On this age of on-line all the pieces, your internet presence could make or break your freelance profession, particularly in the event you’re simply beginning out as a contract author.
If potential shoppers don’t know you by popularity, they want a fast, simple method to suss out your work, your model and your stage of professionalism. Whereas social media accounts can do wonders (having a couple of thousand followers by no means damage a freelancer’s credibility), you’ll want greater than that as your on-line calling card.
That’s the place your on-line portfolio comes into play. Even in the event you’re not fairly able to begin a weblog, a easy portfolio web site that promotes your freelance writing can do rather a lot that can assist you land shoppers.
This Article Options 10 Portfolio Web sites to Think about
No matter which of those portfolio web sites you determine to go along with, it is best to purpose for these two issues:
1.Simple-to-read clips: If somebody is trying to rent you, their foremost aim in coming to your web site is to learn your work and see in the event that they prefer it. Make it easy for them!
2. Uncluttered design: If a potential consumer can’t discover what they want in lower than 10 seconds, you’ve received an excessive amount of happening. You’ve misplaced their consideration… and a possible consumer.
Simple-to-use Portfolio Web sites to Showcase Your Work
An internet portfolio that fulfills these two fundamental standards doesn’t need to be difficult to create. You’ve received a number of good portfolio design instruments that can assist you get there! And in the event you’re searching for free portfolio web sites, we’ve received you lined there too.
Once you’re able to land your subsequent freelance writing job, listed here are some easy-to-use portfolio web sites to select from.
1. Squarespace
Squarespace is an easy drag-and-drop web site builder that provides a stellar visible expertise. Whereas this isn’t a conventional portfolio web site (neither is it focused solely at writers), it’s a very sensible choice in the event you incorporate design or graphics into your work.
Their templates give off a clear, minimalist and complicated vibe. And their responsive design is rock stable—an essential issue when potential shoppers wish to view your writing on their telephones or tablets. Whereas there are numerous web site constructing instruments—like Wix and Weebly—Squarespace comes out forward for its modern visible design.
Cool Function: Caught on a design difficulty whereas constructing your portfolio at 3 a.m.? Squarespace’s 24/7 consumer help (through e-mail or dwell chat from Monday to Friday) is top-notch. With the ability to talk with an actual human being when you have got a query or difficulty could make freelance life that a lot simpler.
Free model: No however there’s a free trial
Improve possibility: It prices $12 per thirty days for a private web site with a free customized area. For enterprise and commerce variations, which embody search engine optimization options, superior analytics, fully-integrated e-commerce and limitless storage, it prices $18 to $40 per thirty days.
2. Clippings.me
Clippings.me was created explicitly for freelance journalists. It offers you a fast and straightforward method to exhibit your favourite clips, and add simply sufficient element about your self to make you appear human. Like Journo Portfolio, you’ll be able to add hyperlinks, add PDFs or embed multimedia items, together with podcasts. And in the event you get caught discovering the suitable phrases to promote your self or in the event you want some design steering, take a look at their Writing Portfolio Information.
Clippings.me additionally gives an open journalism listing the place you’ll be able to browse journalists primarily based on beats or by nation to search out potential interviewees for the tales you cowl You might (hopefully) use it to achieve entry to extra potential shoppers.
Cool Function: Simplicity is the secret. have the naked minimal technical expertise however nonetheless desire a refreshing format to your on-line portfolio, this can be a nice alternative.
Free model: Sure! It’s free for the fundamental model, which permits as much as 10 articles.
Improve possibility: The professional model prices $9.99 per thirty days, which incorporates limitless clippings, downloadable resume on profile, contact varieties, search engine marketing (search engine optimization) and portfolio privateness, password-protected portfolio and options like Google Analytics integration so you’ll be able to measure views.
3. Muck Rack
Muck Rack is a media database that helps join journalists and PR professionals—and their platform offers writers a slick method to simply showcase their work.
It creates and maintains the portfolio for you by robotically compiling articles, retailers, and social media profiles, which is among the best choices when it comes to each set-up and upkeep. You’ll be able to customise your web page by including a bio, itemizing your beats and spotlighting your greatest items.
