How to Create a Strong Freelance Writer's Portfolio

If you are a new freelance writer, you know that you need a writer's portfolio.

You need to have a writer portfolio for three basic reasons. First, to attract clients and get more work. Second, to create an online presence. And third, to create a brand.

The freelance writers market is a competitive one. And not having a portfolio can make things even harder. But with a powerful portfolio, you can stand out and easily attract relevant clients for your services.

So how can you create a portfolio that wows your clients? Don't worry if you're not sure about it. We've got you covered. Before telling you how exactly you can create a writer's portfolio, let us figure out what exactly is a writer's portfolio.

What Is A Writer's Portfolio?

The writer's portfolio holds the best of your writing. Using this portfolio, you showcase your professional skills as a freelance writer.

Also, you need to know that your writer's portfolio does not hold all the work you have done. You only need to add your best writing to it. The idea is to highlight your best work and your experience.

Now that you know what a writer's portfolio is, it's time to understand how to create an excellent writer's portfolio that stands out.

1. Add Writing Samples

It is a no-brainer that no one can judge your writing skills by simply reading one sample. The client can only evaluate your writing skills when you present them with enough data.

Therefore it is recommended to have 10 to 15 writing samples in your portfolio to give the client a fair idea about your writing tone and style.

However, make sure that you do not add more than 15 writing samples. Your client shouldn't be overwhelmed by the thought of having to read all your work. Just make sure that the samples you include in your portfolio are your best writings.

2. Create a solid introduction

Including only your introduction on the about me page can be a huge mistake. That is not the right approach for getting yourself a freelance writing gig.

Keep the about me page a mixture of your instruction and sales page. You'll have to introduce yourself first, of course, but once you have done it, try to put in how you can help your clients achieve their goals. Give your leads a reason to hire you.

The best way to do that is by reflecting on what exactly are the website visitors seeking from you. After figuring that out, think about how you can help them achieve that.

3. Include a CTA

Okay, let's suppose your client is super impressed with your writing sample but what's next for them? This is when a call to action or CTA comes to play.

A CTA will help your clients get in touch with you and if things work well, they might end up hiring you. So it's absolutely essential to have a clear CTA in your writer's portfolio.

Sometimes after going through your writing sample your client may or may not reach out to you.  A small nudge in the form of CTA can bring magical opportunities to you. Try to include your CTA on the home page, about page, and the samples page too.

You can include texts like "Get In Touch" or "Hire Me" in your CTA. Also, try to keep the CTA tab catchy to ensure that your visitors are able to see the button at the very first glance. You can try adding contrasting colors to the button and the text for the same.

4. Add recommendations

There are hundreds of freelance writers trying to get clients. But if you want more clients you have to stand out. You can easily do that by including recommendations in your writer's portfolio.

High-value reviews and recommendations will always work as a huge bonus point for you. It helps build credibility and helps prospective clients trust you with your job.

If you are a new freelance writer, you might not have any recommendations, which again is totally okay! You can balance it with your impressive writing samples!

As you become a seasoned writer, you can go ahead and update your portfolio with reviews and recommendations. It also means that you should always request a review when you get a job done. It'll help boost the value of your writer's portfolio.

5. Stick to minimalism

You need to delicately organize your writing samples to showcase your work without cluttering the space. It means that you need to include enough space in your portfolio to make it look attractive.

You can do this by including a slider on the page that presents your work one by one. You can also create a list with plenty of white space around them.

Another creative way of showcasing a good amount of work without cluttering the space is by using an asymmetric or broken grid.

6. Get rid of unnecessary elements

When you are creating a writer's portfolio, ask yourself what exactly you are trying to convey with the portfolio. Knowing the central idea behind creating the portfolio will make it easier for you to cut off all the unnecessary elements from your writer's portfolio.

A clean and simple writer's portfolio always works the best. Clear out all the distractions and help your client to focus on your work.

7. Optimize for mobile

When you are creating an online portfolio, you will either be using a laptop or a computer. However, just because your online portfolio is looking great on the desktop does not mean that it will look great on a smartphone's screen too.

But not focusing on creating a mobile responsive portfolio might mean losing a potential client.

So work on making the portfolio look good on screens of all sizes.

It's Time To Create Your Writer's Portfolio

Now that you know how to create a writer's portfolio that can wow the clients, it's time to get into action. Feel free to play around with different elements and experiment with new things. Experimenting with different styles can help you make your writer's portfolio a unique one.