subject: Creating A Business Portfolio [print this page] A well-conceived business portfolio is often the key to generating more and better projects. Here are a few things to consider when you are putting yours together.
Great Photographs:
Emphasis on great. This is often the hardest lesson for those who are trying to put together a business portfolio for the first time. Say you are a furniture maker. You create one of a kind chairs that are both functional and beautiful and that are basically pieces of art upon which one can sit on and read a book. These chairs are well constructed and will stand the test of time and do a masterful job of melding the modern and the timeless. Well, stating all of those facts is one thing, but all the words in the world are essentially useless for the purposes of getting a potential client.
This is where a professional photographer comes in. Make it a part of every job you do to get a high-resolution, high-quality photograph of your finished work that you can show potential clients. Your best work is worth nothing unless you can show it off in its best light. The reasoning behind this is simple. You cannot get by with badly lit, poorly composed snapshots of your work if you want to attract business.
If the work you do does not produce explicitly visual results, you can still employ the use of photos for shots of your employees at work, your grounds, or whatever you believe will show you and your business in the best light.
Tales of Your Success:
Your portfolio is where you get to brag a little bit about what your business has already accomplished. Better yet, it's a great place for your potential clients to get to read the glowing testimonials of your previous happy customers. You can then fill in your own details about the different projects you've been involved in, what special skills were involved, and great before and after photos if appropriate.
To gather your testimonials, contact previous clients and tell them you are putting together a portfolio. Ask them to contribute a few words about what they liked about working with you and the finished product. Because everyone is so busy these days, you may have a hard time collecting these right away. If that is the case, you can offer to write the testimonial yourself and have your former client approve or edit it at his or her discretion. Most clients will happily take you up on this offer.
Facts and Figures:
If appropriate for your business, you can divulge to your potential clients how much business you did in the past year, what awards you received, how you were able to expand your business, etc. Whatever you can mention that tells the world and your potential partners about what sets you apart from the competition is fair game.
Formats:
You should consider having your portfolio available in at least three formats: a website, a CD or DVD, and a hard copy. All should have a consistent look and feel, and the hard copy should be bound as attractively as possible. You can find a nice portfolio case, or even have your own hardcover binder on hand to create a permanent and elegant book for your clients to keep.
by: Jeffrey McRitchie
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