Creating a portfolio (without experience!)

This makes landing new projects a breeze August 14, 2024 [The Writer’ s Life]( "Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will." — Nelson Mandela Hi {NAME} … If you opened this issue, my guess is you either don't have a writing portfolio yet … or you don't love the one you have. In either case, we're going to solve that today. 🙌 Yes, even if you're brand new, with zero work experience. Now, before we dive in, I want to make sure we're on the same page with what a portfolio is … and what it isn't. What it is: samples of your writing. What it's not: your work history, education, accomplishments … That's a resume, which for the most part is useless to a potential client looking to hire a good writer. Sure, a resume might get you through the application process on a job board … but what does it prove about your ability to write? A portfolio, on the other hand, SHOWS a potential client you can do the job. "But Rebecca, how can I build a portfolio without clients?!" Good news: You can create one anytime, anywhere, featuring any kind of work you want to share. I'm serious … For example, [in this three-hour training for new writers](, you'll learn how to write one of the simplest and highest-paying writing projects in a writing niche where writers are in HUGE demand. You'll get a practice writing assignment … Walk through a special "copy critique" session that will help you understand exactly what makes copy "hit the mark" … And how to improve it if it doesn't, so you can turn it into a sample. [This is the fastest way forward to creating professional samples]( (and making great money as a writer, I might add!). But again, all a client really wants to know is that you can do the writing job. And the fastest way to give them that assurance is to hand over some writing samples. (And no, they don't have to be published anywhere. These are just samples to show you can do the work.) Here's all you need to do … Step 1: Start by targeting the type of client you want to work for. What marketing copy and content are they using? Make a list of the samples you want to have handy when talking to potential clients (blog post, email, and so on). Step 2: Brainstorm topics for each sample — making sure they are relevant to your ideal clients/target niche. So, for example, say there's a landscaping company you'd like to write blog posts for … Think about relevant topics … Winter pruning … Cold weather fertilization … Could be anything! Look at your list and select two or three ideas you want to run with. Step 3: Write! This is where you do your thing … Model your samples after other good samples you've seen on your dream client's website. This means you'll take note of the length, voice, and the end goal of the message (for example, to share information or to get the reader to click something). BOOM! Portfolio of samples, ready to go. You can do this for social media posts, sales letters, landing pages, emails, blog posts … whatever it is you want to get paid to write. And you can always revise or replace them as you start taking on new clients … move into a new niche … and so on. Your portfolio today is not your portfolio forever … But it will keep you in the game should a potential client ask for samples (which interestingly, as expert copywriter Steve Slaunwhite shares in today's featured article, is only about 50% of the time in the B2B niche). He's the expert behind [the three-hour training for new writers I mentioned earlier …]( Along with helping you write your first sample, Steve gives you a crash course in writing for the B2B industry (or business-to-business, where companies sell to other businesses instead of to consumers like you and me). In B2B, you need only a few clients to keep you busy, because every client you take on needs DOZENS of projects written. If you're not familiar with B2B writing, I highly recommend you [check out this training.]( With so many different projects, and professional fees right out of the gate, it's easy to see why so many writers have massive success in B2B. To your success, Rebecca Rebecca Matter President AWAI Inside this issue: - [No B2B Writing Portfolio? No Problem! Here's How to Build One, Even if You Haven't Written for a "Real" Client Yet]( - [What Could Your Day Look Like as a B2B Copywriter?]( - [Copywriter by Day, Touring Actor by Night]( No B2B Writing Portfolio? No Problem! Here's How to Build One, Even if You Haven't Written for a "Real" Client Yet By Steve When writers ask me how to break into B2B writing, I often say many clients won't ask to see samples. Instead, they'll review the content you've written for your own freelance business. (Your website, blog posts, pitch emails, and so on.) But, just as many will ask for examples of your best B2B writing. And if you don't have any, well … you're … I'll let you finish that sentence! [Continue reading here.]( Can't Miss 3-Hour Training: The Surest Path to Six-Figure Writing - If you're not a well-paid copywriter yet … - If you're undecided on the perfect writing niche … - If you're worried about making good money … Here's Your Remedy: Three Hours That Will Change Your Life [Find Out All the Details Here]( What Could Your Day Look Like as a B2B Copywriter? By Lisa Christoffel Imagine having this schedule for your day: You come into your home office. You've got an email confirmation of your afternoon meeting. Great! For the morning, you're talking to your client's sales team in about 15 minutes — you're going to ask them a series of questions you have prepared about their product, their customers, and their process. Then, based on what they tell you, you're going to write 10 emails of no more than 120 to 150 words each — and bill your client $2,000 or more for them. It will probably take you only about eight hours or so to write these emails. For the afternoon, you're going to meet with a guy who called one of your clients raving about how their product saved his business. For that call, you just get to ask him questions about what his business was like before he found your client's product, what his frustrations and challenges were … and how things are going now (you already know they're going really well!). After that conversation, you're going to write a couple of pages of copy, a story, really, of a hero's journey for your client's customer … about how your client's product allowed him to help his own customers and save his business. For that call and some writing following a formula, you're going to make another $2,000. Think this is a fantasy world? This was a real workday for me recently. [Continue reading here.]( Your ALL-ACCESS Key — Just $1! Get instant access to this exclusive B2B writing community and ALL their private resources, including … All the success roadmaps … All the writing templates … All the articles … All the how-to videos … All 150+ training webinars … The Forum, the Job Board, the tutorials, the tools … And much more! [Go Here for More Details]( Copywriter by Day, Touring Actor by Night Since the late '70s, Peter Fogel's been a stand-up comic, actor, and writer. But after the big comedy boom of the '80s and '90s the market changed. At age 40, Peter had to make a 180-degree turn where he was in control of his destiny. [Find out how he reinvented himself as a copywriter while still maintaining his entertainment career.]( Featured Writing Jobs You can find these jobs and thousands more on [WritersWanted.com](: Bilingual Copywriter – Davis Elen Advertising Full time, Los Angeles, CA Responsible for original ideas, for clear, concise and convincing writing: for grammatical and material accuracy. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sr. Copywriter – TEKsystems Full time, Philadelphia, PA Serve as one of the team's top writers, working alongside peers to deliver a high volume of written content across a variety of formats (long-form through short-form, across digital, print, and broadcast), at scale. --------------------------------------------------------------- Direct Response Copywriter-Producer – Tried and True Media Full time, Remote You will join a team of performance managers, media buyers, and video editors who share a common goal – generate clicks that convert into high ROAS sales that scale client ad spend. Trouble viewing this email? [View in your browser, here](. For questions or requests: [contact us online](. --------------------------------------------------------------- ©2024 American Writers & Artists Institute Do you know of someone who would benefit from reading The Writer's Life? Simply direct them [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- American Writers & Artists Institute 220 George Bush Blvd, Suite D Delray Beach, FL 33444 Ensure your subscription delivery. AWAI Whitelisting info available [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to this newsletter as {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe from any future issues of The Writer's Life, please click here: [Unsubscribe from The Writer's Life](. To unsubscribe from all AWAI broadcasts click here. [I want to permanently unsubscribe from all AWAI emails](.