Tips for Creating a Professional Website

Tired of employers not seeing your value? The "Portfolio Strategy" will fix that (in 7 simple steps): [Context] Companies hire people for one reason: They believe they'll bring the most value to the role. Resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn are traditional ways to illustrating that value. But they're not the best. If you're struggling to see results with them? You need a portfolio. 1. Choose Your Platform First, choose the place where you'll host your content. I recommend a place that: - Allows you to create the way you want - Maximizes your visibility If you're job searching, it's tough to beat LinkedIn. Medium is another solid option. 2. Identify Your Target Companies Next, brainstorm your list of target companies. You're going to be researching them and creating value that's directly tied to their goals, challenges, and vision. I recommend starting with 3-5. Bonus points if they're in the same industry. 3. Align Your Projects Start with one company. Research the heck out of it from a high level. Then dive deeper into researching the specific product and team you're targeting. Your goal is to identify: - Goals -Challenges - Initiatives Learn as much as you can about them. 3a. Align Your Projects (Examples) Marketer? Perform site audits and recommend 3 ways for companies to get more leads. Software Engineer? QA your favorite apps / tools to identify bugs or improvements. Graphic Designer? Refresh the branding for your favorite products. 4. Map Out The Process Start with your methodology: Why this company / product? Break down your research, brainstorming, and solution process. Find and include reputable data. Project outcomes / ROI if you can. Finally, make a compelling case. Don’t just summarize, sell! 5. Show Your Work Now turn that process into content! Write up a "case study" showing: - The problem / opportunity - How you identified it - Your solution(s) - How you came up with them - The process for implementing them When it's ready, hit publish! 6. Share Your Work Now your case study is out in the world! First, add it to your LinkedIn featured section. Next, break it down into bite sized pieces of content. Start writing posts around: - Your research process - Your solutions process - Insights you came across - Etc 7. Systematize It This works best when you consistently work at it. Create a daily schedule and commit to it. Before you know it, you’ll have a body of work that includes *real* results and clearly illustrates your value. That’s going to get you hired!

"My work is self-explanatory" is the most common creative portfolio mistake. If you want potential clients to trust you, show them your work process, not just the final result. I recommend choosing your top 5 projects and turning them into case studies. Great case studies share the same five elements as a blockbuster movie: 1. POSTER The thumbnail on your website. It should include: – Visual: Something that will make people click. – Name: The title of your idea, campaign, or project. – Hook: Describe it in one line. 2. ACT I: SETUP Set the scene and explain: – Who was the project for? – Who was the client? – What was the challenge? – Who was the target audience? – Any cultural or professional references people need to know to understand the idea? 3. ACT II: ADVENTURE Show your process: – Insights that led you to your solution. – Sketches. – Mood boards. – Failed attempts. 4. ACT III: RESOLUTION Show your outcome: – The final outcome: copy, visuals, or whatever you created for the brand. – Results: revenue, clicks, views, shares, subscribers, awards, comments. 5. END CREDITS Mention and link to all contributors. If you have any questions about portfolios, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments. I promise to reply to every single one :)

Your website banner occupies 60% of the first fold. Yet only 1 out of 8 websites get it right. This results in: - Higher bounce rate - Difficult product discovery - Lower conversions and revenue In this example, I'll be breaking down 7 essentials of a homepage banner. So you make the most of that real estate. 1. Show your top sellers or top categories in the banner. Take your shoppers into this high converting funnel. Increasing chances of them buying. 2. If you have a sale ongoing, have that as the 1st banner. Show why you are on sale (e.g. Clearance, End of Season). Add an end date to create urgency. 3. Have a short CTA with action verbs. Like 'Shop', 'Explore'. This increase your CTR. 4. Make it clear where the shopper goes to once they click. Like - 'Shop Bestsellers', 'Shop Yoga Mats', avoid a generic 'Shop Now'. 5. Keep your banner copy short. 3-5 words title. 6-10 words sub-copy. Use keywords here that tell product benefits/USPs. 6. Use aspirational images. Have model images or product shots which are done in a setting. That show your brand's personality. 7. If having multiple banners, keep the same image + text layout for all. This keeps them oriented and makes the site look professional. UX/UI practices to remember: - Use colors that go with your branding  - Use a CTA color that stands out - 12px+ font size for sub-copy - 16px+ font size for title - Title in bold   What to avoid: - Taking shoppers to company pages - White images without personality - Low quality, blurred images - Auto-scroll sliders - Heavy images Want to know if your banner is performing? Check your heat maps. If the click through rate is below 5%, you've got a problem. Don't make your banner a missed opportunity.  Keep an eye for these little details. Found this useful? Let me know in the comments.

