A personal portfolio website is all about promoting you. You are a brand and no one is going to know about your brand unless you get it out there. This is especially important if you’re an architect to have a great portfolio website. In this session, Rob Rozicki, VP of .ARCHI with 15 years of experience in building websites will share the 10 secrets of a great portfolio website to set you career on the right path.

1. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
10 Secrets of a Great Portfolio Website
Rob Rozicki

2. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
Tell Your Chapter Members They Have a .ARCHI
Domain. Go To www.register.archi to activate.
OVER 5,000 .ARCHI DOMAINS
GIVEN TO AIAS MEMBERS
www.yourname.archi

3. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
56% of all hiring managers are more impressed by a
candidate’s online portfolio than any other personal
branding tool

4. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
Before you begin clarify and set your website goals.

5. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
Please Hire Me Website
Focuses on getting you a job.
If you are actively searching
for a job then the current goal
of your portfolio is to get
hired. In this type of portfolio
you can target the work you
show to the type of company
you want to work for.

6. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
The Reputation Building Website
Focuses on building your
name in the industry and
online. This may take the
form of an showcase.

7. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
The Networking Portfolio Website
Focuses on building
relationships. There are many
networks that have excellent
portfolio building tools. They
have some advantages to
placing your portfolio on their
website. Chiefly among them
is to leverage the site space
for networking.

8. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
The Sales Generation Portfolio
Focuses on keeping a flow of
work always coming in the
door. The goal here is to
generate leads. And move
potential customers through
your sales channel.

9. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
Now choose the technology for your portfolio.

10. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
Choose your web design adventure.
Dipping my toes in
I’m all in
Make it easy
I’m committed
Free
$5-$50
per month
$10 - $100
per month hosting
costs
Loss of
Friends + hosting costs

11. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
10 secrets of a great portfolio website

12. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
1. Create & Highlight Your Logo
Your logo is usually the first
thing a user sees. In the
Western world, we read
from left to right, top to
bottom, so it makes sense
to put your logo in the top
left of your website so that
users can immediately
identify who owns the
website.

13. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
2. Create a Tagline
The right tagline provides
a clear message of what
your brand is all about.
• Start with your brand
promise
• Show personality
• Make them read it twice
• Draw on emotion or
action
• Get inspired

14. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
3. Create a Portfolio
In today’s online
marketplace there’s just
no way around it.
Potential clients or
employers will expect to
be able to view previous
work online.
• Categorize your work
• Use high quality images
• Link to real projects
• Make sure it navigates
well
• Keep it up-to-date

15. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
4. Highlight Your Skills
Your tagline summed up
what you do, but you’ll
want to go into a bit more
detail here about each of
your specific skills.
• Highlight your Design
talent
• Engineering ability
• Social awareness
• Business aptitude
• Work experience

16. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
5. Get Personal with About Me
Let people see the man
or woman behind the
website. Share your
background, where you
came from, what you’re
passionate about, etc.
• Know who you’re talking to
• Don’t just lead with the facts
• Share your values.
• Show yourself
• Tell the story of your journey
• Tell people how you can help them
• Demonstrate how you’ve provided
solutions for others
• Give a sense of what it’s like to work
with you
• Don’t make it all about you

17. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
6. Contact Forms
A potential employer or
client has browsed your
website, is impressed
with your portfolio and
can see who you are.
Now they want to contact
you.
• It’s more convenient for
users
• It’s more secure
• It guarantees that you’ll
receive the message
• It helps you get more
information

18. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
7. Start a blog
A blog is always a good
idea. Blog about your
area of expertise; show
you know what you’re
talking about. It will help
promote you and prevent
your website from lying
static.
• Eye catching titles and
headlines
• Open with bang!!
• Use engaging images
• Proper post segmentation
• Social media friendly
• Use your own voice
• Use a call-to-action

19. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
8. Create a Call-To-Action
Your portfolio should have
a call to action, a “Next
step.” The best way to
accomplish this is with a
button that is clear and
stands out from the rest
of the page.
• Have multiple CTAs
• Put CTAs on every
page
• Make CTAs prominent

20. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
9. Link to Your Social Profiles
Now that people have an
interest in you and your
work, encourage them to
follow you on other
websites.

21. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
10. Have Fun
"Be yourself - everybody
else is already taken." -
Oscar Wilde
• You'll graduate from school
• You'll switch jobs.
• You'll move cities, even
countries
• Your career ideas may evolve
• Your whole life path may
change once or twice
• But amidst all these changes,
your website remains a way to
express yourself freely and
truthfully

22. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
10% Off Squarespace from .ARCHI
PROMO CODE: DOTARCHI

23. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
Tell Your Chapter Members They Have a .ARCHI
Domain. Go To www.register.archi to activate.
www.domains.archi/aias

24. AIAS GRASSROOTS 2016
Thanks For Your Attention
Contact Me
Rob Rozicki
Email: rob@startingdot.com
Tel: +1 347 419 2764
Web: www.domains.archi
Learn More About .ARCHI
www.domains.archi/aias/