writing samples portfolio

29 Writing Portfolio Examples & Practical Tips to Create Yours

Check these writing portfolio examples and get tips for yours!

• Portfolio Tips
• January 4, 2021

You can read thousands of guides on creating a writing portfolio –and you might still end up staring at your screen, not knowing where to start. Because sometimes what we need even more is to see real-life examples and get some inspiration. And that’s exactly what we’re going to show you today.

We collected 29 writing portfolio examples: real websites of real writers, to give you some idea about what usually goes into them and what they tend to look like. But keep on reading, because we’ve also added some brief and practical tips for creating your writing portfolio .

29 real-life writing portfolio examples

• Shanice Perriatt

2. Christian Boutwell

3. Rebecca Georgia

4. Emma Buckley

5. Lara Ramirez

6. Halle Snavely

7. Felicia Ang

8. Carly Zumar

9. Erica Sykora

10. James Tweddle

11. Kat Boogard

12. The Literary Co.

13. Fika Bahroeny

14. Robin Catalano  

15. Eve L. Ewing

16. Ann Friedman

17. Alejandro Castro  

18. Brent Barnhart  

19. Malek Murison

20. Kristi Hines

21. Jesca Austin

22. Tyler Womack  

23. Libby Hakim

24. Tomi Adeyemi

25. Micky Treutlein

26. Daniel Forte

27. Jim Vallet

28. Simon Steinhardt

29. Leah Chamberg

If you’d like to see more specific examples, check out our collection of copywriting portfolio examples –or our article about creative writing portfolios .

Here’s what you can learn from these writing portfolio examples

What is a writing portfolio and why do you need one.

Let’s start with the basics. A writing portfolio is essentially a website that houses your best pieces of writing. Those writing samples live on your site along with the most important information about you and your work that a potential client or employer needs to know. Based on that, they should be able to decide if they want to hire you as a writer or not.

How to get writing samples for your portfolio?

Having a website to host all of your work is one part of having a portfolio. But collecting the writing samples themselves is just as important. If you have years of writing experience, where you get them from is given. But what if you’re just starting out and need some credible pieces to add in there? Let’s see a few options you have:

• Spec ads or made-up projects. The term ‘spec ads’ will be most commonly known among copywriters –they refer to advertisements that a designer and a copywriter create just for practice. The same goes for other writers too: just make up a project and follow through with it. Even though it’s not real client work, these projects work wonderfully in portfolios, as they still clearly show your skills and writing style. You’ll find lots of these when browsing writing portfolio examples.
• Work for friends or family. The next step between making up projects and getting real client work is offering your writing services to those around you. If there’s anyone with a business that you could write for, ask them! Just make sure to tell them that you’d like to include it in your portfolio and do your best while completing the assignment.
• Guest posting. Another popular way, mostly for content writers, is guest posting. That means writing an article and applying to post it on someone else’s blog. There are different ways to approach it, but the end result is the same: a blog post with your name on it, on an (ideally) credible site, linking back to you. If you can get your name on a few well-known sites, it will look amazing in your portfolio, that’s for sure.
• Publishing on Medium. Guest posting takes a lot of pitching and sending lots of outreach emails. If you don’t want to do that, you can go ahead and start publishing your content on Medium instead. Without having to create your own blog, you can add your pieces and link to them from your portfolio website.
• Posting on your own accounts. Creating content and writing copy for social media is a popular area for writers –and what better way to show off your skills in it than using your own accounts? Nobody will restrict you or tell you what to do and you can also rest assured that it will stay online, just as you originally posted it. 

7 tips for creating a website based on these writing portfolio examples

We’ve now gone through what a writing portfolio is , why you need one, and how to get writing samples to fill it up. We even checked a bunch of writing portfolio examples to get a little boost of inspiration. What’s next? 

Getting to work and actually creating your writing portfolio website . Keep on reading for our best tips to make that process a hundred times easier and more productive for you.

Create an organized website for easier browsing

Clients and hiring managers don’t have all the time in the world: expect them to spend a maximum of 10 minutes going through your portfolio. And that’s why it’s incredibly important to have an organized website that they can navigate easily. 

With the very first look, they should already know who you are and what you do. And they should also be able to navigate to your projects in under a minute. Once they’re done with checking your work, they have to be able to find your contact information easily.

Having a good experience on your website will also help you make a good (digital) first impression with them. 

Limit the number of your projects to save time for the viewer

Following the same line of thought, limiting the number of projects you showcase will also help your viewers to actually finish reading through everything. We recommend adding around 4-6 projects, as you could see that in the writing portfolio examples above too.

With that many featured projects, you can showcase a good variety of samples, without overwhelming your visitors. Just remember, your motto for your writing projects in your portfolio should be quality over quantity.

Use eye-catching thumbnails for better conversion rates

Getting someone on your site and guiding them to your case studies is the first step. Making them actually click through is the next. How can you do that? With eye-catching thumbnails.

Humans are naturally drawn to images (and especially faces), so choosing ones that stand out can help to drastically improve the click-through rates on your site. Just make sure that the image you choose:

• visually fits in nicely with the site and the other images around it,
• will be visible even on smaller devices like tablets and smartphones,
• and that it actually has something to do with the project it represents.

Write case studies to show exactly what people want to know

Okay, let’s see the list so far: they are on your website. ✓ They know who you are and what you do. ✓ They found your projects and clicked on them to see more. ✓ 

Now is the time to convince them of your professionalism by taking them through your best projects. Here’s what you’ll have to include about each of them.

• A brief summary. Write a sentence or two to summarize the project. If someone only has time to read that, they should still find out the type, topic, and scale of the project.
• The project background. Write a little bit about the client you worked with and the task you were given. It will help the readers better understand and assess the final piece.
• The creative process. Sometimes seeing how you think and solve problems is even more important than the actual results. So talk a little bit about your creative process while working on the project before showing what you came up with in the end.
• The final results. This goes without saying, but in a portfolio, the actual writing pieces should also be featured in one way or another. We caution against just simply linking to it, as it can change or go unpublished. Including at least a screenshot (if not more), as you could see in our writing portfolio examples, about the project is always a good idea.

Add social proof to build trust with your audience

Anybody can say anything on the internet these days, so it’s no surprise that people are cautious about believing everything they read. One way to make your readers feel at ease about trusting you with their projects is by including social proof on your website, or in your case studies.

Whenever you finish working with a client, always ask them for testimonials. You can then feature them on your page, showing visitors that the people who have tried your services were more than happy with your work.

If you can, include a photo of them and a link to their business or profile, to add even more credibility to their testimonials.

Include your contact info to make it easy to get in touch

Once your visitor is convinced that you’re the one they want to work with, there’s one last thing left for them to do. They need to get in touch with you.

So do make sure they don’t drop off at this point, you need to make it super easy for them. The best way to do that is to have a “contact” item in your menu or navigation bar. That way your contact information is just one click away, no matter where they are on your website.

On the contact page, you can include your email address, phone number, and if you have a physical location they can visit, your address too.

As a bonus, you can write a few lines about what they can expect when they write to you. How much time does it usually take for you to reply? How is your process for getting started with new clients? Anything else they should know before reaching out? Write it all down to make them feel even more comfortable and confident about getting in touch.

Use a website builder for writers to create your portfolio quickly and easily

Our last and probably most useful tip is for actually getting started and creating your writing portfolio website. 

In most cases, building a website either requires design and coding skills –or lots of time, waiting for the popular visual builders to finally load. Not to mention the time it takes to master using them, as they can be much more complex than they seem at first.  

Instead of wasting time or getting frustrated, choose a website builder that was designed for writers, just like you. One that loads super fast and makes the website building process quick and easy for you. One that eliminates minor design decisions to make sure whatever you upload, your website is going to be stunning. 

