How to Create a Freelance Portfolio That Gets You Hired

If you are a freelancer here in Nigeria, then you know that one of the most important things to have is a strong portfolio. Your portfolio is essentially your resume; it’s a way for potential clients and employers to see your work and decide if you’re a good fit for their needs.

Creating a strong portfolio can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to create a freelance portfolio that will help you get hired.

What is a portfolio in freelancing?

When it comes to freelancing, your portfolio is your best friend. It is a collection of your previous work that you can show off to potential clients to demonstrate your skills and abilities. 

It is the tool at your disposal to help impress potential employers and get them to hire you.  

A portfolio is a collection of your best work that you can show potential clients and employers. It is a way for them to see your work and decide if they’re a good fit for their needs. 

As you can guess, a good portfolio can make or break a freelancer’s career, so it is important to put time and effort into creating one that will impress.

And that’s the goal of this guide, to help you figure out the right magic to craft a perfect portfolio that will wow your clients.

How to Create a Freelance Portfolio That Gets You Hired

1. Know your audience first.

When creating a freelance portfolio, first choose your audience. Are you targeting businesses or individual clients? Once you know who you want to reach, you can tailor your portfolio to appeal to them.

Let me explain.

If you are looking to attract businesses, put together a portfolio that showcases your work in a professional manner. Be sure to include any relevant experience or qualifications, as well as contact information.

For individuals, meanwhile, it is often best to focus on the quality of your work rather than putting together a formal document. 

A simple website or blog featuring your writing or design samples can be enough to get the attention of potential clients. 

2. Create a website to showcase your work. 

The last thing you want is coming out as the other freelancers, just dropping emails with attached documents.

If you are going to win that project, you need to be unique!

Luckily, a portfolio website is exactly what you need to get that edge and showcase your work to attract new clients. 

To help you out, here are a few tips to create the best portfolio website for your business:

• Use an easy-to-use platform: Choose a website builder that is easy to use and navigate. This will make it easier for potential clients to find the information they need about your services.
• Include plenty of images: Make sure to include plenty of images of your work on your website. This will give potential clients a good idea of the quality of your work.
• Use keywords: Be sure to use relevant keywords throughout your website so that it appears in search engine results when potential clients are looking for freelancers with your skillset.
• Add testimonials: Include testimonials from past clients on your website to show off your satisfied customers. 
• Include your contact information. Make sure to include all of your contact information on your website so that potential clients can get in touch with you.

When it comes to creating a portfolio, you have a lot of options. You could use a pre-built platform like OLITT or Wix, or opt for something more custom like WordPress. 

Choose the platform that will best showcase your work and make it easy for potential clients to view your portfolio and contact you.

Related: WordPress in Nigeria: How To Create A Website.

Read also: 7 Reasons Why You Need A Website for Your Small Business Now.

3. Tell a story for each service you provide. 

If you want to win clients and sell your services, tell a story. Stories are a powerful way to connect with people and persuade them to take action. 

The best stories have a beginning, middle, and end, and they usually follow this basic structure:

• Introduce the problem or challenge your protagonist is facing.
• Describe how your protagonist overcomes the problem or challenge.
• Explain what the reader can learn from your story.

When you’re telling a story, make sure to focus on the emotional aspects of the tale. What did your protagonist feel during the conflict? How did they feel when they finally overcame the obstacle? And what can the reader take away from the story that will help them in their own lives?

You can apply this to your freelancing business in Nigeria. 

Instead of simply explaining how a system works, tell a story about the time you had to troubleshoot that system. 

Or instead of telling your readers about the last time you worked with a customer who didn’t pay on time, tell them about the time you got your own bill past due. 

4. Gather 5 or more samples of your best work. 

When creating a freelance portfolio, be sure to include only your best work samples. Relevant samples that demonstrate your skills and abilities in relation to what your clients want are key. 

For each project, include additional details about your role to paint a clear picture for potential employers.

Including 5 or more of your best work samples is a great way to showcase your skills and abilities as a freelancer. When selecting these samples, be sure they are relevant to the type of clients you want to attract. 

For each project, include a brief description of your role and what you contributed to the overall success of the project. 

For example:

• Explain what your main task or deliverable was
• Describe how you tackled the client’s problem
• Highlight the skills, tools, and technologies you used to fulfil the client’s requirements
• Include any other important details about how you nailed the project goals.

