How to Make a Portfolio

A step-by-step guide to making an online portfolio with Squarespace.

In today’s digital landscape, it’s absolutely vital to have a professional online presence. Showcase what you have created by making a portfolio website with Squarespace. With a digital portfolio, you can share your visual work with potential clients, employers, and fans. Plus, it’s a great way to build your brand online.

Start a portfolio website

01. Choose a template

All of Squarespace’s award-winning website templates can be used to make a professional website that stands out. However, this particular selection of templates is a great starting point for a portfolio website. Once you see one that inspires you, you can start adding your content immediately.

Explore our templates

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02. Start adding your content

After you’ve selected a website template, it’s time to start showcasing your work. Display your original photos, illustrations, artwork, or designs by taking advantage of Squarespace’s different features created to showcase visual work. If you add a Portfolio Page, you can display content in a variety of unique layouts. For example, you can use a Portfolio Page to highlight multiple projects as a grid of thumbnail images.

To add a Portfolio Page, just click on Pages in the Home Menu. Then select Portfolio as your page layout option. This will allow your website visitors to see more of what you’ve created all at once. Plus you can use this to keep your content organized based on themes, dates, or content types.

Within the projects themselves, you can also organize your images so they appear as a slideshow or a grid with gallery sections. If you don’t have enough content to fill up an entire gallery section, you can start by adding Image Blocks to display the images you have available.

03. Add your “About” page

If you’re planning on using your online portfolio to promote your professional work, make sure you add a bio or “About” page to your website. To add an “About” page, select About as your page layout option. This will add a page where you can include more information about yourself. You can share who you are, what you do, and what you’d like to do.

If you’d prefer, you can also add your resume or CV to your website. If you have awards or accomplishments, this is a great place to share those as well. You may want to add some examples of work you’ve done for past clients here, or even some testimonials about your projects as part of this section.

Ensure you give potential clients, employers, and collaborators an opportunity to get in touch with you after they review your online portfolio. You can simply add your email address to your “About” page. Add a form block to your “About” page if you’d like visitors to use that to get in touch with you instead. With the form, you can decide exactly what type of information you’d like to get from the person before they can message you.

04. Grow your audience

First, ensure your portfolio website is optimized for search. In order for your images to appear in search results, you’ll need to add written descriptions so Google can decipher what the pictures are of. This alt text will also help to make your portfolio site more universally accessible. Additionally, you can verify your site with Google Search Console to help manage your site’s presence in Google Search results. This service is free and can also be useful as a tool when combined with Analytics to see what keywords people are searching to land on your site. Be sure to check out these best practices to ensure your site is fully optimized.

Add your social media profiles to your online portfolio. This will help your existing fans find your online portfolio. Plus, you can share the work you add to your site quickly and easily on your favorite social media platforms and quickly resize images to match a variety of social media formats.

Consider starting a blog or an email newsletter. With a blog, you’ll be able to share more of your story or add updates about new projects. Then you can use Email Campaigns to share your blog posts in a newsletter form directly to your reader’ inboxes. You can add a Newsletter Block to your blog so readers can enter their emails and subscribe.

Now your online portfolio is ready to be shared with the world. But remember: you can always continue to add and edit your site as you complete more projects. Ready to get started? Visit Squarespace.com to start your free trial now.

Get started

Choose a template

Find a design that fits with your personal or professional brand aesthetic.
Start adding your content

Upload your original photos, artwork, writing, or designs.
Add your “About” page

Share your background with your website visitors.
Grow your audience

Spread the word about your online portfolio with the world.

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Expert Customer Care

Need some help with your website? Reach out to our Customer Support Team via email or live chat. Customer Care Advisors are highly trained and work with Designers and Engineers in our New York City and Dublin offices. They have deep Squarespace knowledge and are ready to help whenever you need it.

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