It seems like everyone and their dog has a personal website showcasing their timeline, life accomplishments, and portfolio of impressive work. When you’re competing online for jobs or clients, it can seem as though you’re lost and drowning in a sea of all that exists online. We want to provide you a couple tips that’ll inspire you to create a beautiful personal website that will showcase your personality and your achievements (with only a hint of bragging!).
Your Name as your Domain Name
The best place for your personal website to live is on a domain name that is your name. Some people are blessed with a unique name that allows them to easily secure their ideal domain and others are stuck tacking on eight numbers to the end of any username they create. While you may find that your name at a .COM extension has long since been snatched up, your name may still be available at a .ME extension.The .ME domain name extension is short and memorable, and that type of catchiness is exactly what you want to drive people to your portfolio website. Let your audience know that this website is all about you on the .ME domain.
Intuitive Design for your Portfolio Website
You should aim to create a website that reads similarly to a resume or navigates as a typical portfolio. Be careful not to create anything too difficult to use as it could create drop-offs rather than have the impressive impact you’re expecting. Much like your resume or cover letter, it may have only a small chance to make a huge impression. Make sure your design focuses on showcasing your skills, talents, and work. Use colours, textures, patterns, fonts, as well as imagery – be it gifs, graphics, or photos – to show off your personality without creating a complicated journey through your website.
Choose your Website Builder
When building your website, choose the method that allows you to make edits as quickly as possible. If you hire a professional to build your personal website, it may look incredible, but you may risk a delay in pushing through updates. Hover connects with a variety of website builders. Gain a new skill by building your own website and have pride in what you’ve created.
Quick Tip! If you’re a website designer or developer you should definitely DIY your own website – it’s just one more additional piece to add to your portfolio!
Implement Basic SEO for your Website
You want your website to rank for potential employers – but for which search terms and keywords? If you’re a claymation animator, you may want to target “top claymation animator in Toronto” as a search term. You should be cognizant that approximately 77% of employers are searching your name online when you apply for a role. Make sure your website ranks for your name so that it’s the first thing to appear – not an embarrassing MySpace profile from 2004. You should implement your keywords in your metadata, as well as in your content. Most website builders allow you to do so with ease!
Quick Option for the Busy Applicant
If you’re too busy to design and build a website for yourself, consider an easier option. Have your .ME domain name forward to your LinkedIn profile. It’s a simpler way to share your LinkedIn profile on job applications (most tend to ask for it!), on social channels, or on business cards. A .ME domain provides a professional link to your most professional channel.
Your portfolio website has mere seconds to make an impact and attract a potential employer to pursue more information about you. Make sure it stands out and reflects who you are – from domain name through to design and the work you display. Also, if Hover seems like the ideal company to you, then give a read to how we promote the entrepreneurial spirit in all our team. Submit that awesome, new portfolio website with your application.
