How to Make an Impressive Online Portfolio Website

Author
Ewelina Wróbel

Author: Ewelina Wróbel

13.02.2024

24 minutes

Your skills, your work, your past assignments.... You create great things - and you deserve the world to know about you. The solution is simple: an online portfolio. Rest assured... it's not difficult. Today I'll show you how to create your own portfolio online (for free).

Content:

1. What is a Portfolio Website?
2. Who Can Create a Portfolio?
3. Who is the Audience of the Online Portfolio?
4. How to Use an Online Portfolio?
5. What Content Should be on the Website?
6. Where to Make an Online Portfolio?
7. How to Make an Online Portfolio?
8. Portfolio Design
9. Online Portfolio - with or without SEO
10. Portfolio Website Responsiveness
11. Online Portfolio - Benefits

Join over 600 000 users and generate your website
with WebWave AI Website Builder.

1. What is a Portfolio Website?

A portfolio is a so-called portfolio containing a collection of works by a particular artist. The term used to be primarily associated with the work of a painter or architect. Today, more and more people of different professions are choosing to have their own documentation of completed projects. As these professions differ in their tasks, the form of presentation will also differ (at least in part). 

What forms are distinguished 

Among the most popular forms of presenting one's work in a portfolio are:

• graphics (photos, illustrations, collages, etc.)
• paintings and technical sketches (such as for architects)
• step-by-step presentations 
• direct links to projects that "can't be shown".

Show Street Copywriter portfolio template

Join over 600 000 users and generate your website
with WebWave AI Website Builder.

SEO can help you beat the competition!

Your portfolio is a great way to show your work to the world. 

Check out the template Amore Wedding Photography

 Social media can help promote a company.

Show Portfolio Landing Page template

2. Who Can Create a Portfolio?

Until some time ago, the creation of one's portfolio was identified only with strictly artistic professions, such as a painter or, for example, an architect. Today, such boundaries have blurred a lot and more and more people are choosing to have one. So the answer is no longer so specific. Portfolios work best for professions where we have the opportunity to present our skills in visual form. 

Who creates a portfolio most often:

• painter
• graphic designer/illustrator
• designer 
• photographer
• model
• architect
• chef  
• interior/green space decorator 
• copywriter 
• web designer 

There are many possibilities, We can also decide to present our work in the form of a portfolio by creating various types of handicrafts - such as jewelry, natural candles, crocheted clothing and accessories, etc. 

Thus, a portfolio in the online version will work well for those who want to present and start selling their works, but also services.

Descriptions of some of the examples:

Graphic designer's portfolio

One profession that requires its own website is a graphic designer. A graphic designer's portfolio should stand out with a cool and professionally designed. The site you create will also testify to your experience, so it's worth spending more time on it and creating something truly unique. 

Try to do your best to impress your audience. In your portfolio you don't have to include only graphics that you have made commercially. They can be any projects you did in your free time or for friends. Choose the ones you really want to show off. 

Photographer's portfolio

Anyone looking for a photographer for a wedding, baptism or photo shoot is 100 percent sure to want to see his portfolio before hiring him. For this profession, focus on what target audience you would like to reach and what kind of photos you specialize in. The moment you upload photographs of city skylines to your portfolio, it won't necessarily help you in your search for assignments to record your wedding coverage.

As with a graphic designer's portfolio, you should pay attention to the design of the site. Don't put too many graphics - they can't distract from your work. It's a good idea to make the page on which the photographer's portfolio is located as clear and minimalist as possible.

Check out which templates will suit a portfolio for photographers. 

Model's portfolio

As with a photographer, a model's portfolio should focus attention mainly on the photos and not distract by other graphics. Here it is necessary to choose a template that will highlight our photographs the most. They must be of the best quality possible. We bet only on the best photos. 

A good idea here, it may be a good idea to start a blog. We can then describe the world of modeling from behind the scenes, tell interesting stories from the life of a model(/model), or share fashion or makeup tips. This will help promote your site and increase your chances of getting more assignments. 

Musician's portfolio

For this industry, a portfolio website is very useful. With it, you can post all your best recordings in audio or video form. These can range from music videos to concert reports. The plus side is that everything will be in one place. You will no longer have to send out separate links to friends or record labels. 

Also, very useful is the “about me” tab, where you will post photos, your description, and achievements. When it comes to the template or design of the site, you don't have to stick to rigid schemes. As an artist, you have a lot of room for improvement.

Wondering which template to choose for your porfolio? Check out our list of the best 10 portfolio website templates. 

