With the inflow of latest freelancer writers and writing platforms, standing out is essential to touchdown your subsequent writing activity. And what higher means to try this than showcasing your writing portfolio?
As an example, the USA Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reported an over 11 % improve in writers in 2021.
And there are indications these numbers will improve with continued help for digital advertising, self-publishing, and many others.
Whereas this will sign extra competitors for writers, there are nonetheless not sufficient writers for the out there writing jobs.
For one, there are over 31 million small companies within the US that want writers. Add that to the numbers of larger firms and firms, plus on-line writing alternatives, and also you’ll uncover the demand for writers is ever-increasing.
So, if you happen to’re not getting good-paying writing jobs but, it’s time you create a writing portfolio or enhance the one you have already got.
Under, you’ll perceive what writing portfolios are and the steps for creating an efficient one, with examples that will help you get going instantly.
Alright, let’s dive in.
What’s a writing portfolio?
A writing portfolio combines a author’s finest works, or a minimum of the chosen works, in a single place to grant easy accessibility to potential and present employers, followers, college students, readers, or anybody who may request it.
Your freelance writing portfolio saves you from having to compile your work each time somebody asks you for them or inquires about your abilities. It may comprise articles, weblog posts, pattern write-ups, press releases, article submissions, and another work that shows your writing experience.
A portfolio is an important instrument that is useful when advertising your abilities or companies. It’s normally one of many first potential employer’s requests. Any consumer needs to make sure you are able to do their duties, and among the best strategies for checking is wanting on the ones you’ve achieved for others.
Subsequently, a portfolio can open doorways and sell your abilities successfully when achieved proper. It additionally exhibits the purchasers you’ve labored with earlier than. It might be a good suggestion so as to add that submit you probably did for a celeb or the one which’s revealed on a preferred website.
Writing portfolios are sometimes contained on a private weblog or website. Portfolio internet hosting web sites are additionally fairly widespread for anybody who doesn’t personal a weblog. There are different strategies which we’ll get into fairly quickly.
Nevertheless, your portfolio doesn’t have to deal with all of the works you’ve ever achieved. That’s the reason a rigorously hand-picked number of the perfect works will enhance your probabilities in a specific area of interest.
Why each freelance author wants a writing portfolio
Now that you realize what a portfolio is, let’s take a look at the advantages of getting one for your self.
1. To get extra jobs
The last word intention of a contract writing portfolio is that will help you get extra jobs. Portfolios are a traditional requirement for getting jobs, and compiling your writing samples beforehand will put you in a greater place to get one.
That’s as a result of it exhibits you will have expertise and the mandatory experience to get a job achieved. Subsequent time you go job-hunting, you may relaxation assured, understanding you will have a portfolio to name upon instantly.
2. To point out your writing abilities
One of many causes your portfolio helps you get jobs is that it showcases your abilities. When you’ve picked up a talent or two from freelance writing programs and utilized it to your work, potential purchasers can simply discover from the portfolio, particularly if it’s what they’re on the lookout for.
Regardless of the explanations, a web based writing portfolio lets anybody know which kinds of writing you’re snug with or niches you will have expertise in. It additionally places your versatility on show, which might be important for purchasers that want writers to work on a number of niches.
3. To point out your pursuits and likes
Many writers have a specific area of interest they love working in. Some have an interest on this area of interest and actively seek for solely associated jobs. The portfolio might help to speak this straight away.
Directing a possible employer to a portfolio together with your pursuits makes it clear what you’re keen on engaged on, and if it’s associated to what they need, likelihood is high that they might love to rent you. To keep away from showing like a one-trick pony, fluctuate the kinds in your samples, even when the niches are the identical.
4. To market a services or products
Creating a web based writing portfolio additionally will increase your possibilities of advertising a product efficiently. For instance, you’ve written a ebook or have a writing course you’re making an attempt to advertise. A preferred writing portfolio might be fairly useful in selling the service or product to followers.
Since you may embrace a biography in your writing portfolio, it additionally aids with private branding and promotion for something you will have on provide.
5. To observe your accomplishments as a contract author
Writers work on so many duties that it turns into inconceivable to trace each considered one of them. Updating your writing portfolio helps you retain observe of crucial ones whereas protecting them shut for any pressing want.
11 Steps to create your writing portfolio
Creating your on-line writing portfolio is sort of simple if you happen to take note of all of the vital components. Under are the steps you’ll want to take from begin to end.
1. Set clear targets from the beginning
When many individuals resolve they want a writing portfolio, they begin by investing in a site title solely to appreciate some time later they don’t know what to incorporate of their portfolio web page.
As a substitute, begin by outlining the instant and long-term targets you need to obtain.
As an example, a web based portfolio that’s supposed that will help you market your ebook could also be barely completely different from one that you just hope to make use of for a fast job search. Likewise, the copywriting portfolio will even comprise completely different content material from the one you need to use for journalism gigs.
