I’m looking to build my own website with a web-based site builder as they are cheaper than hiring a web designer and I would be able to update it easily myself quickly.
I’m torn between ProSite and Virb. Does anyone have any experience of the two? or could anyone recommend any better ones?
thanks
I’ve never used prosite or virb I’m afraid, although having briefly checked out virb I would say it seems like a decent deal. Although is it one of these sitebuilders that places their own logo on the bottom of your website? That never jives too well with me.
Another option is to try using Wordpress and use a premium theme, hosting it on your own domain. You can modify the theme to make it more unique to you with little website know-how. Often people try to get too fancy with wordpress and they go crazy for plugins and social media icons, best to go for a simple layout. The positives of wordpress are that Google loves it, it creates and organizes content in an easily readable format for Google and so can help with SEO.
Or use Cargo Collective? Or indexhibit? Both super simple and clean website portfolio style CMS’ that put the main focus on your body of work - which is the primary and most important goal of your website.
namecheap.com is a really good place to buy domains, they give you whois protection for free which stops your address and details being published online on the whois database, this may or may not be important to you but may be worth considering.
If you get stuck I’d be happy to offer any tips or advice.
-David
What is the purpose of your website? Portfolio? Use CargoCollective (application link is buried deep in the website under about or something).
The purpose of my website will be for a portfolio, and maybe a blog as well. I’ve also got some pretty specific ideas for my website and would like the scope to add more features.
Don’t get me wrong I think coroflot is great, but I’d really like to build a portfolio that reflects me and what I’m about and doesn’t look like its come from a template.
I don’t think any of us mentioned Coroflot (I don’t like it). Cargo has the ability for you to customize with CSS (a bit annoying I heard from my friend).
Just a caveat:
Portfolio should reflect you through your work and the story you tell. Trying to personalize your portfolio by having a unique web design may ultimately detract from your image if you web/graphic skills aren’t up to scratch. Just be honest with yourself (I haven’t seen your work): do you think you can pull it off, or is your time spent better crafting the story and presentation of your projects. You can always link to a Tumblr that has the same aesthetic (that’s what I do, and it works great).
Just a caveat:
Portfolio should reflect you through your work and the story you tell. Trying to personalize your portfolio by having a unique web design may ultimately detract from your image if you web/graphic skills aren’t up to scratch. Just be honest with yourself (I haven’t seen your work): do you think you can pull it off, or is your time spent better crafting the story and presentation of your projects. You can always link to a Tumblr that has the same aesthetic (that’s what I do, and it works great).
Excellent point by Tarngerine, don’t over-design your website, don’t try and re-invent the wheel. Simple elegant white with large paginated images is always a winner. Put more effort into the story and presentation of your portfolio.
Be sure to add it to the forums too when it’s up and running 
You have both raised a very valid point that I had completely forgotten. And in doing so made my decision much easier. I’ll stick with Behance/Prosite.
thanks for your help,
Ben
i think you have already made up your mind but wix.com is a great DIY site as well, its flash, can be very clean, and very simple to do. i did mine on there and it was very easy. they even offer hosting packages with no adds. check mine out if your interested http://www.thekdino.com
i am in no way afiliated with wix.com, just a happy customer spreading the word
I am happy to generate a cargo collective invite for if you like. PM me.
cargo invites all gone…
For those that are using them, please offer to others too if people are curious and wanting to use the platform.
Go to Settings—>Membership invites (there should be 5 available to send)
R
Thanks to Rachel I got 5 invites to give away.
PM me with your email if you’re interested.
T
If I’m compiling my portfolio and I’m applying for a User Interface Design job, should I actually build and design my own website, rather than use an existing template? I’ve seen some UI designers’ websites which were built in Cargocollective and platforms like that, but I’m not sure whether I can get away with this straight out of college. I wonder whether the interviewers would be more impressed with seeing a website built from scratch straight away, rather than trawl through a website built on an existing platform and then look for custom-made websites.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on this. It would be great if you could tell me whether some ID consultancies would like portfolio websites which were coded by the applicant.
As long as you have good work, it should not be an issue. As long as the website is easy to use, not distracting, and showcases your projects and your skills, anything will work. I code my own because I enjoy it and because I don’t think any existing systems showcase my projects they way I want to.
Dont code your own site unless you’re good at visual/web/graphic design. Most cases, it will probably end up looking like an amateur did it. Nothing wrong with Cargo. Employers don’t care if you used an existing platform if your projects are good.