Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I was just thinking about a Web critique for a graphics design company with a portfolio page. We have lots of community members involved with graphics, images, designs, layouts, and so on. All of them know they need examples of their work----a portfolio.

Now imagine this: You`re a fashion photographer having some success in the Midwest. You`ve decided to go to New York and become a world-famous photographer. You`ve brought along your portfolio.

When you arrive in the Big Apple, you go to one of the leading fashion houses. You walk in the front door, leave your portfolio with the security guard at the Information island, and go home.

That`s the way to do it, right?

Is a portfolio only a quick presenting of some examples of your work? Is that all you have to do, just show that you did this, did that, and did this other thing, then go home?

Or is a portfolio your sales pitch?

Having watched a few design companies here in New York interview people for design positions, I`ll tell you this: They hire for capabilities, looks and education - in that order.

If someone has little schooling but can conceptualize & design with their eyes closed, they`re in.

If it`s a beautiful 20-something blonde woman or a handsome clean-cut male with a perfect smile who can learn a little more while on the job? Perfect fit.

At the end of the day the design houses want someone who can do the work and sell their services to the client. You don`t want someone "mediocre" trying to land the million dollar contract. You have to have skills, looks and education ... like I said, in that order.

Alright, so when we move a portfolio out of the physical world onto a Web site, should it be passive? In other words, does a portfolio work the same way on both a Web site and in face-to-face presentations?

Do those interviews in a physical office, with actual people ever include discussion or questions to the artist? Or are they silent, with everyone only looking at the portfolio quietly, then moving on to the next meeting?

Even in the "real world" we don`t *really* live in a face to face world anymore. Cell phones, PDAs, blackberry, e-mail, texting, etc... it`s all automated.

I fully suspect, as a designer, that if someone glances at my portfolio and has a question / comment that they`ll take the time to contact me (via phone or email). If they don`t like what they see - they`ll move on to the next meeting.

That`s the beauty (and the downfall) of the web. For me, personally - if I like someone`s prices, design / services and they have some good reviews from customers - they`ll get my business. I`ll base my opinions off of my first few projects with them.

PS: Craig, take another look at my portfolio. I revamped it a bit and gave the user a few more instructions when viewing it... and yes, it`s passive - and meant to be that way. ;)

Hi Shawn, :-)
I took another look at the site, what with the changes you`re making. I like the way you`ve got the animated portfolio, it looks very nice.

The reason for this topic, though, as a separate issue is that I don`t believe you`re going to win your bet. When people have questions about an online product, the people themselves break into two categories:

• Browsing viewers coming from a search result
• Interested customers with a particular interest in your site.

If you`re using your site as a follow-up to a preliminary client meeting, then everything you have is fine and will work. People will look at the site, you`ll be on the phone, and they can ask whatever.

But if you`re getting viewers to the site from someone searching on "Graphics design," then you don`t inspire them to call you or contact. There`ll be a million other results, and if they don`t see a reason---a sales pitch---they`ll just click to the next result.

My point is that a passive portfolio online these days, competes by just laying there. So either it`s an incredibly fantastic portfolio, or the company already has a major reputation, or it becomes "background noise," so to speak.

Remember that principle in sales that you should always ask for the sale?

I think all Web sites offering some sort of product or service should do this. And too few of them actually ask. In particular, graphics companies with portfolios seem prone to letting this part of the presentation drift.

"I think all Web sites offering some sort of product or service should do this. And too few of them actually ask. In particular, graphics companies with portfolios seem prone to letting this part of the presentation drift."

So then - what do you think (as a graphic designer) I can add to my site to better gain the sale of my services?

The main thing would be words....written content. :-) You`ve got a really nice thing with the animated portfolio, and actually, what would be even better would be a voice-over that explains each "page" of that portfolio.

I don`t know how hard it is to do multimedia on the web, not being a developer. But one option would be voice. Another would be some description as to why you created what you did and how you solved the client`s problem.

Then I think you could have as a last "page," a call to action. Something like, "Give us a call or email us. Let`s talk about your project!"

Is it possible to embed a live email link into the animation? If not, put a big button below the player that says "Contact Us."

I`m thinking perhaps if you could have a few more examples of your work that might also help. As it stands, there`s only a bit of a hard to read brochure. Yes, I know you can click to enlarge, but I`m wondering if that`s enough.

Anyway...the more we discuss this, here in the forums, the more it seems to me that people would like to quickly get to the bottom line:

• What do these people do
• How does it look
• What details can I learn
• How much will it cost.