How to Create an Online Writing Portfolio in 2 Days

A freelance portfolio is important to have to showcase your work. It is also being increasingly important to have an online portfolio. If you currently don't have a freelance writing portfolio, or want to upgrade to a more professional one here are some tips on how to use your portfolio to get you jobs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Internet Connection

1. Study What Others are Doing
   
   If you don’t have an online writing portfolio, it’s quick and easy to create one.
   
   The first thing you should do is to poke around other freelance writers’ websites to see what theirs looks like. After viewing five or ten, you should start to get a good idea about what you want yours to look like.

2. Choose a Niche
   
   Once you’ve gotten an idea in your head of what your want your online writing portfolio to look like, choose a niche if you don’t have one.
   
   I think it’s important to choose a niche as a freelance writer because it’s easier to market for work that way.
   
   For example, I do a lot of writing on real estate and mortgages, among a few other niches. When I first started to write SEO articles, I highlighted this specialty. Now, although I write about everything from jewelry to ski chalets, the first job I got as an SEO article writer was writing about mortgages.
   
   As I had proven capability in this area, the client had immediate proof of my abilities. As he respected my overall writing ability, he started sending me assignments that had nothing to do with mortgages.
   
   But, it all started with one of my niches—mortgages.

3. Do Keyword Search
   
   Before you sit down to write your articles, do a keyword search of popular words and phrases in your niche. This way, when you place your online writing portfolio samples on your site, you can easily be found.
   
   In essence, your articles serve two purposes: they serve as proof of your writing ability; but they also drive traffic to your website/blog.

4. Write
   
   Now that you’ve chosen a niche and have conducted a keyword search, write five or 10 articles around your keyword phrases.
   
   For example, if you write about mortgages, one of your keyword phrases might be “refinance your ARM.” When you post this article to your site, when surfers type in this phrase, you’ll be in the search results.

5. Post It Online
   
   Once your samples for your online writing portfolio have been written, post them to your website in a defined section.
   
   Be sure to segment them according to niches. As I write across several disciplines, my articles appear under the headings: Real Estate, Mortgages and Staffing/HR, among a few others.
   
   Creating an online writing portfolio can be done in as little as two days, or less if you’re so inclined. All it takes is a few samples and a few hours to showcase your freelance writing talent to the world.

[LilacGirl]

on 7/27/2008 Good suggestions.