There are many reasons why an online writing portfolio may be of interest to you, whether for personal or professional reasons. Perhaps you are keen to showcase your work and demonstrate your ability to write compelling copy for marketing or advertising campaigns. Or perhaps you want to develop your skills and become a freelance writer, contributing to publications or creating your own blog to showcase your work.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to create an online portfolio, there are plenty of ways in which you can do so. And if you are looking to develop your skills and gain some credibility as a freelance writer, creating an online portfolio is arguably one of the best ways to go about it.
So, whether you’re just starting out or are looking to build on your existing portfolio, learning how to create an online writing portfolio is undeniably a good idea.
Do Your Research
Before you begin, it’s essential that you do your research about the platform you plan to use for your online writing portfolio. There are many different blog platforms out there, all with their perks and quirks. For optimum performance, you want to opt for a WordPress blog that is hosted on a reputable web host. Your goal is to create a high-quality, professional-looking website as quickly and easily as possible, so you can get back to creating content for your portfolio.
If speed and ease of use are important to you, then Vogue hosting may be the perfect choice. Built on the WordPress CMS, Vogue hosting is incredibly user-friendly and makes setting up and running a blog very easy.
Choose The Right Theme
When it comes to website design, there are so many different themes and styles to choose from. And if you are looking for something that is easy to use and doesn’t require you to have any advanced design skills, then go for a dark or dull color scheme with links on the homepage that lead to more content.
If you are using a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress to create your online writing portfolio, then you will need to look into purchasing a premium theme for the site. You don’t necessarily need a premium theme to create a blog, but the extra functionality and user-friendly features that come with them are worth it. They can easily be found and installed onto your WordPress site, without needing any specific technical knowledge.
Set Up The Right Legal And Financial Frameworks
Writing for publications and online platforms that accept guest posts requires you to have a legal and financial framework in place. If you are doing any amount of freelance writing, then it’s a great idea to look into registering with the I.O.C. (International Organization for Copywriting and Content Marketing)
The I.O.C. is an international professional association that promotes copyright and creative best practices. As a member, you have access to a wealth of information and networking opportunities designed to help you grow your career as a copywriter.
Along with the I.O.C., you should also consider registering with the A.C.E. (American Copy Editors Association).
Plan Out Your Blog’s Structure And Content
A good tip when planning out your blog’s content is to think about how you will structure it. This will help you organize your thoughts and make the most of the content you put out. When planning out content for your blog, it’s a good idea to think about the following:
- The different sections of your blog
- The order in which you will present these sections
- The overall tone of your blog
- The type of posts you will write (e.g., articles, how-to guides, or case studies)
- The frequency with which you will post (weekly, biweekly, or monthly)
- Your blog’s target audience (e.g., business owners, marketers, or individual freelancers)
To start, you may want to consider creating a short FAQ section on your blog that will answer frequently asked questions about your niche. This will make it easy for potential blog readers to find the information they are looking for and allow you to build credibility by establishing yourself as an expert in your niche. In addition to creating a Frequently Asked Questions section, you can also add a search bar that will allow users to easily find what they’re looking for.
Establish Your Authorship
If you are using your blog as a writing portfolio, then you need to establish your authorship. The easiest way to do this is to add a bio at the end of each article or post. You can also mention your blog in your author bio, though this may not be necessary.
Along with your bio, you should add a visual element that links to your blog. Adding an author photo to your bio will not only make it easy for website visitors to learn more about you, but it will also serve as a good visual cue to remind them of your blog and its content when they’re browsing through a digital magazine or online newspaper.
Link To An Online Store
If you’re looking to establish your blog as a major source of revenue, then you should consider creating an online store from which you can sell and promote your products. You can use a tool such as Shopify to easily create an online store, which accepts Bitcoin and other forms of digital payment.
You should link to your store in multiple places, including your blog’s navigation, wherever possible. Doing this will not only bring in more traffic, but it will also show search engines that you are actively trying to improve your blog’s SEO (search engine optimization).
Use Analytics To Track Website Traffic
Traffic is often the key metric that determines the success of a blog. Without a clear understanding of where your traffic is coming from and how to improve it, it’s hard to know how to proceed. Luckily, most blogging platforms offer analytics that can be used to easily track traffic trends, so you don’t need to spend a lot of time guessing.
When it comes to SEO and blogging, it’s important not to overexploit keywords. Instead, you should rely on your analytics to tell you which keywords are bringing in the most traffic and then use this to your advantage.
Monitor Your Performance, And Make Adjustments As Needed
Blogging is a constantly evolving field, and as your blog grows in popularity, you will inevitably find yourself facing new challenges and requiring new strategies to overcome them. The best way to deal with these challenges is by actively monitoring your performance and making adjustments as needed. One of the best things about a blog, in terms of its adaptability, is that it can be changed in such a way that it fits evolving needs – and this is something that can neither be said nor implied about many other online platforms.
Link To Social Media Accounts
Finally, as you start to grow your blog’s readership, you may find that there are people who want to connect with you on social media platforms. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to have a link to each of your social media accounts on your blog. This will not only allow readers to discover your other talents, but it will also lead to more website traffic and increased credibility.
If you’ve been looking for ways to expand your career beyond blogging, then an online writing portfolio may be exactly what you’re looking for. By taking the time to establish and manage a quality blog, you will not only have the ability to showcase your work, but you will also be able to monetize your efforts and build a profitable business.