Choosing the best theme for a freelance portfolio website is not an easy task. Most of the themes you find on the internet look good and tempting. However, some of them are unsuitable to be used on the front page of your freelance portfolio site. Do you want to know why? And how to choose the right theme for your freelance website?
Scroll down, my friend, to learn more…
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Choosing the right WordPress theme for a freelance portfolio can enhance the visual appeal of the portfolio and showcase the freelancer’s skills effectively. |
| Consider the portfolio’s purpose, the target audience, and the necessary features while selecting a theme. |
| Look for a theme that is easy to customize and update and offers good support and documentation. |
| Test the theme’s responsiveness and compatibility with various browsers and devices before finalizing it. |
| Keeping the portfolio simple, organized, and user-friendly can help the freelancer make a lasting impression on potential clients. |
1. A Clean And Simple Layout
This first point might seem like a no-brainer. However, the number of WordPress themes that have cluttered and confused layouts is numerous. When choosing a theme for your freelance portfolio, make sure it has a clean and simple layout that is easy to navigate. There should also be an obvious place for your logo, menu, and contact information so your visitors can easily find what they are looking for.
In addition to having a clean layout, it’s important to have an up-to-date theme design as well. You can tell if the theme is outdated by how modern it looks. Avoid themes that look like they were designed in the early 2000s and choose one that will give your portfolio a professional appearance instead.
Also, make sure the theme you choose works responsively on all devices including mobile phones and tablets. This will ensure that you never lose potential clients because they can’t view your website properly on whatever device they use.
When it comes to showcasing your work as a freelancer, the right WordPress theme can make all the difference. Our guide to the top 10 best WordPress themes for freelancer portfolios can help you make an informed decision and stand out from the competition.
2. Good Portfolio Options
Before investing in a theme, it’s important to check out the portfolio options.
You are going to use your website as a way to showcase your best work, skills, expertise, unique style, and personality. Your website needs to be the representation of who you are and what you can do.
And if you are using WordPress as a platform for your freelance business (which we recommend), then having a nice portfolio page is essential.
Here is one example of what a cool portfolio looks like Freemium Theme – Resume/CV & Portfolio WordPress Theme.
3. Professional Call-To-Action
Once you have your visitors’ attention, you need to direct them. Making sure that your call to action is clear will help your visitors navigate to what they are looking for and turn them into leads.
Make sure that the Call to Action stands out from the rest of the content on your page. Choose a color that contrasts well with the background of your website and make sure it is easy to read. If there is too much going on in one area of your website, even if it looks nice, it can be a turn-off for potential clients as they won’t know where to go or what you want them to do first.
Finally, make sure that the font size and type are chosen in such a way that makes navigation easy for all types of users.
As a web design freelancer, constantly improving your skills and staying up-to-date with industry trends is essential for success. Our article on 22 expert tips to improve your web design freelancing career offers valuable advice and insights from experienced professionals.
4. Social Media Integration
Social media integration is also an important feature in a freelancer theme because of its ability to share, communicate with clients and promote your work.
Social media has become a great tool for any freelancer or business to use as the world has moved increasingly towards using the web to find information, products, and services. It’s no longer enough to just have a website; it needs to be promoted through social media channels so that you can reach more people.
Having social media integrated into your freelance site will allow visitors to share content from your site directly onto their Facebook, Twitter, or other accounts.
This is beneficial for you because it means that if the content from your freelance portfolio/website gets shared by someone on Facebook or Twitter, then all of their friends will see what they’re sharing (increasingly likely since many people don’t read everything that appears on these platforms). This can bring in new visitors from outside sources which could lead them back to your own site where they might hire you for something!
5. SEO Optimization
SEO is an acronym for search engine optimization. It is the process of improving your website performance rankings on various search engines like Google and Bing. A good SEO will boost your website’s ranking and increase the possibility of potential clients or employers visiting your site and hiring you. Some useful plugins to improve SEO are Yoast, All in One SEO Pack, and Google XML Sitemaps.
Yoast plugin helps to create meta tags, including title, description, keywords, and more. You can easily insert this information into each page or post it on your website. This helps search engines to crawl through your pages with ease. All in One SEO Pack provides similar features as well as Google XML Sitemaps which helps search engines index all content on your site.
6. Responsive Design
In this age of technology, we use mobile phones to access the Internet more than ever before, so it’s important that your website is responsive and works on different devices, otherwise, you’ll lose potential customers. A responsive design allows your site to adapt to the device you’re using – desktop, tablet, or mobile – without compromising content or performance.
Starting out as a freelance web designer can be overwhelming, but having a solid foundation of best practices and guidelines can help set you up for success. Check out our 19 rules for starting freelance web design to learn from the experiences of others in the field.
