How to Build the Perfect Freelance Writing Portfolio

If you want to make more money online through freelance writing, you'll need a top-notch portfolio. Learn how to create the perfect freelance writing portfolio!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Writing Samples
• Online Contacts/Clients
• Blog/Website (optional)
• Sales Writing Skills

1. First, compile your writing samples. If you have a blog, your best blog posts can double as writing samples! If you simply have a static website, find excerpts from published client articles, or take the time to create some of your own. Three to five examples will suffice for the average writing portfolio because your clients should be hooked with just a few sentences.

2. If you haven't already, contact past clients for testimonials. Make sure to include their statement, their name, and a reference. (i.e. John from IBuildCars.Com or Travis from International Tech) Striving to have at least three will make your portfolio more impressive and your offer and skills will seem more genuine.

3. Create a personal statement about yourself, your qualifications, and your personal writing process, because you want to make yourself as attractive to clients as possible. Develop a unique selling point!

4. If you haven't already, determine your pricing structure and create a clear-cut explanation of how you price things. (ex. I charge $0.02 (two cents) per word) Consider the reasoning behind your pricing because your clients want to know what they're paying for. Are your clients paying for speed, research, optimization, style, or all of the above? Or perhaps your pricing is discounted? Make sure to have a statement that makes your price alluring and reasonable.

5. Create your sales page. Include your personal statement first, followed by your examples. Then your pricing structure and end with your testimonials. Experiment with the order of elements and find a combination that gives you the most returns!

6. Consider branding yourself because you want to stand out from other online writers. Hire a designer and create a name around your writing business!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't skimp on the testimonials. Keep asking and keep adding more and more to your portfolio.
• Testimonials don't just have to come from clients. Ask notable friends (bloggers, businessmen, freelancers) for character references.
• Link to your official "hire me" page everywhere that you can!
• Brand yourself well. Use the same avatar/link everywhere.
• Make your contact information prominent!
• Fake testimonials may fool some people, but not everybody. Be genuine!
• Remember to proofread! Typos will make your portfolio sloppy.
• Design is important. Get a nice-looking theme!

Resources

• How to Become a Freelance Writer
• Persuasive Writing Blog
• Example Freelance Writing Portfolio

[writetolife]

on 11/8/2009 Some very interesting points. I'm going to have to keep that testimonial thing in mind after I get some customers.

[jacobsson]

on 10/8/2009 Great advice, thanks!