You’re on the job hunt, and a friend sends you the email of the managing editor at your dream company. The editor is excited to interview you after hearing such great things and asks for samples of your work. Your heart drops—you don’t have a portfolio!
If you’re a writer—or aspiring to be one—you know creating a writing portfolio is essential. Whether you’re graduating from ad school, switching industries or careers, or selling yourself as a freelancer, your writing portfolio is an essential tool to show (rather than tell) people how good you are.
Employers, clients, and even programs almost always ask for a portfolio in the selection process, whether you specialize in copywriting, blogging, UX writing, technical writing, journalism, fiction, poetry, or something else entirely. So getting a jump-start on selecting, designing, and editing your book before you start applications is a good idea.
But how do you create a writing portfolio? What should it look like? How do you select your samples? And should you make it digital or print? There’s a lot to consider when creating your portfolio, and it can seem daunting. But don’t worry! We’re here to help you get started.
As a writer, having an online portfolio website is absolutely essential for showcasing your skills and experience to potential clients. Your portfolio allows prospective employers and clients to quickly review samples of your best work and assess if you’d be a good fit for their needs.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain exactly how to create a professional online writing portfolio from start to finish.
Why You Need an Online Writing Portfolio
Here are some key reasons why an online portfolio is critical for writers
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Demonstrates your skills and experience – A portfolio with high-quality writing samples shows clients what you can deliver for them.
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Allows customization for your brand – Your portfolio represents your personal brand as a writer. The design and content should reflect your unique style and personality.
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Reaches a wide audience – An online portfolio lets you promote your services and connect with clients anywhere with just your website link.
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Provides credibility – A polished, professional portfolio builds trust and confidence in your abilities as a writer.
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Saves time – Prospects can quickly review your work online instead of you emailing samples individually.
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Strengthens your image – An online presence establishes you as a modern, tech-savvy writer active in the digital world.
Key Elements to Include
Your online writing portfolio should include:
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An about page with your bio, skills, background, and services offered.
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Samples of your best work, ideally 3-5 pieces in different genres/styles.
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Testimonials and client reviews to build credibility.
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Your resume or CV listing qualifications and experience.
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Contact page with email, phone, social media links for prospects to reach you.
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Blog section to demonstrate your content skills.
Choose a Website Platform
There are many website building platforms to choose from based on your budget and technical skills:
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WordPress – Very customizable but requires self-hosting and design skills.
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Wix – Easy drag-and-drop builder with great templates. Offers free and paid plans.
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Squarespace – More advanced features like ecommerce. Free trial available.
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Weebly – Simple editor and lots of free themes. Lets you connect a custom domain.
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Writerfolio – Specialized platform just for writing portfolios. Starts at $4/month.
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Contently – Specifically for writers and journalists. Has free and paid tiers.
Pick a Domain Name
Your portfolio domain name sets the tone for your personal brand. Some options:
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YourNameWriting.com – Straightforward and professional
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YourNamePortfolio.com – Focuses on your work samples
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YourWritingServices.com – Describes what you offer
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CustomYourName.com – Using your own name builds credibility
Go for a .com domain if available. Make sure it’s short, easy to remember and spell.
Design With a Clear Goal
Keep the design clean, simple, and focused on your writing above all else. Avoid clutter.
Make sure:
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The navigation links are clear and consistent on every page.
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Contact and hiring information is easy to find.
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Writing samples can be accessed with 1-click.
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The color scheme and fonts align with your personal brand identity.
Optimize With SEO
Use SEO best practices so your portfolio site ranks high in Google search results:
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Include meta title, description, keywords on all main pages.
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Use target keywords in headings, content, URLs, alt text.
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Create XML sitemap and submit in Search Console.
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Build quality backlinks to your site.
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Make site mobile-friendly.
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Check speed and fix any errors.
Curate Your Best Writing Samples
The samples you showcase should represent your absolute best work.
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Showcase 3-5 samples in different content formats – articles, blogs, scripts, fiction, non-fiction, etc.
