11 Steps to Making a Stellar Writing Portfolio in 2023

With the inflow of recent freelancer writers and writing platforms, standing out is essential to touchdown your subsequent writing process. And what higher manner to do this than showcasing your writing portfolio?

As an illustration, the US 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 assist for digital advertising, self-publishing, and so on.

Whereas this may increasingly 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 corporations and companies, 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.

Beneath, 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 greatest works, or no less than 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 include articles, weblog posts, pattern write-ups, press releases, article submissions, and some other work that shows your writing experience.

A portfolio is an important software that is useful when advertising your abilities or providers. It’s often one of many first potential employer’s requests. Any consumer desires to make sure you are able to do their duties, and probably the greatest strategies for checking is trying on the ones you’ve executed for others.

Due to this fact, a portfolio can open doorways and promote your abilities successfully when executed proper. It additionally exhibits the shoppers you’ve labored with earlier than. It might be a good suggestion so as to add that publish you probably did for a celeb or the one which’s printed on a well-liked web site.

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Writing portfolios are sometimes contained on a private weblog or web site. Portfolio internet hosting web sites are additionally fairly frequent 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 executed. That’s the reason a rigorously hand-picked collection of the very best works will enhance your possibilities in a specific area of interest.

Why each freelance author wants a writing portfolio

Now that you realize what a portfolio is, let’s have a look at the advantages of getting one for your self.

1. To get extra jobs

The final word intention of a contract writing portfolio is that will help you get extra jobs. Portfolios are a standard 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 have got expertise and the required experience to get a job executed. Subsequent time you go job-hunting, you possibly can relaxation assured, realizing you have got a portfolio to name upon instantly.

2. To indicate 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 shoppers can simply discover from the portfolio, particularly if it’s what they’re on the lookout for.

No matter the explanations, a web-based writing portfolio lets anybody know which varieties of writing you’re comfy with or niches you have got expertise in. It additionally places your versatility on show, which might be important for shoppers that want writers to work on a number of niches.

3. To indicate 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 will help to speak this straight away.

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Directing a possible employer to a portfolio along with your pursuits makes it clear what you’re keen on engaged on, and if it’s associated to what they need, chances are high excessive that they’d love to rent you. To keep away from showing like a one-trick pony, differ the types 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 probabilities of advertising a product efficiently. For instance, you’ve written a ebook or have a writing course you’re attempting to advertise. A well-liked writing portfolio might be fairly helpful in selling the service or product to followers.

Since you possibly can embrace a biography in your writing portfolio, it additionally aids with private branding and promotion for something you have got on supply.

5. To observe your accomplishments as a contract author

Writers work on so many duties that it turns into not possible to trace each certainly one of them. Updating your writing portfolio helps you retain observe of a very powerful ones whereas conserving them shut for any pressing want.

11 Steps to create your writing portfolio

Creating your on-line writing portfolio is kind of easy if you happen to take note of all of the essential components. Beneath are the steps that you must take from begin to end.

1. Set clear targets from the beginning

When many individuals determine they want a writing portfolio, they begin by investing in a website identify solely to understand some time later they don’t know what to incorporate of their portfolio web page.

As a substitute, begin by outlining the rapid and long-term targets you wish to obtain.

As an illustration, a web-based portfolio that’s supposed that will help you market your ebook could also be barely totally different from one that you just hope to make use of for a fast job search. Likewise, the copywriting portfolio may even include totally different content material from the one you wish to use for journalism gigs.

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Which means you will need to ask your self some essential questions that will help you make clear your on-line writing portfolio targets.

• Are you making use of for jobs on a contract web site?
• Are you attempting to develop your freelance writing enterprise?
• Do you propose to make use of the portfolio for educational functions?
• Do you wish to rating a job on the native information journalism staff?
• Would you like to get observed by that famend creator you want to collaborate with?

Setting targets helps you stay particular and targeted. Write it down someplace so you should use it to substantiate if you happen to’re nonetheless on observe all through the method. Whereas this may increasingly take somewhat bit, it’s effectively price each second you place into it.

2. Specify a writing area of interest

One thing else you must do earlier than leaping in is to specify the area of interest you propose to focus on. It’s possible you’ll agree that together with as many niches as doable in your freelance author portfolio exhibits versatility, nevertheless it additionally depicts a scarcity of focus.

Displaying potential shoppers that you just’ve labored in lots of niches might ship the message that you just’ve tried your fingers on all of it however can’t supply a lot in a specific area of interest.

Right here’s a state of affairs. Contemplate receiving two portfolios in your B2B content material advertising process. One has written ten B2B advertising weblog posts, whereas the opposite has executed twenty on a variety of subjects, from vehicles to Chinese language recipes.

You’d favor 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’ll deal with your job.

So, take out the guesswork for potential shoppers by specializing in a distinct segment.

One other factor that helps with setting targets is trying on the jobs you’ve executed earlier than. If most of your jobs fall into the true property area of interest, as an example, you will discover it simpler to arrange a associated portfolio in addition to safe actual property gigs.

Word that some portfolios may mix a number of niches. This works if executed with care and with deliberation. The secret’s to phase every merchandise rigorously and never combine unrelated gadgets 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. Really, 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 personal author web site, portfolio web sites, or storage web sites.

Your web site

Internet hosting your portfolio in your web site is the best choice. If you have already got a freelance author web site, many of the work is finished since you simply must 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 an internet site. First, get a website identify by suppliers like Namecheap or GoDaddy, then get internet hosting by Bluehost, WP Engine, or comparable. It is best to use your identify 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 an internet site. Another choice that works effectively is utilizing probably the greatest portfolio websites like Medium, LinkedIn, Clippings.me, Contently, Journo Portfolio, Quiet.ly, Muck Rack, and so on.