I've helped 20+ VC-backed startups drive profitable growth. One core element of that is messaging uplifts. If you're a B2B startup, here’s how to nail yours: But first, let’s unpack why startups do such a bad job with their messaging especially on websites. They try to cram everything onto it, thinking it's their most important page. But here's the reality: 🦗 Your homepage gets little traffic initially 🎯 Most visitors land on campaign landing pages instead 🕵️ Those who do visit your homepage are often referrals The solution: Reframe your homepage as a referral and navigation tool. Think of it as a one-page pitch with clear pathways to other crucial information. Here's how to structure it: 1. ABOVE THE FOLD ↳ Value prop headline - benefit led statement (under 10 words) Example: "Pay the world." ↳ 25-word max product description - what the product allows you to do  Example: "Your business and customers can send payments to—and accept payments in—every corner of the world. Instantly." ↳ CTA to "Why us" page TIP: This section gets the most attention. Make it count! 2. JUST UNDER THE FOLD ↳ Social proof (customer logos, ratings, press coverage) ↳ CTA to case studies WHY: Build trust quickly with recognizable names and success stories. 3. FURTHER DOWN ↳ 3 lead benefits (not features!) ↳ Key product distinctive capabilities  ↳ CTA to product page REMEMBER: Benefits solve problems. Features are just tools. 4. WRAP UP ↳ Final CTA (e.g., book a demo) PRO TIP: Make this CTA stand out. It's your last chance to convert! This blueprint helps your homepage quickly answer: ↳ What do you do? ↳ Who do you serve? ↳ Why should they care? Key components to include: 🎯 Clear value proposition 🤝 Social proof  💡 Benefits and capabilities  🧭 Intuitive navigation If you follow the above plan, you should get a vastly superior UI/UX and double-digit growth in conversions. What's your biggest homepage challenge? AMA in the comments 👇

Your portfolio case study can make or break your chances of landing your dream UX job. Here’s how to create a standout case study: 1/ Choose the Right Project Select a project that showcases your skills and impact. This is not the time to be modest. What project demonstrates your problem-solving abilities and creativity? 2/ Tell a Compelling Story Start with the problem and your approach to solving it. Structure your story to keep the reader engaged. What was the challenge? How did you tackle it? 3/ Show Your Process Detail your design process from research to final solution. Include sketches, wireframes, and iterations. What methods did you use? Why did you choose them? 4/ Highlight User and Business Outcomes Focus on the results your design achieved. Use metrics and testimonials if possible. What impact did your work have on users and the business? 5/ Keep It Concise and Visual Avoid lengthy text blocks. Use visuals to support your narrative. How can you make your case study easy to scan and understand? 6/ Reflect on Your Learnings Share what you learned from the project. Be honest about what went well and what didn’t. How did this project help you grow as a designer? 7/ Optimize for Your Audience Tailor your case study to your ideal role and company. Highlight skills and experiences that match their needs. What will resonate most with the hiring managers? 8/ Get Feedback Ask peers or mentors to review your case study. Incorporate their suggestions for improvement. What can you refine to make your case study even stronger? 9/ Keep It Updated Regularly update your case studies with new projects and insights. Stay current to reflect your latest skills and experiences. What new projects can you add to showcase your growth? ----- And that’s how to create a standout portfolio case study. I hope this helps!

