One of the most important aspects of a project-based company’s website is its portfolio. It’s a chance to show your experience, build trust, and give visitors an idea of your work quality. However, creating an effective website portfolio can be challenging for any project-based business, like construction, interior design, healthcare, or finance. This article shares best practices and examples of websites that ace the featured projects section.
High-quality images are indispensable
Start with high-quality images. Although it might seem common sense, consider the images you already have of your projects before deciding to want a portfolio feature on your website. We advise refraining from creating a visual portfolio if you lack high-quality images. Instead, focus on building trust and credibility on your website through alternative means, such as testimonials (an excellent form of social proof).
Even if your work is outstanding, displaying low-quality images of your projects can negatively impact the overall perception of your business and curb conversion rates. If your business operates on a project basis, consider investing in a professional photographer for upcoming projects to accumulate assets for a compelling portfolio. The Cultured Palate excellently demonstrates how top-notch images set a strong foundation for effective portfolios.
Furthermore, follow the formula “quality over quantity” when assembling the projects featured on your website. Keep in mind that the majority of your clients or website visitors won’t navigate through every item in the portfolio. For this reason, consider project type, size, and photo quality when choosing what to display.
Straightforward Navigation Improves User Experience
Two key goals for your website’s portfolio are making it enticing and uncomplicated for visitors to inspect loosely.
There are various options available for shaping a portfolio. Typically, you’ll have a portfolio category page that navigates to individual project pages that are detailed and focused on the project. Allocating a dedicated page to each project enhances user experience by reducing page length and facilitating content consumption for site visitors.
If you have many projects or photos, consider categorizing them by industry or project type. Likewise, showcasing only the best or most distinctive projects minimizes visitors’ need to navigate numerous pages, enabling potential clients to swiftly evaluate your team’s expertise in their specific industry and streamlining the overall user experience.
For example, ASD woodworks applies this approach, enabling visitors to view projects within designated categories. Organizing your portfolio with categories and filtering features can dramatically improve the user experience since it gives your visitors the ability to journey through the variety of works in an uncomplicated manner.
Tip: An effective website portfolio is like a show-off space to impress visitors and persuade them to work with you. Add a “contact” button at the end of your portfolio to encourage visitors to reach out.
Consider a Custom Design
If you want to upgrade your existing website portfolio, contact us today. We specialize in creating beautiful and functional custom-designed websites. You can improve your portfolio by hiring us to make a custom design for the main category page and each project page. The layout of the individual project page will be based on the content decisions you make, such as the amount of photos, the inclusion of video, and the detailed project description or key features. Investing in a custom design can unlock additional features for the portfolio, aiding in the project storytelling.
For instance, UC Construction project gallery highlights both their residential and commercial homes and remodels, as well as framing projects. The page includes hover-overs and micro animations – subtly engaging visitors – that we discuss in more depth below.
Communicate the Project’s Story with your Content
Great storytelling engages your visitors and helps paint a picture of your company’s strengths. There are different approaches to infusing your portfolio with captivating content. Imagine each project in your portfolio as a case study that showcases your success and reveals the behind-the-scenes journey. Dive into the project scope, share your unique approach, and proudly present the results. Your portfolio is more than just a showcase – it’s a narrative that lets visitors follow along and appreciate your expertise. Take advantage of this chance to make your company’s work shine.
Moreover, keep the written content concise and consistent to allow for easy consumption. For instance, each project can include the start date, end date, key members, budget, a short description that demonstrates the challenges the team overcame, and other revealing project stats.
Another way to contribute to the narrative building is by including before and after shots. These images evoke strong reactions to your projects that are hard to duplicate with other types of content.
Micro Animations and Subtle Movement Boosts Engagement
Videos, hover-overs, and micro-animations comprise some interactive components that can transform your portfolio from average to top-notch. If your projects are well-suited for videos, think about incorporating a video showcasing each project directly onto the individual project pages. Videos tend to outperform written text when it comes to shared content, and with today’s mobile device camera technology, it’s much easier to create professional-looking videos.
You can also enhance your main portfolio page by adding hover-over elements that reveal a project name or a button to view each project individually. These elements can be custom-designed to elevate the overall quality of your site.
In Conclusion
An effective website portfolio acts as a soft sell, showcasing your expertise and the satisfaction of your clients. However, the impact diminishes if you neglect to update it with your latest hits. Outdated images and projects can inadvertently convey the message that your team hasn’t been busy lately.
Prioritize quality over quantity by promptly adding your latest projects while the details are fresh. Simultaneously, seize the chance to remove projects without that noteworthy appeal. Maintaining an updated portfolio ensures it consistently reflects your current achievements and keeps potential clients engaged.
At 360 Web Designs, we offer monthly maintenance packages for our clients who want to keep their content fresh while minimizing the time spent on their website. To view our complete services, click on the image below!
