Freelancer Writer Portfolio Examples: How to Showcase Your Best Work

As a professional in the business of online writing portfolios, I've encountered hundreds of freelance writer portfolio examples—the good, the bad, and the ugly, along with some that truly stand out! To assist you in turning your portfolio into an asset that genuinely reflects your best professional self, I've compiled a selection of freelance writer portfolio examples. These examples, created by our users with Writer's Residence, showcase the work of both beginners and students, as well as seasoned writers who have been freelancing for years.

Freelance Writer Portfolio Examples

Each of these portfolios illustrates the essential elements that make a freelance writer's portfolio effective: simplicity, professionalism, and clarity. By following their lead and incorporating the tips I've outlined in detail below, you can create a portfolio that not only showcases your best work but also attracts the clients you want to work with.

• Monica Shaw - Yep, that's me! My background is as diverse as it gets. See how I handled it in my portfolio.
• JW Porter - I love how this portfolio demonstrates a strong effective use of client feedback.
• The Noted Writer - A great example for those specializing in the booming trade of health and medical writing.
• Charlotte Waterworth - Exemplifies a clean design, professionalism, and personality.
• David Sason - An epic use of categories to organize a varied set of freelance writing samples.
• Zachary Mills - A good writing portfolio example for freelance beginners and students

Dive in and create your own writing portfolio or read on for my top tips to learn

• Why freelance writers need an online writing portfolio
• Features that all great freelance writing portfolios share
• How to make a freelance writing portfolio
• Common portfolio mistakes and how to avoid them.

Why Do Freelance Writers Need an Online Portfolio?

If you have a blog and/or a LinkedIn profile, you might wonder if having a freelance writing portfolio is redundant. But think about it: how do freelance writers get work? It's often through cold outreach (e.g. freelance writer letters of introduction) and pitches for work. Sure, you could send a link to your blog or your Medium site, or attach a document, or send a link to your LinkedIn profile, but there's a few problems here... 

• The blog post that the editor / client stumbles upon may not necessarily reflect your very best work - we all have off days! 
• People hate getting attachments in emails 
• LinkedIn might show your writer bio, but it doesn't necessarily get to the crux of your writing ability like a writing sample would

According to Recruiter.com, 56% of hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate's personal website than any other personal branding tool, yet only 7% of job seekers have one. A freelance writing portfolio is your opportunity to pack a punch. Sell yourself with a strong writer bio and showcase examples of your very best work. So let's get into some of those details..

What Should Be in a Freelance Writing Portfolio?

A freelance writing portfolio is often the first impression potential clients get of your capabilities, style, and professionalism. While there's no one-size-fits-all formula for success, standout freelance writer portfolio examples share several key features that make them effective. Here’s what they include:

1. Clean, Simple Design That Puts the Writing First

Your portfolio should highlight your work, not distract from it. Opt for a minimalist design that makes it easy for clients to navigate your samples.

2. A Powerful but Concise Professional Writer Bio

A compelling writer bio not only introduces the writer but also highlights their unique value proposition, writing specialties, and what sets them apart from others in the field. Introduce yourself with a bio that speaks to your expertise, experience, and personality. Keep it short but impactful, letting clients know exactly what you bring to the table.

3. Excellent Writing Samples - Quality Over Quantity

Focus on showcasing your best work. Include a variety of samples that demonstrate your range and expertise. Remember, it’s about showing the breadth of your skills, not just the volume of your work. To that end, diversity can be a good thing here! Highlight the value of having a range of writing samples to showcase versatility. This is especially important for students or beginners who may not have published work but can include class assignments, contributions to school publications, or personal blog posts. Check out these writing sample tips for inspiration. And learn how to create writing samples if you have no experience.

4. Clear Organization, Writing Samples Are Categorized

Help potential clients find exactly what they’re looking for by categorizing your samples. Whether it's by industry, content type, or theme, organization is key. For example...

5. Easy to Find Contact Information

Don’t make clients search for a way to contact you. Include clear, visible contact information on every page of your portfolio. This should ideally include your email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile at the very minimum.

6. Nice to Have: Client Testimonials / Case Studies

If you have them, include testimonials or case studies from past clients. They provide social proof of your skills and professionalism.

How to Make a Freelance Writing Portfolio

Creating a compelling freelance writing portfolio might seem daunting, but it's simpler than you think. Here’s how to get started:

First Off, Stop Procrastinating!

The first step is the hardest: beginning. Set aside time in your schedule and commit to starting your portfolio. With today's technology, there are no excuses.

Come Prepared

Brainstorm Your Writer Bio - Think about how you want to present yourself. What are your strengths? What makes you unique? Get inspired here: How to write a compelling writer bio.

Gather Your Best Freelance Writing Samples - Select samples that showcase your range and quality. Include links and images if applicable. If you have a huge range of work, don't get bogged down - force yourself to start with your 10 best pieces and go from there. 

Pick Your Platform

There are a huge array of portfolio websites for writers out there, it can be overwhelming to choose. I'm naturally biased towards Writer's Residence and maintain that it's the fastest, easiest way for freelance writers (even those without technical skills) to get online with a portfolio. We favour ease of use and simplicity (for both the freelance writer and the reader). Other sites have flashier designs, but I argue they dilute the writing. Still, it's for you to decide. Read more in my round up of The Best Portfolio Websites for Writers. 

Pro tip: Choose a platform that allows for a custom domain name. This enhances your professional image and SEO. See why all writers should have a custom domain name.

Build Out Your Portfolio

Don’t get bogged down by design details initially. Focus on getting your best work and essential information online. You can refine as you go. Most services (including ours) include some stock design templates to make it easy to get started.