Boost your job prospects with this little-known portfolio hack for interviews- Most designers only showcase their best work in their portfolio. But what if I told you that showing your rejected designs could make you stand out even more? A while back, I started including scrapped concepts, failed iterations, and designs that never saw the light of day in my portfolio—explaining why they didn’t make the cut and what I learned from them. The result? More conversations. More interview invites. More interest. Here’s why it works: 📌 It shows real design thinking – Employers don’t just want pretty screens; they want to see how you solve problems, adapt to constraints, and iterate. 📌 It proves you can pivot – Not all ideas survive. Demonstrating how you handled stakeholder feedback, business shifts, or usability issues shows that you think beyond aesthetics. 📌 It humanises you – Every designer has work that got killed. But owning it and showing your growth from it makes you relatable—and hireable. 📌 It sets you apart – 99% of portfolios are polished case studies. The 1% that show raw process and real-world challenges? Those get remembered. 💡 Try this: Dig into your archives. Find 2-3 designs that got scrapped, explain what went wrong, and what you’d do differently today. Put them in your portfolio under a section called 🔥“The ones that didn't make it..."🔥 Every hiring manager who visits your portfolio will click on that link. It’s way past intriguing, it shows depth, and it gives them a story arc—proving that your final work wasn’t just luck, but the result of real iteration and problem-solving. Got your own portfolio hacks? Drop them in the comments below and let’s help each other out 🚀👇 👍

"I want to make a website like yours. How should I start?" A young teen asked me this some weeks back. I opened my laptop, went to divyathakur.me, and walked him through the unglamorous but real steps that built it. The posts, research, and all. 1. Know your site’s true purpose Mine started as a place to document my Behavioural Science PhD journey and EdTech research. Now it also archives my invited talks like “Learning by Doing” for UGC-MMTTC and Design Thinking at SVKM’s UPG. The clarity? It’s for educators, researchers, and the curious. 2. Pick a platform, but keep it light I use WordPress with a fast, minimal theme. No clutter just enough plugins to track engagement (Google Search Console) and keep it running smoothly. 3. Solve problems, don’t chase keywords My post on “Make Your First Move Count: Crafting Abstracts that Win Reviewers” ranks well not because I stuffed keywords, but because it gave researchers a tangible before/after example with my own MOOC abstracts as proof. https://lnkd.in/dA7ckAxq 4. Think mobile-first When someone lands on my CalculateMyDahej.xyz blog, it loads instantly, images are compressed, and menus are thumb-friendly. If your site can’t do that, you’ve lost them. https://lnkd.in/dg3nA3wg 5. Design with kindness My Invited Talks page has clear dates, topics, and links to slides — no hunting required. The “About” section is short enough to read in an elevator ride. 6. Give value to get traffic Sharing my post “Why Awarapan Still Has My Heart” in a storytelling group brought in 2x more traffic than any SEO tweak. Collaborations, reposts, and community sharing drive far more visits than passive hope. https://lnkd.in/dRhghWA2 7. Treat updates like brushing your teeth 👉 Weekly: Backup + update plugins 👉Monthly: Check top blog analytics (like From Newbie to IIT Insider) and refresh content 👉Quarterly: Test all forms + optimize your most visited pages Content Idea Triggers (Credits: Search Console insights tip) 📌 Google Related Searches: Use 'People also asked' & 'Related searches' for fresh angles. 📌Search Console Insights: Check your site's top and trending queries in Google Search Console Insights and consider creating more related content to strengthen your reach. 📌Google Trends: Track topic popularity. You don’t need to be a coder (I’m from social sciences ✋). You just need to be curious, consistent, and willing to publish what you wish existed when you started. My sandbox is always open: divyathakur.me #WordPressTips #WebsiteDesign #WebsiteStrategy #DigitalPresence #SEO2025 #AcademicBranding #PortfolioTips

