What is a Portfolio?
A writing portfolio is a collection of the writer’s written articles/ books, etc..
Let’s put that a Portfolio is like a resume that you show to the employer. It has to be well presented, simple, and easy to navigate.
These days, portfolios of freelance writers are usually represented through links, either from Gdrive, spreadsheets, or website. In the older days, we used to send our sample through Gmail. (Some still do it now)
However, it is easier to market yourself and be easily remembered by clients if you have a website or a link that redirects to your list of sample articles.
Why do we need to have a Portfolio?
-TO ATTRACT CLIENTS. To get more clients and earn big
–TURN YOUR NAME into A BRAND. To build your reputation and be known
-TO SELL YOUR WORKS. A creative mind is vital.
What do I include in my Portfolio?
– Write something about yourself
– Always write in a friendly way
– Compile all the best articles you’ve written
– Mention awards and achievements if you have
– Include certifications
– Put a photo of yourself
– Make sure to proofread and edit your articles
“I just started. I have no articles to put.”
No worries, look for writing jobs with really cheap rates. I started with 2USD for a 500- word article, or you can write sample articles and ask an expert to edit it. Furthermore, ask for advice if you can.
TIPS?
I’m really no PRO, and I just want to help. Moreover, here are the important things you may want to remember while making your portfolio.
1. Make your self-introduction brief, write in a friendly and HUMBLE way.
2. Always remember NOT to put ALL the articles you’ve written. ONLY THE BEST ONES! Clients won’t have enough time to read all your articles, so make sure to put the best one. Choose the best in every category!
3. As a freelance writer who finds clients on Facebook groups, it’s an advantage to have a portfolio. Some clients are too busy to check and recover your emails, so be sure always to leave a link of your Portfolio in the comment box.
4. Undoubtedly, portfolios speak a thousand words. It could be just a simple link, but once it clicked by a client, consider it almost sold.
5. As a client, (I helped my boss find a good writer before) Simple and easy to navigate portfolios are the best. (It’s also good to have a website as your Portfolio as it will not only entertain the clients while reading but as well give the client a hint that you have a background in website management.)
6. There are various types of articles, so start with what you think is the easiest for you. (I started with writing features)
7. Importantly, don’t get discouraged if you feel that you are paid unfairly, always remember that we are just in the beginning. Therefore, cheer up! You will soon land to a kind and generous client. LOL
Again, I am not a professional writer. But, if you have questions or need help in starting up, do let me know. I’d be glad to help you.
In addition to this, you can also improve your writing skills by enrolling to different courses online for free.
Interested to know the sites where you can attend classes for free? Check out here.