How to Create a Freelance Portfolio
Creating a freelance portfolio that will impress your clients
More and more, the gig economy is growing and new potential clients are coming out of the woodwork. Not only this, but the number of experienced freelancers is growing too. Having a top-notch portfolio will help you stand out from the crowd and secure the client you have your eyes on. We will show you how to create a freelance portfolio, that leaves a lasting impression.
And don’t be worried about not having a lot of experience. It can often seem like a vicious cycle of needing a portfolio to get clients but needing more clients to include in your portfolio. There’s a lot you can do to enhance your portfolio with the experience you already have.
So, whether you’re new to freelancing or looking to update your portfolio with new experience – we’ve got you covered.
How to create a freelance portfolio – Have the basics covered
This will be the easiest to do, as it is a history of yourself. If it’s your own website or a freelancer listing site, make sure you include your name, the name of your business, or a professional username. We also recommend choosing a good-quality photograph of yourself or your professional logo.
Don’t forget to showcase your education, especially if it is relevant to your field or fills in gaps in your portfolio. The skills gained during this period are great enhancers to a portfolio where you are still looking for more experience. If you have lots of experience within your portfolio, this section is still important, you just might have to filter it down a touch!
Including less formal and more personal touches really enhance a freelancer’s portfolio. Write a short biography about yourself, for example, you might have worked across the globe or maybe you speak multiple languages. It might be worth including a short line about what got you into your particular field, attracting clients and providing a deeper insight into who they will be working with.
And finally, guarantee that potential clients can contact you. Add your email, work phone and working hours, and any other socials that contribute to, or market your trade to your portfolio. Make yourself available, accessible, and visible.
Add relevant experience
Clients want to see what makes you qualified, so focus on the most relevant experience you have and expand in more detail. Condensing years of expertise into one portfolio can loom over you like a mammoth task.
So, what can be done to help iron out the process? Well, we believe listing your portfolio on Revolancer is an easy way to create your portfolio as it allows you to create listings of the jobs you’ve done as though a step-by-step guide of the essentials. A great way to enhance these listings is to pre-empt questions or clarifications potential clients may have. Expanding on your listings with a short description and explanation of the project allows you to give your portfolio that extra boost. Check out our article which streamlines the process for you: How to Create a Service Listing.
Finding your niche is also significant, enabling you to list only the relevant experience, which makes it easier for the client to assess your skills. Not only does this show that you’re already catering to the client, but it allows you to find gaps in your experience and allows you to be more specific with your next gig.
Create your own experience
Perhaps you still feel as though you could be including more experience, or more relevant experience if you’re adjusting your portfolio for another field.
There are some easy solutions to this, one of which is to provide some free samples of your work to friends and family. This includes offering to design some wedding invitations if you’re a graphic designer or offering your financial services to a friend’s Esty store or small business.
Don’t be afraid to create your own passion project or include some practice projects. This is something you can spend lots of time on, and as a project you’ve assigned yourself, it is likely to cater to your interests and be some of your best work.
Include accolades
Have your services won you any awards? Have you been featured in the newspaper? Maybe you’ve been given an amazing review from a previous client. Be sure to include these in your portfolio as it also provides potential clients with a bridge to some amazing references of your work and working style.
If you don’t have any of these, be sure to ask for some references, reviews, and testimonies from previous (and happy) clients. Especially if you followed the previous point, you could collect reviews from family and friends who benefitted from your service.
Your portfolio in practice
Now that you’ve been introduced to the elements of a good portfolio, give these tips a go and put them into use on our Revolancer website. You can also respond to listings from clients which will give you more scope to secure work, alongside your growing portfolio.
Before you go
Now that you know how to create a freelance portfolio, you might be interested to learn ‘How to Spot a Good Client’, as you begin growing your workload.
Freelance marketplace: Revolancer