7. Well-Documented
A theme’s documentation is the user manual that comes with a theme. It provides instructions on how to use it. When you buy a restroom scale, for example, the instruction manual will tell you where you need to put batteries and how the device works.
Documentation is important because it saves users from a lot of trouble they could experience while using a theme. Good documentation makes using themes easier, especially for people who are very new in this field and don’t know anything about coding.
For instance, when you buy a car without knowing how to drive it, the seller will provide you with an instruction manual that tells you the parts of the vehicle and how they work together to make it move forward or backward. This is similar to themes’ documentation because they tell users where and what each feature does in order to achieve certain results on their websites.
Freelance web design can be a lucrative and rewarding career, but navigating salaries and rates can be tricky. Our comprehensive ultimate guide to freelance web designer salaries and FAQs can help you understand industry standards and negotiate fair compensation for your work.
8. Speed
Speed is one of the most vital aspects of any website’s performance. If your portfolio site is not loading fast enough, people will not wait for it and leave your site, which can affect your search engine rankings and conversions negatively. Therefore, it is very important to select a freelance portfolio that loads fast on any device so that you don’t lose out on any potential clients or customers due to slow loading speeds.
Maximizing your productivity and output as a freelance web designer is crucial for success and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Our article on how to get the most out of your freelance web design work provides practical tips and strategies to help you stay motivated and efficient.
Final Thought
A freelance theme can give you a good idea of what the theme is like, but it’s important to note that most are not created with professional designers in mind.
Themes designed for freelancers often have more limited functionality and fewer design options than their business counterparts. Whether or not this is an issue for you will depend on your needs as a designer, but it can be worth noting if you’re trying to do some advanced customization on your site.
Having a clean and well-organized design is an important tip for beginners who want to succeed both in business and in their client’s satisfaction. You can also add a portfolio section in your WordPress theme that contains your past projects for your clients to view. This improves the profile skill of freelancer designers, designers, or web designers.
Further Reading
Best WordPress Themes for Freelance Writers: If you’re a freelance writer looking for the perfect WordPress theme to showcase your work, this article offers a variety of options to choose from.
Best WordPress Portfolio Themes: WPBeginner’s list of the best WordPress portfolio themes includes options for creatives of all types, from photographers to designers to writers.
A Freelance Web Design Guide to Choosing a WordPress Theme: This guide offers tips and advice specifically for freelance web designers on how to choose the best WordPress theme for their clients.
FAQs
What are the best WordPress themes for freelance writers?
There are many great WordPress themes for freelance writers to choose from, but some of the most popular include Astra, Divi, and Hemingway. Be sure to look for themes that are easy to navigate and showcase your writing in a visually appealing way.
What should I look for in a WordPress portfolio theme?
When choosing a WordPress portfolio theme, it’s important to look for a design that complements your work and showcases it in the best possible way. Look for themes with customizable layouts, responsive design, and easy-to-use portfolio galleries.
How do I choose the right WordPress theme for my freelance web design clients?
When choosing a WordPress theme for your clients, consider their unique needs and preferences. Look for themes that are flexible and can be customized to meet their specific requirements. Be sure to test the theme’s responsiveness and compatibility with various browsers and devices before finalizing your choice.
Can I change my WordPress theme after my website is already built?
Yes, it’s possible to change your WordPress theme even after your website is already built. However, it’s important to keep in mind that changing your theme can affect your website’s design and functionality, so be sure to test the new theme thoroughly before making it live.
Do I need to purchase a premium WordPress theme for my freelance portfolio?
Not necessarily. While premium WordPress themes often offer more advanced features and customization options, there are plenty of great free themes available as well. Ultimately, the best choice for your freelance portfolio will depend on your individual needs and budget.
Why Do You Need A WordPress Theme For Your Freelance Portfolio?
In today’s world, we can find everything on the internet. This means that when a potential client wants to hire someone for their work or project, they will the first lookup at Google and find out who can do the job.
For this reason, it is important that you have an online presence in order to attract more clients. You don’t have to be an expert web designer or developer to build your own website these days. With WordPress and thousands of WordPress themes available in the market, it has never been easier to create a website without touching any code.
What Should I Keep In Mind When Choosing A WordPress Theme?
WordPress themes are designed to make your content accessible and easy to read. While you may be tempted to go with a flashy theme, keep in mind that good design is all about layout and structure, not just pretty fonts and backgrounds.
Why Is It So Important To Choose The Right WordPress Theme?
Think of your theme as the frame of a painting. It’s what draws your visitor’s attention and organizes the contents of your website. If you don’t have an eye-catching design, it can be hard for people to understand what you’re trying to communicate about yourself.
Can I Change My Theme Later On?
Absolutely! You can change themes at any time, but it’s best to start with something that looks great from the beginning so you don’t have to waste time making changes later on down the line.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.