Build A Copywriting Portfolio: For Beginners With No Experience

Summary

In this video, Jesse from startcopywriting.com shares expert advice on building a compelling writing portfolio, crucial for freelance writers seeking clients. Despite having no prior clients or experience, Jesse outlines the essentials to include in a portfolio and offers practical strategies for creating impressive samples. He suggests starting a blog, writing about beloved brands, or offering free services for testimonials. Jesse also recommends platforms like Google Drive, clippings.me, and muckrack for uploading portfolios and emphasizes the importance of having a personal website to showcase one's work.

Takeaways

• 😀 A writing portfolio is a collection of your best writing samples that showcase your skills to potential clients.
• 🔍 Clients prefer to see 3 to 5 relevant, high-quality examples from their industry rather than numerous unrelated samples.
• 🎯 To create a compelling portfolio, focus on the type of work you want to be hired for in the future and intentionally create samples in that area.
• ✍️ Starting a blog is an easy and free way to create portfolio content, especially on platforms like Medium or WordPress.
• 🔥 Writing about products and brands you're passionate about can provide authentic and knowledgeable content for your portfolio.
• 🆓 Offering to write for free for businesses or individuals you're interested in can help gain experience and build your portfolio.
• 📁 Google Drive is a simple and free platform to upload and share your portfolio with potential clients.
• 📑 Clippings.me provides an easy-to-use interface and templates for creating a professional-looking portfolio.
• 📰 Muckrack is a platform that allows writers to create simple portfolios that can be shared online.
• 🌐 Having your own website gives you the most control over how you display your portfolio and allows for easy updates.
• 📝 The video also mentions a blog post with additional tips and examples for creating an outstanding writing portfolio.

Q & A

What is a writing portfolio and why is it important for freelance writers?

A writing portfolio is a collection of a writer's best work samples that showcase their writing quality. It is crucial for freelance writers as it serves as a sales tool to convince potential clients of their writing abilities, allowing them to assess the writer's skills and relevance to their industry.

What should be included in a writing portfolio to make it effective?

An effective writing portfolio should include three to five high-quality, relevant examples from the industry or type of writing the writer wishes to be hired for in the future. It should avoid including random or irrelevant samples to keep it focused and impressive to clients.

How can a beginner writer create a portfolio if they have no clients or experience?

Beginner writers can create a portfolio by starting a blog, writing about products or brands they are passionate about, or offering to write for free for friends, family, or acquaintances' businesses in exchange for testimonials and permission to use the work in their portfolio.

What are some platforms recommended for uploading and sharing a writing portfolio?

Recommended platforms for uploading and sharing a writing portfolio include Google Drive, Clippings.me, Muckrack, and having one's own website for ultimate control and presentation of work samples.

Why is it beneficial for a writer to start a blog for their portfolio?

Starting a blog allows a writer to create content on topics they are interested in and can showcase their writing skills. It's an easy, quick, and often free way to build a portfolio and demonstrate their expertise in a particular industry or niche.

How can a writer find popular and trending topics to write about for their blog?

Writers can find popular and trending topics by using Google's autosuggest feature when typing in an industry or niche they are interested in. This will provide a list of suggested topics that are currently popular and could be good content for their portfolio.

What is the advantage of writing about products or brands one is passionate about for a portfolio?

Writing about products or brands one is passionate about allows the writer to leverage their existing knowledge and enthusiasm, making it easier to create compelling content. This can also demonstrate their ability to write engagingly about specific industries or products to potential clients.

Why might offering to write for free be a good strategy for a beginner writer building a portfolio?

Offering to write for free allows a beginner writer to gain valuable experience and create portfolio pieces without prior experience. It can also lead to testimonials and potential future paid work if the client is satisfied with the work, as seen in the example of the speaker's uncle who became a sports writer.

How can a writer ensure their portfolio is easily accessible to potential clients?

A writer can ensure their portfolio is easily accessible by uploading it to platforms like Google Drive or Clippings.me, which allow for easy sharing of links, or by having it on their own website where they can control the presentation and update it with new work samples.

What additional resources does the speaker offer for creating an outstanding writing portfolio?

The speaker offers a blog post with more tips and examples from other freelance writers on how they created their portfolios. This can provide inspiration and guidance for those looking to build their own impressive writing portfolio.