Muck Rack boasts it’s the simplest, most limitless method to construct your portfolio, develop your following and quantify your influence. The perfect half? It’s all free.
Cool Function: Do you ever surprise how huge your attain is? With Muck Rack’s Who Shared My Hyperlink instrument, you’ll be able to immediately see the full variety of social shares to your article and which different journalists shared your tales.
Free model: Sure! It’s free for all customers. Further options are unlocked for journalists Muck Rack verifies—take a look at the standards to turn out to be a verified journalist.
4. The Freelancer by Contently
The Freelancer by Contently is a portfolio web site particularly for freelance writers and journalists. Along with serving as your on-line portfolio, it will possibly function a spot to search out work and join immediately with shoppers. Listed below are its prime three compelling options:
- It makes use of a easy and single-page portfolio interface the place you’ll be able to show a limiteless variety of initiatives or weblog posts
- Potential shoppers can filter initiatives primarily based on the shoppers you’ve labored with, matters and expertise, that are nice for writers that work in a number of industries
- Freelancers with skilled expertise would possibly even be contacted for freelance alternatives with shoppers like Marriott, Microsoft and Walmart
Cool Function: Contently has a charges database so you’ll be able to see what different freelancers earn, and a contract charges calculator that can assist you decide the quantity it is best to cost for every consumer.
Free model: Sure! It’s free for writers. (Shoppers pay to faucet into that community.)
5. Journo Portfolio
On Journo Portfolio, you’ll be able to create a contemporary, no-fuss on-line portfolio. The dashboard is straightforward to make use of: customise your web site’s look with six distinct themes, and type your clips into any variety of pages or content material blocks.
One other useful characteristic is the vary of how you’ll be able to share supplies: hyperlink on to clips (simply kind within the URL and Journo Portfolio will seize the title, publication, date, and content material), or add virtually any sort of multimedia, together with PDFs, movies and pictures.
Cool Function: That can assist you hold monitor of your metrics, Journo Portfolio’s built-in analytics present you what number of guests your web site has had, how lengthy they spent on the positioning and the place they got here from. Wanna go the additional mile? combine your dashboard together with your non-public Google Analytics account so you’ll be able to entry all of the uncooked information out there.
Free model: Sure! It’s free for a reputation.journoportfolio.com URL, and you may host as much as 10 articles.
Improve possibility: For the professional model, pay $5 to $10 per thirty days. That features limitless pages, article back-ups, and the power to make use of your individual area, like www.yourname.com.
6. WordPress.com
WordPress is the grandfather of content material administration platforms. Whereas not particularly geared in direction of on-line portfolios, the enjoyment of WordPress is that you are able to do just about something you need with it. It’s out there as a completely free, no-frills weblog; a paid model with extra bells and whistles; or the “install-it-yourself-and-do-whatever-the-hell-you-like setup.”
Your normal WordPress themes aren’t all ultimate for portfolio work, however search Google for “WordPress portfolio themes” and also you’ll have all the pieces you can ask for—WordPress even gives this devoted portfolio splash web page! This can be a nice platform for individuals who need a number of choices and whole artistic management (and who don’t thoughts fussing round with just a little CSS).
Cool Function: Since WordPress is so adaptable, it may be a great place to begin in the event you assume it’s your decision one thing past a portfolio web site someplace down the road. That method, while you notice that you just wish to be each a contract author and photographer, you’re not caught on a platform the place you’ll be able to’t exhibit your different expertise.
Free model: Sure! For a fundamental weblog.
Improve possibility: For extra management over how the positioning seems and capabilities, some freelancers select to improve to the $8-per-month premium possibility. That offers you entry to advertising and monetization instruments, limitless premium themes and superior web site design customization.