A photographer's portfolio should focus on the specialty in which he wants to develop.

3. Who is the Audience of the Online Portfolio?

Who our portfolio hits depends, among other things, on our approach to the creation of the site itself, as well as the content posted on it. If we want to have a virtual portfolio in order to increase the prestige and professionalism of our business in a particular category and gain more independence in managing the form of its presentation, probably the most we will care about then is that the site is aesthetically pleasing and preferably still has its own domain. Visits to our site, will belong, primarily, to people who have heard of us or are already interested in what we have to offer. They may come to it by recommendation, directly from a link (e.g. from social media), but also by searching for us by name. - This is why it is so often recommended to include their name in the name and address of the website. 

Very often, however, an online portfolio is submitted by its owner himself - for example, when he is looking for new assignments. This is like sending an extensive resume in the form of an online platform. In such a case, our potential clients, or employers if we are applying for a permanent position, go to the site. 

However, if, having a virtual portfolio, we would like to reach an even larger audience through it, it is necessary to take care of SEO elements that will help us position the site, and "display" in a high position when a specific phrase is typed into a search engine.

4. How to Use an Online Portfolio?

We can use a portfolio in the form of a website in many ways. After all, it is a form of presenting yourself, your skills and related achievements. 

Basically, the portfolio serves us to present the above-mentioned elements. Portfolios - both the 'paper' version and the virtual one - are most often used when checking qualifications for a particular position or a specific assignment, and when applying for a particular field of study (primarily we will encounter this when studying art, or at polytechnics and specialties related to architecture). Our portfolio can also be expected by foreign universities.  

As we told ourselves earlier, an online portfolio can also serve to build awareness of our brand - as artists. Properly presented works on our site will emphasize professionalism, and additional content can increase the visibility of our platform online.

5. What Content Should be on the Website?

Graphics 

Graphics on the site are one of the most important elements on the site. They can better understand the message of the content, but also catch the user's attention and make them stay on the site much longer. For an online portfolio, their role will be just as important, if not more important - especially in those professions where visuals are crucial. 

Photography, illustration, painting, design, etc. Without graphics, the portfolios of people working in these professions would be meaningless. So it is worth taking care to present them properly.

Compression 

The basis for placing graphics on the site is their compression, that is, reducing the weight of the files. Their lighter weight allows them to load faster on the page and thus receive, by the user, a better impression.

However, beware of repeating this process multiple times (compressing one file two, three, or even more times), as this can result in a significant reduction in quality.

Of course, if our images classify themselves as vector ones, it is best to bet on saving them in a format that will be light enough even without compression. We are talking here about SVG. On the other hand, if we want to reduce the weight of animations, it is worth betting on Lottie and those saved in JSON. 

Slider 

An alternative to a photo gallery, or a complement to it, can be a slider, i.e. photos placed in something resembling a presentation. Such a form can be used on the homepage, to highlight your best work.  

Contact

A portfolio usually does not fulfill its role of presenting your skills, just for the sake of showing them. Its purpose is also to pierce the viewer's attention and convince him to establish cooperation. This is why it is so important to include contact information on the page that serves as our portfolio. Among the basic ones are a phone number and e-mail address. In this case, however, it is not worth limiting ourselves to these two forms. It is worth considering a few more methods that will improve contact. 

Contact form

On the one hand, a contact form is also, as a last resort, an email message. However, the way it is sent differs from the standard one, because it does not require the interested user to go through and log into the mailbox - just enter the required data and the content of the message, and it will be delivered to us (owners of an online portfolio) by email.

In addition, you should consider creating a dedicated email account for your business. If we use such a tool as the WebWave website builder, with the Premium Plan, in addition to a free.pl domain for a year, we also get a mailbox in our own domain.

Icons with redirection to SM

Placing icons redirecting to our social media is a rather standard procedure when designing a website. However, it should not be abandoned, especially since usually professions that require a portfolio also use social media - the more general ones (e.g. Instagram, Facebook etc.), as well as dedicated ones (e.g. Behance or Dribble).

By including them, we will also make it possible to contact us through social media. By the way, visitors to our online portfolio who have also decided to browse our socials will have a chance to see the comments, on our works and the interaction with the observers themselves.  

About me 

Sometimes the about me tab is overlooked when creating a portfolio. However, this can turn out to be quite a mistake. Our projects can be of a really high level, but people who want to commission us for a particular task often also want to know something about us. Getting to know the "human face" of the contractor helps them make a decision - they then have a chance to establish a relationship with him, identify with him or simply know that the work on a project, assignment, etc. will proceed without conflict and as it should.

