How to Build A Kick-Ass Portfolio as a Freelance Content Marketer?
5 tips from someone who has been there and still doing that
Who will give you a freelance job without a portfolio, right?
Right.
And only if you have a job can you create a portfolio, right?
Wrong!
Feeling overwhelmed by not knowing where to start at the onset of a new career path (that you chose against the wishes of family and friends) is natural.
But you’ve got to start somewhere. As a new freelancer, I created a new account on Upwork religiously, accepted low-ball job offers, and got ghosted sometimes.
I sent my long stories — from describing my passion for writing since childhood to my long technical career background to prospective clients, who probably laughed at my letter without any samples or just sighed and deleted it.
I also bought a domain name and built my website on Google cloud for free.
I was here to build a career as a freelance copywriter. But then I got so busy fine-tuning my website that I wondered if it was worth the effort. Maybe I could use the website maintenance time to pitch new prospects.
I felt convinced that a website is really a waste of time. And you have to pay from your pocket to keep the website and hosting every year.
After nearly a year of trying to maintain a website, I gave up. Because I discovered waaayy easier ways to publish content online. And even get paid for it.
Read on to see how I created a portfolio for free. I now have enough work to keep me busy for months.
Earnings wise? Well, that’s for another day. Because this is an article about creating a portfolio. Okay, I’ll let you know if you read this article till the end. Stop rolling your eyes.
So here goes,
1. Free Blogging Platforms
Free blogging platforms are an excellent place to start writing. You have a ready audience ready to be wowed by your writing prowess.
You can even build a following and take it forward. But I must be honest here. I didn’t earn much. About $54 was the maximum I could make on Medium in one good month.
Also, I had to unregister from the Medium Partner Program early this year, as I moved to a country where Stripe(Medium’s partner program) is not yet live.
I wrote and published on Medium for more than a year and made about $200 overall. I know that’s far from aspirational. But…
- The 100 odd articles gave me a solid portfolio. I could get published in top Medium Publications like “The StartitUp” and “Better Marketing.”
- I shared links to my published articles when I applied for jobs elsewhere. It worked to get me a handful of opportunities.
- I even started getting 2–3 leads on Linkedin, where I have shared my Medium stories regularly.
If you are an SEO pro, you can use these free platforms to optimize your content for the search engine. You can then pull out the stats and use them on your portfolio.
For freelancers in web design or UI/UX design, many free website hosting platforms work great to demonstrate your design skills.
They come with a .wordpress.com or .wix.com extension, but this will do to pitch clients and show off your chops.
2. Guest Posts
I realized the importance of guest posting when a few clients asked to see my published articles on sites other than Medium.
I thought of offering to write guest posts on some websites in my area of expertise (digital marketing) to get my name out there. And happy to report that I did get a couple of opportunities from just one guest post.
And the hosts who let me guest post even asked me for my pricing. Down the line, I might even have some opportunities trickle in from that side. So why not?
I’m planning to write more guest posts every month. At least 1–2 per month.
3. Free Work
I’ve written social media promos, case studies, and blog posts in exchange for a testimonial. It helps build that credibility. I use testimonials on my portfolio and in proposals as well.
I am also for writing for non-profits or friends in exchange for a testimonial. Free work gives you the flexibility to be bold.
If your friend or a company lets you experiment with your writing style, you can flex your creative muscles and bring in different streaks of your personality. This will surely help you find your authentic voice.
Once you write for a paid client, you are bound to feel constrained because you’ll have to follow their rulebook. But writing in your style and sharing it can help attract the client who likes your writing style.
4. Upwork and Fiverr
Be sure to have a few published pieces before going here, lest you’ll feel tempted to pick the low-hanging fruits. Some jobs ask you for as cheap as $5 for 1000 words in exchange for a 5-star rating.
But honestly, accept those penny jobs only as a means to build your portfolio. But remember to stop after you’ve completed five projects lest you burn out and start cursing your decision to go freelance and even think of giving up.
There is a stampede on freelance portals. When you’re armed with a bunch of samples, you will stand a much better chance of qualifying for some higher-paying jobs.
There are clients who respect and value your time and skills there.
Another crucial part is sending a highly personalized cover letter along with your portfolio. Do that and you’ll land a gig in no time.
The cover letter I use is as below. Feel free to personalize it and use it as you please.
Hello [name],
I see you’re looking for a professional copy and content writer to grow your amazing [type of ] business.
I can help you with that and can start as soon as you’re ready.
I’ve published 100+ articles on Medium.com, mostly on copywriting, marketing, advertising, and startups.
Here is a link to all my marketing-related stories.: [Link]
And here’s one more guest post: [Link to the relevant guest post]
I’m also attaching my portfolio for more samples. [A pdf with links to my published samples, testimonials, and a bit about my background]
I’m a 2-year-old copywriter and have helped clients with sales emails, blog posts, e-commerce micro home pages, FB Ads, lead magnets, and case studies.
Happy to chat and see if we can be a good fit!
Looking forward to growing your business,
Brinda Koushik
I customize this further for each proposal I send.
And I’m getting a 50% to 60% response rate with the exact above template.
5. Linkedin
Has Linkedin been a little tricky for you? Me too? 🙌
My secret: I get inbound leads when I post content regularly. But hardly hear back when I search and apply for jobs. Not one. But inbound marketing is the way on Linkedin for most content creators I know.
Some pointers
- Update your Linkedin profile to show what you’re up to.
- Publish content that establishes your credentials as an expert or a knowledgable person in your area of interest.
- If your post goes viral, you’re in for an inbox full of potential leads, and your followers increase overnight.
- Connect with others in your shoes to grow your network.
Linkedin is one of the best platforms with quality clients, tailor-made for freelancers. But staying consistent is key. I’ve had mostly professional clients on Linkedin compared to Upwork.
I started freelancing for businesses full-time in Jan 2022 and also blog on Medium regularly. And in the past five months, my overall earnings have just crossed $1000.
I have realized that writing, like any other career, needs time to bear fruit. Neither was Rome built in a day, nor a seed planted yesterday turns into a tree tomorrow.
And know what the best part of freelancing is? I’m doing it because I enjoy doing it. I don’t have an iota of regret not going back to a well-paying 9–5 where I felt like a misfit.
I made sure I burned the bridge after I crossed over. It’s important to decide your path when you’re standing in the middle of two career paths.
I’ve not made a boat load of money… yet. But in the process of it. If that’s not a good sign, then what is?
Are you in it for the long haul? Then create a portfolio and get started already!
