As an online content creator, you need to showcase your portfolio online to attract clients, employers, and collaborators. But how can you do that effectively and efficiently? In this article, you will learn some tips and tools to help you create and manage your online portfolio.
Choosing the right platform for your needs and goals is the first step. Consider the type and format of your content, customization and design options, ease of use and maintenance, cost and benefits when selecting a platform. Popular choices include WordPress, Squarespace, Behance, and Medium. WordPress is a versatile platform with free or low-cost options that allows you to create a website or blog with many themes and plugins. Squarespace is a sleek and professional platform with templates and tools to create a website or portfolio for a free trial or monthly or annual fee. Behance is a social network for creative professionals that lets you showcase your work for free, but an Adobe account is required. Medium is a platform for writers and readers to publish stories and articles for free with the option to join their partner program to earn money.
The second step in creating a portfolio is to organize your content in a way that highlights your skills, experience, and personality. To do this, you should choose your best and most relevant work to showcase your strengths and niche. Additionally, you should categorize and label your work with clear and descriptive names. Furthermore, add context and details to your work with captions, descriptions, testimonials, or case studies to explain the purpose, audience, goals, challenges, solutions, and results of your projects. Lastly, keep your portfolio current by adding new work and removing old work regularly. You can also use analytics or feedback to make improvements accordingly.
The third step in creating an effective portfolio is to showcase your personality and brand. You can make yourself stand out from the crowd by introducing yourself on an engaging bio and about page, including information such as your background, education, skills, interests, values, and goals. Additionally, you can use your voice and tone to express your style and attitude through words, phrases, sentences, and punctuation. You can also use humor, emotion, or storytelling to make your content more appealing and memorable. Furthermore, you can interact with your visitors by inviting them to contact you or follow you on social media. Showing appreciation for your visitors is also important; you can thank them, respond to them, or offer them something valuable.
Creator Marketing Leader (Ex-TikTok). Speaker, VC Advisor, Creator & Angel Investor.
From my years working with and witnessing creators who breakthrough mass consumer consciousness, they do 1. two of the following things: inspire, entertain or inform and 2. they have an authentic edge (look, style, voice). So all you have to do is make sure you take two elements from " inspire, entertain or inform" and then use your authentic voice to cut through the noise. As Tyra Banks taught at Stanford, "different is better than better".
Be the content that others consume. Document your experience and expertise and share it on social platforms like LinkedIn, on your website, on podcasts, and in video. The most direct path to unique content is through your unique experience and personality. No writer can do that because no writer has your experience. And don’t limit yourself to written content. Audio and Video is more engaging and may be more desired by your audience.
The fourth step is to optimize your portfolio for performance, usability, and visibility. You should ensure that your portfolio works well, looks good, and gets found by the right people. To achieve this, you can check the speed and loading time of your portfolio with tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix. Techniques such as compressing images, caching pages, or minimizing code can also be used to reduce the size and complexity of your portfolio. Additionally, you should make sure that your portfolio is responsive and accessible to different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations. Tools such as Responsive Design Checker or Google Mobile-Friendly Test can help you with this. Furthermore, you can use strategies such as keywords, titles, descriptions, headings, or links to improve your SEO and ranking with tools like Google Search Console or Moz.
The fifth step is to promote your portfolio and spread the word about your work. You should reach out to your target audience and potential clients, employers, or collaborators. To do this, you can use social media and networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Pinterest. Hashtags, tags, mentions, or groups can help increase visibility and engagement. Joining and participating in communities and forums related to your niche and industry is also beneficial. Additionally, email and newsletters can be used to communicate with existing and potential contacts. Tools such as Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or Substack can create and manage emails and newsletters. Leveraging your network through referrals and testimonials is a great way to generate word-of-mouth marketing. Platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer can help you find projects and gigs.
This is all great advice but the part at the end "leveraging your network through referrals and testimonials is a great way to generate word-of-mouth marketing" is actually where you should START. Every great creator I have seen or worked with started with telling their friends and family. These are your earliest advocates. Just like building a company ... many people start by getting funding from friends, family and angels. Do not underestimate the power of your immediate circle.
The sixth and final step is to learn and improve your portfolio and your skills. You want to keep growing and evolving as an online content creator and stay ahead of the competition. To do this, seek feedback and reviews from visitors, clients, employers, or collaborators to evaluate your portfolio and work. Additionally, use tools such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, or SurveyMonkey to collect and analyze feedback and reviews. Track and measure your results by setting goals and metrics for your portfolio and work. Utilize tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or Moz to monitor and report your performance and progress. Compare yourself against others with benchmarks and comparisons. Learn and update your skills by following trends and best practices in your niche and industry. Take courses, read books, watch videos, or listen to podcasts related to your field. Experiment with new tools, techniques, or formats for your content.