A well-crafted freelance writing portfolio is essential for demonstrating your writing abilities to potential clients and employers.
It serves as a visual resume of your skills, styles, and areas of expertise, making it crucial for building your freelance writing career.
This lesson will guide you through the steps to create a compelling portfolio that stands out in the competitive freelance market.
Step 1: Choose the Right Platform
First, start by figuring out where you want to host your portfolio. Options include:
- Personal websites: Highly customizable and professional.
- Portfolio sites: Platforms like Contently, Journo Portfolio, or ClearVoice offer templates and easy setups.
- Blogging platforms: WordPress, Medium, or Blogger can be used for their simplicity and reach.
When selecting an option, consider your technical skills, budget, and specific needs. Essentially, why do you want to have a portfolio and what purpose will it serve your freelance writing business?
I highly suggest starting a blog and creating a digital portfolio that you own and manage yourself.
When I’m reviewing writers, this is actually the first thing that I look for. If they’ve taken time to set up a portfolio online to market themselves, they’ll probably take pride in their work.
You can do this by starting a simple blog and then adding a portfolio WordPress theme to the site. Go the extra step and make yourself stand out from other candidates.
Step 2: Select Your Best Work
Once you have your portfolio live, hand-select your best work to highlight your expertise but also the range of writing that you’re capable of.
- Diversity: Include a variety of formats such as articles, blog posts, press releases, and white papers.
- Relevance: Choose samples that are relevant to the type of writing jobs you are seeking.
- Quality over quantity: Aim for high-quality pieces that showcase your best writing.
If you’re just starting out and don’t have much to show, consider creating mock-up samples or volunteering to write for local organizations or blogs to build your portfolio.
Step 3: Organize Your Portfolio
Keep in mind that your portfolio should be laid out in a format that makes sense, and so that it is easy to understand and navigate.
I suggest grouping your work by industry, category, or skill. This makes it simple for different types of clients to see your range of work (like I mentioned above) for that industry without having to search through all of your examples.
I also suggest making sure each sample is accessible and easy to read. Each should include a description of the project and how you played a role in it.
Step 4: Include an About Me Page
Most freelancers make a portfolio of their work, but make sure to go above and beyond by providing details about who you are.
When I hire freelancers, I look for their work, but I also look for subtle indications of what it will be like to work with them. An About Me page gives context into your personality and what it might be to work with you.
I suggest summarizing your professional background, areas of expertise, interests, passions, and types of writing you’re not only good at, but enjoy.
Keep it professional but personal enough to give a sense of your personality and work ethic.
You’d be surprised at how just including this section will set you so much farther apart from other freelancers.
Step 5: Update Regularly
Lastly, make sure to keep your portfolio fresh and up-to-date. Clients want to know that you’re in demand and that others re-hire you.
One easy way to show this is by regularly adding new projects or to replace older or less relevant ones.
Doing this is not only a great way to show current work, but also to show that your skill set and areas of expertise evolve with time.
Key Takeaways
Creating a dynamic and effective freelance writing portfolio doesn’t happen overnight but is a crucial step in launching and maintaining a successful freelance career.
By carefully selecting, organizing, and updating your work, you can build a portfolio that captures the attention of potential clients and opens doors to new opportunities.