You find a gig that feels made for you: You meet all the requirements, and the pay’s decent. You hit “apply,” only to find they want published samples—not Word docs or Google Drive links. And just like that, you're out. You’ve done great work, but have no clean, client-ready way to show it.

This is where so many creatives lose out—not because they’re not good enough, but because clients can’t see that they are.

A strong portfolio changes that.

Let’s talk about why it matters and how to set up one on a budget.

A strong portfolio does more than just show off your skills—it builds trust. It gives potential clients a clear picture of what you’re capable of, how you approach projects, and whether your style fits their needs.

Ka umezoea the “old school” way of applying for jobs online, you’re probably thinking, “Si hio ndio kazi ya CV na cover letter?”

Well, not exactly. Your CV and cover letter tell a client you can do the work. A portfolio shows them you’ve already done it. Big difference! The person who shows their skills will always have an edge over the one who just says they have them.

Hii si theory: We’ve actually seen it play out kwa ground:

A while ago, we caught up with Anne Miltenburg, a brand strategist managing multiple projects worldwide. As someone who regularly hires creatives from around the globe—including Kenya— she knows exactly what makes someone stand out (or get skipped). So naturally, tulikua keen kujua how she decides who to hire. Here’s what she said:

Curious what else she had to say? Check out the full post here:

https://mesh.life/article/h...

And Anne’s not the only one. Most clients and hiring managers use portfolios to see if you’re actually as good as your CV makes you sound. And honestly? I don’t think it’s an unfair hoop to jump through. Anyone can talk a big game. A portfolio backs it up. It’s the difference between saying “I can” and showing “I did.”

You’ve got three options:

1️⃣ Use an existing platform to showcase your work

2️⃣ Showcase your work on a client’s website

3️⃣ Set up your website

To help you decide, wacha tuchambue each option kiasi.

By existing platforms, I’m referring to any platform yenye unaeza create profile ama page na ushow kazi yako. Inaeza kua social platform kama Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, ama online portfolio hosting hubs like Behance and Clippings.me

This is one of the cheapest ways ya ku-showcase portfolio yako. Social platforms are (obviously) free to set up, na portfolio hosting sites ziukua na free tiers. For the latter, you just need to know which platform to choose.

Wondering how a portfolio set up this way might look? Here are examples of successful Kenyan creatives that have taken that route:

https://www.clippings.me/su...

https://dribbble.com/illust...

These are just a few examples to get you inspired. Thousands of Kenyan creators are taking advantage of free and freemium platforms to showcase their work and get hired faster. Many more are using social platforms.

This is something I’ve actually done, and it’s helped me land several gigs (including here on MESH). I’m not sure how it’d work for other types of creative work, but here’s how I did it as a content writer:

I published a few articles on Medium and added those to my clippings.me portfolio. So now nilikua na kitu naeza tumia kusaka kazi. I landed a few gigs, but most of them zilikua ghostwriting arrangements (meaning the articles weren’t published under my name).

A few months down the line, nikapata gig ya editing and rewriting the content on this site: Moving Countries Guide. Nikabonga na client anikubalishe ni-publish under my name. He agreed because that also helped him tick an important SEO checkbox: demonstrating E-E-A-T (which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).

So now, every piece I published was something I could still submit as a sample. Once I had a few articles under my name, I could simply submit this link as my portfolio: https://movingcountries.gui....

Nimeland a lot of work na hii trick, so be sure to give it a try if it fits your line or work. The client has to agree to it, though. Also, understand si permanent solution because client anaeza change mind any time. That’s why I’m thinking of launching my own site very soon, which brings me to option 3…

For most creatives, building a personal website only makes sense after landing a few gigs using the first two methods we’ve discussed.

Why?

Because when you’re just getting started as a creative, priority ukua ku-land any entry-level gig. You probably haven’t made any money yet, so hauna budget ya website. Plus, your body of work might still be small—maybe just one or two samples.

So option 1 or 2 works.

But once uko na a few gigs under your belt, things change. You’ve got more work to show, and you need more control over how that work is presented. Plus, experience imeongezeka, so una-target bigger, better-paying projects.

At that point, investing in a personal website makes sense because:

● You can now afford it. Thanks to the money from your early gigs, a small investment in a site won’t break the bank.

● You have more to showcase. A full portfolio, case studies, testimonials, and even detailed project breakdowns need more space and structure than free platforms offer.

● You're competing at a higher level. For premium clients, a link to your Behance page isn’t always enough. They expect to see a clean, professional website that reflects your brand, personality, and process.

With a good website, you go from “just another freelancer” to a professional who’s intentional, credible, and serious about their work. It makes it easier for clients to trust you and (more importantly) pay you more.

To give you an example of how this works kwa ground, here’s a portfolio website I really like: Creative Kigen. One look at the homepage, and it already positions the site owner as an expert with:

● Testimonials that build trust and credibility

● A snippet with past projects, along with a link to a neatly organized page with more work samples

● A blog where the site owner discusses topics related to their niche, which positions them as an expert in their field (and with that comes the ability to command better rates)

Pretty neat, if you ask me.

So how do you set that up?

The obvious answer is to hire someone or an agency to build one for you. That’s fine if you can afford it. But kama budget inakataa, itabidi u-think outside the box:

Izi ziko kibao, but the most popular ones ukua Wix, Wordpress, na Weebly. You’ll need to spend some time learning the platform you choose, though (there are plenty of tutorials on each on YouTube).

If I had to recommend one free site builder, I’d say Wix. User interface yake (the buttons, navigation, etc.) ni much simpler than WordPress— I’ve tried both. Weebly has good reviews, but I’m not familiar with it; give it a shot if you can.

Keep in mind, when I say “free”, I mean free tier. Izi platform zote ukua na free and paid tiers.

As a creative, your portfolio is your storefront. Just like a well-designed shop window draws people in and shows them what you’ve got, your portfolio gives potential clients a preview of your skills and style before they ever talk to you.

Whether it’s hosted on a free platform like Behance or Clippings.me, your client’s websites, or your own site, make sure it’s easy to browse and hard to ignore.

Start small. Upload what you’ve got. Then improve as you grow.

Oh—and if you’re chasing international gigs, here’s a tip: some platforms hide jobs based on your location. VPN can help you access more opportunities and apply like you're anywhere in the world.

Want to learn how? Check out this guide:

https://mesh.life/article/a...

Bottom line? Don’t just tell people you’re good—show them!