Planning a personal website: Does my portfolio matter?

[@rubenyoung3852]

I'm re-branding myself, narrowing my focus and re-designing my personal website, which like you, became a cobweb covered ghost town after a while. I loved the old design, but it reflected what clients wanted as opposed to what I wanted to share with clients. This was very helpful, thank you.

[@rezamonochromics9147]

Mr. Ben is changing the ways of agency site like the way Seth Godin changing the modern of marketing, like in the past to getting clients we have to sell & push, but nowadays we have to engage and bond with them, build a relationship, having their emotions. Thanks, Mr. Ben you just delighted me.

[@wise_nut]

You have a gentle spirit… can’t agree more 🤗🙏 my favourite video of Ben is how he used to sell his logo for $50 and now he charges $85k for a project!!!!

[@MatthewEncina]

Mr. Ben Burns, you can redesign my website next. A small price you'll have to pay for that genius idea of a timeline 😅

[@4veragejoe94]

Id love to see a web design course from beginning to end. The processes involved, till the delivery date

[@רוניתשמעוני]

It is a genius idea!!!

[@n8n565]

Never thought of using a timeline before. Love that idea. 💡

[@mrbenburns]

Hahaha I'm so down.

[@AndreaDingbatt]

@@mrbenburns Eeek! Me too, please!! Darn ytube algorithm, didn't tell me that you were here!!! Arrrgh!!

[@noel-forte]

Agree with you 100%: The homepage IS the most challenging. Like others, I'm also in the middle of reworking my website and the homepage is killing me. I don't want to reveal all of my work up front because I feel like that defeats the purpose of a work page, but I also don't want to send people clicking all over the place when they get to the homepage. Love the insights you offer here, can't wait to see where this series goes.

[@larrymannino444]

The timing of this couldn't be better - amazing how, as creatives, we all share common challenges, fears etc. (for me it's how much of my personal writing, photography, videography, conceptual work etc, , should be a part of my site, or separate - and is separate even possible anymore, as 90% of everyone is a google search away?) - I'm more on the writing/brand strategy side, but this is perfect - thank you, and good luck!.

[@victoriagladstone2290]

Wow! It is so inspiring to have a front row seat at the start of this new personal website project by Mr. Ben Burns. I think it’s tremendously helpful that in this first episode we see him engage in “design research” - where he invites members of his audience to help him gain insight into how they view his particular talents and strengths. Then he continues the conversation with trusted advisors who help him understand and pinpoint what purpose the website will solve. There is nothing like watching someone who has such a mastery of his craft embrace a “beginner’s mindset”. LOVE IT!

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks SO much Victoria!! I think the beginner's mindset is the best place to be/stay. I'm a constant learner, and I never want to close that door.

[@muhaiminzulkarnain5628]

What a gem! This series deserves millions of views!

[@DoFurther]

Interesting. I saw myself in a similar situation. I will drop the video to my community.

[@stephaneviau1696]

Building my own website has always been the thing I've dreaded! Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I'm looking forward to seeing more of how you've tackled this and motivates me to just DO IT! 😊

[@mrbenburns]

Hehe thanks Stephane - hope you enjoy the journey

[@CosmicValkyrie]

Shia le Bouf never fails.

[@felixquansah5214]

This content is really needful….designers tend to be shown the end product of amazing designs without understanding why certain decisions were made. This gives us way better value to follow along your thought process. Thank you Ben for doing this 🙏🏽

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks Felix!

[@BackSlash711]

It is an absolute pleasure to see ben in front of the lense again. I agree so much with Victoria at 4:22 You have a very different tone from the rest of the team and we love it. Hopefully we will get to see a lot more of you in future alongside chris. Would love to see stuff from Greg as well!

[@antonysmitherson4949]

Perfect timing. You know what I find really good about this series (so far) is that you really tried to break up each thought you had, each problem you faced and all the conversations with people that brought you to the different stages. This is very different from the typical videos where people just show how it's done and that's it. They never show how they got to that point, even though this is often the most difficult part about any project. Thanks and keep up the series!

