mind that it remains a simple page of your website. The basis should be identical to the other sections: the header, footer, visual elements, etc.
If you need some help, do not hesitate to look at other businesses' websites. Of course, the question here is not to copy what the others do but to find ideas and see how you can apply them to your own portfolio.
Use personal projects if needed
If you have just started your business, you might not have had the opportunity to work on several projects. Therefore, would it still be relevant to create a portfolio page for your website? Yes. It could even be more important since you are looking for your first customers.
But what can you display then? Did you have the opportunity to do projects throughout your studies? Case reports or special homework? Otherwise, you could also create projects from A to Z, especially for your portfolio. For example, do a photo shoot with some friends if you are a photographer or create the brand image of a fictional company if you are a designer. Be creative!
In conclusion, a portfolio is an interesting addition to your website since it allows you to show what you can do and encourage potential customers to choose you. Start by defining the projects you want to display, asking for permission if necessary, and then building and optimizing the page.
Another way to convince potential customers is to display testimonials of satisfied customers directly on your website. It will surely help you increase your credibility!