7. Author’s Residence
Run by Monica Shaw and Tim Harding, a author and programmer duo within the UK, Author’s Residence portfolios have two easy targets:
- To make it hassle-free for writers to showcase their greatest work with a gorgeous web site
- To provide writers a invaluable instrument that they’ll use to market their careers
Whether or not you’re an aspiring freelance author or a broadcast writer, Author’s Residence understands {that a} effectively designed web site highlights your professionalism and makes it simple for editors to see your work. Carry your individual area or use certainly one of theirs, get artistic with their number of templates and use their “brain-dead easy system” to have your web site up and working in half-hour.
Cool Function: No HTML expertise? No biggie! Once you create a portfolio with Author’s Residence, they handle the design so you’ll be able to follow your experience—writing. Right here, you’d construct your web site with plain textual content utilizing their easy varieties. And in the event you do wish to get fancy, customization is an possibility, too.
Free model: Sure! All accounts include a 30-day free trial.
Improve possibility: After the trial, proceed managing your web site for $8.99 per thirty days (or £5.49) on this simple platform that allows you to add a limiteless variety of writing samples and offers immediate and private buyer help.
8. Writerfolio
The writing business is extremely aggressive—make your writing stand out with an interesting {and professional} Writerfolio portfolio to depart an awesome first impression with shoppers and editors. That’s certain to land you your subsequent writing job!
On this platform that additionally requires no laptop expertise, you’ll be able to construct a portfolio with limitless writing samples with attachment uploads, a wide range of themes to select from, a simple fill-in-the-blanks portfolio setup and extra.
Cool Function: They’ve a 100% satisfaction assure—in the event you’re not 100% joyful, they’ll refund you with no questions requested.
Free model: No, however you’ll be able to check out a free demo with out night signing up!
Improve possibility: Memberships price $4 per thirty days and include a whole on-line writing portfolio at yourname.writerfolio.com (however you should utilize yourname.com, in the event you already personal it).
9. Format
Any sort of artist can discover a residence right here, from photographers and designers to writers and illustrators. Format offers a formidable collection of curated themes to suit your distinctive model, giving you a stunning digital canvas to point out off your greatest work.
Your portfolio with Format shall be robotically optimized for cellular—so shoppers can view your work from any system—and you may take pleasure in limitless bandwidth and weblog posts, copyright safety for any picture you add, plus social media integration. Format may also provide you with a free area title for a yr!
Want some design inspo? Take a look at these author portfolios utilizing Format’s themes.
Cool Function: For when you have to make a change on-the-fly, Format’s iOS apps make it simple so that you can exhibit your portfolio, handle your menu gadgets and create and write weblog posts anyplace you go.
Free model: No, however you’ll be able to attempt it free for 2 weeks to see if it’s a match!
Improve possibility: With the Professional, Professional Plus and Limitless plans, creatives can tailor their web site with dozens of themes, customized code enhancing, 24/7 help and search engine optimization instruments. A bit on the dear facet, month-to-month membership prices vary from $12 to $25
10. Carbonmade
Carbonmade has been constructing portfolio instruments for creatives since 2005. Fifteen years later, they provide lots of of options particularly constructed for creatives:
- They will personalize your place to begin layouts particularly to your occupation
- Carbonmade is robotically responsive and optimized for all gadgets so your web site at all times seems nice
- You’ll be able to hyperlink your individual area or select from those included in all plans: title.carbonmade.com, title.portfolio.web site or title.gfx.work choices
- Audio and PDF add help
Cool Function: As a substitute of sticking to a sure theme or format, Carbonmade helps you to use dozens of versatile format blocks to design your web site—simply drag and drop to create your dream portfolio. No limitations right here.
Free model: No, however take a look at the free trial!
Improve possibility: Month-to-month membership prices vary from $8 to $18. For the price of two espresso cups per thirty days, writers usually benefit from the $8 plan for entry to eight initiatives and limitless photos and movies.
Examples of on-line portfolio web sites
Now that you just’ve received a number of portfolio web sites to select from, wish to see a few of them in motion?
We’ve compiled an inventory of on-line writing portfolios to encourage you. Right here’s the place to take a look at some on-line portfolio examples.
The unique model of this story was written by Annie Rose Favreau. We up to date the put up so it’s extra helpful for our readers.
