In today’s digital age, having an online writing portfolio is essential for writers to market themselves effectively. Whether you are a freelance writer, author, blogger, or copywriter, having a standout portfolio can set you apart from the competition and attract potential clients.
To create an impressive online writing portfolio, you need to include certain key elements that will grab the attention of visitors and highlight your skills and expertise. In this article, we will discuss the 15 must-haves for a standout online writing portfolio that will help you showcase your work effectively and achieve your goals as a writer.
What Is An Online Writing Portfolio?
An online writing portfolio is a digital platform that showcases a writer’s top-notch work, allowing the general public and potential clients to assess it. Freelance writers, especially those undertaking diverse assignments with different publications and websites, often rely on their online writing portfolio to secure regular opportunities.
Writers of various genres can find value in having an online writing portfolio. For instance, a creative writing student aspiring to publish their initial short story may opt to create one, while a published novelist could maintain a personal website functioning as a portfolio, detailing their publications and credentials.
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Why Do I Need An Online Writing Portfolio?
An online writing portfolio is not just a luxury; it’s a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your visibility, credibility, and opportunities in the world of writing. Whether you’re a freelancer, a job seeker, or a content creator, having an online portfolio is a strategic investment in your writing career.
Here are a few reasons why you need an online writing portfolio:
1. Showcase Your Skills and Expertise
An online portfolio serves as a showcase of your writing skills and expertise. It allows potential clients or employers to see a curated collection of your best work, providing them with a tangible demonstration of your capabilities.
2. Build Credibility and Trust
Having a professional-looking portfolio establishes credibility and trust. It demonstrates that you take your work seriously and have a body of work to back up your claims. This can be especially important when trying to attract clients or employers who may be unfamiliar with your work.
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3. Highlight Your Niche or Specialization
Your portfolio is an excellent platform to highlight your niche or specialization. If you specialize in a certain type of writing, such as technical writing, content marketing, or creative writing, your portfolio allows you to emphasize this expertise and attract projects that align with your strengths.
4. Attract Potential Clients or Employers
An online portfolio acts as a digital resume that potential clients or employers can easily access. This can significantly increase your chances of being noticed and considered for freelance opportunities, writing gigs, or employment opportunities.
5. Provide a Professional Online Presence
Having an online portfolio gives you a professional online presence. It serves as a centralized hub where interested parties can learn more about you, view your work, and contact you. This professionalism is essential for making a positive first impression in the competitive world of freelance writing.
6. Facilitate Networking Opportunities
A portfolio provides a link that you can share on social media, networking events, or in your email signature. This makes it easy for people to discover your work and contact you for potential collaborations, networking, or job opportunities.
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How To Create An Online Writing Portfolio
Here are the six steps to creating a writing portfolio that will help you get noticed by readers and potential clients:
Step 1: Choose a Portfolio Host
Creating an online writing portfolio is now a crucial step for writers. The decision to host this portfolio on your personal website or to utilize external hosting services is entirely up to you.
Platforms such as Wix, Weebly, or WordPress offer choices for crafting your portfolio. On the other hand, if you favor specialized online portfolio sites, consider platforms like Clippings, WriterFolio, or JournoPortfolio. Explore these complimentary platforms that enable you to showcase your freelance writing portfolio effectively.
Step 2: Determine Your Niche
If you’re finding it difficult to choose the writing niche you want to specialize in, it can be beneficial to examine your past work. Identify the pieces that garnered the most impact, response, and reach. If your interest lies in ghostwriting, it’s essential to specify the kinds of content you excel in. This may include areas such as real estate, gardening, holistic medicine, or any industry where you possess writing expertise.
As a writer, do you enjoy creating sales pages and other marketing copy, like landing pages, newsletters, and email sequences? What kind of literature do you write if you’re a literary writer? You can focus on romance, fantasy, horror, or any other genre. What type of news do you write about if you’re a journalist? Do you write about current events, celebrity gossip, or financial or political news? The possibilities are endless.
Your author bio aims to introduce yourself to potential clients who enjoy your work and want to learn more about you. The content you include in your bio should match the formatting and design of the website.
If you feel at ease, you have the option to incorporate your social media links, providing additional visibility for your written work. When constructing your portfolio site, you can decide whether to feature your bio on a dedicated “About” page or set it as the homepage.
Consider including a photograph of yourself, as it can enhance the likelihood of people reaching out to you. If you’re keen on refining your about me page, you might find valuable tips on how to craft it effectively in your online portfolio.
Step 4: Select Your Best Work
Once you’ve chosen the niche you wish to specialize in, you can assess your completed work and select the most suitable content that aligns with that specific focus. This may include showcasing work that has proven successful with past clients, accompanied by their feedback.
Potential clients seek assurance that you can create well-crafted content within the niche you claim as your specialization. It’s advisable to check the terms of your previous work to determine whether you can feature the entire content in your portfolio or if you need to provide links.
