How to Create a Portfolio for Your LinkedIn Profile

Do you want to showcase your skills, achievements, and projects to potential employers or clients? Do you want to stand out from the crowd and increase your chances of getting hired or landing a contract? If you answered yes, then you need a portfolio for your LinkedIn profile.

A portfolio is a collection of work samples that demonstrate your abilities and expertise in your field. It can include anything from articles, reports, presentations, videos, podcasts, websites, apps, designs, artworks, or any other relevant projects that you are proud of.

A portfolio can help you:

• Highlight your unique value proposition and personal brand
• Showcase your creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Provide evidence of your accomplishments and impact
• Impress recruiters and hiring managers with your professionalism and passion
• Attract more views, connections, and opportunities on LinkedIn

But how do you create a portfolio for your LinkedIn profile? Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Choose the right platform

There are many platforms that allow you to create and host your portfolio online. Some of the most popular ones are:

• WordPress: A versatile and powerful website builder that lets you customize your portfolio with themes, plugins, and widgets. You can also integrate it with your LinkedIn profile using the WordPress app.
• Behance: A platform for creative professionals that lets you showcase your work in various formats and categories. You can also link it to your LinkedIn profile using the Behance app.
• Medium: A platform for writers and bloggers that lets you publish your articles and stories in a sleek and minimalist interface. You can also connect it to your LinkedIn profile using the Medium app.
• GitHub: A platform for developers and programmers that lets you host your code repositories and projects. You can also link it to your LinkedIn profile using the GitHub app.

Choose the platform that best suits your needs, preferences, and budget. You can also use multiple platforms if you have different types of work samples to display.

2. Select the best work samples

Once you have chosen the platform for your portfolio, you need to select the best work samples to include in it. Here are some criteria to help you decide:

• Relevance: Choose work samples that are relevant to your target audience, industry, and niche. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job, include work samples that showcase your marketing skills and experience.
• Quality: Choose work samples that are high-quality, polished, and error-free. For example, if you are showcasing a website or an app, make sure it is functional, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing.
• Diversity: Choose work samples that show a range of skills, abilities, and perspectives. For example, if you are a writer, include work samples that cover different topics, genres, and formats.
• Recency: Choose work samples that are recent and up-to-date. For example, if you are a graphic designer, include work samples that reflect the latest trends and styles in your field.

You don’t need to include every single work sample that you have ever done. Aim for quality over quantity and focus on the ones that best represent your brand and value.

3. Write captivating descriptions

After selecting the best work samples for your portfolio, you need to write captivating descriptions for each one of them. A description is a short paragraph that explains what the work sample is about, what skills and tools you used to create it, what challenges you faced and how you overcame them, what results or outcomes you achieved or expected, and what feedback or recognition you received or hoped for.

A description should be:

• Clear: Use simple and concise language that is easy to understand by anyone.
• Specific: Use concrete details and examples that illustrate your points.
• Engaging: Use storytelling techniques and emotional hooks that capture the attention and interest of the reader.
• Action-oriented: Use active verbs and strong adjectives that convey your actions and achievements.

A description should not be:

• Vague: Avoid using generic or ambiguous terms that don’t convey anything meaningful.
• Boring: Avoid using dull or repetitive language that doesn’t spark any curiosity or excitement.
• Passive: Avoid using passive voice or weak modifiers that downplay your role or impact.
• Self-centered: Avoid using too many “I” statements or bragging too much about yourself.

Here are some examples of good and bad descriptions for a portfolio:

Bad: I wrote an article about how to make money online.

Good: I researched and wrote a 2,000-word article on how to make money online using various methods such as blogging, freelancing, affiliate marketing, dropshipping, etc. I used SEO techniques and keywords to optimize the article for search engines and attract organic traffic. I also included images, links, bullet points, headings, and subheadings to make the article more readable and engaging. The article was published on a popular website and received over 10,000 views, 500 likes, and 100 comments in the first week.

Bad: I designed a logo for a company.

Good: I designed a logo for a startup company that provides online education services. I used Adobe Illustrator to create the logo, which consists of a stylized book icon and the company name in a modern and elegant font. I chose a blue and white color scheme to convey trust, professionalism, and innovation. I also created different versions of the logo for different platforms and purposes, such as social media, website, app, business card, etc. The client was very satisfied with the logo and praised my creativity and attention to detail.

4. Add a call to action

The last step in creating a portfolio for your LinkedIn profile is to add a call to action at the end of it. A call to action is a sentence or a phrase that invites the reader to take the next step or contact you for more information. A call to action should be:

• Clear: Use direct and simple language that tells the reader exactly what you want them to do.
• Specific: Use specific details and instructions that guide the reader on how to proceed.
• Urgent: Use words or phrases that create a sense of urgency or scarcity that motivates the reader to act quickly.
• Value-oriented: Use words or phrases that highlight the benefits or value that the reader will get by taking action.

A call to action should not be:

• Confusing: Avoid using vague or ambiguous language that leaves the reader wondering what you want them to do.
• Generic: Avoid using generic or cliché phrases that don’t differentiate you from others.
• Passive: Avoid using passive voice or weak modifiers that don’t convey any enthusiasm or confidence.
• Demanding: Avoid using words or phrases that sound too pushy or aggressive that might turn off the reader.

Here are some examples of good and bad calls to action for a portfolio:

Bad: If you like my work, please contact me.

Good: If you are looking for a professional and creative writer who can deliver high-quality content for your website, blog, or social media, don’t hesitate to contact me today. You can email me at example@email.com or send me a message on LinkedIn. I would love to hear from you and discuss how we can work together.

Bad: Thank you for viewing my portfolio.

Good: Thank you for viewing my portfolio. I hope you enjoyed it and found it interesting and informative. If you have any questions or comments about my work, please feel free to leave them below or reach out to me directly. I appreciate your feedback and input. And if you are interested in hiring me for your next project, let me know. I am available and ready to start working with you as soon as possible.

Source:

How to become a successful content creator.

How to find the best WFH Jobs.

How to become successful Freelancer.