[@mrbenburns]

This guy. This guy gets it. That's exactly what I'm going for. We won't spend much time on the design, or on the actual development techniques. It's more about the journey. Getting from A to Z and all the obstacles that pop up in between.

[@crucialvision1]

Ben Burns is like a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly fall night....So satisfying and uplifting.

[@thefutur]

That sounds about right

[@mrbenburns]

Hehe I’ll take it!! Thank you 😊

[@patrickwoodling8752]

That's really deep. I like that!

[@kellvix6715]

When I first watched Ben, for some reason, I thought he was this tough (tough in a bad way), super intimidating(in a good way), and really serious all the time. But lol, turns out, he seems like a cinnamon roll!😊 THANKS FOR THE HELP!!! Edit: Chris seems mor intimidating bow LOLOL!

[@michaeljereld]

This is such a breath of fresh air. Everything Ben spoke about in this video I connected with on so many levels. After changing careers and now diving into the world of creative freelancing, I often struggle with building my own site. I'm starting to learn more about wireframes and sitemaps, which I think will help me the most. But the biggest takeaway I got from the video is how Ben wanted to BE DIFFERENT and break the mold of having a traditional CV/Portfolio website. Despite being new to the industry, there's more to me than just a short summary, a repository of my samples and projects, a blurb about my experience, and contact info. I'm so happy Ben shared so much transparency despite all of his accomplishments. This video provided so much value to me, and I look forward to consuming other content related to this series.

[@mark-victor]

I have neglected my website for a long time, and by chance, I watched the video & I will redesign it in this creative way! Thank you so much for giving me the SPARK to start working on a project that I have killed! Waiting for the next one! & Greetings from Egypt.

[@HiMyNameWaffy]

Currently in the process of designing my own portfolio site. Timing couldn't be more perfect. Thanks!

[@ohyeah2269]

depth and vibes bruh. great video. i been creating my multiple business/freelancing websites the past months/weeks and related with a lot Ben said. Thanks guys. Truely refreshing.

[@iunderstanphotography2780]

I'm a photographer, but i'm sure there is something I can learn. lord knows I need to redesign my site. Gone are the days of just posting pretty pictures, you have to show you can solve problems. I'm with you on this journey

[@onuohaudeagha1255]

It's always an ABSOLUTE pleasure to hear Matthew talk.

[@olamaslyk]

Always great to see more of Mr Ben Burns! This was such a helpful video, as I'm in the midst of creating my website right now. Thank you!

[@thegrantkennedy]

In the process of redesigning my own site and came across this. Super excited. Keep up the great work Ben!

[@scottlewis1530]

I am in a similar stage and really appreciate your candor and willingness to let us witness your process.

[@prakharmathur619]

damn!!!! you got me fired up. It's amazing that we get to see the process and the insides of how you approached this. This will really help inspire others. Great work man, keep it up!! We love you.

[@Britmysta]

Going through the process for myself and coming back to watch this all over again. Thank you, Ben!!

[@nocodekevin]

Your situation is my situation exactly. This is content made for me. My clients are all by referral, nobody even looks at my services and prices or forms or work, they just call me up. So idk, I just put up a splash page while I think about what I wanna do with it. I think I'm doing something like your plan + adding a Stripe billing customer portal. Then next year, focusing on teaching and print on demand to move myself further away from services.

[@EricMoore1000]

Mr. Ben Burns thanks for sharing. You’re the best!

[@MarketingHarry]

I like the approach to ask others for opinion, I mean what a great response and feedback you got from these people. Absolutely inspiring!

[@mrbenburns]

That back and forth really is where the magic happens for me. I like to work with people on stuff and a conversation is worth so much more to me than a solitary brainstorm And thank you!

[@arandomkenyan]

Never bought shares in my life but the day The Futur has an IPO I'm first in line. This channel defines value.

[@youglowjohn]

I share a similar mindset that the nuances of what makes me creative doesn't fit into a box. This was helpful in helping shift my thinking of how to approach the revamping of my portfolio!