If using links, be sure to specify the publication and the publication date. Exploring how Google Docs can assist in organizing your writing portfolio might be beneficial for the next phase of your portfolio development.
Step 5: Organize Your Work Into Segments
You can divide the work you want to include in your portfolio by niche, or the type of article, using clear descriptions. Categorizing your work makes it easier for potential clients to find samples of the work they’re looking to hire you for when you separate them by niche or type. Examples of categories include landing page copy, white papers, and blog posts, to name a few.
Your descriptions for your categories should be brief. If the content you want to share was done as a ghostwriter and didn’t include your byline, you should include the term ghostwriter in the work description to clarify it.
Step 6: Ensure Your Contact Information Is Easy to Find
Your online portfolio must make it easy for potential customers to connect with you. Whether they want to express appreciation for an article you wrote or wish to discuss a business opportunity with you, finding your number or an email address shouldn’t be challenging.
Engaging with as many people as possible is an excellent way to expand your online profile. You can use a contact form on your website, or you can provide your email address.
The key is to ensure that the information is visible and easy to access, whether they’re using their phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. If you decide to share an email address, you may want to create a new account, since having an email published publicly can leave you vulnerable to excessive amounts of spam.
15 Must Haves For A Standout Writing Portfolio
Here are 15 key things every great online writing portfolio must have:
1. Clean and Professional Design
The first thing your visitors see is the presentation of your information. Choose a clean, professional style that reflects your writing style and personality.
Introduce yourself in a simple and interesting way. Showcase your skills, your passion for writing, and what makes you stand out from others.
Make it personal and let your audience see the person behind the message.
3. Portfolio Overview
Provide a picture of your best work. Choose a variety of work that demonstrates your versatility and excellence in a variety of writing styles, genres, or industries.
4. Contact Information
Make it easy for people to contact you. Add a contact to your emails, social media links and other contact information.
5. Writing Templates
Has a variety of writing templates including articles, blog posts, and other content. Make sure they are well organized and represent your expertise.
6. Clients Reviews
Positive feedback from previous clients serves as a testament to your reliability and the quality of your work. Potential clients are more likely to trust your capabilities when they see that others have had positive experiences working with you.
7. Resume
Attach a downloadable version of your resume. This will add depth to your knowledge and provide more information about your education, work and achievements.
8. Skills and Competencies
Clearly communicate your writing skills and expertise. Whether your specialization lies in SEO, content marketing, or creative writing, inform your audience about the value you can provide.
9. Upload your work
Upload articles or writings published on external platforms. This increases your confidence and shows that your work is recognized by others.
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10. Use interactive elements
Make your information more useful and powerful by adding interactive elements such as links, buttons, or links.
11. Consistent Branding
Maintain uniform branding throughout all products by employing color schemes, fonts, and styles that align with your unique brand and writing preferences.
12. Regular Updates
Keep your records up to date with your latest and completed projects.
13. Put your Best Writing Sample as the First Item
The first item in your portfolio is the initial impression visitors will have. By featuring your best work upfront, you immediately captivate their attention and demonstrate your writing prowess.
14. Clear Call-to-Action
Your online writing portfolio is selling your writing skills. To stand out, add a call-to-action button at the bottom of your portfolio.
15. Add a copyright notice
A copyright notice indicates that the content on your portfolio is your intellectual property. It serves as a legal declaration, making it clear that you are the rightful owner of the written work.
By displaying a copyright notice, you discourage unauthorized use or reproduction of your writing. Potential infringers may think twice before using your content without permission, knowing that you are aware and protective of your rights.
FAQs On How To Create An Online Writing Portfolio
An online writing portfolio is a digital platform that showcases a writer’s body of work, providing a centralized space for potential clients or readers to explore and evaluate their writing skills.
While published work is preferred, you can include unpublished pieces that showcase your writing style and expertise. However, clearly label them as unpublished to provide transparency.
Include a diverse range of writing samples that highlight your skills and versatility. Add a professional bio, your contact information, and any relevant credentials or qualifications. Tailor the content to your target audience or clients.
Start by selecting a platform, such as a personal website or portfolio-specific websites like Behance or Clippings.me. Organize your best work, include a brief bio, and ensure the design is clean and user-friendly. Regularly update it to reflect your latest accomplishments.
An online writing portfolio is essential for establishing credibility, showcasing your expertise, and attracting potential clients or employers. It serves as a professional showcase of your work, making it easier for others to discover and connect with you.
Conclusion
After completing your online writing portfolio, the next thing to send your portfolio to your target audiences. If you’re a freelance or creative writer, you likely pitch or submit directly to publications.
References
- copyblogger.com – How to Create a Writing Portfolio That Clients Love
- indeed.com – How To Create an Online Writing Portfolio (With Steps)
