Your Personal Portfolio - Work and References On Your Branding Site

We talked about a personal brand website.  In this episode, we focus on the personal portfolio.  This content is work examples, deliverables, and possibly even applications.  The bonus for this form of delivery is that your reader can experience the content rather than read it.  Let's look at some ways to make this content sing and avoid hitting sour notes.

Keep Their Attention

We need to start with a warning.  It is easy to provide tons of links in your content on the web.  These may take the user to a website you built or documents they can read.  Whatever the goal, keep the main problem we are solving in mind.  You should keep the reader in the context of being presented with your story.  Links away from your site can distract and splinter this story.  Make use of frames, open other tabs, or even screenshots to keep the user focused on you.  Avoid sending them to other sites where they may never return to you.

Reduce Live Examples To Clickable Demos

It is very tempting to send readers to the applications and web sites you are proud of.  However, this can distract them from you in light of focusing on those applications.  One way to keep control of the narrative is to use screenshots and a clickable demo or wizard.  Allow the user to click on an image rather than the real application.  This approach not only keeps them focused on where you desire, but it also provides a way for you to narrate their experience.  You can virtually walk them through the application and highlight the features or functions you want to share.

The Elusive Side Hustle

Many of us struggle with how to present work we do as a side hustle.  This personal portfolio is a perfect platform for that work.  You do not have to tie any of this content to a time frame or employer.  Therefore, you can include (and exclude) whatever makes sense to you.  There is no need to worry about gaps in time or experience.  Make this the story you want to share.

Episode Challenge: Add a recent work example to your personal web site or at least your resume.

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