[@wiliamelomaloma5990]

Great job Ben, been following you guys for a long time and I'm really happy you are moving forward. We are with you and happy to see you growing .

[@designbymix]

Thank you so much for sharing this process. Ben Burns, you are amazing! Looking forward to watch the next episode.

[@rts3]

This is super timely. Really appreciate the behind-the-scenes and existential questions your wrestling with. While the struggle is always part of the process, it's still a struggle. Hearing you process these things, reveal your thought process, and reach out for help from your community is incredibly encouraging. Looking forward to the next one.

[@hemaldesai81]

I am so pumped, I am in middle of reinventing myself and business this gives a unique idea to explore. Thanks for sharing your process.

[@Konguitto]

Followed the whole process over the Twitch streams while working on my forever unfinished portfolio site, too. I feel very much part of all of this, Mr.Ben Burns. 🔥 🙌🏽 Such a great experience! Felt like an online Coworking space ✨

[@Konguitto]

Followed the whole process over the Twitch streams while working on my forever unfinished portfolio site, too. I feel very much part of all of this, Mr.Ben Burns. 🔥 🙌🏽

[@Gamix3ON]

just started designing and building a new personal website, thank you for the inspiration!

[@thiagohigashi8242]

Fantastic Ben. Brazilian Futur fan here. Doing exactly the same for a client here. So good to see your process, very helpful! Thanks for the content!

[@Honorou]

This video and series is the healthiest food for my brain right now, because I am also trying to make my own website this summer (but in Wordpress, because I know nothing al all about Webflow and I'm a complete beginner), so all these ideas and roadmaps are extremely useful! Thank you very much for making this and good luck on creating the best website to suit you, Ben! :D

[@3dcre8r]

So helpful. This is something I'm currently planning. Re-defining who am I as an artist feels like starting over so late in the game. But never too late. Taking notes on your journey!

[@Spiritofabrand]

Freakin awesome. Documenting it, sharing the actual process, the real connections and the fact that even individual projects take collaboration -its tricky but the results speak for themselves. Great content! I hope the team sees the true potential in this kind of series. Super excited to see the rest of the show.

[@felicityevans6754]

This was exactly what I needed to hear and see today. You inspired me to rethink not only my own website (which I have had only as a 'necessity' for 10 years!) but also the focus for my 13 year old business! Can't wait for the next instalment.

[@csommer7846]

Very helpful! I am just about to graduate from college with my AA in graphic design and my AA in user-centered design so designing my own personal website is something that's been on my mind lately. Looking forward to this series!

[@hunterssbm]

Literally started planning my website yesterday. Huge fan of the streams, been a big inspiration

[@frostomega]

Awesome Ben! Excited about this new series and love how transparent you are being about the process

[@cariasphoto]

I’ve just been going through my hard drives today to update my portfolio so this couldn’t be better timing!

[@user-ww5tv1in9u]

T•e•x•t. M•e. ✓ +1•7•5•7•9•5•2•6•3•8•9

[@mrbenburns]

Hope the hard drive excavation went well!

[@luissegovia8490]

Currently updating my personal site too! Looking to start my own freelance business outside of my full-time job, can't wait to follow these videos!

[@freewi11]

Man, thanks for this video. I've been stuck for years with my portfolio, now I feel I can move on.

[@rosslindsay4061]

Thanks Mr Ben Burns, you've given me a kick in the ass to sort mine out too, took it down a few YEARS ago and it just needs done!!! WARRR CRYYYYY AGGGGGGGHHHHHHH lol

[@mrbenburns]

Haha yea I’m in the same boat

[@dskpm8]

This is a good motivation/reminder to rework my website... that I've pushed off for years.

[@KristinaAlbrecht]

You can't even begin to realize what perfect timing this is for me, as I've decided to rebrand/revisit my own site and portfolio. Looking forward to more!!! (plus it helps a ton to see your process since I'm not a web designer by trade, but an illustrator)

[@ivansimic3065]

I am currently reading Janda's book, and it is a must for any person looking to advance themselves in creative industry... I love how you connect the things that are in the book to this video! A great one, looking foward to the rest of the series.