Reviews and awards/certifications 

"About Me" presented us and what we do from our own perspective. In turn, including information about awards, certifications and reviews/reviews in the portfolio on the site builds our reputation, professionalism and experience. It is an external validation of our skills. 

Blog 

A blog is not a necessary part of a web portfolio. However, it can be a good supplement. Consistent blog content allows us to build our SEO position. If our materials have reliable information, deal with "catchy topics" and, by the way, use key phrases and other elements important for SEO, Internet users may come across us. In addition to just building the site's position and reach, we have a chance to get new interested parties this way.

6. Where to Make an Online Portfolio?

As we already know - a paper portfolio is not the only version we can opt for. Nor is it the most recommended anymore. We have at least a few alternatives to consider.

Social media

Social media is the ,,go to" in many cases, including those with showcasing your skills. It is a substitute for a portfolio. This form is, of course, easy to update and run itself, but on the other hand, it is not something over which we have full control. It is a good solution when starting your business. We gain our first followers and over time we can also watch our progress.

This use of social media does not mean that it should be abandoned once we reach a certain level, and our brand, becomes more recognizable. On the contrary. Social media, is an excellent complement to the main platform. They show our activity and the fact that we are still doing something related to our profession. In addition, we can also boast that we are currently working on a certain project and show the behind-the-scenes.

Dedicated platforms

We are talking about platforms, which we would call social media in a sense, for sharing your work or, for example, social media for your portfolio. They have the big advantage of being thematically focused. There we can find people with similar professions, skills, and the platform itself is visited by such users and those who want to find an artist who will work well for an assignment.

In addition, on such sites we have the opportunity to create a portfolio profile on a template - quickly and easily....i as we said both these aspects are pluses, but on the other hand also minuses - in the first case we are talking about a lot of competition in one place, and in the second case about becoming "one of many".

Templates on such profiles are used by a really large group, and the fact that we can't edit them according to our own concept makes everything look the same, and when creating your portfolio, we definitely don't want that.

Portfolio in PDF

For jobs in the creative industry, a portfolio in pdf form. will not work as well as those found on a website. The reason is simple - porfolio in this form gives us more possibilities. We can add videos, music, animations, any number of pages or even combine it with keeping additional content (such as a blog).

Portfolios in PDF form require a prior download, so this increases the path the recipient must take to get to know us. Additionally, this format can be too heavy - especially if it includes a lot of visual material.

Another thing is that this type of portfolio will never look as good as the one on a website. We won't be able to design the entire layout, add effects when scrolling or at least change the background - and such small details can make a big difference.

Your own website

Own website, is a solution that is chosen primarily by those who want to tie the future to their business and build their own brand around it.

Creating your own website allows for greater freedom. not only do we present our works, projects in a way that we think will be most beneficial, but we also have the opportunity to expand our platform and simplify the process of selling our services or products - it is enough that, along with the portfolio, we also place an online store on the website.

As we have probably mentioned more than once, the presentation of an online portfolio, in the form of its own platform raises the status itself and the level of trust of the recipient.

7. How to Make an Online Portfolio?

Choosing the materials we want to show in the portfolio is an extremely important decision and, contrary to appearances, it is not easy. In most cases, we can't put all our previous projects. A selection is needed here. The first factor that will determine whether an item will be included in the portfolio is timeliness and whether it coincides with our skills or even understates them. 

It's also important to determine one's preferences - if, for example, we are illustrators and have a strong preference for creating portraits rather than still lifes, we should focus on the former. In order to make a portfolio (especially one with an aesthetic value) look favorable, it is worth ensuring consistency.

Of course, the point here is not to make every job look exactly the same, but rather the very fact that our character can be seen there. After all, consistency is important, but diversity shouldn't be ruled out either, because by proving that we can take on different tasks, we increase interest. It is also often the case that we have more than one passion and can boast a wider range of skills. In the case of a paper portfolio, we wouldn't be able to show everything, but by opting for a portfolio page, on the other hand, we can solve this "problem" by highlighting each specialty on a different tab. That is, even at the moment when we create, for example, movie posters, book illustrations and compose music, we will find a place for all of these.

Domain and hosting

Although we associate the portfolio more with this artistic aspect, we should not forget the technical terms here as well. The domain is, after all, our address on the web. In the case of a portfolio, it is best to bet on one that includes our name and/or the name of our profession.

