Building a Portfolio
I can’t even begin to tell you how many writers I’ve met who haven’t taken the time to put together a portfolio for their prospective clients. While it’s true that much of your work will be online, rendering a physical portfolio somewhat unnecessary, don’t you think it would be nice to have something formally prepared to show your clients when they request samples?
Building a portfolio isn’t difficult and, seriously, the point of this post today is not how to find clips to put IN your portfolio (we can deal with that later), but building the physical site itself. Yes, I said site - as in website. If you’re working online you should have a website dedicated to your writing business. When a client asks for writing samples, you can merely send him a link and a wealth of information will be at his fingertips instantly.
There are plenty of free and low-cost places for you to showcase your writing. Having your own domain is the most professional looking route, but that’s not an option for everyone - especially those just starting out. Other alternatives include free WordPress sites, Google’s Blogger service, and Typepad. Those who won’t want to build blog-style pages might even consider simply building Squidoo lenses or Hub pages to showcase their works.
Don’t just throw your work up on the page and expect to impress your clients, either. Writers working across a variety of niches should organize their samples accordingly. You might even want to include a section where your prospective clients can see a list of your past clients or testimonials. It helps to know you actually have real life experience.
In most cases, your writing skill will sell itself. In others, you’ll have to do a little more work to convince your potential clients you know what you’re doing. Think of your portfolio site as an online resume and treat it accordingly. You’ll be surprised at the level of response you receive when you submit a formal portfolio versus a few hastily gathered Word attachments!
Other great freelance writing resources on the web:
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