A solid business portfolio tells clients what your company is about. As it showcases your abilities, services, products, awards, and references, it also builds credibility and grows your business. Here’s what you should know about creating a dynamic, factual and persuasive business portfolio.
What to Include in Your Business Portfolio
Consider adding the following 12 elements to your comprehensive business portfolio. Of course, you can adjust the information you include based on your specific business.
Biography
Introduce clients to your business so they know where you came from, what you offer and how you can meet their needs. The ideal bio includes these details about your brand and company:
- History and founders
- Leadership and key staff
- Purpose
- Services and products
Mission Statement
Describe what your company does in a clear, concise and succinct mission statement. Consider these mission statement examples.
- Public Broadcasting System (PBS): To create content that educates, informs and inspires.
- The Humane Society: Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty.
- Livestrong: To inspire and empower people affected by cancer.
Company Objectives
Outline the measurable goals, tasks and outcomes your company wants to achieve on the portfolio’s objectives list. When customers read this list, they see what’s important to your company, understand the direction you’re going and determine if they want to do business with you.
Staff
Customers want to know that they’re hiring and working with real people, so include headshots of all your leaders and key staff. Add a short bio of each person, too, that outlines their education, experience and fun facts.
Certification
Feature any professional certification your company or staff members have earned. These documents prove that your company and staff possess essential skills, training and qualifications that make you experts in your field.
Services and Products
Describe the services and products your business provides and tell customers what you offer and what needs you meet. Ideally, you want this section of your portfolio to include as many details as possible, such as:
- Specific services
- Niche services
- Product sizes and dimensions
- Produce colors and materials
- Benefits
In addition to printed descriptions, post videos to show customers your services and products in action.
Images
Because pictures bring your services and products to life and give customers a visual look at your business presentation, post high quality photos in your portfolio gallery. Show before-and-after pictures and photos of your products from all angles and in all the colors to encourage customers to purchase from your company.
Samples
Give customers insight into your work with samples of the services and products you provide. Whether you write web copy, create appsor design buildings, show customers the type, quality and style of your work so they have an idea of the type and quality of work you will do for them.
Accomplishments
Boast about your company’s accomplishments as you showcase your achievements and support your professional reputation. In addition to industry accreditations, add documentation, links and photos of the awards you’ve received, community service projects, initiatives your company has undertaken, and in-person, print or online recognition.
Professional Affiliations
Membership in professional groups gives your business credibility. On your portfolio, outline the organizations, corporations and other groups with whom you’re affiliated or connected.
Testimonials
Ask customers to endorse your business and share their experience working with you or using the products you sell. These testimonials give customers insight into what it will be like when they hire you, and shows them the value of your business.
Contact Information
Tell customers how to contact you. Include your physical and website addresses, telephone and fax numbers, email, and social media profiles. Remember to update this information as soon as anything changes.
Where to Post Your Business Portfolio
After you create your portfolio, prepare online and hard copies. The online version makes it easy for customers to find you when they search for the services and products you provide. This version is also easy to update. Meanwhile, the paper copy provides customers with a sensory experience as they look at, hold and interact with your brand. As a bonus, you make a personal and impactful connection when you physically hand a contact your portfolio folder.
Your business portfolio serves as an overview of your company. Create an effective portfolio when you include this information.
Author – PJ Taei owner of Uscreen.tv
