How to Create a Free Portfolio Website That Lands Jobs

Your portfolio website should do more than just list your skills. It’s your brand, virtual business card, and the best shot at showing clients why they need you.

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In this guide, we’ll break down every step to build a standout portfolio using ILN—the most beginner-friendly website builder. You’ll find it easy to navigate, quick to set up, and packed with features designed for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses across different niches.

ILN stands out because it’s more than just a website portfolio tool—it’s also a social network that lets you connect with others and possibly land a job.

Let’s dive in and create a portfolio that not only looks great but actually gets you hired.

TL;DR
A personalized website is more professional than platforms like Google Drive or Canva links.
A website serves as a digital business card, giving potential clients an experience that reflects your brand.
ILN is a beginner-friendly portfolio website builder with a social network ideal for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners.
The ILN community of 25,000+ users provides networking opportunities, expanding job prospects and collaboration.
Use visuals, fonts, and colours that represent your style for a consistent, memorable look.
Share your story on the About page, highlighting what drives you and your unique qualities to build a personal connection.
Showcase your strongest projects with descriptions that highlight your skills and problem-solving abilities.
Include client quotes or case studies to build trust and credibility.
Make it easy for clients to reach you with a prominent contact page.
Engage with other ILN community users, giving and receiving feedback to grow your network.
Look to portfolio examples like Paul Maplesden, Nisreen Galloway, Katherine Chen, and Anita Valentinova for effective layouts and content presentation.
Regularly update your portfolio with new projects and achievements to keep it fresh and engaging.
Why You Need a Portfolio Website
Google Drive, Dropbox, and Canva links are popular choices for displaying portfolios, but relying on these platforms can restrict your professional image and accessibility. They often lack the customization, branding, and interactivity that a dedicated portfolio website offers. In contrast, a personal website provides a tailored experience for potential clients, showcasing your work in a more engaging and professional manner. But that’s not all:

Differentiation: A strong online portfolio distinguishes you from competitors, showcasing your unique style and skills.
Global Reach: Connect with a worldwide audience; clients who may never come across your resume can discover your work online.
Client Discovery: Digital portfolios enable potential clients to browse your projects and get in touch directly, facilitating new opportunities.
Professional Presentation: A polished portfolio enhances your professional image, making you more appealing to potential clients.
Easy Setup: Most website builders let you create a polished and professional site in just minutes, streamlining the process of showcasing your work.
Showcase Versatility: Display a diverse range of projects to attract various clients and industries, demonstrating your adaptability and skills.
Highlight Testimonials: Portfolio websites let you include client feedback on your first page to build credibility and trust, further encouraging prospective clients to choose you.
SEO Benefits: A portfolio website can improve your online visibility through search engine optimization, attracting more organic traffic.
Ongoing Updates: With websites, you can easily update your portfolio with new projects and achievements, keeping it fresh and relevant to potential clients.
What to Put on Your Website Portfolio

1. Showcase Your Brand and Personality
   Make your portfolio personal and memorable. Choose visuals, colours, and fonts that reflect your style. A consistent look and feel make a strong first impression, so put effort into creating a unified brand identity.

For example, if you’re looking to get hired as a content writer, it’s not enough to have “Content Writer” as your headline. That’s not a good enough brand or personality. What kind of content writer are you? What niche do you work in?

A much better headline would be: “SEO-Focused Content Writer Specializing in Tech and Lifestyle Articles” or “B2B Content Writer Focused on Technology and Digital Marketing Strategies.”

2. Build a Compelling ‘About’ Page
   Use this space to tell your story. What drives you? How did you start, and what unique qualities do you bring to your work? Clients want to connect with the person behind the projects, so keep it genuine and focused.

Most people emphasize the benefits of building in public and sharing your progress, and it’s sound advice. But what if you didn’t start early enough?

Your About page offers potential customers a glimpse into your growth, allowing them to relate to your story. This connection can help them determine if you’re a good fit for their needs. If it’s good enough, you could often skip the interview stage and land the job straight away.

3. Highlight Your Best Work
   Less is more here. Choose your strongest projects and craft descriptions that highlight the story, skills, and solutions behind each piece. The goal is to engage clients by demonstrating what you can do and the value you bring.
4. Add Testimonials
   Social proof goes a long way. Include quotes from past clients that highlight your successes. These stories of past projects demonstrate reliability and results, helping clients feel confident about working with you.

If you don’t have any social proof yet, check out this blog. It will guide you on how to obtain social proof and effectively utilize it.

5. Make Contact Info Easy to Find
   Don’t make clients search for a way to reach you. Include a prominent “Contact” page with multiple options—email, form, or social links—to ensure they can get in touch with ease.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Portfolio Website
Several portfolio builders perform wonders, but we’re focusing on ILN for one key reason: it was designed specifically for entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and small businesses.

