For professionals in creative lines of work (photographers, designers, other highly visual fields), the necessity of having an online portfolio is pretty obvious — in fact, it’s standard protocol. For those who work in other fields and industries, especially if you’re a freelancer or a small business, an online portfolio is still very worthwhile way to build your professional reputation.
An online portfolio allows you to share your professional accomplishments in a manner that a resume, cover letter, or CV won’t get across. While these more traditional forms will list your qualifications, strengths and skills, an online portfolio can have far more impact.
GetRecommended.com has built precisely such a tool: the Work feature is an online portfolio that makes it easy for you to make the most of your professional reputation.
You may think an online portfolio is only useful to a visual professional like photographer Rob Stamm, who uses his Recommended online portfolio to showcase his work. Think again!
Making an impact with an online portfolio
Sure, we all know that modern web-browsing audiences scan and skim but rarely read (maybe you’re just looking at the headers in this blogpost right now). With an online portfolio, you can get creative with photos, images, videos, sounds, documents, and more to capture the attention of the right viewers.
While web users may not be reading everything in depth, they’re still browsing the web, so why not browse your portfolio? When you make your online portfolio accessible anywhere has internet, that means for the people you’re trying to impress, your portfolio is in their pocket on their smartphone. This is another critical way to reach modern audiences.
Ok, so say you’re in a crowded field, and everyone else also has an online presence, just like you, be it Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. You can use an online portfolio to build your professional reputation and your credibility when coupled with the recommendations you can also showcase on a GetRecommended.com profile.
You’re in control
The beauty of creating and maintaining an online portfolio is that you’ll have an online presence you’re 100% in control of. You’ll bolster your reputation and credibility while staying in charge of making sure the information is accurate, current, and relevant. And with an online portfolio, you can also be more creative with your presentation to make your business stand out from the crowd.
But I don’t work in a creative field, what can I include?
Even if your work doesn’t readily lend itself to a gallery of images, you can still use an online portfolio to share more about your professional accomplishments.
Articles that you’ve authored, for example, or writing samples, can be displayed in your online portfolio to great effect. Pieces in which you are quoted as an expert in your field are also great ways to bolster your credibility. Even your own blogposts and guest blogger spots can round out your online portfolio.
You can also take a screenshot or make a pdf document of your articles and upload these to your portfolio. For writers and others whose work is reflected in publications, this can be a great way to ensure that your best pieces are available online. And you won’t be dependent on a weblink that may change without your realizing.
If you’ve presented at conferences, conventions, and other events, consider uploading videos of your presentation.
GR supports Soundcloud too, so professionals in the music and sound effects industries can upload sound files.
A real estate professional can upload virtual home tours. With no limit to the number of files, you can create beautiful galleries of current and past properties.
Don’t forget to consider your education and degrees as part of your portfolio, plus the awards, certifications and other recognition you’ve received. Go ahead and toot your own horn: scan and upload images of these.
Highlighting volunteer activities can show your interests and commitment to giving back. If it’s appropriate for your field, you can also include photos of some of your hobbies and interests outside of your professional work.
Writer Jenn Marie uses her Recommended Work online portfolio to highlight writing samples and to share more about herself, blending images, web links and video seamlessly.
Build your online portfolio FREE
Your online portfolio is your space to shine. It’s also a chance to sincerely and genuinely reflect who you are. No matter what your field, industry or long-term career goals, managing your own online presence is always going to be the right move.
The Work feature on GetRecommended.com is a powerful, easy-to-use, and completely FREE tool for your online portfolio. Now anyone can see you at your best from anywhere online.
