You want to showcase your copywriting skills. What's the best way to build a portfolio?

1 Choose your niche

Before you start collecting samples of your work, you need to decide what kind of copywriting you want to focus on. Do you want to write for web, print, social media, email, or a combination of these? Do you have a specific industry, audience, or topic that you are passionate about or have expertise in? Choosing a niche will help you narrow down your portfolio and target the clients who need your services.

2 Create your own projects

If you are new to copywriting or have limited experience, you might not have enough samples to fill your portfolio. Don't worry, you can create your own projects to showcase your skills and creativity. For example, you can rewrite an existing ad, website, or landing page that you think could be improved. You can also write a blog post, an email campaign, or a social media post for a hypothetical or real client. Just make sure to explain the context, the goal, and the outcome of your projects.

3 Use a variety of formats

One of the benefits of copywriting is that you can write for different platforms, media, and purposes. To show your versatility and adaptability, you should include a variety of formats in your portfolio. For example, you can include a long-form sales letter, a short headline, a catchy slogan, a testimonial, a case study, or a video script. You can also use different tones, voices, and styles to suit different brands and audiences.

4 Highlight your results

Copywriting is not just about writing well, it's also about writing effectively. That means you need to show how your copywriting can help your clients achieve their goals, whether it's increasing sales, generating leads, building trust, or raising awareness. To do that, you should highlight the results of your work in your portfolio. For example, you can use metrics, such as click-through rates, conversions, revenue, or engagement, to quantify your impact. You can also use feedback, reviews, or testimonials from your clients or customers to qualify your value.

6 Choose a platform

Finally, you need to choose a platform where you can display your portfolio and share it with potential clients. There are many options available, depending on your budget, preference, and needs. You can use a free or paid website builder, such as WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, to create your own website. You can also use a portfolio platform, such as Contently, PortfolioBox, or JournoPortfolio, to host your work. Alternatively, you can use a PDF or a Google Drive folder to store your samples and send them via email or a link.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?