How to Create a Freelance Portfolio Website (Step by Step)
Updated: Aug 1
How to create a freelance portfolio website?
This guide shows you how to start your freelance website in 10 minutes or less (without having to join Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Upwork, or any Job boards...).
TABLE OF CONTENT (Click to Navigate)
My Freelance Story
My name is Simon Zaku and I've been able to start a freelance writing service business and grow it to $2,500 monthly with no clients from Freelance sites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Peopleperhour.
When I started, I stayed up all night on Fiverr and Freelancer.com (Peopleperhour was my next favorite) hoping for the next writing client to contact me.
I was editing my freelancer profile hoping it would send clients - it never did!
After about 2 years, I only got a few clients that paid me less than $50 for my writing services.
As a freelance writer, you need to find a way to attract clients rather than go after them.
What's the easiest way?
A freelance portfolio website!
Why Build a Freelance Portfolio Website?
Think about it:
Fiverr has over 830 active freelancers, Upwork also has 18 million while Freelancer.com has about 12 million registered freelancers.
That's a lot of competition!
Build a freelance portfolio website to showcase your freelance skills and expertise to prospective clients.
I Got My First $500 Freelance Client from My Portfolio Website
I started with a “portfolio” site but realized I needed to present myself more as a business owner and niche expert and less like a "freelancer".
I wanted to be able to attract huge freelance clients so I took the time to build a personal brand. And about 2 months in, I landed a $500 per month client.
Getting started with a website is quite easy. The first step is to select a web hosting company.
I recommend Wix, Hostgator, and Bluehost for my web hosting services.
A Webhost is a service or system that allows businesses, individuals, and freelancers to create and manage a website or web page on the Internet.
What hosting service do I recommend? My top 10 web hosting recommendations for freelancers:
How to Create a Freelance Portfolio Website with Hostgator:
Step 1:
To register your hosting plan, head to Hostgator.com and get started. Select your preferred plan.
The “Hatching Plan” at 1 year is recommended for beginners, but if you have the budget and want to get your hosting once and forget, selecting 3 years is cheaper.
Step 2:
Type in your domain name of choice.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is your website's address. This is the text visitors type in the browser URL bar to visit your website.
simonzaku.com is my domain.
You can either register a new domain name right there on Hostgator, or input a domain name you’ve registered elsewhere but, I highly recommend you register a new domain since it’s free and you’re not paying for it.
Step 4:
Create your Username and Security PIN (these don’t have to be fancy because you can always change them later on)
Next, I want you to pay attention to the “Add Additional Services” section.
As a beginner, I recommend you uncheck all the boxes as you will not need any extra services.
Step 5:
Enter your billing info (as you would for any other online purchase like at Amazon or on Netflix), and ensure you’ve read and agreed to Hostgator’s terms of use, then, you can check out your order.
Step 6:
Install a fresh copy of WordPress.org – known as the most easy-to-use and elegant software for blogging and simple websites powering all of my websites including my main website, simonzaku.com.
After making your order, it is time to check your inbox for an email with the subject line: “HostGator.com Your Account Info” which contains three vital pieces of information:
- Username
- Password (can change this later on if you want)
- Control Panel Link
Step 7:
Click on the Control Panel link in the email, and you’ll be taken to the HostGator control panel or cPanel.
You’re making great, great, progress!
Step 8:
The next thing is to install WordPress.
Installing WordPress
Hostgator offers various ways to install WordPress on its server. But here’s the simplest way I’ve found:
On your control panel, scroll down and choose “Quick Install”.
Click on the cPanel login link to log in and access your HostGator portal.
On your portal dashboard, click on “Install WordPress”.
Select your domain (the address you initially picked during setup) and click NEXT.
Fill in your website details and click the INSTALL button.
Pick a theme for your new freelance website.
You should receive an email with your login details. And your website should be live at thedomainyoupicked/wp-admin/.
Mine is simonzaku.com/wp-admin/.
Step 9:
To access your WordPress dashboard, use your unique WordPress link and log in.
The sidebar displays a list of features, plugins, and customizations that you can do with your newly created website.
On the menu, you’ll see an option called “Appearance” - Hover over it and select “Themes”.
You’ll be taken to your unique Themes page. You can search, find, activate, and customize your themes. Click the “Add New” button.
You can upload themes (zip file) or search for templates in your WordPress dashboard.
Scroll down to find the template that best suits your brand and then you can customize it to your specific needs.
Your WordPress website should be live when you go to yourdomain.com.
Are you excited to start getting people to email you to work with you?
Step 10:
That is cool but before you get too excited about attracting clients and demanding your rightful cash.
But here’s the bitter truth:
“Except you have a proven system on the ground, you WILL NEVER GET ANY CLIENTS”
And you might probably end up giving up!
When I began as a new freelancer, no one EVER contacted me!
I NEVER got any clients until I figured I needed a system that would bring in clients on autopilot.
Your website can only work when there’s a laid-down system that works.
Follow my blog for actionable updates as a freelancer.
For now, remember to stay safe. And NEVER forget that YOU are just 1 client away from turning your life around!
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