AI副業

Portfolio Creation Guide [2025 Edition]

January 2025

"I've heard you need a portfolio to get clients, but what should I include?"

For side hustles, freelancing, and job hunting, a portfolio is your most powerful tool for proving your skills. Even beginners without experience can create compelling portfolios with the right approach.

This guide covers profession-specific portfolio tips, free creation tools, and what makes portfolios stand out from the competition.

Note: Results vary individually. A portfolio increases your chances but doesn't guarantee client acquisition or job offers.

📢広告・PR表記：当サイトは、アフィリエイト広告（成果報酬型広告）を利用しています。このページで紹介しているサービスへのリンクから申し込みがあった場合、当サイトが報酬を受け取ることがあります。これにより、読者の皆さまに追加の費用が発生することはありません。

⚠️収益に関する重要事項：本記事で紹介している収益例は、特定の条件下での事例であり、すべての方に同様の成果を保証するものではありません。収益は個人のスキル、経験、作業時間、市場状況などにより大きく異なります。副業による収入には個人差があり、記載の金額を得られない可能性もあります。

What is a Portfolio? Why Do You Need One?

A portfolio is a visual collection of your skills and work samples. For creatives and tech workers, it's often more important than a resume.

Why Portfolios Matter

1. Show, Don't Tell

"I know Photoshop" is less convincing than showing actual designs. Work samples prove skills better than words.

2. Build Trust

Past work gives clients confidence. Especially important for remote/online work where face-to-face meetings are rare.

3. Stand Out

A polished portfolio differentiates you from competitors. Presentation matters as much as skill.

4. Win More Work

People with portfolios typically have higher success rates on freelance platforms and in job applications.

Who Needs a Portfolio?

Profession Necessity What to Include
Web Designer Essential Website designs, banners, UI mockups
Illustrator Essential Illustrations, style samples
Web Developer Essential Live apps, GitHub repos
Writer Recommended Published articles, writing samples
Video Editor Essential Edited videos, before/after samples
Photographer Essential Photo collections by category

What to Include in Your Portfolio

The right content makes all the difference. Here's what's essential vs. optional:

Essential Elements

1 About You

Name (real or professional alias), profession, specialties, and brief background. Photos increase trust.

Example: "Web designer with 3 years of experience. I specialize in e-commerce and landing pages that drive conversions."

2 Work Samples

The core of your portfolio. Aim for 5-10 quality pieces.

  • * Screenshots or links to work
  • * Project overview (purpose and goals)
  • * Tools/technologies used
  • * Your specific role/contributions
  • * What made it challenging or unique

3 Skills & Tools

List your technical skills. Showing proficiency levels helps.

Design Example

  • * Figma - Expert
  • * Photoshop - Advanced
  • * Illustrator - Intermediate

Developer Example

  • * React - Expert
  • * TypeScript - Advanced
  • * Python - Intermediate

4 Contact Information

Email, social media links, contact form. Make it easy for potential clients to reach you.

Recommended Additions

Project Count & Stats

"100+ projects completed" or "5 ongoing retainer clients" adds credibility through numbers.

Client Testimonials

Past client feedback is powerful social proof. Always ask permission before displaying.

Blog or Content

Technical blog posts or industry commentary showcases expertise and personality.

Pricing Guide

For freelancers, approximate rates make it easier for prospects to inquire.

Certifications & Awards

Relevant certifications or competition wins provide third-party validation.

What NOT to Include

  • * Low-quality work (quality over quantity)
  • * Confidential client details
  • * Exaggerated or false claims
  • * Too much personal information

What If I Have No Experience?

"I don't have any client work yet..." - this is common for beginners. Don't worry. You can still build a compelling portfolio.

5 Ways to Build Experience

1. Create Fictional Projects

Design a website for an imaginary coffee shop or app for a made-up startup. Create work at the same quality level you'd deliver for real clients.

Important: Label these as "concept projects" - never misrepresent fictional work as real client work.

2. Redesign Existing Products

Take a well-known website or app and create your own improved version. Frame it as "What if I redesigned X?"

Example: "Amazon Product Page Redesign Concept" - shows critical thinking and design skills.

3. Help Friends & Family

Offer to create a website for a friend's small business or design social media graphics for a family member. Real projects, even unpaid ones, count as experience.

4. Take Small Freelance Jobs

Accept lower-paying projects on freelance platforms to build up real client work. Reviews and testimonials are valuable.

5. Build Your Own Projects

Make yourself the client. Your portfolio website itself can be a showcase piece. Personal apps or side projects count too.

Remember: Quality beats quantity. 3 polished projects impress more than 10 mediocre ones.