ILN is more than just a website builder; it offers a community of over 25,000 users to connect with and share your journey. You can learn from fellow community members, collaborate on projects, and gain more exposure. ILN takes the stress out of job hunting, making it easier to showcase your skills and find opportunities.

Plus, they have sleek, customizable templates that you will love. You can tweak colours, adjust layouts, and build a portfolio that speaks to your style.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Sign Up on ILN for Free
   When you sign up on ILN, you get 10 GB of file storage space plus a content management system and a project manager to help you get started. You also get 160 AI points to create images and text. It also comes with a workspace, calendar, to-do, notes, and more.
2. Create a Website
   Locate the website builder on the admin panel and follow the steps. You’ll need to upload a logo and favicon, but if you don’t have one yet, you can use the AI image tool to create one. You also have the option to have your site professionally created, but you can ignore it if you’re not willing to pay. It’s pretty easy to do it yourself, anyway. With a few clicks, you’ll have a domain name and a live website.
3. Branding
   Once your site is live, play around with the colours, fonts, themes, and layouts. Mix and match until you find something that suits your brand.
4. Add and Organize Your Projects
   Curate your best work, and tell a story with each project. Include details like project goals, challenges, and your specific contributions. You can do this by adding blogs or more sections.
5. Write an Engaging ‘About’ Page
   Share your journey and unique qualities. Think of it as a chance to introduce yourself and make a personal connection with clients.
6. Include Testimonials or Case Studies
   Add quotes and case studies from previous clients. Real feedback builds trust and credibility, showing clients why they should choose you.
7. Optimize Contact Options
   Make it easy for potential clients to reach you. Add a clear call-to-action with email, form, or social links to facilitate contact.
8. Network With Other ILN Users
   You never know where your next opportunity will come from. Connect with other ILN users and share your experiences. Engage with their content, leave feedback, and ask for feedback as well.

Pro Tips for a Portfolio That Stands Out

1. High-Quality Images
   Use high-resolution visuals to showcase your work professionally. It’s worth the investment for a polished, professional look. Pexels, Unsplash, and Freepik offer high-quality images. You can also try ILN’s AI image tool.
2. Mobile Optimization
   Make sure your site looks great on mobile too, as many clients may be browsing on their phones. If you’re having issues with this, don’t hesitate to reach out to ILN’s customer service. You can also search through their help articles.
3. Basic SEO Tips
   ILN’s website builder comes with basic SEO needs. A few SEO tweaks, like adding alt text to images, and using keywords and headings can help your portfolio reach more clients.

Portfolio Website Example for Beginners

1. Paul Maplesden
   Paul Maplesden’s content writing portfolio is an excellent template for aspiring writers. It starts with a clear heading featuring his name and a navigation bar for easy access to different sections like his writing samples and testimonials.

On the first page, he has a brief introduction outlining his expertise and specializations. He then includes a selection of writing samples, each with context about the intended audience and goals.

2. Nisreen Galloway
   If you’re a social media manager looking to create a portfolio, Nisreen Galloway is your guide. Her portfolio showcases her skills and experiences with a strong introduction that reflects her passion for content creation.

Featuring a variety of projects, from blog posts to social media campaigns, her different case studies outline her objectives, strategies, and outcomes, demonstrating her strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. It’s exactly what a recruiter would want to see.

3. Katherine Chen
   Katherine Chen’s portfolio is a great example for User Experience Designers looking to showcase their work. She uses clear case studies that highlight her design process, including the problem she tackled, the research she conducted, and how her designs evolved.

Her portfolio has a consistent look and feel, making it easy to navigate. By featuring user feedback and interactive prototypes, she shows her focus on user-centered design. Plus, her friendly call to action invites people to connect, making her portfolio both inviting and informative.

4. Anita Valentinova
   Anita’s product management portfolio is a standout example for aspiring product managers. It starts with her name at the top and a simple navigation bar for easy access to different sections like her projects, skills, and contact information.

Next, she has a concise introduction that highlights her expertise and passion for product management. She includes detailed case studies of her projects, showcasing her approach to problem-solving and her ability to deliver results. Each case study provides context about the challenges faced, the strategies implemented, and the outcomes achieved, demonstrating her skill set effectively.

Wrap-Up
A well-crafted portfolio highlights your unique style, tells your story, and offers easy access for potential clients. A personalized website sets you apart in a crowded marketplace, enhancing your credibility and making it easier for clients to discover and connect with you.

Remember, your portfolio should evolve as you grow in your career. Regularly updating it with new projects and achievements keeps your online presence fresh and engaging.

So, take the first step today: build your portfolio, share your story, and watch as opportunities come your way.

If you want to learn more about personal branding and building a successful business online, check out our other articles.