With such easy access to the internet, the freelance writing business today has seen a massive boom. Every business has a website. And the success of these sites depends almost entirely on the content you add to them.
However, not everyone has the knowledge to create SEO-friendly and highly converting content that makes a difference. So businesses look for writers and strategic content creators who can help them improve their website and grow their business by increasing their visibility and boosting their conversions. This can be your chance to have a client to work for.
But to qualify for a writer’s profile under these businesses you have to make yourself stand out as a writer. You can easily do that by creating a powerful portfolio that reflects your caliber and expertise. For that, you need to include 4 important elements in your portfolio that will help you distinguish yourself from your competitors.
1. Make it Interesting with a Strong Bio
Your bio is undoubtedly the first element to add to your portfolio. It’s your bio that helps recruiters know different things about you like who you are, what you do, your skills and expertise, etc. So make sure to add a strong bio that summarises each of these points to your recruiter.
However, in doing so make sure you don’t brag too much about yourself. Your bio should be like an elevator pitch. Short and quick. Add a bit about your skills, experience, achievements. You can also add one or two quirky facts about yourself to keep it interesting.
2. Show off Your Skills with Some Sample Work
Now that you have added your bio, it’s time to show off some of your skills. And what can be a better way to do that than to add a few sample pieces that you have previously completed.
Don’t limit this section to just one type of content. Add articles from different niches to help your visitors understand your writing style.
However, keep in mind not to overwhelm your audience with too many choices. Just add enough articles to demonstrate your skills. After all, it’s just a portfolio, not a blog right?
3. Add Credibility Through Testimonials and Social Proof
You must have seen businesses adding testimonials to their website. Have you ever wondered why this is done? Well, adding testimonials to your website helps build credibility for your business.
When people see testimonials of other people they know that you have truly worked with them. It’s like a way of validating your work. Testimonials aren’t strong sales pitches. They are unbiased voices from real people that help establish trust. Adding testimonials is a great way of converting more prospects to customers. So if you don’t have any testimonials yet, ask your existing clients to write one for you.
You can also use other forms of social proof that help you validate your experience. For example, if someone has mentioned you on social media and praised your work, go ahead and add it to your site. These mentions can act like testimonials and help you build credibility for your freelancing writing career.
4. Make More Conversions With a CTA
Adding a CTA is the next important step that you can’t forget. A CTA guides your visitors on what to do next to get in touch with you, hire you, ask a question, or do anything similar.
Not finding it on your site confuses your users because they have no other way to contact you(unless you add a contact form to your site). So make sure you add a clear CTA to your portfolio.
Optimize it by adding relevant texts like Hire me, Get in touch, request a quote, etc. Make it catchy enough to be noticeable by adding contrasting colors to the text and the button. Doing this is a very effective way to encourage your visitors to click on your CTA and convert.
So these are some of the most important elements to add to your writer’s portfolio if you want to land on your next client. Just remember that your portfolio appears clean and professional when a lead lands on your site. It is a super important tip to consider because a professional site can help you make a good first impression. You don’t have to make it super fancy. You’re a writer, not a designer after all. Just be smart enough to choose a good theme for your site and you’re done.