Meaning you need to ask your self some vital questions that will help you make clear your on-line writing portfolio targets.
- Are you making use of for jobs on a contract website?
- Are you making an attempt to develop your freelance writing enterprise?
- Do you plan to make use of the portfolio for educational functions?
- Do you need to rating a job on the native information journalism group?
- Would you like to get observed by that famend creator you want to collaborate with?
Setting targets helps you stay particular and centered. Write it down someplace so you should utilize it to substantiate if you happen to’re nonetheless on observe all through the method. Whereas this will take just a little bit, it’s nicely value each second you set into it.
2. Specify a writing area of interest
One thing else you need to do earlier than leaping in is to specify the area of interest you plan to focus on. You might agree that together with as many niches as potential in your freelance author portfolio exhibits versatility, but it surely additionally depicts an absence of focus.
Displaying potential purchasers that you just’ve labored in lots of niches could ship the message that you just’ve tried your fingers on all of it however can’t provide a lot in a specific area of interest.
Right here’s a state of affairs. Contemplate receiving two portfolios to your B2B content material advertising activity. One has written ten B2B advertising weblog posts, whereas the opposite has achieved twenty on a variety of subjects, from cars to Chinese language recipes.
You’d want the primary one as a result of they’ve proven expertise tightly associated to your area of interest. The latter has solely proven you amount, however nothing suggests they will deal with your job.
So, take out the guesswork for potential purchasers by specializing in a distinct segment.
One other factor that helps with setting targets is wanting on the jobs you’ve achieved earlier than. If most of your jobs fall into the true property area of interest, for example, you will discover it simpler to arrange a associated portfolio in addition to safe actual property gigs.
Observe that some portfolios may mix a number of niches. This works if achieved with care and with deliberation. The hot button is to section every merchandise rigorously and never combine unrelated objects in a piece. It additionally helps to not embrace too many niches.
3. Resolve the place to host your portfolio
Now that we’ve gotten the deliberations out of the best way, let’s get to the enjoyable components. Truly, you continue to must deliberate on this. The place do you host your on-line writing portfolio?
There are a few choices, however we’d classify them into three — your individual author website, portfolio web sites, or storage web sites.
Your website
Internet hosting your portfolio in your website is the best choice. If you have already got a contract author website, many of the work is finished since you simply need to create a brand new web page and dedicate it to the duties you’ve dealt with.
Creating one is a good suggestion if you happen to don’t have a website. First, get a site title via suppliers like Namecheap or GoDaddy, then get internet hosting via Bluehost, WP Engine, or comparable. It is best to use your title if it’s nonetheless out there or add a phrase to it if it’s not.
Portfolio websites
Maybe you’re not able to get a website. Another choice that works nicely is utilizing among the best portfolio websites like Medium, LinkedIn, Clippings.me, Contently, Journo Portfolio, Quiet.ly, Muck Rack, and many others.
These websites allow you to add and publish content material, and every little thing you’ve labored on might be accessed from a single place. Each additionally has its personal type. Whereas some allow you to organize objects like a private website, others solely provide self-publishing alternatives.
Storage websites
The final choice is to make use of cloud storage like Google Drive. This feature permits you to add information with a hyperlink you may share with anybody requesting your portfolio.
Whichever one you select from these choices, you’d have entry to most of what you want to your writing portfolio.
4. Design your writing portfolio rigorously
Portfolio design is one other fascinating facet of establishing your portfolio however watch out as overdoing this half can mar your laborious work. Listed below are some helpful recommendations on portfolio design:
- If you will get the companies of a website designer, a UI/UX designer, or a product designer, go for it. Nothing can beat the work of knowledgeable.
- Preserve it easy as you don’t need to make it tough for potential purchasers to get round your samples. And that is actually not the time to check out these primary graphic design abilities you’ve picked up alongside the best way.
- Be sure that the font is skilled and readable. No Joker, Comedian Sans, or Monotype Corsiva.
- Guarantee there are sufficient areas between traces and use a legible font measurement.
- Steer clear of utilizing too many colours. Two colours are high-quality, however guarantee they’re skilled with the correct quantity of distinction to assist readability. That’s, place a darkish shade on a light-weight background and a light-weight shade on a darkish background.
- Contemplate the association of things in your portfolio. They will both be text-based or image-based. Texts normally work, however pictures may give your portfolio extra life.
- Be sure that to make use of pictures associated to the content material. Use high-quality and royalty-free pictures or create them your self.
- Lastly, think about each cellular and pill customers. Once more, this can be right down to your internet hosting website, so you need to examine it earlier than internet hosting.
5. Overview current writing samples
Now, it’s time to open your writing folder to select samples contributing to your goal. Go to your finest works – they need to be skilled, in-depth, and correctly structured. Put your self within the potential consumer’s sneakers to see which piece would enchantment higher to them.
However wait!
