How to Get Your First Writing Client Without Any Testimonials
Not having any testimonials?
Don’t know how to create a professional Portfolio?
What stuff/samples need to be included in the portfolio?
How to get an unfair advantage over other writer portfolios?
How do you reach out to people to get paid?
All these things going to be covered in this article.
The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Writing Portfolio—5 Steps
Point 1: Choose a HOME for your Portfolio
Is your work in one place?
Imagine for a second, if you pitch someone and they ask for your all work then how are you going to show?
You need something that if you direct someone then they will get everything from bio to your SAMPLE easily in one place.
For this, we need to choose a portfolio platform where we going to keep our samples, some links, and an about page.
Here is 3 best place for a portfolio:
- Personal website
- Contently/Journo Portfolio
I recommend going with LinkedIn if you don’t have a single dollar.
But it will be good if you make your personal website this will build trust that you are serious about writing and your Conversion rate also will increase.
Think for a second as a Boss if someone comes and gives his website and on its website, you get samples to about page to social media links everything this makes the process easy and smooth.
Go with your Personal Website + LinkedIn for the best result.
Point 2: GATHER Your Best Work
You going for a writing job and the interviewer asks show me the work that you did in the past then what you will going to show.
If you have written something in the past then collect those samples try to collect 5–10 samples on a variety of topics.
If you don’t have then sit and write a minimum of 1,000 words because you need to show yourself that you know how to write.
The best thing you can do is if you targeting technical writing work then write 2–5 pieces on technical stuff and then update your portfolio.
This will increase your chance of acceptance.
Choose a Variety of writing samples minimum of 5–10 pieces of more than 1,000 words.
This thing you can show in a PDF by storing it in Google Drive and sharing by link, or Docs files or Link where you published like a Medium article.
3. People Buy STORY
I am the best content writer or I can write engaging SEO-driven articles nobody going to hire you because so many people like you say the same thing.
How to differentiate yourself?
If you have a fancy degree from Harvard or Standford or your content is published in the New York Times then you have an unfair advantage.
But not everyone has this unfair advantage so what do you do?
Play with your story instead of saying my hobby is playing football.
In your about page write a genuine story of yourself why you chose writing, how you enjoy this, how you going to take your writing next level, and what stuff learning to improve your writing — A complete genuine story.
If a beggar comes and asks directly to give me money most probability is you not give but if his friend comes and tells some stories about him then very high chance you will give money.
People buy story first then your product or service second.
4. TESTIMONIAL or Refrenecer
If you have testimonials or any recommendations then yes your journey is about to get easier. Congratulation🎉
But very high chance if you reading this article you don’t have any testimonials or recommendations so what to do?
If you have money they go on Fiverr and buy some testimonials which I don’t recommend.
Best thing that you can do is to earn testimonials and from this, your writing also going to be polished.
How?
Approach some writer/freelance writer/Agency that I am going to write 5 pieces of content or I am going to work for free for the one month I need in exchange for my work a testimonials.
You are not an expert you also know the best thing you can do is OFFER FREE work.
Best way to get testimonials and a very high chance that The person for whom you worked for free will start paying you if you have done good work.
OFFER free work, get 5–6 testimonials in the form of sentences or good if they give a 10–20 second short video try to ask for a video then jump on point 5.
5. PROMOTE Your Portfolio
After getting the testimonial you need to promote your awesome portfolio like crazy on social media, from your rooftop shout that I get testimonial people to love my work, I want more work.
Start reaching out, the best thing you can do is reach an agency/freelance writer or make an account on a freelancing site avoid Fiverr and Upwork.
Now when you have a testimonial this shows that you know how to write good content and people also trust you and because of your testimonial you can also charge a good amount.
If you don’t have a testimonial maybe people pay you $50 but for the same work if you have a testimonial you can charge $150 and people are willing to give happily.
Promote your portfolio, start reaching out to people, and after the testimonial sky is the limit to earning.
🎉Bonus: Don’t neglect this!
A very common mistake people make is if you writing a sample that you going to show then make it error-free do format the heading/subheading very well.
Your content needs to look good not only in reading but also in structure.
The best thing for enhancing your content you can do is to use graphics/infographics/images to make it visually appealing this will give you an extra edge over the competition.
Now I’m praying for you — Best wishes
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