What to Include in Your Professional Portfolio

A professional portfolio is essential in many industries, particularly creative ones like web design or copywriting. Your portfolio illustrates exactly what your work is like to prospective employers, and can help to set you apart from the pack. You probably already know the importance of creating a professional portfolio, but you may be unsure about what exactly belongs on the site. These are some of the items you must include:

• An easy way for someone to get in touch with you: Ideally, a hiring manager or potential client will check out your portfolio and be impressed by what they see. Make it easy for them to take the next step and get in touch. Have a “contact me” form that they can fill out, and also put your phone number and e-mail address in a spot that’s easy to see. Force someone to dig around to find these details and you may lose a sale or a job interview as a result.
• Updated samples of your work: You did great work 20 years ago, but potential employers and clients want to see what you’re up to today. Don’t forget to keep your portfolio updated with your latest stuff. If you’re not great at maintaining a website, pay a professional to do it for you. An outdated portfolio is a red flag for any employer.
• A snapshot of your personality: Give visitors a sense of what it’s like to work with you. Why do you love what you do? What’s your philosophy about your business? People want to work with someone who’s relatable and engaging, so don’t be afraid to add some flavor to the copy on your site. Make it fun to read.
• Testimonials: Testimonials are a powerful tool when it comes to using your website as a selling technique. People take others’ reviews seriously. Reading positive words about you from past clients is often enough to convince someone to pick up the phone and call you.

Lastly, if you’re active on social media, you may want to consider including links to your social media profiles, or even feeds from these platforms. This helps to add more dimension to your portfolio, giving it more personality.