A freelance writer’s portfolio is a collection of your best work, showcasing your skills, style, and expertise to potential clients or employers. When people search for a specific type of writer, your portfolio is a chance to catch their eye. Likewise, if you’re actively pitching to companies or applying to gigs, having a great portfolio ready to share is always a plus.
But how do you build a writer’s portfolio? What if you don’t have relative work experience to share? These are good questions and ones that I hear from new writers all the time. But don’t worry! I’ve got some freelance writing portfolio tips for you that cover things like the different elements of portfolios, what to include, and a list of portfolio platforms to utilize.
So, read on to learn about how to build a writer’s portfolio.
What Are the Essential Elements of a Great Portfolio?
The essential elements of a great portfolio include the highlights of your best work, a well-organized format, and compelling testimonials showcasing your skills and expertise.
The Highlights: What Writing Samples Should You Showcase?
The best portfolio samples are ones tailored to showcase skills pertinent to your niche. If you’re gunning for a career in tech writing, your portfolio should contain tech-related pieces that speak to your knowledge and expertise in the industry.
If you have a background in cooking and have produced several great pieces on food, cooking, etc., then showcase those and leverage yourself as a subject matter expert.
Basically, ask yourself what kind of writer you really want to be, curate some writing examples in that niche, and include them in your portfolio.
Format: How Should You Present Your Work?
Presentation is the key here. Just like a basic resume, potential employers (or clients) don’t want to review something heavy in text, visuals, or information. Make sure your portfolio is clean, professional, and accessible.
Use bullet points to summarize details. Always highlight the name of the site or company where the example was used. You don’t need to show the full piece, but a sample of it would be great, no longer than a paragraph.
This gives the person a taste of your writing style, and if they’re interested, they’ll click to see more. Oh, that reminds me: whenever possible, include a link to the published work. Basically, organize your work so that it is easy for clients to navigate and appreciate your writing style and scope.
Testimonials: Why Include Testimonials and Case Studies?
Nothing builds trust like a glowing review from past or current clients. Including reviews and testimonials in your portfolio can provide social proof of your abilities and success in real-world projects. If a potential client is pitting you against a couple of other candidates with similar work experience and skills, a glowing review from a past project can tip the scales in your favor.
I always include these at the bottom of my portfolio because I believe that my work should speak for itself FIRST. The testimonials are just a nice bonus at the end to seal the deal.
What Are Some Tips for Building Your Portfolio?
Some tips for building your portfolio, with or without experience, include starting with personal projects, showcasing skills relevant to your desired field, seeking feedback, and volunteering for opportunities to gain practical experience.
Here are some more tips and tricks to use when designing your body of work.
Strategies for New Writers
So, you don’t have a huge successful project under your belt yet. Who cares? Most clients aren’t looking for flashing examples. They’re looking for skills. They want proof that you can do what they want you to do.
- Try writing a few guest posts for blogs and websites.
- Volunteer your writing services and use that work in your portfolio.
- Create pieces that reflect your best skills and publish them on your own blog.
- Utilize sites like Medium, where you can create a platform to write and publish whatever you want.
How to Choose Strong Pieces
Select pieces that clearly align with your ideal client’s needs while also demonstrating your range and depth as a skilled writer. Balance niche specialization with versatility to show that you can handle many different topics and tones. Lastly, don’t shy away from including a passion project or two or unpublished pieces that showcase your creativity and initiative.
Personally, I brand myself as an SME (subject matter expert) in writing, publishing, parenting, gardening, home design, and geek culture. So, I chose samples from those areas that I’ve done over the years.
What Are Some Good Portfolio Platforms?
Websites like LinkedIn are one of the best options because you’d be creating a portfolio in a space that’s designed for professionals. But there are a few different places to set up your body of work. Picking the right platform to host your portfolio can be as crucial as the content itself, and you should choose one that works best for you.
Your Own Website
I think having your own website gives you the ultimate freedom in terms of customization and brand expression. Even though I have my portfolio on other platforms, I love hosting it on my own website, too.
Pros
Cons
- Total control over design
- Establishes a professional brand
- Needs regular maintenance
- Higher costs with hosting and domain registration
- Learning curve
With most personal websites, you also get the ability to integrate with other tools like blogs, contact forms, and multimedia elements to level up your portfolio’s functionality.
This route is perfect for writers who are serious about building a long-term freelance career and want to invest in their professional image.
The cost of all this varies depending on the platform you go with (I use WordPress), domain registration, etc. But you can easily keep these costs as low as $50 per year.
Contently
With Contently, you get a nice, sleek interface designed to help writers showcase their pieces easily with little fuss. That’s what we like to hear!
Pros
Cons
- Super user-friendly
- Built-in traffic flow of potential clients
- Limited in customization
It’s best for freelancers who want a hassle-free setup and are maybe even newer to the freelance world or those mostly seeking writing gigs.
Creating a portfolio is free, but Contently takes a percentage from projects you book through their platform.
LinkedIn isn’t just a networking mecha; it’s also a viable platform for hosting your writing portfolio directly on your profile. I have mine on my website, but I also have a LinkedIn portfolio because I know that’s where most clients and professionals hang out.
Pros
Cons
- Directly integrates your professional experiences with your portfolio
- Job search function
- Clients are already hanging out there
- Ability to also blog
- Not much customization
- Hard to stand out
I’d recommend this route to all writers who want to maintain a strong professional network and leverage connections for freelance opportunities.
LinkedIn is free to use, making it a budget-friendly option for writers just starting out or those who prioritize networking.
What Are the Differences Between Digital vs. Physical Portfolios?
Digital portfolios offer accessibility and easy sharing with a click, allowing for continuous updates and multimedia inclusion. They provide a wide reach but may lack the tactile experience of physical portfolios. On the other hand, physical portfolios are ideal for in-person meetings and local interactions, offering a tangible and engaging presentation.
When to opt for a physical portfolio:
- In-person meetings or interviews
- Dealing with local businesses or clients
Platforms and tools for creating an online portfolio:
- Websites like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix
- Dedicated portfolio platforms like Behance or Dribbble
- Portfolio-building tools such as Adobe Portfolio or Format
How Do You Optimize Your Portfolio for Success?
Here are some things you can do to optimize your portfolio:
- SEO for writers: Implement SEO strategies to make your portfolio more discoverable online. Use common keywords in titles, headings, and descriptions. Properly name all files like videos and images.
- Regular updates: Keep everything fresh and relevant by adding new pieces and pruning older or less relevant ones as you grow in your career.
- Utilizing your portfolio: Actively share your portfolio in pitches, on your social media profiles, and during networking events to enhance your visibility and attract more freelance opportunities. Include a link to it in all your social bios, too.
Are You Ready to Create a Winning Portfolio?
Building and maintaining a great freelance writer portfolio should be a continuous process. Don’t just fill it with your work and forget about it. Treat it like a living piece of work that requires your constant attention. I always recommend writers update their portfolios at least 1-2 times a year, depending on the workload.
I hope my quick guide helped answer your questions about creating a writer’s portfolio! I have so many other great guides and tips for writers (new and seasoned!) right here on our site, so check them out!