There can be some major pluses to providing a space for your customers to see your work. If someone is considering purchasing your products or services they will most likely want to get an idea of what to expect beforehand. They say a picture is worth a thousand words for a reason. You can talk up your products and services all day but sometimes images of your work will speak louder.
Should you have a portfolio page?
The decision to include a portfolio page on your website can be tricky. It depends on the type of products and or services you offer.
You probably could benefit from a website portfolio or gallery page if your images look pleasing to the viewer in some manner. If your goods or services can be photographed in a unique way, such as a breathtaking photograph of a landscaping project, a portfolio will be a good choice for you.
Portfolio pages also make sense if your pictures tell a story, like before and after images where the improvement is obvious. Imagine a picture of a horrendous stain on a carpet accompanied next to an after shot where that stain has completely disappeared.
Things to remember
With any portfolio or project gallery where people may be seeing your work for the first time you want to put your best foot forward.
- Good photos required. If there is a particular project you are proud of and you think it would be a great addition to your portfolio, make sure someone takes the time to take a good picture. Maybe even designate someone who knows how to use a camera to take pictures regularly.
- Take more photos then you think you will ever need. It is harder to go back to a job site once you are done, so don’t snap and run. Take multiple photos so there is at least one keeper and you won’t be kicking yourself later.
- Some projects just don’t photograph well. – Maybe it was a really good project, which put your skills to the test, but there is no way to take a good photo. Don’t try. Consider a project description and a testimonial instead.
- Tell people what they are looking at. Don’t assume I will immediately understand you have removed rust, planted new trees or added decorative molding to a room. Add a caption or description which helps me appreciate the image. Don’t leave the viewer in the dark.
- Keep it updated. Your website portfolio is not just a place to add a new image to once every blue moon. Set a schedule for regular updates. How often will depend on how many projects you do.
- Not every project belongs in your portfolio. Don’t be afraid to delete some of your oldest work if it is not up to par with what you are currently doing. Feel free to omit the average nice projects and focus on a few great ones instead.
Lastly, don’t have a gallery or portfolio just to have one. If you are not sure if the images you have will sway the potential customer in a positive way and possibly even have the opposite affect, don’t risk it. It’s really all about what the viewer is going to think. You want your website portfolio page to help you, not hurt you.
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