How do you build a portfolio website to show your work?

Choose work relevant to the jobs you apply for

You may have good work, but a first-time viewer may not understand what you did. A design image alone does not explain the problem you solved, your role, or your approach. A portfolio helps you tell these things quickly and clearly.

Before building a website, choose work suited to the type of job you want. For content writing, start with samples showing your research and writing. For data analysis, show the question, data, and how you presented the result. Once the content is ready, use a builder to turn text, images, and links into a website, instead of starting with a beautiful design and filling it with whatever work you have.

Tell each project's story

Choose one project and write a short paragraph: what the problem was, what you worked on, and what the result showed. Add a suitable visual example or file. Do not assume visitors will watch long videos to learn your role.

If client details or files cannot be published, show what is permitted or prepare a sample version. Not everything the assistant helped you create belongs at a public link.

Example: a portfolio for people other than designers

Designers are not the only people who need portfolios. A doctor can show before-and-after cases with the patients' consent, a specialist can show workshops they ran, a teacher a sample lesson, and an employee a project where they improved a metric. Each item needs to explain the problem, what you did, and what changed.

Prepare the content and build the portfolio website

You can start with ChatGPT Sites, Gemini Canvas, or Claude Artifacts, depending on availability and the sharing method you need. Upload text, images, work links, and a visual reference if you have one. Ask for a simple page with a short introduction, selected work, and a contact method.

A prompt to start with and adapt to your work

Copy the prompt as it is, or tailor it with your details first.

Tailor the prompt to your workOptional: add your details and the prompt adjusts itself

SpecialtyType of opportunities or clients

View full prompt

Act as a portfolio designer and web developer. I am [specialty], and my goal for the website is [type of opportunities or clients]. Here are my approved work samples, role descriptions, and links, along with a visual reference. Before building, check for missing information and ask about it without inventing achievements or testimonials. Suggest an arrangement that makes my work clear at a glance, then build a version for mobile and desktop. Briefly show each project's goal, my role, and output, and make sure video, links, and contact methods actually work. Explain how to share it and who can access the link, and test the page before delivery.

Before you deliver: state what was built and tested, and what still needs a connection or service.

Test work and contact links on mobile

Open the website on mobile and try playing videos, opening work samples, and making contact. Check that your name and role are clear, the text is readable, and no image or button extends beyond the page. Test the sharing link from a different account based on your intended audience.

Keep a copy of the content, files, and project so you can add work without starting over. The assistant makes building and updating easier, but selecting work, describing it honestly, and removing outdated material are your responsibility.