On the other hand, when it comes to hosting, i.e. the space on which our site will be located, in this case, too, we should make sure that its type and the "size of the space" will be suitable for us." - The more photos, graphics, videos, etc. we have, the more space we need.

Join over 600 000 users and generate your website
with WebWave AI Website Builder.

8. Portfolio Design

The way you present your work is extremely important for its reception. As we have already told ourselves, it is important to create something original that will be able to catch the attention of the audience, but also, by the way, without distracting from what is most important - that is, of course, our projects.

Their setting should harmonize with them, and even conquer them - we can't make it dominate over them. Among other things, this is why the development of the design is so important. 

We can treat the very process of creating the site and the final result as our additional project - the portfolio site becomes a portfolio component for us.

Portfolio Website from Template

If you don't feel confident in developing entire design concepts from start to finish on your own, or just want to get the job done quickly, you can always opt to create a portfolio in the form of a website using a template.

In this case, it is important to make sure that the tool we use provides us with editing capabilities. Without this, our site will simply look "template-like". 

In WebWave, we have the freedom to move and place elements regardless of whether we create a portfolio project starting from a so-called blank sheet of paper or from a free responsive website template.

Online Portfolio in the form of a Landing Page 

When deciding to create a portfolio in the form of a website, we do not have to rely on an extensive platform. This is, of course, a good solution and recommended by many, but not a necessity. Not every business will need it either. Sometimes it is enough to set up a OnePager (a standard one or one in the form of a landing page, i.e. a sales site) and highlight a few key sections. 

As for the menu, we can use the scrolling transition method - a user clicking on a particular tab will be taken to a specific position on the page.

How effective is a portfolio?

Some may be surprised to learn that nowadays a portfolio does not always have to be basic and can be approached in a more creative, original way. This allows you to better stand out among the competition. Of course, we are not deleting minimalism here. Much depends on the industry and the skills themselves, but it's always a good idea to add a touch from yourself.   

During the tedious process of browsing through contractors' websites, the principal will encounter many correct (and even attractive) proposals on his way. If they are not sufficiently memorable, they will be discarded in the final selection and only those will remain that distinguish themselves from the rest in any way - be it a name, creative (or even funny) graphics, or interactive and good navigation. 

Besides, by doing something that distinguishes our works, we emphasize our individualism and originality.

9. Online Portfolio - with or without SEO

On-page SEO is always welcome, as it allows you to get better search engine rankings. When creating a portfolio, however, it is not a necessity. If you send it to a potential employer/contractor on your own, in that case SEO does not play a major role. Nonetheless, it is important to ensure that our website loads fairly quickly. 

However, if we take care of SEO (keywords, meta-data, proper file weight) we have a chance to reach a larger audience. - This is a kind of organic advertising. Anyway, we have talked about this before. 

For more information on SEO and optimization, check out these tutorials:

Website Optimization 

SEO and Content Terms

10. Portfolio Website Responsiveness

Just as SEO is not something mandatory in setting up a site acting as our portfolio, responsiveness, i.e. adjusting the view to screens of different resolutions, is. RWD itself is one of the most crucial elements to take care of when designing a site - whether it be a virtual portfolio, an online store or a blog.

This is because more and more Internet users are using mobile tools. If we ignore other tools besides the desktop, we risk a significant loss of viewership - when the person to whom we have sent the portfolio views it on a phone and instead of a clear image loads a reduced preview of the page displayed on a monitor, it can discourage them and reduce the quality of our work.

11. Online Portfolio - Benefits

Of course, a portfolio can have many advantages. However, it is impossible to list them all, since some of them relate strictly to a particular industry or even individual. However, there are some advantages that can be described as universal, and this is:

• A professional and creative way to present your work
• Building a positive first impression
• Increasing the chance of online visibility
• Doorway for the freelancer to more clients
• Building a personal brand
• Showcasing both your talent and technical skills
• Flexibility and breadth of content that can be included

Check out the articles below:

12. Online Portfolio with WebWave AI Website Builder

WebWave allows you to create almost any type of website. Also a portfolio. 

The website builder works on a drag&drop basis, so we don't need coding skills here. In addition to the tool itself, we also get additional capabilities - both design (visual), that is, among others:

• Graphics - a free bank of images and icons and the ability to edit them on the spot 
• White space - the ability to place elements anywhere (with customized spacing for our project) 
• Animations: 
• Ken Burns 
• Parallax
• Hooking and unhooking elements 
• Uncovering and hiding elements
• ...as well as technical (e.g. SEO Analyzer)

 Your Portfolio Website for Free

In WebWave, you get the creator for free. The same goes for the ability to create a page and publish it. All this will be done at no charge. Such a portfolio will appear on a subdomain and will contain a small banner indicating that the site was created in WebWave, but it will also have an SSL certificate proving that our site is secure.

