Courting the opposite sex and pitching a potential client have uncanny resemblances. In our younger years, the best advice we received was “Do not judge a book by it’s cover”, but despite the previous generation drilling this into us and our generation drilling it in to the next, we became hypocrites and did not follow this. “First impression, last impression” seems more adequate now.  This, however, we can exploit and use to our advantage (I say rubbing my hands together and laughing a malicious laugh).

Apart from showing how shallow human beings really are, this article will hopefully to show you the way to making a successful portfolio which attracts more customers. A portfolio is a vortex, through which the client can look at you, personally, as well as your work.

A portfolio is the one thing which the client will see if they do not know you personally. Thus it is one of the most important things to a freelancer and somewhat similar to the impression one gives while courting, knowing that it can make or break them. Of course in both types of courting, one wishes to portray information about oneself. So how do we tart up your portfolio?

The Face Lift

Layout and Structure

Layout should be simplistic. A complex layout for your portfolio in which you are trying to show too many elements will cause overcrowding and kill the core of what you are trying to portray.

I’m not allowed to tell you who I really am, and am forbidden, therefore, from showing you my portfolio. I will thus use the second best as an example: Taiyab’s portfolio. Can you see the simplicity of his profile? There is minimal information on it, but this does not deter it from the main core of information which he wants to portray.

Colour can be used in several ways. Highlight the main information only and use a defined colour for this. Of course hyperlinks should be blue and underlined, so don’t use blue for highlighting (unless you want people dragging their cursor over it and being unable to click it, like I wanted you to!).  One error Taiyab makes on his profile is underlining a bit of text which is not a hyperlink (tut, tut).

Fonts are key. If you are a designer, you know what I am talking about, but just in case you are not a professional, here are some fonts you may want to consider, as I find these easy to read:

• Tahoma
• Georgia
• Arial
• Verdana

These fonts are pretty good for standard text, as they are easily legible, and are available on most computer operating systems.

Size can be manipulated such that you can express a message with increased importance, or definition. Look at the examples below.

Example

Example

Example

Word manipulation is also recommended. The title to this article could have been “Making A Freelancer Portfolio such that You Attract More Customers Attention”. I have an inkling that “A Sexy Portfolio: The Key to Pulling Clients” attracts you to click on this article more.

If you are a freelance photographer, named Edward, for example, and have a “An Example of My Work” section, you may want to rename it to something like “Ed’s Eye Catching Work”. The chances are you will be reading this and thinking “Come on Golem, it ought to be something better”.  Tell me below in the comment section of any alternatives, but the point is that a section title or a tag or link can be more than that and actually say something about your personality.

The Work

If you were using a useless matrimonial website, you would not upload a picture of yourself  just as you woke up, with swollen eyes, a runny nose, and spots on display, looking grumpy. Rather you would gel your hair to a side parting and put glasses on with a cheesy smile (only joking).

The work you upload to your portfolio does not have to be high in quantity but rather quality. Upload only your best work. This will be seen by the client and will ooze respect and awe!

Marketing

There is no point having a sexy portfolio and nobody experiencing it. Market your portfolio using the following suggestions.

• Start a blog
• Tweet (and use other social networking sites) and socialise on forums with a link to your portfolio in the signature
• Attend relevant events
• Advertise on relevant sites/publications
• Hand out business cards

There are many more suggestions if you read “13 Ways to Sky Rocket Your Marketing Campaign” with regard to how to market your portfolio.

What do YOU think about the importance of a portfolio? COMMENT below with your thoughts.

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