Content writing is different from copywriting. (For more on that, check out this article.) But it’s very likely that, at some point, a copy client is going to ask you to write content for them. Great—but where do those content samples belong on your portfolio site? Read on…
Today’s question comes from Angela M., who asks, “I have some content writing from a previous client. Should it go on my copywriting portfolio site? Or do I need a separate site for it?”
Your portfolio site is for featuring your very best work, so it makes sense to put great samples up there.
But remember that the primary purpose of your copywriting portfolio site is to highlight your copywriting samples.
A lot of new copywriters make the mistake of mixing their content and copywriting samples together. The message that sends to creative directors and marketing directors is that the copywriter doesn’t know the difference between the two.
And, obviously, that’s a terrible message to send.
The simple solution is to just have a separate section or page for your content work. You may even want to introduce it by saying your specialty is copywriting, but you do periodic content writing work for your clients.
Be sure, too, that all of the copy in the images you upload is legible. There’s no point in having samples up there if people can’t read your writing! It’s likely that you’ll need to use small thumbnail pictures that expand to full (readable) size when people click on them.
It’s not sufficient, either, to simply provide links to the URLs where your content lives. Your previous clients may move around their content or get rid of it completely, and then you’re left with unprofessional-looking broken links—not to mention no content samples.
Set your content apart and, since it’s your copywriting portfolio, be sure that you have more copywriting samples than content ones! You’ll feature your best work, and show potential clients the breadth of your skills.
Your turn! How have you added your content samples to your portfolio site? Let us know in the comments below!
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