WordCamp London - 21 March 2015 Once a job is done, all too often it’s onto the next piece of work with just a few cursory screenshots added to your own portfolio as a reminder. You are throwing away a great opportunity. In this talk I will highlight the importance of having a good portfolio of work, both for credibility and as a tool to get more of the work you want in future. Just using images misses out on the really juicy part, the hero’s journey behind the site. I will get you thinking about your portfolio from a marketing perspective to make sure that it’s telling the right story. I’ll provide easy tips and techniques for creating your portfolio content that you can use every time. You really don’t need to be a great writer to be able to produce a great case study story.

1. what story is your
portfolio telling?
Jane Falconer-White
@janefalcwhite
jane@humanmade.co.uk

2. i love a
good story

3. it’s all
about
communication

4. don’t neglect your shop window

5. • magic coach and horses
• beautiful ballgown
• glass slipper
• cinderella at ball
• prince in love
• created happy ending
Fairy godmother services
Project Cinderella
but where is the story?

6. the really juicy bits

8. the hero’s journey story
Joseph Campbell’s mono myth
Image from www.decodingcreativity.com

9. what do you want to do more of?

10. get to know your hero

11. make a connection

12. writing the hero’s journey

13. the ordinary world and status quo
Image : London Underground, BY-NC, Chris Cabot

14. the hero receives the call

15. youyour client
the hero finds the mentor

16. the challenges

17. remote working
tight timescales
working together
plugins
custom development
branding guidelines
data migration
third party integration
data volume
legal constraints
select your
challenges
how do you want to
shine?

18. mini stories
the challenging obstacle
the inspired solution
repeat…

19. the hero overcomes the
challenges
Image Obstacle, BY, The US Army

20. triumph - return with the elixir

21. the ordinary
world
background - who are
they and what do they
do?
the call what were their issues?
the mentor
how did they come
to engage you?
the challenges
technical, environmental
how were they overcome?
sell products & services
promote culture
return with
the elixir outcomes, future plans

22. client testimonials
“they really were
totally amazing!”

23. highlight with headings

24. give your story a
great cover

25. change your own world

26. what do you want to sell more of?
who are you selling to?
tell the hero’s journey
make it look beautiful
get a testimonial

27. a hero can
be anyone
batman - the dark knight rises
Photo credit - my own mini superheroes