Try Copyfolio and create your own writing portfolio website today. You just have to follow a few simple steps:

• Sign in –it only takes two minutes. You can sign in with Google or Facebook, or ask for a link via email that will sign you right in. No password needed.
• Tell us your name and profession. This will be the title of your site at the beginning, and that’s all the info we’re asking for. No more filling out pages upon pages of unnecessary personal information.
• Choose a template. This will essentially decide the style of your website, as it comes with a color palette and font presets. But don’t worry, you can change it later anytime, without losing anything you’ve added already. 
• Add copy to your pages. You’ll start out with the 3 most important pages: home, about, and contact. Go through them and type in all the information you need to display.
• Add your projects and write the case studies. As we discussed above, you should describe your projects as mini case studies. Follow our tips and write about your top projects, adding images to illustrate as you go.

And there you have it! You’ve just created a complete, professional website in the span of just a few hours. Send us a link when you are done, your site could be the newest addition to our writing portfolio examples!

Written by:

Dorka Kardos-Latif

Online marketing manager @ Copyfolio. Booknerd, coffee lover & travel enthusiast. Drop me a message at [email protected]

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10 Writers with Portfolios that Stand Out

These freelance writers know an attention-grabbing portfolio is a key factor when it comes to landing gigs. Check out these tips to create a killer portfolio.

A well-made writer website is an important tool for networking online as a freelance writer or editor. Twitter can be useful for making connections and finding gigs or potential clients, but a professional online portfolio is necessary when pitching new article ideas or applying for jobs.

Your online portfolio website can be simple, such as a biography and list of published clips. Or, you can add more depth with a CV, personal projects, and a blog post or two to showcase your writing.

Our Pick of the Best Writing Portfolio Examples

A well-designed writing portfolio is essential for showcasing your work as a writer. Format has compiled a list of some of the best writer websites to help inspire you.

These writers cover a range of genres, from journalism to fiction to fashion, and their online writing portfolios reflect the quality of their work. Format’s website builder and these writing portfolio examples provide a winning combination for success in your writing career.

Our collection of online writing portfolios can provide inspiration and help you think about what to include in your own portfolio.

Find more website design ideas at our round-up of the best online portfolios built using Format .

Jennifer Fernandez

Brooklyn-based writer Jennifer Fernandez uses a grid-based theme to showcase a range of links to writing samples, including a thumbnail image and title for each one. Fernandez has been on staff at Travel + Leisure, Architectural Digest, and Martha Stewart Weddings, and has worked for business clients including Zappos and Brooklinen. She organizes her writing website into categories of Design, Travel, and Lifestyle content to make browsing easy and to showcase the type of writing she has experience in.

www.jennifermfernandez.com Format Theme: Hue

Akwaeke Emezi

Award-winning Igbo and Tamil writer and artist Akwaeke Emezi keeps things simple on their writing portfolio with a text-focused design and lots of information about their work. Their debut autobiographical novel FRESHWATER was critically acclaimed by publications like The New Yorker and NPR, and they also have two new books forthcoming from Knopf and Riverhead Books. Their website is a simple way to put the main focus on their work.

www.akwaeke.com Format Theme: Offset

Kristen V. Bateman

Fashion and culture writer and editor Kristen V. Bateman keeps her online portfolio visually interesting with a theme that introduces each of her published clips via an image and title. Bateman’s extensive portfolio can be browsed by publications (which include Vogue, New York Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and many more), as well as by category.

www.kristenbateman.com Format Theme: Coral

Elise R. Peterson

The work of New York artist and writer Elise R. Peterson has appeared in Paper Magazine, Lenny Letter, and Elle, among other publications. Her recent book with Feminist Press, How Mamas Love Their Babies, explores an inclusive idea of motherhood along with co-author Juniper Fitzgerald. Including a link to pre-order her book right on her sidebar menu ensures that visitors to Peterson’s site will be up to date on her latest work.

www.eliserpeterson.com Format Theme: Ora

Rebecca Hobson

Freelance journalist and writer Rebecca Hobson introduces her online portfolio with a professional photograph of herself and links to different sections of her writing website. Based in Bristol, Hobson has also lived and worked in India. She has written for publications including the BBC, Vice, and The Times . Organizing her writing portfolio into different sections such as Content Marketing and Current Affairs, her freelance writing portfolio allows viewers to explore all the different facets of her work.

Format Theme: Peak

Alice Driver

Award-winning and widely-published journalist Alice Driver includes a detailed yet concise biography introducing who she is and what she does, a great way of allowing visitors to her site to quickly understand the focus of her work. An additional page of recent clips, organized with titles and thumbnail images, makes further reading of her published projects instantly accessible. Based in Mexico City, Driver’s work focuses on migration, human rights, and gender equality.

www.alicedriver.com Format Theme: Mica

Tara Pixley

Los-Angeles based photojournalist and scholar Tara Pixley was a recent Visiting Fellow at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation, and has published her photography and writing on media in a range of publications such as Newsweek, New York Times, and ProPublica. Pixley’s online portfolio features a selection of her photojournalism as well as a section showcasing some of her published writing.

www.tarapixley.com Format Theme: Horizon Left

A Chinese writer and reporter based in Beijing, Qin Chen writes about Chinese society for English-speaking readers. With experiences as a senior video producer for The New Yorker and a documentary producer at CNBC , Qin’s online portfolio showcases her published writing and videography.

www.qinvisual.com Format Theme: Order

Elaine Bleakney

Writer Elaine Bleakney introduces her works on her website with images of the book covers and recommendations from peers and critics. Her simple layout keeps the focus on her work, easily allowing visitors to follow links to her published work or consider purchasing one of her publications.

www.elainebleakney.com Format Theme: Mica

Scott Broker

Scott Broker’s writing website features a headshot and brief biography right on the homepage, instantly giving visitors a feel for who he is. Based in Ohio, Broker is currently an MFA candidate at Ohio State University, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His writing portfolio includes a selection of publications with a brief description of each one.

www.scottjbroker.com Format Theme: Mica

Tips for Building Your Own Killer Writer Portfolio Website

After reviewing the writer portfolio examples for inspiration, you can build your own portfolio. To effectively showcase your work as a writer, you must also have an eye for design.

Brainstorm Creative Portfolio Titles

A writer’s portfolio isn’t complete without a creative and catchy title. Writing portfolio titles can be difficult to come up with, but they are an important first step in creating a great portfolio site. The title is the first thing a prospective client reads, so you must grab their attention if you want them to continue.

A well-conceived creative portfolio title should be big, bold, and targeted to your audience. Consider the tone you are setting and how it relates to the message you want to convey with your work. Consider including your name in the title so the reader will remember who you are. Also, consider how the title will look before selecting a font for your writing portfolio site.

Portfolio Essentials:

A portfolio typically includes examples of your work, an about me section, and contact information for clients. Using the right writing portfolio format to showcase your work is a great way to attract engaged clients. The best writer portfolio sites, such as Format, offer a range of templates and a drag and drop builder to help you create a professional portfolio.

Creative Writing Portfolios

To create a strong writer portfolio, choose a website builder with customizable features and an easy editing process. Format offers a feature-rich portfolio site builder specifically designed for creative writers. Their range of templates and examples can also help provide inspiration. This allows writers to focus on creating content for their clients, rather than web design.

Creative Writing Portfolio Examples

We’ve compiled some of the most striking creative writing portfolio examples on the web, so you can get your creative juices flowing. Our recommendations above highlight Rebecca Hobson and Elise R. Peterson as creative portfolio writing samples that hit the right level of charm, sophistication, and individuality. Like what you see? Use Format’s website-building platform to set up a beautiful creative writing portfolio that exhibits the best of your work, just how you wanted it to look.

Freelance Writer Websites

The best writer websites express the writers’ flexibility and competency across a broad range of writing contexts. Bringing together examples of work produced for various sectors and requirements is crucial to conveying your writing abilities. However, It is also important to consider your personal skills and tailor your portfolio to highlight your strengths and industry-specific experience. Our pick of great writer website examples, such as Elaine Bleakney and Akwaeke Emezi , find the right balance of personal writing skills and subject-focus.