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Pull samples from actual client work if possible.
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Only include your proudest pieces that required significant time/skill.
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Use excerpts or full pieces depending on length.
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Add a brief summary explaining each writing sample.
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Link to live posts online for published pieces.
Highlight Client Testimonials
Client reviews and testimonials help convince prospects to hire you.
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Get permission before using any client recommendations.
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Include author, title, and company for each testimonial.
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Use a mix of text, audio, and video reviews if possible.
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Show logos of brands you’ve written for to build authority.
Create Compelling About Page
Your about page tells your story and sells prospects on hiring you.
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Start with an engaging intro paragraph about you and your writing.
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Share your background, education, credentials related to writing.
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Describe your skills, subject expertise, why clients should hire you.
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List services you provide, industries you write for.
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Add headshot, brand photos, images of you writing to make it more personal.
Upload Your Resume/CV
Display your resume or CV detailing your writing qualifications:
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Education degrees, professional certificates, relevant training.
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Past writing positions, publications, companies worked with.
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Subjects and niches you have experience writing about.
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Skills like software, foreign languages, awards.
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Writing accomplishments, press mentions, test scores.
Make Contact Info Easy to Find
Prominently display multiple contact methods – email, phone, social media links, contact form:
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At top/bottom of every page.
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On a dedicated contact page.
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In the site header/footer navigation.
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Near calls-to-action to hire you.
This makes it extremely simple for prospects to reach out to you.
Promote Your Portfolio
Now that your online writing portfolio is ready, get the word out!
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Share your portfolio link prominently on your LinkedIn profile, resumes, and email signature.
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Create pitches that include your portfolio to send to prospects.
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Promote your portfolio on social media and network with potential clients.
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Ask past clients to link to your portfolio on their site.
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Guest post on industry blogs and link back to your portfolio.
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Stay in touch with contacts and let them know about your new portfolio.
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Continuously add to your portfolio as you complete new impressive projects.
Having an online presence with your polished writing portfolio makes discovering and hiring you a breeze for potential employers and clients. Your portfolio website is the ultimate tool for landing more paid writing gigs in the digital age. Follow this guide and you’ll have an incredible portfolio up and running in no time!
Know your target audience
Identify your target audience for your writing portfolio, as this can help determine the specific writing samples you include and how you organize them. Keep in mind that you should tailor your portfolio to suit the needs of your potential clients or employers. Print on demand allows you to swap in and out samples that best align with each client or employer—or you can tailor your digital portfolio with specific landing pages for each application or industry.
How to create a writing portfolio: 7 fundamental steps
The point of a portfolio is to give viewers a sense of what you can do for them. And portfolios can look very different while still getting that job done. Some of our Blurb writers have gotten hired by emailing screenshots of Facebook posts—while others have opened up professionally bound layflat photo books during interviews. Keeping in mind your end goal (selling yourself) will help ground you in this process.
Here are seven steps to help you create the perfect writing portfolio:
If your portfolio is your full sales pitch, think of your introduction as your elevator pitch. This sets the tone and context for your work. State your name, the type of writing you do, and any relevant background information that describes who you are.
Remember, this is a writing sample, too. Make it unique, valuable, and memorable—and from your natural voice. This is your chance to tell your story from your point of view. Make it count.
The Ultimate Guide to Building an Online WRITING PORTFOLIO
How do I create an online writing portfolio?
First, ensure you include the following components when creating your online writing portfolio. This one is a bit of a no-brainer, but it is an area where some freelancers trip up. Your portfolio should include enough samples to give brands and marketers a good idea of your range of writing talent and technical expertise.
What is a portfolio website?
A portfolio website is an online space where you get to show off your best work. It’s essential that you build an online portfolio so that your work can get found. People who are looking for creative professionals will often use Google to uncover new talent and commission work. So, if you’re not online, you’re simply not getting found.
Do freelance writers need an online portfolio?
If you’re in the early stages of building your career as a freelance writer in hopes of making it your primary source of income, you need an online portfolio that attracts clients by speaking for itself.
