An online portfolio isn’t just for big companies anymore. If you work as a freelance designer, you also have to find a way to promote your work. Luckily, you can build a free portfolio website from scratch, without the need for an expensive programmer. Wix is such a platform and it allows you to create a stunning portfolio that will showcase your best work. 

But why do you need one to begin with? Well, in short, a simple PDF just doesn’t cut it anymore. And sending this to every prospect is tedious work. Besides that, there are other benefits of a free portfolio website. Let’s find out what they are. 

It Makes a Great First Impression

Just picture this. You’re a recruiter browsing through resumes and portfolios. Finally, you manage to get this list down to two good candidates. One has a resume and a PDF portfolio attached and one comes with a complete and interactive website where they showcase their work. Naturally, you will choose the website. 

Designers, This Is Why You Need an Online Portfolio - Blog Lorelei Web Design

A portfolio website allows a future employer to engage with your content and quickly get to the sections of interest. They will also note how you’ve gone above and beyond to build a solid online presence, and this will always work out in your favor. 

It Increases Your Online Visibility

An online portfolio isn’t just for show. When you work on building one and adding content to it, Google will eventually display your website in its search results. So, when someone googles your name, they will come across a complete experience that showcases your best assets as a designer. 

To further increase your online visibility in search results, we recommend tweaking your website’s SEO features as well. Play with keywords and find out what the best formula is for you. 

It Markets Your Skills Better

A portfolio website will allow you to better market your skills to your potential clients. Just think about it – an online portfolio is the perfect way to present yourself to the world. You can control and choose exactly what you display and what you say in order to build the best online persona

Designers, This Is Why You Need an Online Portfolio - Blog Lorelei Web Design

So, if you’re a designer, don’t be afraid to take some more time and perfect your portfolio. After all, this is the first impression your clients get of you and it always has to be top-notch. 

It Creates a Following

A good following is also a great way to market your skills. And an online portfolio is the best way to engage with your followers, get feedback from them and show your clients that you’re a people’s person as well. Your “fans” will no longer be passive consumers of content. Instead, you will turn them into an active following by allowing them to comment, share and like your work. 

And when your projects become the topic of discussion outside your community, then you have reached a new level. This opens a lot of doors to new customers that would have never heard of you otherwise. 

It Makes You More Credible

When you build a strong online presence, you will also build credibility. You become known by others and these “others” serve as a good medium for feedback and recommendations. The more familiar a client is with your work and thoughts, the more they will trust you. And, after all, trust is the base of a good customer-provider relationship. 

Designers, This Is Why You Need an Online Portfolio - Blog Lorelei Web Design

A free portfolio website will provide the proof they need to hire you. On top of that, you won’t even need to prove your worth to every client that you interact with – they will simply see the quality of your work and will want to hire you by default. 

It Helps You Learn

Building an online portfolio can be a challenging task, especially if you’ve never done this before. But at the same time, it also provides you with a great way to learn new things. It will teach you how to brand yourself, how to tell the story of your projects, how to market yourself and even how to better optimize your website for search engines. 

These might not seem like much as first but when put together, they will provide a new skill set that you can later develop. And, who knows, you might even discover that you have a new talent that can be turned into a service. 

It Offers More Flexibility

Once your online portfolio is up and running, the maintenance will be minimal. You can easily change the contents without having to start from scratch, wasting no time. You will be able to update your experience, your skills and even your online resume with just a few clicks. 

Designers, This Is Why You Need an Online Portfolio - Blog Lorelei Web Design

It’s important to stay up to date when it comes to your portfolio and an online platform will allow you to do just that. So why should you bother with hours and hours wasted on a new portfolio built in Photoshop when you can just update your website in a few minutes?

Conclusion

As the competition in the freelance design field gets fiercer, you need to innovate and always be one step ahead of your fellow designers. You need to set yourself apart and make sure you stand out from the crowd. 

An online portfolio will allow you to display your best work in a clear and concise manner, while adding your personal touch at the same time. It will make it easier for people to find you, engage with you and ultimately, work with you. So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself a free portfolio website and make some money!