Everyone feels they have some beautiful designs to share. But the question is which ones to share and how to show them.
It is important to have a website for your portfolio. First, you need a Domain name. Either decide on a catchy name, but not too difficult so that nobody remembers it, or use your own name. Don’t choose generic names. GoDaddy is the most common place to buy a domain name.
First, I had the name explormedia.com and trademarked it. There were many infringements including the site, xplormedia.com, a pornographic site. I kept getting their pictures. It was a real nuisance. However because they were there before my website, I couldn’t do anything about it. Clients kept going to their website and were baffled and annoyed. So, be careful when choosing a Domain name. Do your research.
Then I chose corporateidentities.com. A great buzz generic domain name. Everybody thought I was a big firm and it didn’t really reflect on what I did.
Next, I chose bonniesegaldesign.com. A more definitive name for what I designed, and more memorable.
Now you need a platform to design your website:
- WordPress
- Squarespace
- Wix
-are the most common platforms. Each has a tutorial for beginners. You can design your website offline and then publish it when you’re ready.
WordPress is the most widely used and can easily be produced on specific hosting sites. Wix is good for beginners with Drop and Drag but doesn’t have SEO, search engine optimization features. Squarespace is more difficult than WordPress but hailed by users.
Choose your host.
Bluehost is one of the best. You can also go with WordPress as a host. Wix also has its website host.
Next, you need to design your website. Draw a couple of rough layouts and choose one. Make sure it’s not complicated, but clean and simple. WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace have templates you can choose from.
Choose what images you want to appear on your portfolio page. Arrange them accordingly so that they aren’t too cluttered. Ask friends and colleagues which ones they think are the best and which ones don’t quite deliver. You are only as good as your worst design, so it’s better to have less but all the best. Research the internet to see other designers’ websites and decide which ones work the best and which ones aren’t too good and why. This will help you with your choices for your new website.
Good luck!