Help a prospect answer three questions: can you help someone like me, can I see relevant work, and what happens if I get in touch?
A portfolio can show your craft without explaining how to hire you. A focused link-in-bio page can bridge that gap for people arriving from social posts, an event, or a referral. You are not trying to turn every visitor into a lead. You are helping suitable clients recognize the fit and start a useful conversation.
Name the work you want to be hired for
‘Designer, thinker, maker’ leaves a prospective client to infer what you sell. ‘Brand identities and websites for independent hospitality businesses’ gives them something concrete to assess. Be specific enough to be useful without claiming expertise or availability you do not have.
Add current availability only if you can keep it accurate. A project opening, a service area, or a typical type of engagement can help someone decide whether to inquire. You do not need to publish a fixed price when every project is scoped differently.
A simple first screen
- Brand design for independent cafés and restaurants.
- Identity, menus, and launch websites.
- Tell me about your opening →
Choose evidence that matches the offer
Link to two or three relevant projects, or a focused portfolio page, rather than listing every piece of work you have made. Explain the client’s problem, your role, and what you delivered. Distinguish measured outcomes from design intentions, and use testimonials only with permission.
If you are starting out, a clearly labelled self-initiated project is useful evidence of your thinking. Do not present it as a paid client engagement. The goal is to help a prospect evaluate your approach, not to make your history look larger.
Make the first inquiry easy to understand
Link your main button to an inquiry form, a dedicated contact page, or a booking tool that you already maintain. The destination should repeat the service so visitors know they are in the right place. Explain whether they will receive an email response, a proposal, or an invitation to a call.
Ask only for information you will use to decide the next step. A long questionnaire may be appropriate later, once both sides have established fit. Test your form as a visitor and confirm that submissions reach the inbox or system you actually check.
- Name and a way to reply.
- A short description of the project and desired outcome.
- An approximate timeline.
- A budget range, if it is necessary for your qualification process.
Give people who are not ready a useful option
Some visitors like your work but do not have a project yet. Offer a lower-commitment destination such as a process guide, occasional newsletter, or selected work. Keep it below the main inquiry path so it supports the page’s purpose.
Avoid adding a free download unless you can make it helpful and maintain its delivery. A short, public guide explaining how your projects work can be more useful than a generic checklist hidden behind a form.
Review inquiry quality alongside clicks
Track which inquiries are relevant, how people describe finding you, and whether the project progresses. Link clicks can show interest in a destination, but they do not tell you whether a form was completed or a client was a good fit.
Review the page after a defined period or campaign. If people visit your portfolio but rarely contact you, inspect the offer, evidence, and inquiry destination together. Change one major element at a time and keep notes so you can interpret the next period honestly.