Below is a great article talking about the importance of having graphic design portfolios.

Why Now Is the Right Time for Freelance Graphic Designers to Create Graphic Design Portfolios

Now is the time to sell your designs and ideas. And the best way to do so is to create an online graphic design portfolio to showcase what sets you apart from the competition. In fact, by not creating an online graphic design portfolio, you may be doing yourself a huge disservice.

Experienced freelance graphic artists have been marketing themselves online for years and use their portfolios as tools to sell their services to prospective employers or clients. Now, it’s your turn. By following these basic guidelines, you are sure to pave the way to success:

Creating logos for graphic design portfolios

Your first task is to use your creative abilities and design a logo to market yourself. The logo can be a simple design of your name or something more creative that you feel embodies you.

The logo is important because it is the first thing people see when they visit your portfolio and it may be the deciding factor as to whether or not people are going to continue to look at the rest of your portfolio.

Take a look at some of the logos featured on design sites to see what others have been doing. This may help you generate ideas of your own.

Picking potential taglines for graphic design portfolios

Just as important as your logo is your tagline. A well thought out tagline defines the services you provide. The tagline should be short and sweet but should also be catchy.

Here are some tips to picking a potential tagline for graphic design portfolios:

• After you create your logo, come up with ten potential taglines.
• From these ten taglines, pick your three favorites.
• Have a fellow graphic designer, preferably an experienced one, look at the three and ask them to choose their favorite. Also ask them to explain why they made their choice.
• Make an executive decision based on the feedback you receive and based on your gut feeling.

Again, it can’t hurt to look at what others have used but try not to copy. Clients are often looking for originality and creativity. Stay away from the norm.

Writing and sharing blogs for graphic design portfolios

Ever think of sharing your experiences with other designers? A blog may be the best way to do so. Including one in your online portfolio will not only increase traffic to your portfolio, but it will also give you the opportunity to create a community-base of graphic designers who you can share ideas with.

If you’re new to blogging and cannot come up with any ideas, you could start by discussing what you’ve done to create your online portfolio and ask for any comments. You may get some great feedback that you could incorporate into your portfolio.

Picking the best samples to include in graphic design portfolios

When designing your online portfolio and picking what samples you want to include that showcase your abilities, keep in mind that less is more. You don’t want people to feel inundated with clutter. If the site is too “loud”, people may be scared away.

It is also important to show variety of samples that demonstrate the diversity of your work. Ask a fellow graphic designer to review your samples with you. Collectively, you should be able to pick out the work that best showcases your diversity.

Scripting the About Me sections of graphic design portfolios

It is important to take some time to introduce yourself to your online portfolio visitors. While no one wants to read about your life story, provide enough details that your visitors will feel more of a connection to you. How you portray yourself could be your best asset.

Other tips to follow when creating graphic design portfolios include:

• Make sure your online portfolio is easy to use and navigate.
• Don’t throw away the hard copy of your portfolio. Some clients may prefer to see the hard copy.
• Ask graphic design experts for their advice and feedback. Also, it couldn’t hurt to ask a few friends and/or family members to comment. They might have some great feedback.
• Keep your online portfolio updated. Try to review and revise it at least twice a year.
• Once you build up your clientele, you may want to add a section for client references to enhance your credibility.

About The Author:

Robyn Abbatiello invites you to visit http://www.Artfulincome.com for more design tips and tools for freelance graphic designers and subscribe to our monthly Freelance Graphic Designers Newsletter. Also visit my freelance graphic offers area http://artfulincome.com/offers

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robyn_Abbatiello

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6457865

Related Posts:

Illustrator Technique – Easy Vector Fire And Flames
Illustrator Technique – Vector Metal Lightning Bolt Icon On Leather
Discover How To Make Backgrounds With Illustrator
Creating Logos With Illustrator

Robyn’s Comment
For a freelance graphic designer, your graphic design portfolios are your life blood.  These portfolios showcase your special abilities to potential clients.