Sortfolio Web Designers Directory

Sortfolio is a web designers directory created by 37signals. Web designers can add themselves or their companies to the directory, and those looking for a designer can sort by city and budget.

Adding yourself or your web design company to Sortfolio is quick and easy. A free account allows you to add a company name, logo, budget range, location, link, contact email and a single image that represents your work. The free listing adds you to the main Sortfolio directory, though always below other paid listings, whether viewing all companies or limited by location or budget.

There is one account upgrade option on Sortfolio, which is a pro listing for $99 per month. Pro listings are displayed much larger in the directory, with up to six portfolio images instead of one. They are also always above free Sortfolio listings, with the company logo directly on the listing before clicking through to an individual company. Pro ads are also interactive, allowing for visitors to click through the designs in a listing before viewing a company's page.

Those looking to find web designers on Sortfolio have a few simple search options. Companies in the listing can be limited by location, budget or both. Budget options are ranges, such as $3,000-$10,000 or $25,000-$50,000. Sorting by both allows for a quick look at web designers in a specific area that match a price range, two variables potential clients often consider. Along with that, you can easily see a snapshot of a designer's work, and click through for larger images and contact information.

Contacting someone through Sortfolio is free, so at minimum a free account for a web designer is a no-brainer. It is another way to promote your work, immediately reaching an audience you may not have before. Since Sortfolio is backed by 37signals, it is a popular service with a lot of promotion behind it. While I do not have experience with a paid Sortfolio account, I can see the benefit of the larger, more prominent ads. Sortfolio is also a great way to check out other designers in your area and what they are charging.