Pro Tip: Time box the time you spend building your portfolio to 1-2 hours (or less). If you've come prepared, it shouldn't take you long to build a freelance writing portfolio that you can instantly start using to market your work. Avoid getting bogged down in design minutia. Website builders for freelance writers like Writer's Residence make it easy - upload your writer bio and your best writing samples and you'll be good to go.

Learn More: Create an Online Writing Portfolio in 5 Steps

Common Freelance Writing Portfolio Mistakes and How to Avoid them

Did I mention I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of freelance writing portfolios? Well we can all learn from the bad and the ugly. Here are common freelance writing portfolio mistakes I've come across and how you can mitigate against them...

1. Overlooking the Importance of First Impressions

• Mistake: Choosing a cluttered, complicated design that overshadows the content.

• Avoid by: Opting for a clean, simple layout that highlights your work and makes navigation effortless for visitors.

2. Not Tailoring Your Portfolio to Your Target Audience

• Mistake: Including a broad range of writing samples that don’t specifically cater to the type of clients you want to attract.

• Avoid by: Curating your portfolio to showcase work that aligns with your niche or the sectors you aim to serve, making it clear why you're the best choice for those specific clients.

3. Failing to Update Regularly

• Mistake: Letting your portfolio become outdated, with old samples that no longer reflect your current skill level or areas of expertise.

• Avoid by: Regularly reviewing and updating your portfolio to include recent projects, reflect any new skills, and remove any work that no longer represents your best.

4. Neglecting the Bio and Contact Information

• Mistake: Providing a generic bio that doesn’t sell your unique strengths or making it hard for potential clients to contact you.

• Avoid by: Crafting a compelling bio that clearly states what you offer and ensuring your contact information is easy to find and up to date.

5. Quantity Over Quality

• Mistake: Including too many samples just to bulk up the portfolio, risking dilution of quality.

• Avoid by: Being selective about what you include, focusing on quality over quantity to ensure each piece strongly represents your abilities.

6. Not Providing Context for Your Work

• Mistake: Simply listing or linking to your writing samples without any explanation or context.

• Avoid by: Adding a brief description for each sample, explaining the project, your role, the goals, and any results achieved, which can provide more insight into your capabilities and process.

7. Ignoring SEO and Online Visibility

• Mistake: Neglecting SEO best practices, making it harder for potential clients to find your portfolio online.

• Avoid by: Using relevant keywords in your portfolio’s title, bio, and descriptions, and ensuring your site is indexed by search engines. Consider also maintaining an active blog or presence on social media platforms to improve visibility. (Writer's Residence comes with built-in blogging capability and SEO features.)

8. Not Showcasing a Range of Skills

• Mistake: Freelance writing often means taking on a variety of gigs, so don't focus your portfolio too narrowly on one type of writing or format.

• Avoid by: Including a variety of formats and styles (e.g., blog posts, articles, case studies, press releases) to demonstrate versatility, especially if you're open to working on diverse projects.

9. Lacking Personal Branding

• Mistake: Having a portfolio that feels impersonal or fails to convey your professional identity.

• Avoid by: Integrating elements of personal branding, such as a professional logo (I'm a big fan of Fiverr for this), a consistent color scheme, and a tone of voice that reflects your personality and writing style.

A portfolio website builder like Writer's Residence can go a long way to helping avoid these mistakes because it contains built-in features that help writers get their portfolio right, particularly when it comes to design, usability, and SEO. 

For even more help and inspiration with freelance writing portfolios, join my Substack community. In the meantime, keep on thriving! 

FAQs

How frequently should a freelance writer update their portfolio to keep it relevant and reflective of their current skills and experiences?

To keep your portfolio fresh and engaging, consider updating it every few months or after completing a noteworthy project. This regular refresh not only showcases your latest work but also demonstrates your active engagement in your field.

Incorporating personal flair into your professional portfolio is about striking a balance. You want to ensure your unique voice and style shine through without compromising the professional quality and relevance of your work. It's about blending who you are with what you do in a way that appeals to potential clients or employers.

Choosing which pieces to include in your portfolio can be a strategic decision. Select work that not only highlights your best skills but also shows the diversity of your capabilities. This approach ensures you're ready for a wide range of opportunities, showcasing your adaptability and depth as a writer.

What specific strategies can freelance writers use to effectively highlight their niche expertise within their portfolio, especially if they have a broad range of writing experiences?

To highlight niche expertise within a broad portfolio, freelance writers should curate their work to showcase standout pieces in their area of specialization. Creating separate sections or categories within the portfolio for different niches can help. Including a personal bio or an introductory statement that emphasizes their niche expertise and how it benefits clients adds context and frames their work. Tailoring the portfolio for the target audience or specific job applications by selecting the most relevant pieces demonstrates a focused skill set, even within a diverse range of experiences. This strategic presentation ensures that potential clients quickly grasp the writer's strengths and specialty areas.

Are there any common legal considerations or copyright issues freelance writers should be aware of when displaying published work in their portfolio, especially work created for clients or publications?

Yes, when displaying published work, freelance writers should be mindful of copyright laws and the specific terms of their agreements with clients or publications. It's important to check if the copyright belongs to the writer or has been transferred to the client or publication. Writers may need permission to display certain works in their portfolio, especially if the copyright is not owned by them. Additionally, using excerpts instead of full articles, and providing links back to the original published work, can sometimes navigate copyright issues while still showcasing their work. Always review contracts and, if in doubt, seek permission or legal advice.