Anjali, what’s a portfolio?
Anjali, does my personal blog count as a portfolio?
Hey Anj, where do you think I can get published?
A client just reached back! But they’re asking for previous work- what do I send?
Does my LinkedIn count as a portfolio?
Woah there new content writer. Breathe.
I have been a professional content writer for over a year now and followed so many creators on LinkedIn sharing their views, including Supriya Jain, who started a badass free newsletter called the 30-Day Email course.
And today, I’m going to help you with your portfolio.
Do You Need a Portfolio and How to Make One?
Yes, you need a portfolio. But don’t panic. It’s absolutely all right if you don’t have one.
You can build it.
When I started content, I didn’t have a portfolio either. Still got clients though.
How?
Well, I had a blog and my LinkedIn posts soon became my portfolio. Supriya Jain and many others agree. LI is the new portfolio.
But before I optimized my blog and socials to better reflect my work, I had samples.
It was a collection of my experience as a student, the books I have published, and some write ups that I put in a Pdf and sent to prospective clients.
Some experts even suggest pointing out what’s not working in their content and sharing a free solution. Others say you can take an existing blogs, write it better, and share that to show why you should get a shot.
Personally, I think the seconds a little disrespectful.
But the first?
Been there, done that. Still do.
And of course, there’s client work I have done that I can share. Free samples that I wrote put in a Pdf. Links to work that clients have published and shared a byline to.
But hey, what’s that?
Yes, I wrote free samples. Now, I agree. It’s unfair to ask writers to do that. It’s exploitative to use that sample without pay.
But when you’re a new writer, you’ve to show some proof of concept of your work for people to take a chance on you.
Sometimes, I still do free samples for clients if I have not worked in an industry or niche before. It’s just a matter of showing your skill.
But you can avoid giving unnecessary free samples, with a portfolio. And unless, you’ve picked on a niche, that means having a portfolio or portfolios that cover several skills. Like mine does.
So what goes into your portfolio?
On LinkedIn, your content pillars. LI is an excellent place to showcase your skills as a marketer and professional or business writer. You can show your world can pull an audience and that you know how to be funny and human while still being just formal enough to be professional. Sets you apart from AI.
But…say you are like me. And want to write long form content.
My first advice would have been to start a personal blog on a channel which has good SEO. It can be an additional revenue source as well as a portfolio. But that takes time and work, and the blog becoming a revenue source depends on a variety of factors.
Say, you don’t want to do that for whatever reason. Or can’t.
Then what can you do?
How to Build a Portfolio Without Social Media and Blogging
Well, write a few samples in the industries you wish to target. Put them in a PDF. Excellent show of skills. That’s what my first portfolio was. A collection of articles in the various niches I wanted to write in, some Instagram captions I had written, names of my books, and boom! Sent.
But that’s now always enough.
How to Get Published Work as a Fresher?
While many clients understand that freshers don’t have published works other than personal blogs and SM, some ask for that. In which case, websites like Women’s Web are a godsend.
And honestly does it hurt to have some published work with your name on it?
Nope.
So find websites that accept guests posts in your niche or pick a topic and send it to an appropriate website. Write your best work. Become a published content writer.
And then get them clients.
So this was my two cents on a portfolio. For more expert advice I think Supriya Jain did a webinar on the topic.
As always, comments are yours to ask questions, share ideas, and grow as a community
Author’s Note: Life outside of work has been both too good and drastically difficult, which is why work has suffered and posts have been haywire. I don’t know when things will settle, so thank you for being here. Should you be inclined to support, a like, a comment, a share, or payment of your choice is always appreciated.