Journalism Portfolio

An online journalism portfolio should showcase your career highlights and best work as a journalist. Format’s template builder can help you effectively present your skills and experience to news agencies. This is crucial for advancing your career in journalism, whether you specialize in print, broadcast, or online journalism. A high-quality portfolio website is key to standing out and attracting new opportunities.

Journalism Portfolio Examples

Looking for examples of some of the best journalist websites to spark your creative mind? We’ve identified Tara Pixley , a Los-Angeles-based photojournalist, and scholar, as a case in point of a journalist site that uses photography as a method to engage clients with her journalistic competencies.

Similarly, award-winning journalist, Alice Driver , uses her online journalism portfolio to help clients understand more about her career and her areas of focus as a journalist. Both of these journalists, among many others, rely on Format as the best website for journalism portfolios.

An appealing online portfolio for journalists should feature your best and most recent work, as well as a list of the news agencies you have written for. If you haven’t got any published articles yet in your repertoire, that’s no problem at all. You can write several articles right on your new site. Just ensure that they are formatted like a real news article and have no grammar or spelling mistakes.

How to Make a Writing Portfolio for College

A well-formatted writer portfolio can give you that added boost for your college applications and help you stand out from the rest of the competition. Moving your existing portfolio online can make it easy for college admission departments to see the depth and breadth of your work. The best way to do this is to use a dedicated writers portfolio website such as Format, which is built to help writers network put their talents on full display. We have writers portfolios examples and intuitive templates to help you get started.

How to Share Your Online Writing Portfolio and Gain Traction

Once you have built your writer portfolio website and feel happy with the aesthetic, it is time to get the word out. The best websites online writing portfolio examples are also highly integrated with social media and are SEO-friendly. Format benefits from all of the latest SEO tools as well as social sharing features. This ensures that your personal brand stays at the top of the search results, making it easy for potential clients to find you.

Which Writing Portfolio Website Should I Use?

Format offers a comprehensive and user-friendly website builder for content writers. The platform’s customizable templates and digital marketing tools make it easy to create a professional online portfolio.

This allows writers to showcase their work and communicate with clients, while also focusing on writing and advancing their careers. Format is voted among the best portfolio sites for writers, and our customer support team is available to assist with any questions or issues.

Consider using Format to create your online writing portfolio and elevate your writing career.

Want to see more inspiring websites? 10 Animation Portfolios that Get Creative with Website Design 10 Artists Taking Ceramics to the Next Level 5 Websites Built Using Format’s New Spruce Theme

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7 mins read

12 Top Writing Portfolio Examples to Inspire You (2023)

A collection of 12 best writing portfolio examples — draw inspiration from these to create your writing portfolio to solicit more work.

Protim Bhaumik

Director, Content Marketing

6. Oct 2022 , updated 12. Jul 2023

Creating a writing portfolio is challenging. You have to appeal to potential clients within a few seconds and get them to start scrolling through your work.  To that end, I've written an extensive guide on how to create the perfect writing portfolio.

For now, let's get you inspired by a collection of writing portfolio examples that I've carefully curated. These contain examples from writers, authors, copywriters, and content marketers built on a variety of portfolio builders or websites .

For each example, I have highlighted my favorite aspects — factors you can incorporate into your own portfolio. When used in your writer's portfolio, it'll help your work stand out, especially if you're a freelance writer.

With that in mind, let's look at the top writing portfolios.

The top twelve writing portfolio examples

1. gari cruze.

Gari Cruze is an associate creative director and copywriter . His online portfolio website —which uses a grid layout with all his work — is filled with humor, and I love it! He's divided his professional online portfolio into sections called "About" (fairly normal), "17 Random Things", and "Oh Yes, They're Talking" instead of the usual "Get to know me" or "Testimonials."

Moreover, even in the About section, he uses copy that brings out his creative writing — words such as "the full blah blah" and "pink squiggly stuff in people's skulls" strike a chord. He also has a "testimonial" from his dad that finishes with "... Gari's like one of the slower primates."

So, all in all, it's an excellent representation of his work and who he is!

2. Kayla Lewkowicz

Kayla Lewkowicz is a writer, content marketer, and teacher . Her writer website landing page is about who she is and what she does — like "turning great ideas into compelling stories" and, more importantly, "arguing about the finer points of the Oxford comma." Hear, hear!

When you scroll down on her landing page, you see various photos of her travels accompanied by client testimonials and service offerings. The portfolio section has been categorized by topic and what's great to see is that each topic has three posts highlighted for the reader to look at first.

3. Jennifer Fernandez

Jennifer Fernandez is a writer and editor on staff at Architectural Digest , Travel + Leisure , and Martha Stewart Weddings ; her work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal , Elle Decor , House Beautiful , Afar , Departures , and more.

Her beautiful writing portfolio site follows a super minimalist style, and her writing samples are divided into three sections so that it's easy to navigate.

4. Qin Chen

Qin Chen is a Beijing-based writer , journalist, and news editor at TechNode and has spent the past two years helping English readers make sense of the top news from the world's second-largest economy.

Her portfolio opens with a quaint picture of a riverboat that's both calming and intriguing. From the off, her work is collected into two sections: writing and video . And her writing samples are arranged into an easily parsable format divided by year.

5. Ann Friedman

Ann Friedman is a journalist, essayist, and author and currently a contributing editor to The Gentlewoman, having written for places like The Cut , The Los Angeles Times , The New York Times , ELLE , and The Guardian , and has co-written the best-selling book Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close and co-hosts the pioneering podcast Call Your Girlfriend .

Her portfolio is a favorite of many lists like these because of its minimalist, friendly vibe. Her writing samples are collected under headings such as books, essays, interviews, and more, making it super easy to go through.

6. Tyler Koenig

Tyler Koenig is a copywriter and content strategist living in the Bay area after having traveled the world copywriting for various brands. He's currently the content lead at CapitalG , Alphabet's independent growth fund.

His portfolio is clean and straightforward,  and among the best writer portfolio examples I've recently seen. His main landing page says who he is and what he does through both the visuals and the copy, while his work is tucked under the "Content" section.

7. Alice Lemée

Alice Lemée is a creator , freelance content writer, and copywriter who writes on freelancing, the creator economy, and personal development.

Her portfolio page is an excellent example of how a single landing page can accomplish a lot — intelligent copy coupled with beautiful imagery and call-to-action buttons interspersed in just the right areas.

8. Muriel Vega

Muriel Vega is a writer and editor living in Atlanta , writing about tech, culture, and food with bylines at Delta Sky Magazine , The Guardian , Apartment Therapy , Eater , VICE , Splinter News , The Washington Post , Atlanta Magazine , The Bitter Southerner , Outside Magazine , and more.

Muriel's clever use of colorful icons in a simple white background for her portfolio evokes a sense of friendliness, approachability, and creativity. Also, her creative writing has been astutely collected under relevant topic headings for easy perusal.

9. Hank Herman

Hank Herman is an award-winning author, humorist, and writing instructor whose memoir, Accept My Kid, Please! A Dad's Descent Into College Application Hell has led to speaking engagements throughout the Northeast, and his 15-book series of basketball novels, Super Hoops , is read by grade-schoolers everywhere.

His is one of the few portfolio sites to use a comic (of him and a beagle zooming around on a car!), which certainly lends an air of whimsy to an excellently organized website.

10. Shayna Condé

Shayna Condé is a writer, model, and actor who looks to create spaces that build community, share valuable information, and foster discussions behind brands.

Her beautiful portfolio website is a collection of photos of her, as well as sections for her writing, modeling, and acting.

11. Colleen Fisher Tully

Colleen Fisher Tully is a content writer & editor working in the health, food, cannabis, nutrition, finance, and family spaces.

