Once you have the perfect portfolio, (see here for my blog post about the perfect portfolio) you will need somewhere to put it. Without a website, you will constantly be one step behind illustrators with a significant online presence. Website building can be daunting, but it doesn't need to be! There are other ways to showcase your work, but firstly, I will explain exactly how to get a website that sells.

Website Builders

Tools you can use:

• Wix

• WordPress

• Squarespace

• Websitebuilder

• GoDaddy

• Gator

• Zyro

To be honest, there are hundreds of them; however, my personal favourite is Squarespace. Now I want to express that I am in no way paid to talk about how brilliant Squarespace is. I genuinely just love it. Its beautifully designed, easy to edit, looks professional, and has everything from marketing to analytics. I had no prior knowledge of building a website since I made my first one with Squarespace 4 years ago. There is no coding and no hidden costs. I hugely recommend it to anyone who wants a smart website with all the ideal functions to run a business. It's a lot cheaper than paying someone to do it for you, and it means you have complete control over future changes.

If Squarespace isn't for you, here are the advantages of a few more website builders.

Wix: Wix is cheap and easy to use. It does the job if you just want a page on the internet. I personally don't think it looks nearly as smart as Squarespace; however, it definitely has its place in the world of website design.

WordPress: This is for all my coding friends who want to design a website from scratch. Unlike Squarespace, WordPress gives you unlimited freedom to create the website however you want. It's a good one for any animators who want to do something adventurous with their website.

GoDaddy: Again, a simple website builder similar to Wix; however, if you brought your domain from them, it means an easy transfer to your website.

TIP: It sounds simple, but if you are stuck on ANYTHING around building a website, just research it! Personally, I find YouTube very easy to use and follow. Don't let not knowing to be the reason you don't try.

Choosing and Buying a Domain

While on the subject of domains, this is your next step. I suggest you choose a website builder before purchasing a domain. Not all of them support specific domain purchasing sites. If this part confuses you see your domain as your personal link to your part of the internet. You need it to exist – like a name on a birth certificate. Choose a website that sells secure domains. My personal favourite is GoDaddy or directly through Squarespace. Here are some tips on choosing a good domain.

Keep it short
Keep it simple
Make sure it's easy to remember
Avoid lots of numbers
Try and get a .com address if not get your countries address (for example .co.uk)
Domain names are not case sensitive, so capital letters are irrelevant
Don't pick the same name as a big company or another company in your area

Using your own name is a good idea as an illustrator. If you have a widely used name, you can always add something relevant like Issy Illustrates or Rosie L Designs.

Remember if you are a children’s book illustrator your name will be on the cover of many books. Its recommended to keep it consistent.

Uploading your Portfolio

Portfolios are best kept simple, limited and clean. I find the most compelling portfolios are the ones that contain pictures and pictures only. Then if you want to go into more detail, add another section: for example, I have my 'Books' section where I write all about each book I've worked on and any awards it has won or press it has received. If you are a print designer, you could have a portfolio page consisting of pictures of your work. You could then have another section that shows off your clients and the work you did for them in more detail. If you like, you could have a portfolio of pictures, and each picture could click on more information about the photo.

However, one thing to do is keep it simple and make it easy for people to get back to your work. Remember, your work is the reason people are on your website in the first place.

Next is all about self promotion, if you would like to know how I went from zero clients to make £40,000+ a year read my next blog post.