Building An Online Portfolio

One of the most crucial tools in any freelancers toolkit is their online portfolio. To those not “in the know” an online portfolio is a culmination of experience, skills, and successes - imagine a more visual CV. From my personal experience, I’ve only ever seen freelancers with detailed slideshows of their work, but it’s not exclusive to them. A lot of marketers and writers preach the value of a online portfolio, especially when you’re looking to change jobs or develop your own personal brand online.

Why do you need an online portfolio?

A digital portfolio is a perfect addition to your resume, allowing you to show what makes you unique while also controlling your digital narrative. A digital portfolio helps you create the narrative in a positive way. It showcases what you're capable of and highlights work that you're the most proud of producing.

Why do I need one?

If you’re new here, I feel like this might be good opportunity to introduce myself.

Hi! I’m Steph, a freelance marketer covering all sorts of services from graphic design to SMM, SEO, and PPC. I started this website nearly three years ago now with the intention of using it as a “play space” for my then role as a social media marketer. All of a sudden COVID-19 hit and we were all stuck at home with nothing to do. Whilst I made my fair share of Dalgonas and binge watched TikTok, I also put a lot more time and energy into growing my blog,

building a little community on Instagram, and writing content that was a lot more meaningful. Eventually, I moved to London to start a full time role as a Marketing Exec, and began to slowly grow my freelance business. With the blog and the new opportunities that London gave me, I was able to make StephWritesStuff a profitable side hobby.

But as with anything, it takes time to make something that you’re well and truly proud of. I know I have a long way to go before I can look at my freelance business and feel assured that it’s a job well done. The past two years I’ve focused heavily on writing, SMM, and getting clients in the books. But following a promotion, and a renewed sense of thinking, I’m ready to focus on the finer (and arguably more important) details that come with running a freelance business.

Surprisingly, I’ve only just started working on my portfolio. After nearly 5 years working in marketing I’ve grown tired of searching through all my folders looking for certificates, past blogs, and proof of skill. Portfolios are essential, not just because they look impressive, they save a whole load of time too.

As I do every year, I’ve been putting a big focus on my business this month. I’m ready to grow again and I’m looking for ways I can streamline and save valuable time that I’ve lost in the past. From proposal templates to online portfolios, I’m giving everything a go this new year - and I want to document the journey for you.

So if you’re in the same boat as me, then worry no longer. I’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about building an online portfolio.

Remember to say who you are and what you do

Nobody ever wants to be smacked straight in the face with a sales pitch, you’ve gotta ease them into it a little, Explain who you are, what you do, and why they should give you the time of day on the first page. Social proof and proof of skill go a long way in making businesses feel confident in investing in you.

Whilst I’m always looking for ways to perfect mine, it’s still visible on my copywriting services page if you need some inspiration.

Services and past successes go hand-in-hand

It goes without saying that your services should play a big role in building your portfolio, in fact the whole thing should consist of it. What do you offer? Do you have any qualifications to add to it?

Depending on the experience you’ve got already, this is a great opportunity to slide in pack examples of your work. Incorporating them into the design of your portfolio can be great in a lot of ways, but please make sure that you make it clear what the work is and that it is your own. Personally, I always reference the project directly in the text. There is a few cases (like in the contents page or introduction) where I use them purely as decals, with a small caption at the bottom of the page.

Make it visually appealing

A good portfolio takes time to develop, especially if you’re planning to send the PDF or print-out to businesses all over the country. Most marketers I know don’t limit themselves to niche’s and if you’re in the same boat, you have a great opportunity. Instead of branding your content to fit a specific niche, you can focus on building a brand around diversity. In 2023 I expect personal branding, both in freelancers, and LinkedIn influencers, will reach new heights - so take the chance to be authentic, show case your skills, and your ability to work with any industry.

Print, PDF, or Webpage?

I know the crux of this blog post is based around creating a visually beautiful slideshow of work. But what’s your plan with it? Will you print, email, or get the sheep to come to you with your own website? All of the advice and recommendations apply either way, but it’s always worth thinking about where the end product will go…before you’ve even started working on it.

For example, if you’re creating a webpage portfolio I would recommend staying away from the MB heavy images. They might look impressive, but when the webpage takes a century to load and end up tanking your rank for search.

If you choose print, and select low quality images, you’re not exactly showcasing your skills as a professional freelancer with a keen eye for detail, are you?

My point is, this isn’t just a case of slapping something together and calling it a day. It takes time, thought and a keen eye on the end goal.