Her minimalist  freelance writing portfolio has been separated into easy-to-read collections on the numerous topics she writes on.

12. Pamela Rosen

Pamela Rosen specializes in creating long- and short-form content for B2B and B2C audiences .

Her portfolio is divided into the various types of content that she writes.

How to create an online writing portfolio with ease

Now that you're adequately inspired by the aforementioned writer portfolio examples,  let's learn how to create one of these portfolios easily. We highly recommend reading our guide on creating a writing portfolio from scratch .

What we've seen above has been created on an eclectic mix of builders for portfolios, website builders, and more. A lot of these solutions are time-consuming and quite complex to set up.

Authory for all your content needs

And that's why a portfolio builder like Authory makes so much sense. It's super simple to set up, is good-looking, and gives you a portfolio out of the box. Not only that, Authory is self-updating, which means that you don't have to keep track of all your work actively — Authory does that for you! Authory also backs up all your content forever — there's no need to fret about losing access to your work if a site goes down — Authory has it all locked down.

Whether you're creating a freelance writing business or collating all everything you've done at your full-time job, an Authory portfolio will see you through for years to come.

Get Authory for free now!

Protim is a startup founder & marketer with over a decade of experience in content marketing, content writing, SEO, and more. He loves dogs, D&D, and music!

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• Online Writing Portfolio: 5 Ways to Design Yours to Dazzle Clients

Online writing portfolio reviews

Portfolio options for your writer website, 1. text-only list portfolios, 2. visual writing portfolios, on-site portfolio tips, off-site portfolio options, 3. portfolio creation sites, 4. content-provider marketplace portfolios, 5. linkedin portfolios, make your writing portfolio work for you.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

What would you do if a prospect asked to see your writing portfolio right now?

In the perfect world, you’d point them to a link that shows off your best freelance work. Why? Every potential client wants to see samples of your writing to find out if you’re the right fit.

You’ve got an online writing portfolio for your freelance writing business, right?

If you’re laughing nervously now because you don’t, or you have one but you know it needs help, that’s OK. I’m going to show you how to fix that quickly and easily with options like building your own website with tools like Squarespace (try it free) or even hosting your portfolio on a variety of third-party sites.

Your writing portfolio is one of your most important marketing tools to attract and impress potential clients.

Point a prospect to your portfolio, and you want to capture their attention with an attractive and appealing design and great writing so they hire you.

If your writing portfolio is confusing or uninviting, the prospect might click away and never return. And it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are some ways to design a dazzling online writing portfolio:

As someone who has been a moderator for the Freelance Writers Den , one of my tasks was reviewing writer websites . There’s more than one way to design your writer website and portfolio. But you need to do it right. Your writing portfolio, especially, is one of the first touch-points that can turn a prospect into a paying client.

Carol invited me to share some of the different ways you can present your online writing portfolio, along with the pros and cons of each option.

Here’s a look at five different options to consider to create your own freelance writer portfolio:

Your best option, and the most commonly used, is to present your portfolio directly on your writer website, as opposed to hosting it on an outside website.

Your writer website is owned by you and is the hub of your business and marketing activities. As you grow, your website and writing portfolio grows, encouraging more people to visit.

Bringing people to your site often means they will click around to learn more about you and your services.

You can add as much or as little copy to your own site as you desire, which boosts your SEO and enables people to find you directly in search engines.

Below, we’ll look at a range of examples, the pros and cons, and best-practice tips to build a portfolio that rocks.

The majority of portfolios I’ve seen are laid out in a long list of samples. In terms of portfolio layouts, lists can work if they are organized, neat and tidy. (While it’s not essential, adding visual elements to your writing portfolio will make you more appealing to prospects and clients.) Here’s an example of a list-style portfolio:

Here are a couple of writing portfolio examples that contain images and structured layouts. It’s not hard to notice the difference in appeal between a text-only list of writing samples and one with visual elements. Here are a few examples:

Example 1 Sean Carey first had a basic list of samples. But after having his website reviewed inside The Den, he created a more visual portfolio.

Example 3 Mahesh at Enlighten Writing has organized his portfolio into sections. He also uses thumbnail images but has gone the extra mile to add the company logos over each image, which adds some additional credibility to his samples.

If you’re going to create a writing portfolio on your own website, here are some tips to keep in mind to present your best work to support your marketing efforts:

• Make it easy for clients . Invest ample time to make your portfolio and writer website look neat and tidy, ensuring it is easy to navigate.
• Consider an all-in-one website solution.  If you have no design skills whatsoever, you can still launch a writing portfolio on your own website with Squarespace (try it free) . Squarespace has tons of portfolio design templates to choose from and makes it easy to get your website launched quickly, even if you aren’t all that tech savvy.

• Don’t make prospects scroll a mile. Don’t post whole writing pieces onto the portfolio page so the client has to scroll and scroll and scroll to view.
• Use thumbnail images. Create thumbnails for each clip to entice more visual appeal and to encourage visitors to click through and read your work.
• Organize your portfolio into sections with headers to make it easy for the client to find suitable samples.
• Use copywriting techniques. Where possible, add a title, a short description of the clip and a link to the full clip.
• Describe your portfolio.  Add some brief copy at the top of the page (1-2 sentences) to enforce your marketing message and sell your skills as a writer. This is optional but can work well.
• Add your byline or attribution. Make sure your clips have your name as author, or add ‘ghostwriter’ to the title so there is no disconnect or confusion when the client clicks through to your samples.

• When you only have self-published samples on your blog, don’t list 20 or 30 of them. Choose 3-5 of your best clips to display. Though your own sites are still relevant, especially if you can show engagement, client samples will always be stronger.
• Keep your portfolio up to date:  Your portfolio is always a work in progress. When you get busy, it can be easy to lose track of all your published pieces. A great way to make sure you keep track, is to make a spreadsheet of titles, company/site and links for the articles, blog posts, and content you write. Then, when you’ve got time to update your portfolio, or if you do ever choose to move your portfolio, you won’t be pulling your hair out chasing down your work samples.
• Will my portfolio appeal to prospects and clients?
• Does it  really look professional?
• Is it easy to view and navigate?
• Does it include writing samples relevant to my niche?

Your writing portfolio can help potential clients decide you’re the right fit for their content needs.

If you don’t have a writing portfolio on your website, you could technically create it somewhere else. Portfolio creation sites and content provider marketplaces are both off-site options that can help you put together samples of your best work quickly.

These are website platforms where you create a writer website of sorts. They provide a design platform that enables you to include some basic information about yourself, links to your social profiles and the ability to set up a visually-appealing portfolio. A few examples include:

• Clippings.me
• Pressfolios
• Journo Portfolio

Here’s one example portfolio from Clippings.me:

Pros These type of portfolio creation sites are designed to make it easy to create a visually-appealing writing portfolio. You won’t need to worry about html code, website plugins, or know a lot about web design. If you have poor website skills and limited time to get an online writing portfolio set up, portfolio creation sites can help.

Cons Most content creation sites offer a free version and a paid version. You only have a limited number of writing samples you can point prospects to before you have to pay a monthly fee.

Once you set up your portfolio on one of these sites, you’ll always be sending people to a site that’s not your own piece of online real-estate. And that means you’ll be helping another site build its reputation in search engines over time, rather than your own.

In some cases you can use your own domain and point it to the platforms server. But, if you do this and decide to change later, you’ll be starting from scratch.

We’ve discussed content mills, move-up mills, and content marketplaces here before. And for a long time, these sites were a poor place to find good clients. Fortunately, that’s slowly changing and some of these content-provider marketplaces do pay well. Many content-provider marketplaces want you to set up a writing portfolio on their site, and it’s free. Some examples include:

Here’s an example of a writer portfolio on Contently .

In theory, here’s how content marketplace sites work. You create a writing portfolio on their site. When a publisher or company tells the content marketplace they need a writer, the content marketplace sifts through its talent pool. Then they point their client to the best writing portfolios on their site to match their needs. And if yours rises to the top, you get an offer to work on a project.

