Marketing is a diverse industry with many different tools and approaches. In this business, it helps to embrace variety: digital and traditional methods, a range of social networks, and unique content across different channels. Whether you’re looking to jumpstart a brand new business or draw more customers into an established one, a portfolio is an advantageous asset. It’s a practical and aesthetic way to showcase what makes you one-of-a-kind, original and impressive.
When you think of a portfolio, you might think of a folder of an artist’s best drawings encased in plastic sleeves. Or a graphic designer’s strikingly colourful website. Or an investor’s selection of stocks. But no matter your career, it’s always useful to have a collection of your best work to present to people when you need to.
Portfolio marketing is when you assemble a collection of your best work that displays what your business can do and how to get in touch with you. Your portfolio can be entirely online, printed materials, or a mixture of both with some bonuses thrown in.
From an industry perspective, portfolio marketing can also refer to a catch-all term that encompasses different types of marketing: organic, digital, product, social media marketing etc. This article discusses the nature of portfolio marketing, some marketing portfolio examples and how Anchor Digital can craft you a quality digital marketing portfolio.
What is Portfolio Marketing, and Why Do You Need One?
A portfolio is more than a resume or a business website. It should display your finest work or products, inspire people to want to work with you and give them an easy way to get in touch. So what’s the difference between a portfolio, website and blog? While there can certainly be a crossover, one simple definition is that while a website can take a range of approaches, it’s most commonly a site where people can find out about you, your prices and your contact details. A blog is a content-based website you regularly update with new material. A portfolio’s only job is to land you your next one.You can market your portfolio to customers, clients, investors, potential business partners or employers and recruiters if you’re a freelancer or contractor.A marketing portfolio makes you easier to find and get in touch with, boosts your credibility and can help you advance your career.
What Should You Include in it?
Whether you plan to have a physical or digital marketing portfolio or some combination of the two, here are some marketing portfolio examples of useful assets you can include
About page
Your about page is where you can discuss your professional accomplishments and what makes you stand out in your field. It can consist of your professional biography and links to external pages such as your resume, your LinkedIn page or your social media profiles.Your about page is your chance to introduce yourself and the first point of contact many people will have with your brand. First impressions last, and it’s an opportunity to make a great one.
Testimonials
If you have a string of satisfied customers who’ve left positive reviews of your work, include them as marketing portfolio examples of what your company is capable of. You can put them on your about page, on your product page or a page of their own. Authentic testimonials from real satisfied individuals increase your perceived credibility and trustworthiness. The best testimonials to include are the ones that are brief and to the point but specify exactly what you did to help the client or make their life easier. Never make up fake testimonials. If you don’t have real ones, see if clients who’ve been happy with your work in the past will provide some.
Contact details
Of course, people will need to be able to contact you. To maximise your opportunities, you need your contact details clearly displayed. Fortunately, there are many ways to do that across all different items in your portfolio: your website, your business card, your personalised stationery etc. Which contact details you choose to include are up to you. Your phone number, e-mail address and website all offer convenient ways for prospective customers to get in touch with you. You can also include your social media accounts, LinkedIn page and any other methods for people to reach you.
Your best work
The point of your portfolio is to show off your best work, so you definitely want to include examples. Whether it’s examples of your art or design or a catalogue of your most popular products, this showcase of highlights should serve as a striking example of what you’re capable of and show you at your best. If you include photos of your products, you want to make sure the photos are vibrant and of high quality. It’s also a good idea to include some insights on the inspiration and methods behind creating your work, as well as data like how these products have increased conversions and sales.
Awards
If you’ve won any awards in your field, don’t forget to include them in your portfolio. Being award-winning is a noteworthy accolade in itself and definitely helps build trust in your brand. And the bigger the award, the more credible you appear.
Brochures
Although a digital marketing portfolio can sell your services in itself; it doesn’t hurt to diversify with some traditional marketing methods like pamphlets and brochures. These can be distributed in places your future customers are likely to find them. Just make sure they contain your contact details.
Business cards
A business card is a simple yet timeless and effective way to help get the word out about your business. Hand one to a stranger when you’re networking, and they instantly have your contact details, logo, the services you offer and (if the card is done right) insight into your business’s style.
Examples of Portfolio Marketing
Anchor Digital have created portfolios for our clients that are not just pretty but powerful. Some of our previous clients have included:
Daniella Louise Design
Our marketing portfolio for Daniella Louise contained stationery, business cards and brochures with a consistent look and feel. All of these materials displayed Daniella Louise’s logo and contact details.
Refresh Booths
Our services for Refresh Booths included corporate stationery, brochures and both web and landing page design. Eye-catching colours and graphics are consistent across all designs to display the company’s contemporary, cutting-edge qualities.
ENLIGHT10
For this luxury lighting and interiors company, we produced a range of materials that boldly display their logo in a way that stands out and sticks in your memory. Their portfolio included business cards, a bookmark, a bag and even the sign outside their office.
Build the Perfect Portfolio with Anchor Digital
Want to partner with Anchor Digital for your portfolio marketing needs? We offer both traditional and digital marketing portfolio solutions to help you grow your business. Drop us a line to see how we can create the perfect portfolio to land you your next big job or client.
