In a world that is increasingly more digital, hiring managers are now expecting a digital portfolio to be a standard part of the application process. Digital portfolios have been around for many years and they are a succinct, powerful way of showing a potential employer your skills and experience.

In a study conducted by our very own, James Alderman, he found that 72% of respondents didn’t have a digital portfolio. And when recruiters are saying it is an essential tool needed to get a job, we want to help change this number.

So, what is a digital portfolio? It’s essentially a collection of your previous work, a place to showcase your skills and offer a bit more proof than a traditional CV.

A digital portfolio can take many forms, the most common being a website. But you don’t need to learn to code! A website builder tool such as Wix, Squarespace or WordPress will be more than sufficient.

Digital creatives need a portfolio now more than ever. Competition is fierce and you need to make sure you stand out.

Now we’re all caught up, it is essential to know what to include within a digital portfolio:

1: Tagline

Your tagline should be front and centre on your digital portfolio. It should succinctly tell a hiring manager more about you, what makes you unique and what your career goals are. If they know from the start what sets you aside from the competition, they will be more inclined to explore the rest of your portfolio.

 It’s important to make sure this bit is short and sweet. No recruiter will stick around to read reams of copy. That being said, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through! The better a viewer understands you, the more likely they will remember you.

2: A Photograph

You might cringe at the thought of putting a photograph of yourself front and centre, but people do tend to trust brands (and people) when they can put a face to the name.

It goes without saying that the photo must be appropriate. Think similar to your LinkedIn profile picture... Not quite as serious as a passport photo but it shouldn’t be a selfie that you took in the pub! For tips on how to take an appropriate professional photo, save this article to read after this one!

3: Projects & Experience

As mentioned, your portfolio is a way of demonstrating to employers that you are capable and most importantly, it proves that you can do what you say you can do.

Before you frantically Google `how to make a marketing portfolio with no experience’ - Don’t worry if you haven’t got years of involvement, use projects you worked on during university! You can also include any relevant volunteering experience that you have. Or, if you created your own experience - great! Definitely include this as it shows you are determined (which will impress a hiring manager!)

Each project on your portfolio should be accompanied by a brief explanation of the project. To know what to include in this explanation, see our handy checklist below!

With your projects and experience section, it’s important to remember these two things:

●     Keep it up to date.

●     Explain every project in detail using the above checklist (you might understand your explanation - but will an outsider? Get a friend or family member to check so you can see if it makes sense!)

If you’re concerned about not having enough experience to include in your digital portfolio, send us an email to hello@leadkinetics.co.uk – introduce yourself and mention you read this blog and we’ll let you know how we can help you gain relevant marketing experience!

4: Testimonials

If you can get your previous lecturers, employers or colleagues to vouch for your skills, this provides a level of social proof that cannot otherwise be attained.

It will build trust as the endorsement will give your claims more credibility. For example, if you say on your first page that you’re determined to become head of marketing and a previous employer commends you on your willingness to take on more responsibility, a recruiter will be more inclined to believe your claim.

5: Downloadable CV

Although a digital marketing portfolio is essentially a more developed CV, a CV is still the traditional document needed when securing a role.

It’s good practice to include your CV within your digital portfolio for the ease of the hiring manager. But make sure to include a download button, as this will make it easier for the recruiter. Plus, if they’ve downloaded it, chances are they’ll forward it to others in the organisation - increasing your chances of securing an opportunity!

6: Contact Section

We have seen many digital marketing portfolio examples and the worst mistake you can do is not having a way for a viewer to contact you. They’ve spent all that time on your site and you’re just going to let them go! No way.

Direct them to a contact page. Include a contact form and a clear call to action. Something along the lines of ‘hire me’ or ‘get in contact’. On the form, make sure there is space where they can leave their name, email address and phone number.

We’d recommend not including your email or phone number on your portfolio, if someone is interested, they’ll use the form. Leaving your details in plain text will leave you subjectable to spam emails or calls.

Round Up

And there you have it! 6 things you MUST include on your digital portfolio. Don’t forget, it’s an evolutionary document, so keep it up to date as you gain more experience and develop your skills!

It’s also important to consider if you’re linking to outside of your portfolio (e.g., to a blog post you wrote for a client) the client might have taken it down since you linked it. So, make sure to check any links before sending your portfolio out - you don’t want a hiring manager to click on a broken link!

If you have a digital portfolio or you’re looking for inspiration before making one, make sure to subscribe to James’ YouTube channel and watch his Rate My Portfolio videos for digital marketing portfolio reviews. Or if you’re looking for specific advice on your portfolio, send yours to james.digitalwins@gmail.com for him to review!

Looking forward to seeing on the next blog!