How do you tailor your portfolio of your writing samples to different audiences and purposes?

1 Identify your audience and purpose

The first step to tailor your portfolio is to identify your audience and purpose. Who are you writing for and what do you want them to do or think after reading your samples? For example, if you're applying for a job as a copywriter, your audience is the hiring manager and your purpose is to persuade them that you have the skills and experience they need. If you're pitching a client as a freelance writer, your audience is the potential client and your purpose is to convince them that you can deliver high-quality content that meets their needs and goals. If you're building your personal brand as a writer, your audience is your target market and your purpose is to establish your credibility and authority in your niche.

2 Select relevant and diverse samples

The next step is to select relevant and diverse samples that match your audience and purpose. You want to choose samples that demonstrate your ability to write for different formats, styles, tones, and topics. For example, if you're applying for a job as a copywriter, you might include samples of web copy, blog posts, landing pages, email campaigns, and social media posts. If you're pitching a client as a freelance writer, you might include samples of content that are similar to what they need, such as white papers, case studies, ebooks, or newsletters. If you're building your personal brand as a writer, you might include samples of content that showcase your expertise, voice, and value proposition, such as articles, podcasts, videos, or books.

3 Organize and present your samples

The final step is to organize and present your samples in a way that is easy to navigate and appealing to your audience. You want to make sure that your portfolio is accessible, professional, and consistent. For example, you might use a website, a PDF, or a cloud-based platform to host your portfolio. You might also use categories, tags, filters, or thumbnails to sort your samples by format, style, tone, or topic. You might also include a brief introduction, a summary, or a testimonial for each sample to highlight its purpose, context, and results.

By following these steps, you can tailor your portfolio of your writing samples to different audiences and purposes. This will help you showcase your writing skills and experience in the best possible light and increase your chances of landing the job, the client, or the recognition you want.