These websites allow you to add and publish content material, and every little thing you’ve labored on will be accessed from a single place. Each additionally has its personal model. Whereas some allow you to organize gadgets like a private web site, others solely supply self-publishing alternatives.

Storage websites

The final choice is to make use of cloud storage like Google Drive. This feature helps you to add recordsdata with a hyperlink you possibly can share with anybody requesting your portfolio.

Whichever one you select from these choices, you’d have entry to most of what you want in your writing portfolio.

4. Design your writing portfolio rigorously

Portfolio design is one other attention-grabbing facet of organising your portfolio however watch out as overdoing this half can mar your onerous work. Listed here are some helpful tips about portfolio design:

• If you may get the providers of an internet site designer, a UI/UX designer, or a product designer, go for it. Nothing can beat the work of knowledgeable.
• Maintain it easy as you don’t wish to make it troublesome for potential shoppers to get round your samples. And that is actually not the time to check out these fundamental graphic design abilities you’ve picked up alongside the best way.
• Be certain 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.
• Keep away from utilizing too many colours. Two colours are effective, however guarantee they’re skilled with the correct quantity of distinction to help readability. That’s, place a darkish coloration on a light-weight background and a light-weight coloration on a darkish background.
• Contemplate the association of things in your portfolio. They will both be text-based or image-based. Texts often work, however photos may give your portfolio extra life.
• Be certain that to make use of photos associated to the content material. Use high-quality and royalty-free photos or create them your self.
• Lastly, take into account each cell and pill customers. Once more, this can be right down to your internet hosting web site, so you must verify it earlier than internet hosting.

5. Evaluate present writing samples

Now, it’s time to open your writing folder to select samples contributing to your goal. Go in your greatest 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!

Resulting from copyright points, deciding on samples from the duties you’ve carried out will be tough. It’s possible you’ll not have the ability to 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 receives a commission for.

We have now a complete information devoted to discussions on including company or in-house jobs to your portfolio. Basically, you possibly can solely embrace items you have got rights to. Not those you’ve executed as a part of an company or as a freelancer. When you’re unsure, ask your consumer or boss if you should use them.

Because the intention is to provide potential employers an thought 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 use the choices beneath.

6. Write and add visitor posts

Selecting from earlier jobs is clearly for these with expertise, however you possibly can nonetheless be a freelancer with out expertise. You’ll be able to create your samples by writing visitor posts for notable web sites.

Visitor posts additionally offer you visibility and credibility as a printed freelance author. Do a fast search on Google, and also you’ll discover a number of choices you possibly can select from. When you need assistance crafting any subject, take into account the help of AI writing instruments.

7. Write for non-profit organizations

Non-profit organizations additionally current great alternatives to get content material you possibly can add to a portfolio. And there are additionally quite a few organizations on the market looking for volunteer writers. Though you may be providing professional bono providers, these experiences enrich you and your writing portfolio.

8. Embody your biography

Making a portfolio doesn’t finish with including related samples. You’ll be able to embrace a brief biography, overview, or a author’s enterprise card. This is a chance to provide shoppers somewhat extra info that you just really feel will increase your probabilities of getting employed.

It is not uncommon for individuals so as to add their identify, job title, expertise, awards, achievements as a author, social media hyperlinks, and so on. You may additionally embrace particulars about your abilities, work, or instruments you utilize. Simply don’t bore them with an extended write-up.

9. Add consumer testimonials

This usually will get neglected, nevertheless it’s fairly important. When you’ve labored with some employers earlier than, request testimonials from them and add just a few to your writing portfolio. It’s going to improve the worth and present shoppers how good you might be at your work.

10. Add a transparent call-to-action (CTA)

The primary goal of a writing portfolio is to immediate shoppers to rent you. Regardless of how spectacular the portfolio is, including a CTA may give an additional push. Maybe they can’t rapidly course of all they simply learn or are contemplating one other prospect, seeing an enormous “Contact Me” or “Work With Me” button that goes to your e-mail tackle will help their decision-making.

11. Replace your portfolio frequently

Your portfolio is reside, nevertheless it’s essential to maintain issues ticking. So replace it with newer write-ups frequently as you create extra content material. It’s going to allow you to develop simply whereas displaying shoppers you’re nonetheless lively.

Writing portfolio examples to encourage you

These are examples you should use 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 web site has three pages devoted to every curiosity and one other because the about web page. This design is easy and consists of content material titles and pictures.

Ann Friedman

Journalist and creator Ann Friedman’s portfolio web site is one other stunning instance. However in contrast to Jennifer’s, there aren’t any photos. 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 required parts 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 web site. I really like this one as a result of it combines so many issues neatly. It has the identify, job title, location, social media hyperlinks, and a quick background on the high. It’s the identical stage of conciseness on the portfolio gadgets that encompasses a title, picture, date, and hyperlink.

The writing trade is getting more and more aggressive…

And also you want every little thing you may get to spice up your possibilities. A writing portfolio needs to be on the high of the record for anybody severe about their writing.

As highlighted above, portfolios serve a few functions and include a number of benefits. It could actually appear difficult to start, however by following the steps highlighted and following a deliberate schedule, it needs to be a breeze.

Keep in mind to keep watch over your targets all through the method. They may allow you to concentrate on what issues and hold you going. Additionally, keep in mind to maintain issues easy, and also you’re in your method to constructing a portfolio that stands out.

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