[@Angelblive]

Really enjoyed this never watched anything in how to approach the design of a website but the thoughtfulness and the process was really cool to watch!

[@mohammadsojib6888]

Oh man! Now i'm fully pumped to update my portfolio website.

[@ItsDysia]

as a chef turned designer thats an amazing perspective,

[@lisaj5728]

I LOVE THE PREMISE OF THIS SERIES. THANK YOU.

[@gmpixel9336]

Ben's series are always awesome... Instant like!

[@guylaineregimbald2914]

Awesome video. You’re showing that we’re going through the same things. While providing good process, and show the you and your values. Will keep watching to see the end game that you’ll be thrilled with.

[@leeyungtyng]

This resonated a lot. How timely this showed on my feed, and I kept nodding to every part of your story and process. Just in the past week, I rebuilt my website for the first time in 4 years 😅, after also arriving at a similar conclusion of not putting past work at the forefront. As with finding more examples-Ben, I highly recommend checking out Frank Chimero's websites (portfolio & blog). His simplicity and content have been good benchmarks for me. He also has an elegant rendition of a timeline, close to what Matthew talked about. Won't be surprised if you already knew of him through your research though! It's so interesting to see that as a designer’s journey and career grow, the priorities we have and stories to share evolve so much. Will be following this series closely, and thank you for producing it 🙏

[@marcos-rodriguez]

Having a good portfolio site matters! It can be the difference between the client choosing you or the next guy. The client can see your best work and imagines you can do the same for them. Also huge tip is to get professional photos of yourself for your website. It makes you look like your successful and experienced. Words from past clients of mine.

[@mrbenburns]

Great tip Marcos. And absolutely - if you’re after clients, your work should be front and center

[@PavilionPlus]

Just watching by the intro, I already know I’ll like the video!

[@elishscott]

DOPE INTRO! Yet another exciting series from The Futur. Odin is with us lol

[@harmfull1]

Can't wait for the next episode! Salute! Mr. Burns!

[@carlkho3338]

Dreading to build my portfolio too. Man, what an amazing trigger. *Break the mold!*

[@iams298]

Perfect timing!! I redesigned my portfolio over and over again for the last 5 weeks and never finished it 😩

[@Cs2GamiNG]

That's such a valuable video. Thanks for showing us what's going behind the scene.

[@kshitijmerugu4348]

This is great! I've just started on my own website and portfolio. Watching your process will definitely help me ALOT!! Looking forward to an awesome personal website! Thanks for such great hands-on content!

[@Tjeerth]

Looking forward to accompanying you on the journey! A big thank you for putting in the extra effort to document things so professionally. You're lifting the bar for online education into the stratosphere!!

[@davisdesigns1153]

Are you even a true designer if you don't have an existential crisis every once and a while

[@hannahmayo6582]

Omg so true 😭😂

[@abhayrohit]

Yeah, Like Working 6 Months on your Website and at the end feeling like you have too strong a skilllset now and end up discarding all the work

[@rudrav1sual]

I love this guy for the intro itself.

[@lydiawere]

It's indeed a process. thanks for sharing mr B

[@colinkirbymarketing]

Very timely. I'm planning my new website right now!

[@mrbenburns]

Excellent! Best of luck Colin

[@colinkirbymarketing]

@@mrbenburns The more I plan, the luckier I get!

[@frankie_44]

Congrats on the release of this new web series Ben and big thumbs up for streaming a lot of your process on Twitch! :) Super excited for this!

[@superchargecoach]

I really enjoyed this video as I am continually doing something to improve, upgrade, and accent my personal website. I am also working on my business website and capturing those nuances that are important. Hearing how you went about the process helped give me more focus and breaking down the goals of the site. Thanks Ben!!

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks Emily! Glad it helped a little. Sometimes I wish the process looked a little more magical, but honestly, lists are where it’s at. Who are the users? What do they want to accomplish? What do they need? Then you make sure the site handles those jobs. Simple, effective.

[@twerkyfingers]

We love Matthew Encina!!