Pros Creating your writing portfolio on a content-provider site puts you in an active marketplace where there are publishers and companies looking for writers. Pay on these marketplaces can be quite good.

Cons One of the biggest limitations of creating your writing portfolio on a content marketplace site is that you don’t get much room to include your own copy (It’s typically limited to a very brief bio and links to your work), so your chances of naturally attracting people through SEO is limited.

Within content-provider marketplaces, you still need to do active marketing to work the platform and get the most out of it. Many writers become contributors on these platforms, which can help boost your chances of landing clients.

However,  writers report that it takes a long time to be “found”on these platforms-we’re talking one year and upwards. Therefore, your energy may be better invested generating clients through active marketing and sending them back to your own website.

In content marketplaces, there’s always going to be competition. It’s common to be competing against hundreds of other writers to land gigs.

If you do invest in your own active marketing, sending clients to a third-party site puts you at risk of losing the client to another writer if they choose to explore their options.

These marketplaces often have tougher editorial procedures and sometimes longer (and faulty) communication channels that can make writing gigs more frustrating.

LinkedIn is another off-site option to create a writing portfolio. Even if you have a portfolio setup elsewhere, developing your LinkedIn profile can connect you with more prospects and clients. Some of my best-paid gigs have come from people who actively seek my services on LinkedIn and review my portfolio.

Within your profile, LinkedIn offers lots of options to add additional content-links to clips, thumbnails, slideshows, videos, PDFs and more. Use these to add some of your top samples to your Summary. Many writers also use the Experience Section to link to their work.

Here’s a snapshot from my LinkedIn profile :

Millions of companies-both big and small-are active on LinkedIn. Many use LinkedIn to search for freelance writers in a specific niche. If you’ve got relevant samples on your LinkedIn profile, you’ll have a higher chance of showing up in the search results when potential clients are looking for a freelancer. The LinkedIn Profile has become the modern-day version of the resume. Using it to show off your writing portfolio also provides social proof that makes you more appealing to prospects.

None. You really can’t go wrong by developing your LinkedIn profile and linking to sample of your work.

If you haven’t set up a writing portfolio yet, or yours needs a major overhaul, now is always a good time to change that.

With off-site options, you can literally set up a writing portfolio in 30 minutes or less.

If you choose to create a writing portfolio on your own site (recommended), it might take a little longer. But it’s worth the effort. Your writing portfolio can be a powerful marketing tool to help you attract your ideal clients, move up, and earn more.

Need help creating your writing portfolio?  Let’s discuss in the comments below.

Jedha Dening is a freelance health business writer and copywriter who creates compelling B2B and B2C content and content marketing strategies for healthcare companies worldwide.

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How to Create a Content Writing Portfolio (and 5 Examples to Inspire You)

Not sure what a content writing portfolio is or how to make one?

You’ll find the answers here.

Content writing and marketing are so popular right now – it’s mainstream. And these fields provide great opportunities to start a career as a content writer .

You might have noticed employers and clients asking for a content writing portfolio when picking writers.

You need to have an attractive and creative portfolio page if you want to even get considered for a content marketing or writing position.

Want to win over a potential client? You’re at the right place to the first step.

Learn all about writing portfolios and how to set them up.

What’s a content writing portfolio?

When employers or clients look for talented freelance writers, they need to see a body of work that shows what you can do.

An online writing portfolio is a link, page, or platform that has a collection of your writing work.

It will include:

• Copywriting examples
• Email marketing copy
• Academic articles

And just about anything you’ve written that’s relevant to your goals and your customer’s requirements.

It’s the one place that shows people what you can do, and it will help business owners, editors, and employers figure out if they should hire you.

The benefits of an online writing portfolio

Having a content writing portfolio is essential if you want to be a successful freelance writer. Here are just a few of the benefits:

• It allows you to showcase your skills and demonstrate your experience to potential clients.
• It gives you a place to pitch ideas and share your samples with sites that accept guest posts.
• It helps you land projects with digital marketing agencies, who are always in need of high-quality content.
• You can share your experience and content with employers who can see what you can do
• You can save or store your live content and find them easily later.
• And finally, it gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that your work is out there for the world to see.

So, we’ve covered the basics of an online portfolio and what it looks like. Let’s move to the next step – how to create a writing portfolio.

The Best Way to Build Your Writer Portfolio

While creating your writing portfolio won’t be complicated, it should be carefully thought out. It can have a huge impact on your career, you know?

Here’s what you should do.

1. Put your writing together

Before you can start putting together your freelance writing portfolio, you need to gather all your content in one place. This includes any blog posts, case studies, emails, pitches, and social media posts you’ve created.

If your content is live on a website, be sure to get the links. Or if it’s stored on a Microsoft Word document, copy it to a cloud-based document so you can share it easily.

When you have all your content gathered, find the ones that showcase your abilities the best. You’ll use these pieces on your portfolio site or document.

You also want to do a quick check of your previous work and make sure they’re edited and relevant.

Curating what you’ve written will ensure that you’re showcasing your best work.

2. Pick a solid portfolio platform

There are many places where you can collect and feature your content. You can use LinkedIn, Medium, and other social media networks. You can also create your own WordPress site and show your skills on your blog page.

And you can simply collect all your content in a document and file storage solution like Google Drive.

You can easily share your content through these platforms and they’re free!

However, you’ll also find dedicated writing portfolio websites. These are geared toward serious writers, researchers, and journalists. They’re also professional-looking and easy to share.

I think it’s good to use a ‘real’ portfolio platform to showcase your templates. Here are some sites to explore:

• Clippings.me
• Journo Portfolio
• Muck Rack for Journalists
• Freelance with Contently

These platforms are available for free. But you get more options with a paid version.

If you’re just starting out, use one for free. And if you have the technical knowledge, you can even build your own WordPress site. You’ll have complete ownership of your site and content. And it helps to have a site of your own for personal branding.

3. Format or Section Your Portfolio

Depending on the platform you select, you’ll be able to create categories or sections for different types of writing.

For example, you might want to put all your tech content under one section or category.

Or you want to keep your newsletter copy separate from your white papers.

Begin by taking a step back and looking at the overall picture. What message are you trying to communicate with your writing portfolio? Do you want to show off your range as a writer? Or highlight a particular area of expertise? Once you know what direction you want to go in, you can start creating individual pages or sections for each writing sample.

If you don’t have this option, don’t worry about it. Just move ahead to the next step and start adding your content pieces to your online writing portfolio.

4. Start adding your content

If you’re using a site like Clippings.me, you’ll see options where you can just add a link, and you’re good to go.

Your writing will appear in a preview form on your profile page.

Anyone who wants to read the content in-depth will click on a link to check it out.

Remember to include a variety of writing samples so that potential clients can get a sense of your range.

For example, if you’re a copywriter, you might want to include samples of both long-form and short-form content.

Or, if you specialize in health and wellness, add links to your posts on meditation, fitness, and other relevant topics.

The more diverse your writing portfolio is, the better your chances are that some of your content will appeal to your audience.

However, if you’re targeting a specific type of client or industry, you’ll find it more effective to have a portfolio website or page for different areas.

So that if you’re applying for a writing job in the automobile industry, you can send your employer to a specific writing portfolio that’s all about cars or trucking insurance.

And if you want to pitch your services in the sports niche, you’ll have a page dedicated to just that.

5. Create A Professional Bio

The next step is to write a professional bio. This is a short paragraph (or two) that tells potential clients or employers who you are and what you do.

Take Julian Mack’s bio for example.

It’s not only professional but also tells you a bit about his personality. This is important because potential clients want to know if they will be working with someone they can get along with.

So your bio should have details but keep the format short, informative, and to -the point. Adding thumbnail images for samples will help your client quickly identify your work.

Your professional bio will help create a rounded picture of who you are, what you do, and how well you can serve a client.