By doing this, you will give potential employers a better idea of the value you can bring to their team. 

5. Gather great reviews and testimonials.

Research has shown that social proof can be one of the most persuasive elements in your profile. 

If you want to create a freelance portfolio that gets you hired, then you need to gather great reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients. Video testimonials are the best way to do this. 

As a freelancer, you should be constantly asking for feedback and reviews from your clients. I ask every client to leave me a review on my LinkedIn profile and I also send them a link to my Google Business page (if they have a Google account, which is almost everyone these days). 

If you are using marketplaces like Upwork, ensure you follow up with clients to leave a review after each project. This goes a long way in winning the next project.

6. Describe the steps of your process. 

When beginning a new project, the first step is always to establish what the project entails and what the client is looking for. 

Once that is determined, the freelancer can begin working on the project, starting with an outline or rough draft. 

After that, it is important to go over the work with the client to get feedback and make sure that they are happy with what is being created. After revisions and final approval from the client, the project is complete and can be added to the portfolio.

The onboarding process should be tailored to each individual client. 

However, there are some steps that are always necessary in order to ensure a smooth process. 

First, it is important to have a kickoff meeting in order to determine what exactly the client wants and needs from the project. 

Next, create a timeline for deliverables so that both parties know what to expect and when things are due. This also allows the client to have a clear idea of what they can expect as far as pricing and timeline. 

Every project has its own unique set of challenges, but it is important to tackle them one at a time in order to ensure that the project is completed successfully. 

Ensure your clients know what your process looks like.

7. Include case studies in your portfolio. 

Most people know that a portfolio is essential for any freelancer. But what many don’t realize is that case studies are an essential part of any good portfolio. Case studies show potential clients what you’re capable of and how you work. They’re also a great way to show off your problem-solving skills.

If you’re not sure what to include in a case study, think about a time when you went above and beyond for a client. 

Write about the problem you were solving, the steps you took to solve it, and the results you achieved. 

Be sure to use persuasive language, and make your case study as visual as possible with charts, graphs, and images.

Drafting a persuasive case study can be daunting, but it’s worth taking the time to do it right. After all, this could be the piece that lands you your dream freelance gig.

8. Include your pricing.

A freelance portfolio is not complete without indicating the prices of your services.

And when it comes to pricing your services, there are a few things you need to take into account. 

First, what is the going rate for similar services in your area? You don’t want to price yourself too high and risk not getting any work, but you also don’t want to lowball yourself and end up making less than you’re worth.

Once you have an idea of what others in your field are charging, you need to decide what kind of pricing strategy you want to use. 

Do you want to charge by the hour, by the project, or a combination of both? 

There are pros and cons to each approach, so think about what will work best for you and your clients.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to negotiate on price. If you’re not comfortable doing that upfront, you can always offer a lower price initially and then revisit the issue later.

9. Include your photo.

Don’t forget to include your photo. And if possible, avoid using white backgrounds. This can make your photos look bland and uninteresting. 

Instead, try to use high-quality portraits of you that show off your personality. 

A professional photograph is also a good idea, as it will show potential clients that you are serious about your work. 

In brief.

When you’re ready to create your freelance portfolio, there are a few steps you should take to make sure it’s up to par. 

First, take some time to assess what kind of work you want to showcase. Do you want to focus on writing samples, or highlight more design-based projects? 

Once you know the direction you want to go in, start collecting your best work. If you don’t have any previous clients, no problem! You can create mock projects that show off your skills.

Once you have a good selection of work, it’s time to start putting together your portfolio website. Choose a platform that’s easy to use and makes it simple for potential clients to view your work. You should also include an about page, so clients can learn more about who you are and what kind of services you offer. 

A good portfolio website can set you apart from your competition, giving you an advantage during job interviews. Here are some tips to help you get started: Make it easy for clients to navigate your site; don t make them hunt for the information they need. 

Use clear and concise language to describe your skills and experience. Highlight your strongest work, whether it’s writing samples or design projects. 

Use an About page to give potential clients a sense of who you are as a person and what kind of services you offer. 

Keep your portfolio updated with new projects on a regular basis; this will show that you’re actively pursuing work opportunities.

Read also: The Top 7 Freelancing Sites in Nigeria.

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