If you want to create your online portfolio, a great option would be AI website builder. With it, you can create a website in 3 minutes! Doesn't that sound great?

How to make a website?

What Do I Need to Create a Website for a Small Business?

Beginners Guide: How to Start A Successful Small Business Blog in 2023

13. Coclusion - Online portfolio

An online portfolio is an ideal solution these days. We can always have it at hand, so we won't miss an opportunity, for example, for a new order, and in addition we won't overwhelm our addressee with its weight (in the form of a presentation or, for example, a PDF) - here it is enough for us to send the link itself. In the event that we have our own domain, we also thereby strengthen the status of our business and help build a solid brand foundation.

There is also no denying that a virtual, online portfolio allows us to present ourselves better...and most importantly, the way we want it. We don't have to worry that our social media account will suddenly disappear and thus lose all our output - the site is managed by us.  

Having a site very often becomes almost a necessity, and if we can put our portfolio on such a site, as well as an online store, blog and other forms of communication and earning, then we can talk about a perfect combination.

WebWave allows you to create a simple portfolio in the form of a One Pager, but also a comprehensive site with additional functionality.

FAQ.

What is a digital portfolio?

A: A digital portfolio is a collection of your best work, showcased online to highlight your skills, creativity, and accomplishments in a specific field.

How can I create an online portfolio to showcase my best work?

You can create an online portfolio by using a free online portfolio template or a custom portfolio design tool to curate and showcase your best work in minutes.

What are the key elements to make an impressive online portfolio?

To create a strong online portfolio, focus on using unique and creative fonts and colors, along with a carefully curated showcase of your best work, and a design process that reflects your style.

Where can I find free online portfolio templates to make my portfolio stand out?

You can find free online portfolio templates on various platforms like Canva, online portfolio makers, and websites offering a range of unique and creative design templates.

How can I build an online portfolio that reflects my personal brand?

To build a portfolio that's tailored to your brand, consider including your best work, creating a one-page portfolio website, and ensuring it reflects your unique style and creative approach.

What should I include in my online portfolio to make it more effective?

You should include a variety of your best work, a clear contact page, your CV or resume, and tailor your portfolio to showcase the type of work and the audience you want to attract.

What are some tips to ensure my online portfolio effectively represents my work?

Make sure you don’t forget to include a one-page website that’s easy to navigate and showcases the best of your work in an organized and professional manner.

What are the best practices for creating a unique and creative portfolio website?

The best practices include getting inspired by other impressive portfolios, incorporating graphic design elements, and making sure they’re aligned with your personal and professional style.

How can I finalize my portfolio to ensure it presents my best work?

To finalize your portfolio, review and refine the content, make sure they're visually appealing, and make sure your portfolio website's design and layout complement the showcased work.

How can I make a one-page portfolio website that stands out?

You can create a one-page portfolio website by choosing the best portfolio website templates, incorporating a creative design, ensuring it's easy to navigate, and providing a clear call-to-action to get in touch.

WebWave website builder is your AI-powered solution for building an online presence. Create your website in 3 minutes, add an online store or a blog, and grow your business. 

We created this website with WebWave.

Follow us on social media

Website builder.

WebWave AI

Made in WebWave

Templates

Sell website templates

Hire an Expert

Affiliate

Plugins

Suggest a feature

Service level availability

Offer.

Premium Plans

White label

Domain names

Company.

About us

WebWave Team

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Data Processing Agreement

Brand resources

Help.

Knowledge base

Videos

Community

Mailbox settings

Domain settings

Templates.

Small Business Templates

Simple Website Templates

Modern Website Templates

Creative Website Templates

Portfolio Website Templates

Useful articles.

How to Make a Website

Small Business Website

Small Business Blog

Small Business SEO Tips

Best AI Website Builders

Drag and Drop Website Builder

Best HTML Website Builder

Best Responsive Website Builder

No-Code Website Builder

Canva vs WebWave

What Is a White Label

How to Become a Web Designer

Affiliate Marketing

AI Web Design

ChatGPT Web Design 

Midjourney Web Design

How to Create a Website for Free

How to Make an Online Store

Online Portfolio Website

Landing Page Website

Blog