A new portfolio???
I’m looking for some business advice. My current website is this one. Bramme was a nickname from when I was younger and I chose it as my domainname back when I was 15 or 16. The site didn’t have a lot on it and it certainly didn’t attract much attention. I wasn’t even in the webdeveloping business back then.
However, today I am in that business (at least a bit) and I feel that bramme.net is a little too unprofessional to profile and advertise myself. My clients so far have almost always been Belgian or Dutch and most of them know nothing about the web except that they want a site of their own. However, when they contact me and ask for a portfolio or more information, I have to direct them here, because I have nothing else to show. And that feels kind off awkward. This site isn’t a portfolio, it’s a blog with a portfolio category that stands out a little more. And then some more random stuff.
So I’m thinking of starting up a new portfolio, maybe with a Dutch name and Dutch content to profile myself more around here. And that’s where the thoughts start to go crazy. What about the name? Should I just pick my full name or something fancier? What about the design? I can hardly design, though if I’d like to profile myself as a designer, I’d need one of my own…
Say I do find a suitable domain name and manage to create a good looking template, what about bramme.net? Do I depart from it, giving up the name it’s allready built up and start with something as blog.mydomain.com? Or do I keep it, linking the portfolio to the new site…
As you can see, a lot of questions, a lot of thoughts and no direct answers. That’s why I’m looking for some input from other people. Maybe they have had similar issues in the past, how did they handle it etc.
So if you have anything to say, any comment at all (preferably something useful though), please: do comment!
Filip Jukić said
on Oct 25th, 12:27 pm |
First, about the domain name. The bramme part is ok but I think you should strive for the .com suffix as it’s much more memorable for your clients as it’s kind of a default. If bramme.com is taken, then you should probably think about getting a new domain, probably some varation on your name and surname. Something not too long and it should be memorable.
As for the portfolio, I’d separate the portfolio part from the blog part. It’s up to you if you want to have a blog where you can write about programming or whatever on your new site or here on bramme.net
I have a similar dillema as you so these are only my current thoughts as I have no experience in these matters.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Arvind said
on Oct 31st, 9:26 am |
Dear Bram,
Filip’s got some good advice! If you’re looking to get work online, you should go for a .com extension (bramme.com’s still available), and a local (country domain) extension, written in the local language, not only because you get priority in the local search listings but also to advertise your services in the local language.
If you’re planning to use bramme.net as your portfolio, you can leave the domain as it is:
0. Make sure your website validates thru: validator.w3.org
1. Do go for the local domain & .com extension.
2. Create a couple of colorful sample templates.
2a. Make sure they validate.
2b. Try getting one on csszengarden.com and display it on bramme.net.
3. Display large thumbs of each sample (w3-markup.com/examples (Highlight your services in such a manner) )
4. Show your contact details. It helps prospects contact you easily.
5-10. Regularly visit design sites & blogs and see what’s the latest buzz. Adapt to that.
If you have lots of time, try doing some search optimization. That helps as well.
Wish you the best.
Bramme.net » Promoting yourself as a Designer or a Developer said
on Nov 17th, 12:19 pm |
[...] that need work you love doing? This entire situation relates to one of my previous posts too, about getting a new portfolio. I got some good advice there and made a few decisions since then. I have decided that I’m [...]
scual said
on Nov 24th, 2:57 am |
Hello, I’ll start my business soon and guess what: in Belgium to, but in the french area
If ur clients target are in Belgium, then .be tld and hosting in the same country(or near) is more appropriate for Google and for ur clients, for international targets the .com (5€) is perfect and could redirect to .be. Use “web” in ur .tld name (that gonna help alot) Bramme is easy to remember for the existing clients, the new ones will look after u in Google or something.
Good luck.