6. Add Your Contact Information & Calls To Action

Don’t forget to add your contact information and a call to action on your writing portfolio page and author bio.

Your contact information should be easily accessible and should include your email address, phone number, and social media links.

As for the call to action, this is a short statement that tells visitors what you want them to do next. For example, you might say “Interested in working with me? Contact me today!”

This is important because it can compel your audience to move ahead and hire you to work for them.

Now, this makes it easy for potential clients or employers to get in touch with you if they’re interested in your services.

7. Share your writing portfolio

Make your writer portfolio live by publishing it – you can then share it with others.

You’ll often have to submit your writing portfolio while filling out a job application or when you’re having an email conversation with a possible client.

Now that you’ve collected, linked, and published your writing samples in one place, you can share them easily.

Don’t forget to add it to your LinkedIn and other networks. It’ll give people a chance to understand the niche you write for just by going through your portfolio page.

5 Portfolio examples to Inspire You

I’ve shared the best way to create and share your writing portfolio.

However, it’s even more helpful to have real-life examples to refer to.

Here is a list of solid content writing portfolio examples you should check out.

1. Dominica Taylor

Dominica is a copywriter and she uses Clippings.me to curate and share her work.

Her bio shares interesting things about her and she adds her email address to the profile.

Scrolling through her content, you’ll see plenty of samples of her work.

There is a variety of writing formats and topics. And they open new pages where a potential client can review their work.

I strongly recommend Clippings.me as a platform for freelancers and writers who don’t want to spend money on a premium product.

I used it to get a fantastic job and you can too.

2. Kyle Cohlmia

This is another real example of a writer with a great portfolio. Compared to the previous example, this one looks more impressive and attractive.

In this case, Kyle created a writing portfolio using SquareSpace. If you want to build a personal brand and control how your portfolio looks, then use a blog platform to create one.

I recommend using WordPress but you can check out other best blogger platforms too.

Kyle’s portfolio is impressive. And it’s not just because of the design.

The brief description showcases her writing career and how it spans areas like art and cybersecurity.

She doesn’t just feature blog posts she’s published, it includes art writing, serious articles and more.

Check out her work to see how you can do something similar.

3. Steve Manjaly

Here’s an example of a freelance content writer.

His focus is on tech topics like SaaS, IoT, Cloud, and AI.

He’s using WordPress.com to curate and share his portfolio.

Each of his sample posts features an image, a heading, and a brief subtitle.

Anyone looking for a tech freelance writer will find this useful.

The end of his writing portfolio has call-to-action inviting users to email and call him.

His bio also has a friendly picture of him and a description of his interests. It humanizes him and makes him interesting. You can also see links to his social media, including LinkedIn, Medium, and Instagram.

4. Amy Boylan

Amy also uses a self-hosted website platform.

She mentioned that most of her content is tied up because of NDAs or Non-Disclosure Agreements.

Readers are invited to read the content she can share. And she links to her blog to read more of her work.

Her portfolio is simple and effective.

5. Lucy Shrimpton

I like how Lucy Shrimpton has her online writing portfolio bang on her home page.

She directs readers to her content straight away.

She uses large images and features a variety of pieces. Clicking on the links takes you to web pages, print magazine articles, and work on her own blog.

It’s a clever and informative piece that helps you learn more about her.

And there you have it!

These are five brilliant examples of real content writing portfolios. With ideas from this site, you’ll find it easy to build your own.

Q1.What to do if you don’t have samples or experience for your writing portfolio?

There are many ways to increase your writing samples and add writing experience to your portfolio. One way is guest posting. You can guest post on other writers’ websites or blogs to increase your portfolio.

Another way is to get published. You can submit your articles or stories to magazines, newspapers, or online publications. Once you are published, you can add these pieces to your portfolio website.

You can also write for different companies or websites as a freelancer. This will help you gain more experience as a writer and add more writing samples to your portfolio. Finally, you can create your own ‘writer website’.

This will allow you to showcase your writing skills and provide links to your published work and writing samples. Creating a writer’s website is a great way to increase your writing exposure and build your writing portfolio.

Points To Remember

You have now completed all the steps necessary to create an online content writing portfolio. By including thumbnail images and making it easy for clients to navigate, you have created a professional and stylish portfolio that is sure to impress.

Tips to remember:

• Keep it simple: You don’t need fancy graphics or unnecessary bells and whistles. Just focus on presenting your work in a clear, easy-to-navigate format.
• Highlight your best writing: Not every piece of writing you’ve ever done will be stellar. So make sure to only include your best work in your portfolio.
• Keep it up to date: As you land new writing gigs and produce more work, be sure to add it to your portfolio on a regular basis. This will help show potential clients that you’re an active, reliable freelancer they can count on.
• Finally, don’t forget to update your portfolio regularly! As your skills and experience grow, so should the writing samples in your portfolio. By regularly adding new and improved pieces to your portfolio, you’ll be sure to impress whoever comes across it.

Remember to showcase your best writing sample prominently, as this will be one of the first things potential clients will look at. With a well-crafted portfolio, you are now one step closer to landing your dream content writing job.

Now that you know how to create a content writing portfolio, it’s time to get started on your own. Use the tips and tricks in this article to put together a portfolio that will help you land the content writing job of your dreams!

About the Author:

Debashri (Deb) is a content marketing expert with 6 + years of experience. Her journey with marketing began during her Master's studies in Finland where she specialized in Marketing and International Business (At the University of Vaasa). She is an expert content writer, content strategist, and thought leadership ghost writer. She is a marketer by education, interests, and vocation.

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• July 18, 2023

9 Beginner UX Writing Portfolio Examples

Get inspired by effective portfolios by UX newbies. All the examples in this article are made by people who 1) have entered the industry in the last few years and 2) have landed jobs as UX writers or content designers.

Shortcuts – jump straight to:

How on earth do you make a ux portfolio without much experience.

If you’re new to UX writing and content design , you probably have a lot of questions about how to create an effective content design portfolio . While there are lots of great examples online, they often feature work from experienced content designers. Portfolios from seasoned pros can inspire — but they can also intimidate. They are also harder to use as models because they don’t address the questions and worries people often have in their early career.

Portfolios of more senior content designers can make newbies aware of (and anxious about!) all the things they don’t have: UX job experience, “real world” samples, extensive research, outcome analytics, a fancy website. The good news is that you don’t need all of these things to land a job .

As Jan Haaland, founder of Case Study Club, says in the podcast episode From case study writing to writing robots , employers are looking for different things in entry level and senior positions. And this article by Jonathon Colman  at HubSpot gets very specific about exactly what they look for. Bookmark it in case of anxiety attack – it’s a refreshing reminder that you are not expected to have it all.

4 Early-career Portfolio Challenges Solved  

The portfolios in this article were chosen because they offer examples of how to address some common challenges early-career content designers face. They will show you how to make the most of what you do have , including student projects, side/personal projects, work in other fields, and even your sparkling personality.

All the portfolios featured below come from students in the UX Writing Academy . And all of these portfolios helped the writers who created them land jobs, so you know they work. 

Challenge #1: Few (or no) professional samples

A common Catch-22 for people entering any field is that you often have to have experience to get experience. While experienced content designers can showcase projects they’ve done for employers, newbies have to get more creative to demonstrate their skills.

Some new content designers wonder if showing personal projects is “allowed” — and the good news is, it absolutely is. Have you sketched out improvements to an app you thought had some flaws? Done a 30-day UX writing challenge? Created a prototype of a fictional product in a class or on your own? All of that can go in your portfolio. In fact, HubSpot says they welcome side projects and volunteer projects.

All these things can demonstrate your skills and thought processes – and show you’re passionate and eager enough to try things on your own.

Sarah Kessler  

Take a quick glance at Sarah Kessler’s portfolio and you might think she has years of UX writing experience. Six samples, and text at the top that says these are not all of her work. Yet many of these samples were made outside of the workplace : a UX Writing Academy project, a UX Writing daily challenge, a speculative project that was a take-home assignment from a job interview.

