What are the most effective pieces to include in your content marketing portfolio?

It's your personal signature. A content marketing portfolio isn't just a collection of your work; it's a reflection of your identity, voice, and aspirations as a content marketer. It shows who you are and what you stand for. and last but not least, It's a living document of your professional journey that will help you position, grow, and succeed in your industry.

Keeping the content you've produced for future reference is essential. A portfolio shows depth and breadth. Initially, it's easy to pick pieces you're proud of. Once you've done this for a few years it's hard to choose what to share. Key tip: store ALL your content produced over the years. Don't just rely on URLs because if someone changes their website you could lose your stuff! Even if you have to screenshot your stuff, do that.

A content marketing portfolio showcases the years of work you have put in to build your content niche. It is a reflection of your work and who you are as a person. It reflects your passion and creates an impression that lasts long. From my experience, a good content marketing portfolio has brought me business from unexpected places and people. It does open up a lot of avenues!

Content marketing portoflio depends on your niche and goals. Create a portfolio with numeorous case studies. It's important to show what you have achieved for your clients in different business stages. Sometimes you need to focus on building brand awareness, sometimes you need to push a brand SEO-wise, sometimes it all about crisis management, etc. Your portfolio should reflect your expertise, not everything you have ever done. Focus. Who do you want to attract, which type of clients? Build a portofolio for them.

The best way to stand out in such a competitive market as content writing is to pick a specific niche. And when you have a niche, you will need to niche down even further. Do you like writing about finance? Fintech could be your first niche. A level deeper might be fintech companies that have raised capital in the last year. It might sound like you are limiting your chances of getting a gig, but however, put yourself in the shoes of the CMO of a fintech that has recently raised capital. You will be the only content marketer with an offer specific to them, and you will stand out. To help this, you would need to tailor your portfolio with work that's relevant to the segment you chose. However, any good piece of content will do.

Don't underestimate the power of social proof. Include case studies that detail the challenges, solutions, and results of past campaigns. Client testimonials serve as endorsements of your skills and can significantly bolster your credibility.

A portfolio allows you to showcase not only your best work, but also the results and accomplishments behind it. This can be especially valuable when presenting your skills and value to potential clients or employers. A short professional bio provides insight into who you are, your background, and your content marketing journey. Use case studies and highlight specific projects where your content marketing efforts produced measurable results. Include the challenge, your strategy, execution and results. Include work samples such as written content (blog posts, articles, white papers etc.), visual content (infographics, videos, and social media graphics), and audio content such as podcast episodes or interviews, if applicable. And so on.

Focus on a pieces that showcase your versatility. Include: case studies, thought leadership pieces and videos based on your scripts. Don’t underestimate the power of short form content like social posts - most B2B companies are good at creating longer forms and need external skills to turn their content into viral short pieces.

Results, results, results. Make sure your portfolio has RESULTS. ?? Anyone can write a blog post, or a social media campaign, or a press release. But when someone looks at your portfolio, they want to see what your work generated. Whether it's simple impressions, or better yet, qualified leads/sales, it all matters. This information can be difficult to track for some small businesses or those on small marketing teams, but the power in data is huge.

One thing I've found helpful is to include a wide variety of content formats to show your potential buyers/users/employees that you can work with blog articles, LinkedIn posts, white papers, reports, interviews, case studies, success stories, outreach emails, infographics, etc. The more you can demonstrate - the better chances you have to draw attention to yourself. I know sometimes content writers choose to work only with one format like they write awesome blog articles and choose to grow their expertise only in this niche - and that's absolutely fine! Sometimes it's better to be excellent at one thing than to be less than average in multiple things. But if you work with multiple formats, why not show it?

To make your portfolio more compelling, include key performance indicators like click-through rates, engagement, and conversion metrics next to each piece. This offers quantitative proof of your skills and the effectiveness of your content strategy.

When I was freelancing, I wrote on a number of topics, ranging from internet security to weddings; home heating systems to education; healthcare to sales. In order to make my portfolio make sense, I section it into the various over-arching topics and then put examples of each (blogs, articles, eBooks, PDFs of newspaper clippings, emails, and research reports) under each section. If I didn't have that range of topics, I would instead section them by content type on my site.

Your content marketing portfolio is your chance to show a narrative that speaks volumes to your prospective employer or client. Imagine you're in their shoes as you organize your portfolio. Here's the secret sauce to organizing it: ?? Organize by channel (blog, newsletter, social media, etc.) ?? Categorize by funnel stage (TOFU, MOFU, BOFU) ?? Highlight the objective, approach, and outcomes for each piece. Content marketing portfolio is not just a collection of content pieces; it's a journey that tells the story of why, what, and how each piece fits into the overall marketing strategy. Pro tip: Remember to showcase your industry expertise. This adds an extra layer of credibility to your portfolio.

Start with determining the purpose of your portfolio. Are you looking for a job? Are you a freelancer trying to land clients? Each audience will prioritize different information, so set yourself up for success by designing your portfolio to address your target audience's priorities first.

