Web Portfolio Thoughts, Koob Edition

[Koobazaur]

So seeing the recent portfolio thread I figured I'd ask a question of my own!

I currently have my professional portfolio up that I am revamping. It's basically divided into 3 separate sites: cinematography, programming and web design. My goal is to "combine" them into a single site so ALL my professional info is in one place (right now if someone stumbles upon one they have no idea of my other skills, which it's always nice to advertise). I also want to add a Hobby / Blog section where I can put up other stuff - typical rants, maybe some coding tutorials, random photoshops I do/have done (for those who've seen my old site may get an idea), flash animations etc. Not exactly professional showcase material, but something to generate content, work as SEO and be *fun* to do.

So the question is: do I keep them separate, but linked ("view my blog >" and "view my portfolio >") or do I just keep them together as one site (just add a "Blog" link next to the Cinematograhpy / Programming / Web)

* FOR combining:
- If a user stumbles upon my blog they will instantly see my professional skills without having to click "view my portfolio" link (hello SEO)
- There is some content overlap in the areas (for example videos/coding count as both professional and hobby, not sure how to deal with that, but at least I avoid duplication)
- I can keep ALL my shit in one place instead of managing two separate sites

* FOR separating:
- Some of my hobby content may not exactly be pg-13 so either I am going for "that's my e-persona, deal with it" or I need to self-censore
- I can use different CMSes for the two sites (WordPress for blog and my current framework for professional, since it's a pain implementing highly customized page layouts in WP)
- I plan to have my full name and contact info on each page of the portfolio, but I dont necessarily want that visible on the blog. Yes I know I can hide them but it's confusing if it keeps showing up or disappearing between pages


I'm still sorting how I want to manage my content but the basic sitemap is looking like:

- Professional
--- Cinematography
------ Reel
------ Other Film Work
------ Resume
--- Programming
------ Games
------ Applications
------ Resume
--- Web Design
------ Showcase (websites done)
------ Flash
------ Resume

- Hobby
--- Blog (Rants, Gaming, Film, Web, Programming Thoughts etc., not sure if I should keep each category as separate link)
--- Photoshops
--- Flash Animations
--- Photography


One thing I hate is that I have 3 different resumes (albeit the Programming/Web Design can be combined so I am using just one for both), but the formatting and relevant skills are completly different so I cant merge them. Also, since there is some overlap (i.e. professional flash vs. hobby flash) I am also thinking instead of separating my site into "Professional" and "Hobby" if I should just have it all merged into relevant sections (i.e. look at Angry Video Game Nerd and how its both).

Thoughts and considerations welcome.

[RichyCunningham]

I think you should create a Portfolio that represents you and your "titles" so to speak. Like "Web Designer, Director, and Programmer" or whatever.

The big thing is that you want dedicated "sub-portfolio" pages for each of those if you are interested in getting a job in any of those. No one wants to browse around a website until after they find what they're looking for.

I wouldn't really a lot about SEO since I don't know how much business or marketing you can do by people just stumbling upon your website. You have to basically be actively looking for jobs to find a job in any of those 3 categories you listed.

[Koobazaur]

Aye, thats what I am going for, and that's how my site's already set up except there is no "master" nav so if you're in the film part there is no way of knowing I also do web/games stuff.