Sarah is open about the origin of these projects, and lets the work stand for itself. These projects reveal her thought processes , ability to create great work and communicate it, and demonstrate that she is committed to learning more and more about the field. 

➡Sarah talks about becoming a UX writer from scratch in an episode of Writers in Tech⬅  – check it out!

Takeaway: Show it all. Whether or not you were paid for it, your work shows potential employers what you can do. What matters is not whether your samples were created in a professional setting but that you present them in a professional way. 

Diego Cagara  

Diego Cagara has several professional projects on his portfolio, and he does a nice job connecting his past experience in journalism to his UX work (including a Medium article he wrote that makes the link explicit). But he also includes a student exercise that provides a great example of how he thinks through content design challenges. “Unfriendly Skies” is a project that involved writing copy for four different use cases for an airline app. He includes the situation, his copy, and the rationale for each. In this way, he shows both his work and his thinking . And perhaps most importantly, his conclusion explains what he learned . 

Takeaway: As we see over and over, the more you can demonstrate how you think – about specific decisions, and your learning process over all– the better. The next time you encounter a less-than-delightful digital experience, consider what you would do to fix it, and articulate why your fix would be an improvement.

Challenge #2: No (or minimal) research

Because these portfolios all come from UX Writing Academy students, they all include at least some research. That’s because the program emphasizes the importance of research in content design, and includes it as an important part of the final project. However, the research for those projects was all conducted a) for free and b) on original (invented) products. That means these are all things you can do on your own .

Some of these portfolios also include smaller projects that were not based on research. That’s fine, but if these make up the bulk of your samples, it will help to describe what research you would conduct, if you were in a different setting or had more resources . Many of the samples below include “Next Steps” sections – a list of additional research steps that the UX writer would conduct if they were able to.

Emma McLeod  

There’s lots to love in Emma McLeod’s simple but effective portfolio. It consists of three samples, two of which are personal projects . Research is often a hurdle for early-career content designers.

Emma’s student project demonstrates both how much you can do on your own, and how to handle what you can’t do. She used a number of research tools for her project, including market research, surveys, user interviews, and conversation mining. However, because this is not a “real” product, there were some limitations, so she included an explanation of what she would do if she could . 

Takeaway: You can do a lot of research with minimal resources, and explaining what you would do if you could goes a long way. If you’re working on a personal project, try mapping out an ideal research plan. Then see what on the list you might be able to accomplish with the resources you have.

Carla Kargaard  

Carla Kargaad’s portfolio features another personal project that demonstrates how much research can be done with no resources . Her project included two full designs , with different voice and tone options (as well as different visual design).

In addition to showing off her ability to conceive of and write in different brand voices, this also demonstrated that she can let go of her own ideas based on the research . While creating her product, she saw that the voice could go one of two ways: edgy (her favorite), or a slightly more conservative approach. So she built and tested both, and found that the latter was more effective. While she may have had to jettison her favorite design, sharing the process may have helped her land a job. 

Takeaway: Even without a live product, you can test the way different versions perform. If you are deciding between two choices in a personal project, try making two versions and then conducting basic user testing. You might be surprised how much you can do.

Asher Lee Sherman  

Asher Lee Sherman also did a lot of research on a student project. The project , an e-commerce store for colored contact lenses, is an excellent example because it clearly demonstrates the goals of the research and precisely what was done . This makes it useful for newbies who may be wondering how to do research like this, as well as how to present it. One place this sample shines is all the conclusions drawn from the research. 

Takeaway: While this particular case study is backed up with lots of research, making strong conclusions from your research is a lesson anyone can learn from. This demonstrates to employers that you are able to make the most out of your research, even if there’s not much of it. 

Challenge #3: Lack of resources for a fancy website

There are a number of tools to easily and cheaply create a simple portfolio site, but the easiest of all may be Notion . You may know Notion as a productivity tool, but it can also let you create an attractive portfolio site in an afternoon (for free!). Many of the portfolios featured in this article are built in Notion. By creating a simple and effective site, you can focus more on what matters: the quality of the work in your portfolio. 

Emily Shi Lee  

Emily Shi Lee offers an example of how to do a lot with a little. On a single page , she introduces herself, offers a quick but thorough guide to her primary sample (click through to see her excellent case study), provides links to smaller UX writing samples, gives more information about herself, and offers a testimonial as proof of her chops. The site is easy to digest, and shows her personality and skills.

Takeaway: Start simple. There’s no need to dress up your work with bells and whistles. Visitors to your portfolio are interested in your work, and that can shine in a simple portfolio.

Pieterjan Benoit

Pieterjan Benoit’s portfolio is another example of a lean yet deep Notion-based site . You get a great sense of all Pieterjan has done – work experience, UX samples, other articles, and more – without feeling overwhelmed. The page provides a thorough and holistic sense of Pieterjan’s work and personality, while providing plenty of opportunities to learn more. 

Takeaway: Using a simple tool allows you to focus less on learning a complicated product and more on expressing yourself and sharing your authentic personality.

Challenge #4: Expressing your personality in your portfolio

One advantage a portfolio has over a traditional resume is that you can express more of your personality . For new UX writers, this is a huge benefit. You may only have been honing your UX writing skills for a short time, but you’ve had your whole life to develop your personality. 

While it’s possible to go overboard, judicious use of your authentic voice will give visitors a sense of who you are and what it would be like to work with you .

Since voice and tone are such a key component of UX writing , the copy on your portfolio is a great opportunity to show what you can do. You can think about your own brand voice in the same way you would approach a company’s. Are you hyper-professional or more casual? Playful or all business? The portfolios below all do a great job integrating the authentic voice of the writer.

Lauren Reichman   

Looking at Lauren Reichman’s portfolio, you could be forgiven for wondering why it is included in a list of early career portfolios. She has an extensive background in content strategy and copywriting , areas that overlap enough with UX writing to provide useful projects/samples. Her case studies are definitely worth a look, even if they intimidate a little! But you’ll also find an excellent example of how to express your personality in your case studies . 

Check out her 404 pages project, for example. Lauren set herself a simple challenge to create 30 404 pages for her portfolio site . These are delightful to browse and serve as a useful model of what you can create on your own. While many UX writing challenges are designed to practice lots of different things (and including them in the portfolio can demonstrate breadth), focusing on a single element allows Lauren to show her limitless creativity. 

Takeaway: Do you have a favorite element to write? Or something you want to improve? Follow Lauren’s example and create 30 examples for your own portfolio site.

Lucia Alcayde

In four sentences at the top of her portfolio, Lucia Alcayde elegantly describes herself, her values, her job and skills, and her benefit to clients:

“ I am a creative being and a digital marketing specialist. I believe in the power of good ideas and storytelling. I write content that helps users understand how brands can fulfill their needs. Therefore, I also help brands understand their users.”

This simple (even poetic) statement gets across Lucia’s unique approach to the field of content design, and the benefits of that approach . Her case studies reflect this, too. 

Takeaway: Be yourself. The way you think about your work and your role in the world will come through in your voice when what you’re saying is authentic. 

More tips for portfolio makers and job seekers

The ultimate UX portfolio resource (70 examples plus tips on how to get started) 8 tips to ace UX writing interviews 3 things that helped me get a job in UX (and 3 that didn’t)  

Podcast episodes

From case study writing to writing robots (with Jan Haaland from the Case Study Club) Believe in content design (with HubSpot’s Jonathon Colman, who explains what recruiters look for when hiring) UX writers are designers (with tips from Hailey Reynolds on how to write a cover letter) Becoming a UX writer from scratch (with Sarah Kessler)

Want to become a UX writer?

If you would like to get more experience, consider the UX Writing Academy. All the portfolios in this article came from Academy students (and all landed jobs), so if the caliber of the work here impressed and inspired you, you may want to join the next cohort. 

