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