Creating Your Portfolio
Freelancing is an ever-growing industry, one that creates tremendous opportunities for individuals to work on the go, and make a good living. As the industry evolves, more and more freelancers are taking the opportunity to showcase their skills, on a range of online platforms that are growing in popularity. Of all the methods available to freelancers, the creation of an online portfolio is receiving huge attention from potential employers, due to its effectiveness when it comes to showcasing an individual’s skills and experience in a visual way.
Creating an online portfolio requires time, effort and in some cases, a certain amount of skill and creativity. So what are the steps involved in creating the perfect portfolio, one that will make you stand out from the competition?
Focus on Your Unique Strengths
When you’re creating your portfolio for freelancing, it’s important to focus on your unique strengths. Every freelancer will have a different set of skills and experience, so it’s important to make sure you showcase your strengths effectively. For example, if you have a particular niche or area of expertise, make sure you highlight that in your portfolio, as well as any awards or qualifications you may have gained. This will make you stand out from the competition and enable potential employers to easily see what you can offer.
Include Quality Visual Content
Visual content is key when it comes to creating an effective portfolio. Quality images, videos, and graphics that showcase your work, can make a huge difference. Not only will these types of visuals demonstrate your skills, but they will also show employers that you can communicate effectively and quickly. Employers are often looking for freelancers who can represent them in a professional manner and visual content can be the deciding factor between you and another freelance candidate.
Collect Testimonials/References
Testimonials and references are also important components within your portfolio, as they provide employers with a perfect representation of your work. Obviously, the more positive testimonials you have the better, but it’s also important to obtain references from reliable sources. Gaining references from industry professionals who are willing to vouch for your work, can really boost your portfolio, and give employers a better idea of your skills.
Update Your Portfolio Regularly
Your portfolio will never be complete, and it should constantly be updated as you gain more skills and experience. Updating your portfolio regularly is key to keeping your profile fresh, and displaying new work to potential employers. It’s important to keep your portfolio up to date, in order to remain competitive within the industry.
Utilize Freelance Platforms
Whilst the majority of your portfolio should be kept on your own personal website or blog, it can also be beneficial to use freelance platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr. Utilizing such platforms can help you promote your portfolio to potential employers, who may not have stumbled across your website otherwise. The platforms also provide an abundance of resources, to help you build a strong profile and showcase your work to the largest market possible.
Ensure Quality Content
Although it’s important to keep your portfolio updated and showcase your latest work, it’s important to ensure that the content you include is of the highest quality possible. Quality is absolutely essential, and employers will easily spot poor quality work, which reflects badly on your abilities and could damage your chances of getting into freelancing.
Final Thoughts
Creating a portfolio for freelancing can seem daunting, but with the right approach, it can be both a rewarding and fulfilling process. As with anything, it takes time to perfect, and you should always be looking to tweak and improve your portfolio, as you gain more and more skills and experience. Utilizing freelance platforms and working with potential employers is also key, as it can help you expand and grow your profile. Ultimately, if you focus on your strengths and create quality content, your portfolio will soon stand out from the crowd and create countless opportunities for work.
