If you’re an artist, photographer, or digital marketer, showing your best work online is a great way to attract potential customers.
The good news is, you don’t have to have any coding or design skills to create a portfolio website, thanks to platforms like WordPress.
With its user-friendly site editor, you can upload high-quality images and create a visually appealing gallery for the whole world to see.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you the step-by-step guide of portfolio website development with WordPress.
But before we get to that, let’s explore why using WordPress for site creation is in your best interest.
Why Use WordPress for Portfolio Websites?
WordPress allows you to put together an impressive portfolio, easily.
The popular content management system (CMS) is compatible with drag-and-drop builders like Elementor, making it easy to customize layouts and design elements without needing to write code.
This gives you more room to focus on creating compelling content and showcasing your work, rather than getting bogged down in complex technical aspects.
There are also plenty of themes specifically made for online portfolios.
Simply choose a design you like, make some changes to reflect your brand identity, and that’s it.
What’s more, WordPress offers thousands of plugins to enhance your site’s functionality.
You can add features like contact forms, image galleries, project sliders, or even eCommerce features if you sell creative products.
That being said, other people might also employ the same themes and plugins.
So, if you want your portfolio site to truly stand out, you have to hire a WordPress web development company.
By doing so, you’ll be able to request unique designs or specific features not available on other portfolio websites in your industry.
Of course, developing a custom WordPress website is more expensive, but your investment will pay off in the long run.
How to Create a Portfolio Site Using WordPress
If you want to cut down the WordPress website building cost, it’s possible to do it all by yourself.
Here’s how:
1. Choose a WordPress Hosting Provider
There are several reputable web hosting providers that offer managed WordPress hosting plans, like Hostinger, Kinsta, and Cloudways.
In this setup, the web host will handle the backend stuff like server maintenance, security configuration, and software updates.
So, you can focus solely on creating a great looking portfolio site and attract potential customers.
When weighing your options, look for a provider with good uptime records, customer support, free domain registration, and a user-friendly interface for managing your hosting account.
2. Install and Set Up WordPress
Most WordPress hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installer.
Some services even have WordPress pre-installed for your convenience.
After signing up for a hosting plan, access your hosting account and locate the WordPress installation feature.
If your web host doesn’t provide such a feature, you can download the software manually from WordPress.org.
Once installed, you’ll receive login credentials for your WordPress dashboard, which is the backend control panel where you manage your website’s content, settings, and plugins.
To access it, go to this URL: yourdomain.com/wp-admin.
3. Select a WordPress Theme
WordPress offers a vast library of free themes in its official directory.
While premium themes might offer more features and customization options, a well-designed free theme is still sufficient to create a professional-looking portfolio site.
The key here is to look for themes designed specifically for portfolios, as they typically offer functions like customizable layouts, project galleries, and blog integration.
Make sure your chosen theme works flawlessly and looks great on all devices, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Here are some of the best portfolio themes in the WordPress directory:
- Ona Photography: A clean and minimalist theme for freelance photographers and creative studios. Choose from eight style variations and customize the design further as you like.
- PortfolioGrove: Perfect for designers, digital marketers, and anyone who needs a fast and lightweight theme for their portfolio site. It supports plugins like WooCommerce and Contact Form 7, enabling you to showcase your services and connect with prospects.
- OceanWP: A multipurpose theme offering pre-built templates for portfolios, giving you a head start on design and layout. It integrates well with popular page builder plugins like Elementor for further customization.
4. Build Your Portfolio Pages
Instead of cramming everything onto your homepage, dedicate pages specifically for showcasing your work.
To add new pages, head to Pages → Add New Page from your WordPress dashboard.
You can then use a drag-and-drop builder like Elementor to customize each page.
If you offer a wide range of services, consider categorizing projects by type for easier navigation, such as “SEO”, “Graphic Design”, and “Web Development”.
What about those in a narrow niche, like wedding photography? In that case, having one main portfolio page is enough.
For each project, make sure to provide a clear and concise description highlighting the scope of your work, the challenges addressed, and the achieved results.
Also, upload high-quality images to put your photography skills on display.
You can either use the default WordPress media library or install plugins like Smart Slider 3 to display your photos in a slideshow.
5. Optimize and Promote Your Website
While extensive SEO strategies might require paid tools, you can still implement basic optimization practices with plugins like YoastSEO.
This tool helps you optimize your page’s content, meta titles, and meta descriptions with relevant keywords to improve your website’s ranking in search results.
If you’re active on social media, don’t forget to include links to your portfolio site, so your followers can learn more about you and your work.
Once your portfolio site is up and running, track its performance consistently using tools like Google Analytics.
This way, you’ll know which marketing channels bring the most traffic, what pages resonate the most with visitors, and so on.
Conclusion
And there you have it – five easy steps to create a portfolio site using WordPress.
If you’re struggling with the site creation process, our WordPress consultants are always here to help.
We’ve been in the WordPress development industry for over a decade, helping 320+ startups and corporations create a fast-performing and aesthetically pleasing site along the way.
So, whether you merely seek advice or want a dedicated team of developers to build your portfolio, contact us today and we’ll bring your ideas to life.
