Still without an online portfolio? Here’s how to get one.

by Leo Wiles
30 May 2014

The great news is, there are lots of options these days for creating a digital writer portfolio. Or rather, it will be after the following disclaimer that I actually put this list together when I realised that a) my current website is old and tired, b) I loathe Facebook and c) my Pinterest, Google+ and beloved Instagram reflect my personal life and not the serious pearl wearer I am at the ‘office’. So where should a journo, PR, writer, photographer (or a mesh of all these, like me) begin in the aim of an online portfolio that will make our first impression count when we’re Googled? Here’s where to start – whether you’ve got ten minutes or a whole weekend.

If you’ve got… ten minutes

Create an about.me profile. This free platform enables you to create a static single personal webpage, complete with your own image, which can link to your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. profiles. Best of all, this online calling card offers free analytics on who has viewed your page.

If you’ve got… a few hours

As a freelancer you’re probably sick of attachment limits and Dropboxing files to share your work. I know I am. There are now several ways to warehouse your cuttings as PDFs or links to your stories. You can also add your social networks along with a bio. Try Clippings.me – or Pressfolios. The mobile friendly Journo Portfolio does all of the above as well as hosting your blog.

Vetted writers with a penchant for content writing may prefer Contently. It offers a digital writer portfolio portal to showcase your wares to brands and companies and in return they take a 15 percent cut of any gigs you land through them.

If you’ve got … a whole weekend

Nothing beats a website for showing off, oops I mean showcasing, your multimedia talents. A good site is able to host articles, images, audio and video, and provides a blog component too. Best of all, there are now countless themes and sites for those of us who don’t want to spend all day coding to update our portfolio. WordPress.com and the self hosting WordPress.org are still amongst the most common platforms for journos. But make sure you pony up and invest in your own domain name to make it easier for prospective clients to find you online.

OK. Now that you’ve done that, here’s my ultimate checklist for hammering home your own content:

1. Stay focused on your ultimate goals Which might be a) let employers find you; b) showcase your strengths; c) inform them how to contact you and d) asking yourself how well does my online portfolio answer the questions potential clients are likely to have?

2. Be consistent across the platforms you choose in terms of your personal branding. By that I mean, don’t have a vague handle on Twitter and another on Instagram that’s completely different. You might also want to think about a consistent colour scheme and tone.

3. Keep your eye on the prize by displaying work that’s in keeping with the type of work you want to be doing in the future – if it doesn’t illustrate this then throw it to the kerb.

4. Quality over quantity Be selective and only highlight the work you are really proud of that showcases your skill, be it a portrait, an interview or campaign – rather than displaying all your work and diluting your message.

5. Use high-quality images, scans or plain text to ensure that editors can read your PDF clips. That way even if the URL changes or is removed your work can be seen.

6. Create PDF files of your samples so they can be downloaded and read by prospective clients (even if a link is removed or URL changes).

7. Keep it simple, stupid – by using a functional easy to navigate website you’ll ensure that your content remains front and centre rather than the whizz-bang design elements.

8. Make it shareable by adding the link to your email signature.

Oh and remember your portfolio is a living document that needs to grow with you so update it regularly.

Already online and happy with your portfolio? Let us know what you learned while you created it, and please do share the URL in the comments so we can all take a sticky-beak!