[@thejoshloh]

Awesome episode! I've been following you on your livestreams and it has been really inspirational. Thanks so much look forward to seeing you on the next livestream!

[@KaalKhatri]

eyyy this is what i'm talking about. been missing some content from Ben

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks Kaal- great to see you in the comments!

[@CreateGreg]

Love the personal vibe of this story. Great video guys and thanks Ben for sharing your "creative struggle" 👍

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks Greg!

[@katscandance]

This is showing much time and effort and planning goes into building a website! i was bored the other day and thought id try out building a portfolio website for myself. and man..it was rough. no real planning or strategy made it so i didnt know where to start or constantly making mistakes or changes

[@riverolson2989]

Building a brand was my favorite Futur series in large part because of you. I love the way you communicate your process, ideas, and opinions. I'm building a new portfolio site now so this couldn't have come at a better time for me :D

[@apilbhattarai4339]

I was creating my first personal website and had almost finished but this video made me rethink now.

[@mrbenburns]

Oh no! If you’re almost done, see it through - there can always be a round two :)

[@apilbhattarai4339]

Thanks :) There wilk always be room for improvement.

[@italoruz]

Esto es loco, no se si llamarlo sinergia o alineación, justo estaba planeando como ajustar y replantear mi sitio web y me encuentro con este video. Creo que te acompañare en este viaje Ben. Gracias por compartir.

[@n8n565]

Amazing 1st episode, looking forward to the rest of this series 👏

[@Abhishek.Saini28]

Yes, Mr Ben Burns, we want to hear you.

[@christianeholden]

Actually really liked that you as one of the Futur team is showing us your journey to your website. Can so relate to something not feeling right, late nights to getting ideas from running. I thought it was just me struggling working on my own website, tricky to identify patterns of myself 😂to I also liked Matthew's idea of a time line. I now got the itch to redesign mine again 😂

[@anhphan2047]

Love the series Ben. Keep doing the good work 🙏🔥🔥🔥

[@AD-um9kc]

Ben! Yes, I really am interested in this content, your process, your insights. Actually, everything you produce is fantastic and filled will really useful content. Thank you!!

[@mistergeko]

Mr. Ben Burns! This video is pure gold. You just inspired me on so many levels with the storytelling here! One day I will return to this comment and share where I am compared to where I was right now 😱😎😂

[@jmcarlzon]

and we love you Mr Ben Burns! This is looking amazing.

[@BrunoPozo4Real]

Im so pumped for this, thank you for all the wonderful advice from the futur team :)

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks Bruno :)

[@Hello2U4s0e4r]

Just started rebuilding my own brand. This was perfect timing!

[@MarquellePowerMusic]

Hey, glad to see you back at it! This was a good video to get some insight on how to approach website building. Thank you for sharing!

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks Marquelle!

[@TheDanilampis]

Fantastic Ben! I’m exactly in the same path, I’m not interested in new clients but in interactive and no-performative personal website. Thank you and looking forward to see the rest of the series! Cheers, Danila

[@mrbenburns]

It’s a weird place to be in. So much freedom. The sandbox is huge lol. Thanks Danila!

[@mgurney88]

👍 Loving the intro @benburns, it's great to see your personality show through the video.

[@mrbenburns]

Thanks Michael! Good to see you in the comments

[@anthonyobilor647]

Always great watching you Mr Burns cuz your story and methods are so much like mine.

[@tavirosu25]

Good ideas with the homepage. But I would have both "now" and "then" on the same LP, Homepage. Start with the "Now" even in the hero section. I think people really want to know what's the latest video you uploaded, latest gig, book, tweet even and then have the user scroll down and take them thru memory lane and tell them who you are or just remind them :)

[@mohawkdenhollander5963]

Very inspiring video series! This got me started thinking about myself and what I'm doing if I'm honest. Thank you for the inspiration and motivation!

[@BabblingBuffoon]

Ah man, this is so good. The production is spot on. Keep it coming!

[@erbe_guy]

Bennnnnnnnnn! This is great. Can't wait to see where this all goes.