“5 Ways to Build a Professional Freelance Portfolio”

A professional freelance portfolio is a money-making sales tool.

If done correctly, a professional freelance portfolio provides your client a snapshot of your abilities. It’s a no obligation, “try before you buy” presentation of your skills.

The most important function of a freelance portfolio is to answer your potential client’s questions and eliminate any doubts of your skills and abilities.

Learn how to create an indelible first impression and make more money with a professional freelance portfolio.

Create two freelance portfolio formats: digital and hard-copy

A freelance professional must have an online portfolio for clients browsing the web, and a printed presentation for face-to-face meetings.

Hardcopy -When meeting with clients, have printed samples to use as talking points to discuss your methodology and approach.  Select 5 to 7 of your best writing samples, (clips, press releases, marketing copy and other writing work) to show to the client. Print out your samples on the best paper you can afford–20lb or higher– to present your writing samples professionally.

As an added note: print off a few samples to leave with the client along with your resume for future gigs.

Digital – If your funds are low, set up a free account on Wordpress or Blogger to promote your work online. Upload a few of your best samples to show clients a visual representation of your freelance work. Select a blog theme that will showcase your work and present you as a professional.

Once you make more money, transfer your portfolio to your own URL or domain name. Hire a designer to create a quality portfolio to justify the increase in rates and highlight your unique skill set.

Minimize the fancy portfolio design elements

Unless you are a graphic or web designer, keep your portfolio clean and simple. Minimize distractions. Use a majority of white space to allow your potential client to focus on your work only.

Present PDF samples of your freelance writing portfolio for clients to download and peruse

For hard-copy presentations, whether you are a magazine and feature writer, blogger or marketing communications copywriter, present three of your best professional samples in a PDF format to discuss your approaches to starting and completing a freelance job.

If you are sending emails to clients, who want to see professional samples – but do not accept attachments – send them a link to your online portfolio instead.

Limit your freelance portfolio to 7 of your best samples

Less is more when creating a freelance portfolio. The level of the samples however must be excellent.

Peruse your price list for samples of what clients will purchase. Show a range of your abilities. Don’t overwhelm your clients with 35 samples of work. Only present your best samples.

If you are a freelance writer, copywriter or SEO content writer show your clients one of two examples of the following:

• eBooks
• Web content
• Advertorials
• Product descriptions
• Online sales pages
• Blogging posts and online articles

Eliminate any doubts in your clients’ mind of your freelance qualifications

Write case studies to show your potential clients how your specific skills produced quantifiable results.

• Show how your work increased sales or was the catalyst to encourage solid relationships with customers.
• Include testimonials from former clients to prove your worth.
• Present a clear understanding of your value, experience and Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
• Attach a reliable method of contact to each sample. Provide an email address and telephone number for contact information.

More than a resume and a cover letter, a freelance portfolio is necessary to separate you from the crowded pack of freelance talent. There are specific qualities that all professional portfolios share: creativity, attention to detail, skill, thought and emotion.

Use these tips to take your professional freelance writing portfolio from average to outstanding.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 11:16 am and is filed under Freelance Writing Portfolio. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.