Creating an online portfolio can make or break you. However, you cannot avoid making one, since it is your ticket to landing a dream job, increasing network connections, and boosting your credibility in the market.

To make sure your online portfolio does not fail, follow these five tips:

1. Pay attention to your website design.

Treat your online portfolio like any other kind of website. Let your Internet visitors have a pleasant experience. Make it easy for them to locate certain pages, such as Hire Me or Contact Me. There should not be too much clutter on the page.

Minimize the use of graphics. They reduce the professional look of your own page. Label the different menus or pages properly.

2. Focus on your content.

Your samples or demos are considered the meat of your online portfolio. Thus, take time in choosing or creating them. It is important that you can bring your best foot forward, so to speak. Only bring your best works online and on the front pages.

It is also ideal if you can create diversity in your samples. If you are a website designer, for example, you can include live links to websites that you have produced, along with sample static pages. If you are a writer, direct your potential clients or partners to online magazines, journals, or other writing copies you created.

3. Develop a Hire Me page.

The foremost reason why you have an online portfolio in the first place is you want to have a job. Thus, never forget to dedicate a page and call it Hire Me.

What are the things to place there? First, you need to highlight all your skills and talents. Include any certification, recognition, or citations you received that are in line with your chosen profession. You can also include your educational background.

Write at least few sentences listing all your strengths that you consider as your edge over other online jobseekers in the market. Most of all, add as many contact details as possible, including e-mail address, instant message handles, as well as mobile and landline numbers.

4. Optimize your page.

You can do search engine optimization on your portfolio to ensure that it gets indexed properly. Squeeze in targeted keywords in your domain name, title page, and other parts of your web pages.

You can submit your portfolio to online directories or search engines. Encourage inbound links.

5. Be real.

When you make an online portfolio, you are putting your credibility on the line. You can emphasize but do not exaggerate. It may be too difficult for you to prove the so-called skills you have listed.