Are you a new designer looking to establish a presence online with a design portfolio website? We’re going to take a look at how to set up your own website right from step one, then I’ll offer some tips on how to promote yourself, land exciting client projects and most importantly how to have fun making a living from doing something you love - Designing cool stuff.

Here are few steps:

1) Purchase your domain name and some web space
To have website you have to buy some web space and domain name (yourwebsite.com) My advice - avoid free stuffs.

2. Design your website or simply buy ready-made portfolio theme
If you already imagine your website's design- cool, if you don't how to work with the designs software such as Photoshop or Illustrator, then try to look up for help or visit some tutorial websites. The last option is to buy some ready made design - template.

3. Add your own content to your website
Your website's content must be as simple as possible. Be open with your audience - put some photo of you, write your short bio and add some content that describes your art. Your website will be much more fun if you add some free galleries with photos that would be available to download. Inform your audience with the newest events or plans your up to. This is the way you will engage the audience with you.

Remember to keep your content personal, friendly and fun. The days of boring corporate copy are over. Nowadays people like to get to know the people they’re hiring so type out your page in a casual and conversational way.

More ways to make your website fun:
Blog
Message Board or Forum
On site Auction
On site search
RSS
Testimonials
What's New Page
Tell a friend (send a link)
Vlog (video blog)
Favicons and your own logo design

4. Promote your website
How do you go about getting it seen by the right people? The best piece of advice I can offer is to update your website with quality content. So, if you are writer add more info about the books, as a painter add some info that describes your art etc etc. If you work as a tattoo artist then update your galleries with some new photos. Providing something that people will find useful is the best way to get your name out there as people will naturally share links to your website with their friends.

You might think that giving away your design knowledge for free devalues your work, but in actual fact it’s quite the opposite. Often people will stumble across your projects, info etc like what they see and get in touch to hire you for their project. These potential clients would probably never come across your portfolio work otherwise.

Keep up your design work, constantly update your website with new posts & portfolio pieces. Share your experiences with others and in time you’ll see the rewards. It can take a fair while but don’t give up!