Crafting a content marketing portfolio is more than selecting pieces. It's also about how you execute your the scope and limitations of your content. As for me, my strategy is to organize with utmost precision. I categorize tags, subjects, and filters for easy navigation. Yes, a catchy title, sharp description, and vibrant thumbnail amplify appeal. Yet, amid this aesthetic symphony, substance should sing louder. A coherent design is crucial, but authenticity must not be sacrificed at the altar of visual consistency. In the digital world, find the balance between leaving an impact and a memorable visual representation that's embodied in your portfolio.

Ultimately, a content marketing portfolio is a living document of your professional journey that will help you position, grow, and succeed in our dynamic industry. Collect quotes or letters from clients, colleagues, or supervisors that speak to your skills, work ethic, and results.

If you need to increase your public, shareable content marketing samples, consider volunteering your time and marketing skills for a local non-profit you support, or a professional membership organization.

Imagine your content portfolio as a wardrobe—always evolving, never static. Toss out the old trends, bring in the fresh fits. It's not just about what you think looks good; ask your audience. Get feedback like you're crowd-sourcing fashion advice. And hey, if a piece isn't turning heads, maybe it's time to retire it. Your portfolio is a living, breathing style statement. Keep it chic, keep it real, keep it you. After all, even fashion icons tweak their looks; your content should be no different.

Check your content portfolio at least every six months or so, even if you don't have a compelling reason to. Content gets taken down. Links change. Better and more recent content examples come along. It's the stuff that you don't see coming that you need to worry about.

To update and improve your content marketing portfolio, follow these tips: Add new work regularly: This shows that you are still active in the industry and that your skills are growing. Remove outdated or irrelevant work: Your portfolio should only include your best and most relevant work. Update your metrics and testimonials: This helps to demonstrate the value of your work and the impact you have made on your clients. Showcase your learning and development: Include any new skills or certifications you have earned, or any courses or workshops you have attended.

I've had excellent experience using a content hub instead of a traditional blog. The hub combines portfolio content pieces such as text, social media posts, videos and podcast episodes, and gives people the chance to dive deeper.

To get your portfolio in front of the right people, don't just build it and hope they will come. Use SEO techniques to get it ranking and invest in a few influencer shoutouts on social media. A little ad spend on platforms your target audience are on won't hurt either. Think of your portfolio as your highlight reel - the more people see it, the more opportunities you'll get.

Promote your portfolio strategically Share your portfolio or specific projects with relevant groups, communities, or influencers, and add value by providing insights, tips, or feedback. Engage with other product marketers and build relationships by commenting, liking, or sharing their work.

Why bother promoting your portfolio? Let it gather digital dust. Who has time for social media or networking? Ignore all that noise. The world will magically discover your portfolio, right? Well, the truth is, you need to be proactive. Share it on social media, in your email signature, and within your network.

Merely having a portfolio doesn't ensure visibility. Proactive promotion is pivotal. 1.SEO: Optimize your portfolio for search engines. A well-ranked portfolio naturally attracts more views. 2. Engage in Forums: Participate in industry-related forums and drop your portfolio link when relevant. 3. Collaborate: Partner with influencers or brands for webinars, and workshops, and tag your portfolio. 4. Referral Programs: Encourage referrals with incentives. 5. Public Speaking: Offer to speak at webinars, podcasts, or conferences, directing listeners to your portfolio. A strategically promoted portfolio amplifies opportunities and establishes an industry presence.

Updating your content marketing portfolio frequently is a crucial step that many overlook. It's not just about showcasing your work but ensuring that it's relevant, up-to-date. In addition, when applying for jobs, don't overlook the importance of putting functional contact details. Because you don't want to miss out on opportunities.

In my experience, it's better to include and showcase the articles that you consider the best. For me, those are the ones where I had to spend days and nights researching, interviewing people, creating infographics, and really going out of my way to create something unique. These articles stood out from the crowd and drew a lot of attention, so, in my case, I would include those. As a content writer, you probably know which pieces of content are your best, so be sure to include them.

Make sure your content portfolio contains links to anything that's longer than a social media post. Content is meant to be read and experienced. Not viewed through a screenshot-sized window.

In simple terms: Answering audience questions in a away showcasing the value proposition & emphizise on a winning positioning of the brand.

So many tips on what 'to' include in a content marketing portfolio, but what's more important? What 'not' to include. Many people think more is more when it comes to portfolios, but this is just not the case. It's just as important on what you leave out, as to what you include. Here are a few tips from someone who has personally reviewed thousands of portfolios: -- Choose a specialization and have a clear focus. -- Make sure your collection of work tells the story you want told. What do you want to be known for? -- Edit wisely. I've been overwhelmed by portfolios with thousands of samples. Nobody has time to review all of that. Your portfolio should be a living, changing representation of your work, not a diary of your past!