Attributable to copyright points, choosing samples from the duties you’ve carried out might be difficult. You might not be capable of add many of the jobs you labored on as a freelancer as a result of that’s what being a freelancer is — you settle for to relinquish the rights to a chunk you get paid for.
We’ve got an entire information devoted to discussions on including company or in-house jobs to your portfolio. Primarily, you may solely embrace items you will have rights to. Not those you’ve achieved as a part of an company or as a freelancer. When you’re undecided, ask your consumer or boss if you should utilize them.
For the reason that intention is to provide potential employers an concept of what you’re able to, you don’t have to fret about work you don’t have rights to. As a substitute, you should utilize the choices beneath.
6. Write and add visitor posts
Selecting from earlier jobs is clearly for these with expertise, however you may nonetheless be a freelancer with out expertise. You possibly can create your samples by writing visitor posts for notable web sites.
Visitor posts additionally offer you visibility and credibility as a broadcast freelance author. Do a fast search on Google, and also you’ll discover a number of choices you may select from. When you need assistance crafting any subject, think about assistance from AI writing instruments.
7. Write for non-profit organizations
Non-profit organizations additionally current fantastic alternatives to get content material you may add to a portfolio. And there are additionally quite a few organizations on the market searching for volunteer writers. Though you can be providing professional bono companies, these experiences enrich you and your writing portfolio.
8. Embody your biography
Making a portfolio doesn’t finish with including related samples. You possibly can embrace a brief biography, overview, or a author’s enterprise card. This is a chance to provide purchasers just a little extra data that you just really feel will enhance your possibilities of getting employed.
It’s common for individuals so as to add their title, job title, expertise, awards, achievements as a author, social media hyperlinks, and many others. You might also embrace particulars about your abilities, work, or instruments you employ. Simply don’t bore them with an extended write-up.
9. Add consumer testimonials
This usually will get missed, but it surely’s fairly important. When you’ve labored with some employers earlier than, request testimonials from them and add a couple of to your writing portfolio. It can improve the value and present purchasers how good you’re at your work.
10. Add a transparent call-to-action (CTA)
The primary goal of a writing portfolio is to immediate purchasers to rent you. Regardless of how spectacular the portfolio is, including a CTA may give an additional push. Maybe they can not rapidly course of all they only learn or are contemplating one other prospect, seeing an enormous “Contact Me” or “Work With Me” button that goes to your e-mail tackle might help their decision-making.
11. Replace your portfolio often
Your portfolio is stay, but it surely’s vital to maintain issues ticking. So replace it with newer write-ups often as you create extra content material. It can make it easier to develop simply whereas exhibiting purchasers you’re nonetheless lively.
Writing portfolio examples to encourage you
These are examples you should utilize to get a head begin.
Jennifer Fernandez
Jennifer Fernandez is a contract author and editor whose writing pursuits embrace design, journey, and life-style. The portfolio website has three pages devoted to every curiosity and one other because the about web page. This design is simple and consists of content material titles and pictures.
Ann Friedman
Journalist and creator Ann Friedman’s portfolio website is one other stunning instance. However in contrast to Jennifer’s, there are not any pictures. As a substitute, Ann lists every publication with hyperlinks to the pages alongside the date and publishing group.
Francesca Nicasio
Francesca Nicasio’s portfolio has maximized all the mandatory elements talked about above. First, the homepage highlights a few of her achievements and people she’s labored with, plus testimonials. Then, the copywriter’s portfolio options screenshots and hyperlinks to a few of her works.
Rosemary Egbo
This portfolio from Rosemary Egbo, a content material author, was created utilizing Contently’s portfolio internet hosting service. It has knowledgeable job title, social media hyperlinks, and hyperlinks to her samples on Contently and different web sites.
Caitlin Reid
Caitlin Reid’s portfolio was created with Clippings.me, one other portfolio internet hosting website. I like this one as a result of it combines so many issues neatly. It has the title, job title, location, social media hyperlinks, and a short background on the high. It’s the identical level of conciseness on the portfolio objects that encompasses a title, picture, date, and hyperlink.
The writing business is getting more and more aggressive…
And also you want every little thing you will get to spice up your probabilities. A writing portfolio ought to be on the high of the checklist for anybody severe about their writing.
As highlighted above, portfolios serve a few functions and include a number of benefits. It might probably appear difficult to start, however by following the steps highlighted and following a deliberate schedule, it ought to be a breeze.
Bear in mind to regulate your targets all through the method. They are going to make it easier to concentrate on what issues and preserve you going. Additionally, bear in mind to maintain issues easy, and also you’re in your approach to constructing a portfolio that stands out.
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Jessica La is the web optimization lead at Appetiser Australian App Growth with over 3 years within the Tech Business. When she’s not writing content material pushed by knowledge and significant human narratives—she’s on the hunt for the subsequent sci-fi ebook and is totally unapproachable with out having her morning espresso.
Learn extra from Jessica.