Portfolio Tips by Profession

Web Designers

What to Include

  • * Full website designs (homepage through inner pages)
  • * Landing pages
  • * Banner ads
  • * UI/UX designs

Key Points

  • * Explain your design decisions and reasoning
  • * Show both desktop and mobile versions
  • * Demonstrate range with different styles
  • * Link to Figma prototypes when possible

Web Developers

What to Include

  • * Live deployed applications
  • * GitHub repository links
  • * Technical blog posts

Key Points

  • * Deploy projects so they're accessible
  • * List technologies used (languages, frameworks, databases)
  • * Write clear README files
  • * Explain architecture decisions
  • * Problem-solving projects are particularly valued

Writers

What to Include

  • * Published article links (with permission)
  • * Personal blog posts
  • * Writing samples by niche

Key Points

  • * Clearly state your specialty niches (finance, tech, health, etc.)
  • * Include SEO results if available (rankings, traffic)
  • * Show your rate range
  • * List article types you handle (SEO, interviews, thought leadership)

Video Editors

What to Include

  • * Edited videos (YouTube content, ads, etc.)
  • * Before/after comparisons
  • * Thumbnail designs

Key Points

  • * Create short highlight reels (30-60 seconds)
  • * Showcase specific skills (text effects, transitions, color grading)
  • * List your software (Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, etc.)
  • * Mention typical turnaround times

Illustrators

What to Include

  • * Character illustrations
  • * Background art
  • * Icons and UI elements
  • * Process work (sketches to final)

Key Points

  • * Define your style clearly
  • * Link to social platforms (Twitter/X, ArtStation, Behance)
  • * Include pricing tiers (per character, per scene, etc.)
  • * Feature original work over fan art

Portfolio Creation Tools (Free & Paid)

Free Portfolio Services

Notion

Free Plan

Flexible workspace that can be published as a webpage. Quick to set up with simple portfolios.

Many templates Easy updates Free publishing

Behance

Free

Adobe's creative platform. Popular with designers and illustrators. Upload work and it becomes your portfolio.

Creative community High discoverability Adobe integration

Dribbble

Free Plan

Design-focused social platform. Great for networking and being discovered by international clients.

Global reach Active community

Carrd

Free Plan

Simple one-page website builder. Perfect for quick, clean portfolio landing pages.

One-page focus Very easy Custom domains available

Developer-Specific Tools

GitHub

Free

Essential for developers. Showcase code repositories. GitHub Pages lets you host portfolio sites for free.

Dev.to / Hashnode

Free

Technical blogging platforms. Showcase expertise through written content and tutorials.

Building Your Own

With HTML/CSS/JavaScript skills, you can create a completely custom portfolio.

  • Pros: Total design control, demonstrates technical skills
  • Cons: Time-consuming, requires maintenance
  • Suggested tech: React, Next.js, Astro, WordPress
  • Free hosting: Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages

7 Traits of Winning Portfolios

1 Strong First Impression

You have 3 seconds to capture attention. Lead with your best work and make your specialty immediately clear.

2 Context for Each Piece

Don't just show images. Explain why you made certain decisions, what challenges you solved, and what results were achieved.

3 Clear Specialization

"I do everything" is less compelling than "I specialize in e-commerce websites." Niche down and feature relevant work prominently.

4 Regular Updates

A portfolio with only 3-year-old work raises questions. Add new projects regularly and remove outdated ones.

5 Mobile-Friendly

Many clients browse on phones. Ensure your portfolio looks good on all screen sizes.

6 Easy Contact

Clear contact info in visible locations. If someone is interested but can't figure out how to reach you, that's a lost opportunity.

7 Personality Shows Through

Beyond skills, clients want to know you're someone they'd enjoy working with. Your bio, tone, and even design choices convey personality.

Common Portfolio Mistakes to Avoid

AVOID

Including Everything

50 mediocre projects is worse than 5 excellent ones. Curate ruthlessly.

Fix: Select 5-10 best pieces and provide detailed context for each.

AVOID

No Explanations

Images alone don't communicate your role or thinking process.

Fix: Add project overviews, tools used, challenges solved, and outcomes.

AVOID

Outdated Work Only

If your newest piece is from 5 years ago, clients wonder if you're still active.

Fix: Update at least annually. Add new work, remove dated pieces.

AVOID

Slow Loading

Large unoptimized images cause visitors to leave before seeing your work.

Fix: Compress images (TinyPNG, ImageOptim), use appropriate dimensions.

AVOID

Hidden Contact Info

Interest means nothing if they can't figure out how to reach you.

Fix: Contact info in header and footer. Consider a dedicated contact page with a form.

Summary: Start Building Today

A portfolio is your most powerful tool for proving your worth. It doesn't need to be perfect from day one - create, publish, and improve as you go.

Action Steps for Today

  1. 1. Select 3-5 pieces you want to showcase (create sample projects if needed)
  2. 2. Choose a platform (Notion, Behance, or Carrd for quick starts)
  3. 3. Write your bio and upload work with descriptions

Done is better than perfect. Having a portfolio - any portfolio - puts you ahead of those without one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many projects should I include?

5-10 is ideal. Too many overwhelms visitors; too few doesn't demonstrate range. Focus on quality over quantity.

Can I include work I did for my employer?

Usually requires permission due to confidentiality and IP issues. When in doubt, ask your employer. Alternatively, describe work without sharing specifics: "Built an e-commerce platform handling 10,000+ daily users."

Should I show my face?

Photos increase trust, but they're not mandatory. Illustrated avatars or professional logo alternatives work fine if you prefer privacy.

Do I need a custom domain?

Custom domains (yourname.com) look more professional but aren't essential. Free platform URLs work fine - content matters more than the URL.

How often should I update?

Add new work when completed. Review the entire portfolio every 6-12 months to remove outdated pieces and refresh the design if needed.

Create Your Portfolio and Find Work

Once your portfolio is ready, start looking for opportunities

AI Side Hustle Guide How to Earn with ChatGPT