Check out the UX Writing Academy course  

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10 Unique Freelance Writing Portfolio Examples

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Freelance Writing Portfolio Examples

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Are you an aspiring freelance writer searching for ways to showcase your writing abilities to potential clients? Look no further as we bring you a collection of freelance writing portfolio examples to boost your chances of landing your next big writing gig.

A writing portfolio is a crucial tool for any writer as it demonstrates your writing style, voice, and expertise. It showcases your published work, writing samples, and experiences, giving clients an insight into your writing abilities.

A well-curated writing portfolio not only sets you apart from other writers in the competition but also highlights your unique writing style and abilities to potential clients.

Crafting a professional writing portfolio that stands out amongst competition can pose a challenge, particularly for emerging writers. To aid in this process, we have compiled a collection of exemplary freelance writing portfolio examples from the most accomplished and prosperous freelance writers, intended to fuel creative inspiration.

In this blog post, we will analyze the fundamental components that comprise a remarkable writing portfolio and showcase a selection of the finest writing portfolios that have effectively secured their authors lucrative writing positions.

Portfolio Example 1

As a freelance writer, building a strong and diverse portfolio is essential for landing new clients and expanding your business. To help demonstrate the caliber and diversity of my work, I am pleased to present “Freelance Writing Portfolio Example 1.” This collection showcases a range of content types, including thought leadership pieces, blog posts, and web copy, that demonstrate my ability to craft compelling and informative content for a variety of audiences. Each piece has been carefully written, proofread, and edited to ensure their quality and relevance to their respective target audiences.

Through this portfolio, you can see my creativity, versatility, and attention to detail in action. I hope this collection will inspire confidence in my abilities and convince potential clients to choose me for their writing needs.

Portfolio Example 2

Freelance writing is a competitive field where it is essential to showcase one’s talent and expertise to potential clients. In this document titled “Freelance Writing Portfolio Examples,” we present an exceptional freelance writing portfolio example that demonstrates the writer’s skills in various niches.

In example 2, the writer has shared a collection of articles that they have written for different clients, each showcasing their versatility in writing styles and formats. The articles span across niches such as health, lifestyle, travel, and food, with links to the published pieces.

Along with the articles, the writer has included a brief description of each, highlighting the skills they demonstrated while creating each piece. This portfolio example is a great representation of a freelance writer’s abilities and proves invaluable in landing new clients.

Portfolio Example 3

As a freelance writer, having a strong portfolio is crucial to securing new clients and showcasing your writing skills. The third example in our “Freelance Writing Portfolio Examples” document highlights the writing capabilities of a professional writer who specializes in content creation for the travel industry.

The portfolio includes a variety of articles focused on travel destinations, including insider guides and reviews of hotels and attractions. The writing style is engaging and informative, with a clear understanding of the target audience.

The writer effectively incorporates key SEO strategies to improve search engine rankings and increase traffic to the content. This example demonstrates the versatility and proficiency of a skilled freelance writer with expertise in the travel niche, and can serve as a great source of inspiration for fellow writers looking to enhance their portfolios.

Portfolio Example 4

In this freelance writing portfolio example 4, we showcase a collection of articles covering a range of topics in various niches. The portfolio comprises articles that demonstrate the author’s expertise in researching, synthesizing information, and producing high-quality content that engages the reader.

The articles demonstrate an impressive range of styles and voice, each tailored to meet the needs and expectations of the respective clients. With topics ranging from business and finance to fitness and nutrition, this portfolio exemplifies the author’s versatility as a freelance writer.

The writing style is concise, clear, and engaging, demonstrating an ability to convey complex concepts in a reader-friendly manner. Each piece contains well-researched information, supported by accurate data, and provides value to the reader.

Overall, this freelance writing portfolio example 4 reflects a writer who has mastered the art of crafting content that engages and informs the reader, making them an asset to any client looking for high-quality, informative writing.

Portfolio Example 5

Welcome to the Freelance Writing Portfolio Examples document. Within this section, we present the work of a highly skilled freelance writer who has established an impressive portfolio filled with captivating content. Freelance Writing Portfolio Example 5 showcases the writer’s distinctive style, proficiency, and adaptability.

This portfolio encompasses various content genres, ranging from creative pieces to informative articles, all of which highlight the writer’s competence in adapting to diverse writing styles and topics.

Moreover, the writer not only showcases their writing ability but also demonstrates their proficiency in conducting in-depth research, analyzing data, and producing top-notch content that meets client specifications. It is evident that Freelance Writing Portfolio Example 5 exemplifies the writer’s professionalism and dedication to delivering exceptional work to their clients.

Portfolio Example 6

Freelance Writing Portfolio Example 6 showcases an impressive collection of diverse writing samples that reflect the writer’s versatile skills and expertise. The portfolio features various styles of writing, including blog articles, social media content, and long-form essays, proving that the writer is capable of adapting to different formats and topics.

The writing displays impeccable grammar, syntax, and structure, providing evidence of the writer’s ability to communicate effectively with the audience. Additionally, the writer has included client testimonials that showcase their professionalism and ability to meet project requirements efficiently.

Overall, Freelance Writing Portfolio Example 6 provides a compelling representation of the writer’s abilities, making it an excellent example for aspiring freelance writers looking to build their portfolios.

Portfolio Example 7

Welcome to the Freelance Writing Portfolio Examples document. In this document, we present to you a sample of a professional freelance writing portfolio. The portfolio showcases the works and skills of an experienced freelance writer.

In example 9 of the portfolio, the writer demonstrates their exceptional ability to produce high-quality content for businesses and organizations. The writer’s background in marketing and communication is highlighted through the diverse range of works included in the portfolio, such as social media posts, email campaigns, and website copy.

The writer’s talent for storytelling and creating engaging content is also evident in the collection of articles and blog posts included in the portfolio. With this example, the writer clearly presents a strong and versatile writing style along with their ability to adapt to the specific needs and preferences of their clients.

Portfolio Example 8

Welcome to the Freelance Writing Portfolio Examples document. In this section, we will be discussing “Freelance Writing Portfolio Example 8”. This portfolio showcases the work of a skilled freelancer adept at creating engaging content for businesses and individuals.

The portfolio includes samples of blog posts, articles, and web copy that reflect the writer’s versatility and ability to write in various tones and styles. The writer has also included a brief introduction and descriptions of each sample, allowing potential clients to gain a thorough understanding of their writing style and approach.

All samples showcase the writer’s skills in crafting well-researched, informative, and compelling content that resonates with readers. Overall, this portfolio is an excellent example of how to showcase one’s skills and experience to potential clients in an engaging manner.

Portfolio Example 9

Portfolio example 10.

Freelance writing is a highly competitive industry, and building a strong portfolio is essential to stand out from the crowd. Portfolio examples offer an insight into the writer’s writing style, knowledge, expertise and provide potential clients a glimpse into their work.

Freelance writing portfolio example 10 showcases a diverse range of industries written by an experienced freelance writer. From technology, finance, health, to lifestyle, each piece is well-written, engaging and informative with an emphasis on captivating headlines, meticulous research, relevant keywords, and SEO optimization.

The portfolio examples highlight the writer’s ability to craft unique and targeted content that resonates with the audience and conveys the client’s message concisely. Overall, Freelance writing portfolio example 10 demonstrates the writer’s versatility, professionalism, and expertise in delivering high-quality content tailored to various clients and industries.

To sum up, having a variety of freelance writing portfolio examples to showcase your work is crucial when trying to land new clients. The more you can provide potential clients with concrete examples of your writing abilities, the more likely they are to trust you with their projects. Remember to keep your portfolio updated and relevant to the type of work you’re seeking, and don’t be afraid to showcase your best work. With a strong portfolio, you can make a name for yourself in the freelance writing industry and build a thriving career. Freelancer Description Example | Freelancer Bio Description

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