How to Design a Business Portfolio

man showing portfolio

As a business owner or entrepreneur that offers services to the public, one of the best ways to draw in more customers and clientele is to provide examples of your work. Everyone from writers to construction companies needs to have examples to show potential clients in order to prove they can get the job done in a reliable, quality and satisfactory manner. While there are several different possibilities for the contents of a business portfolio, the basic design and development is the same.

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Internet Connection (If Applicable)
• Binder (If Applicable)

Instructions

Putting together a business portfolio

1. Determine your target market. You should gear the contents of your portfolio toward the type of clientele you wish to attract to your business. For example, if you're in the construction business, then your target market may be retired couples looking to build a retirement home. If you're in the landscaping business, then your target market is within a certain financial demographic. Consider all of the factors that make your target market who they are and appeal to them.

2. Hire someone to take pictures of your end-result work (or do it yourself), if you don't have this completed already. You want the photographs to showcase the best features of the work you do. Again, for example, if your business constructs homes, then you need pictures that utilize all of the best features and workmanship of the home, not just the view from the front yard.

3. Choose the best images from the projects that reveal your best work. In the alternative, if your portfolio is to showcase something like your writing abilities, then choose the best examples of those abilities. Whether your selection be of images or documents, pick those that have received the most recognition, awards or even the best customer feedback. These are the examples of your work that really show what you're capable of producing.

4. Design the portfolio in an appealing manner. Avoid fluff, a busy design and text that is difficult to read. Stick with block letters and a flowing format that allows the observer to follow easily.

5. Include extras that really make your success stand out, such as thank you letters and feedback from previous clients, and facts and figures that give your business that extra kick of impressiveness.

6. Decide which format your business portfolio will take. You can offer potential customers an online portfolio of your work, providing images or .PDF versions of documents on a website that is easy to remember, find and type. Another option is to showcase your best work in a brochure about your business. For meetings with potential clients, put together a bound portfolio with large, clear images and details about your best work product examples.

Tips & Warnings

• Approach the design of your business website from the perspective that it is a business portfolio that every potential client sees, even the ones you don't know about.

References

• Learn more about the elements of a great business portfolio.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Find a Commercial Photographer in your area.