Plenty of portfolios are good. A few really stand out. Most just don’t leave a lasting impression. They blur together. Not because the work isn’t good, but because it doesn’t tell a story. Same structure. Same tone. Same safe ideas. No clear point of view. No story. Just a list of projects trying to tick boxes. Your portfolio shouldn’t just show what you’ve done. It should show what you believe, how you think and where you’re going. Building a standout portfolio is hard work. You’ve already started. Now shape it with intent. Start with a strong structure for each project. Set the scene, the challenge and how did your idea solve it? Make it clear, fast. Nail the idea in a single, strong image or slide. Draw people in. What makes it original? Lead with that. Show it holds up. Prove the idea works in gnarly situations, not just the best-case one. Show it flex. Demonstrate how the idea works in new or unexpected contexts. Make it matter. Why does this connect with the people it’s for? Show what’s next. Could it grow? Evolve? Where could it go? Keep it tight. Cut anything that doesn’t help. Less, but better. Name it well. A strong name for ideas gives character and makes it sticky. Be honest. Lead with work you believe in. End with something clear. Finish each project with a simple insight. Why it mattered. What changed. What you learned. Each project tells its own story. Now connect them. Your portfolio should guide people through your work clearly and intentionally. Use everyday language. Not design terms. Would someone outside your industry understand it? Don’t just show final results. Show how you got there. Let people see your process, your thinking and your contribution. If the work made an impact, show that too. Be clear about collaboration. What was your role? What did you bring? Get the basics right. Make sure your site is fast, easy to navigate and works well on mobile. No broken links. No confusing formats. No distractions from the work. If time’s been tight, prioritise what matters most. Create the kind of work you want to be hired for. Work that shows your intent, not just your output. If you haven’t made the kind of work you love yet, start now. Don’t wait for permission. Make it yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours. Remember, your portfolio is a work in progress. Keep refining it as you grow. Look at what others are doing. Spot what works and what fades into the background. Learn from both. Then find your own approach. What would make someone choose you? Be honest about what you’re showing and proud of what you choose to share. That’s your real brief. 🤝

Most UX portfolios are dead on arrival. Yes, I said it. Because they all look the same. Dribbble shots. Pixel-perfect mockups. Zero context. Zero story. Zero impact. And guess what? That’s why 90% of designers keep applying… but never get hired. Here’s the truth recruiters don’t tell you 👇 They don’t want pretty screens. They want: - Proof you can solve problems. - Clarity in your process. - To see results, not just designs. So… how do you stand out in this noisy market? You need a UX portfolio that screams value. Not another cookie-cutter PDF. I broke it down into the Anatomy of the Perfect UX Portfolio. 👉 Start with your target role. What position are you aiming for? Product Designer?  UX Researcher?  Interaction Designer? Be crystal clear. 👉 Define what problems you solve. Complex navigation? Poor onboarding? Broken flows? Show them you get it. 👉 Show what hiring managers want to see. Your process. Your problem-solving. Your measurable outcomes. No fluff.  Just substance. 👉 Build around the 5 Portfolio Formats that win jobs: Prove you can fix issues. Share your story & struggles. Show frameworks & decision-making. Real outcomes, real numbers, real feedback. Step-by-step breakdown of how you work. Because hiring managers don’t just hire skills. They hire you. So stop making portfolios that look like portfolios. Start making portfolios that look like proof you can deliver. That’s how you: Land interviews without begging. Turn recruiters into fans. Grow your career. If you’re serious about landing your next UX role… This infographic is your blueprint. PS. Which of these 5 formats do you already use in your portfolio?

Many junior website portfolios fail because of this: (To be clear: I'm referring to websites not slide decks) They read like internal documentation: Sticky notes Personas Wireframes Excessive paragraphs They explain the the entire process. But they forget to sell the work. Senior portfolios? They feel like product marketing. Quick to scan. Heavy on outcomes. Sharp visuals. Clear business value. You don’t need 2,000 words. You need 5 seconds of clarity. Here’s what senior-level portfolios do differently: 1/ Start with the result Don’t make them dig to find impact 2/ Lead with visuals Show the solution before the process 3/ Skip the fluff Only explain what influenced the final result 4/ Make it glanceable Use spacing, hierarchy, and clean formatting 5/ Treat it like a pitch Not a research archive Want to stand out fast? Design your portfolio like you design a product. Consider the actual user. Use clarity, structure, outcomes. That’s what makes people want to talk to you.