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How to Build Your Portfolio as a Content Writer

· 4 min read

This is how you can build your portfolio as a Content Writer.

In my last few posts, I wrote about how you can decide a niche and consume content around that niche as a writer. Once you have done that the next thing you should do is build a strong portfolio.

What I have witnessed, beginners start looking for content writing work with nothing to showcase their past work. Because of that, the hiring person didn’t show much interest in them. If you don’t know how to build a strong portfolio don’t worry, in today’s post I have explained everything about it.

As per my experience there are three ways to build a portfolio as a content writer: 1. Writing on Social Media Publishing platforms 2. Internship or Low Paying Content Writing Gigs 3. Starting Your Own Blog. Let me further explain each of them.

  • Writing on Social Media Publishing platforms: As you are just starting your content writing career and you have nothing to show as your past work you should start writing on social media publishing platforms. We have popular platforms like Medium, Quora, etc. Select a few topics of your choice within the niche you want to build your portfolio and write detailed articles on them. Think like you are writing for a client. The content should be well researched, unique and well structured. The idea here is to have some content published on Medium with your name which you can show to your potential clients as a sample of what you can achieve for them. If your work is good there is a high chance of getting an opportunity as a content writer.

  • Internship or Low Paying Content Writing Gigs: I advise every beginner to write on platforms like Medium to build their portfolio. Along with that you can start looking for internships or low paying writing gigs. You may have read a few LinkedIn posts about not taking internships or low paying writing jobs. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with doing an internship or a job that pays low. When you are just starting your career and have no previous work experience. This is the way you can build a portfolio. At this stage don’t think a lot about getting paid. But the most important thing to note here is if you are writing for someone as an intern or a low pay make sure you are getting credited for your work. The work should not be ghostwriting and you get a proper author page for yourself. Avoid taking the work where you are not getting credited for your work. Although you will get the experience you need, you will not have a portfolio to show to a prospective client.

  • Starting your Own Blog: The other way to build a portfolio is by starting your own blog. This is the path I accidentally took when I was starting out in my career. I started a few blogs like Technical Ratnesh, TechYorker on my own. When I decided to work as a content writer it was easy for me to share my TechYorker author page to clients and get writing work. Similarly, if you want to build a strong portfolio you can start your own blog within the selected niche. Starting a blog will not only teach you how to be a good content writer but you will learn many more skills like WordPress, SEO, etc.

So these are three ways by which you can build a portfolio as a content writer. You can get started with anyone and explore the remaining after that. What are your thoughts about it?

Thanks!