Planning a Web Design Portfolio: Growing Your Freelance Business

1h 2mIntermediate2014-10-16

Authors

Lauren Bacon

Web Designer, Author, Coach

Course details

A great portfolio can make the difference between landing a new client and losing a sale. In this course, you'll learn the five essential components of an outstanding portfolio, and see how to frame your projects in ways that will appeal to prospective clients. Web design entrepreneur Lauren Bacon helps web designers and other creative professionals think strategically about what projects to feature, how to frame those projects for new prospects, and how to conceptually structure a portfolio that will attract fresh clients and move your business in the right direction.

Learning objectives
Understanding what clients are looking for
Gathering relevant experience
Reviewing results
Building trust
Conveying personality
Demonstrating range
Avoiding pitfalls

Skills covered

FreelancingWeb Design BusinessSmall Business FinanceWeb StandardsWeb DesignSmall Business and EntrepreneurshipFinance and AccountingWeb DevelopmentDeep Dive (X:Y)

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome

1. Understanding Your Audience

02 - Identifying what clients are looking for
03 - Understanding the key to a great portfolio
04 - Sweating the details

2. Gathering Relevant Experience

05 - Focusing on your niche
06 - Connecting the dots
07 - Highlighting key results
08 - Understanding how to share credit

3. Reviewing Results

09 - Speaking the language of problems and solutions
10 - Sharing your client's pain
11 - Reviewing your highlight reel

4. Establishing Trustworthiness

12 - Building trust
13 - Examining the elements of trust
14 - Showing instead of telling

5. Conveying Personality

15 - Who are you
16 - What's your ideal client profile
17 - What does your portfolio say about you
18 - Which personal projects contribute

6. Demonstrating Range

19 - Understanding why range matters
20 - Selecting the right projects
21 - Small is still beautiful

7. Avoiding Pitfalls

22 - Emphasizing benefits over features
23 - Paying attention to the little details
24 - Representing your full value

Conclusion

25 - Next steps