When I ask people about their biggest challenges to succeeding at freelancing, one of the most common responses I get is “Building a portfolio”.
It usually sounds something like one of the following:
- “How do I build a freelance portfolio with no work experience? I’m new to freelancing / Upwork and I don’t have examples of previous work to show.”
- “How can I create a freelance portfolio in my field? Oh sure, you can create portfolios for freelance writers and designers, but I can’t because I’m a bookkeeper / lawyer / software developer / virtual assistant / other “non-creative type.”
- “How do I make a freelance portfolio if I can’t use my samples? I’ve done some relevant work I wish I could show, but it was for my employer (or previous freelance client) so I can’t use those as portfolio samples.”
If you listen closely, the underlying assumption is that you need to be able to show off years of previous work in your portfolio to look professional and win jobs.
This is exactly the type of myth many freelancing gurus and Old Pros have been perpetuating for years, but is it true?
Creating a freelance portfolio doesn’t need to be difficult
A couple of weeks ago I took my wife and 3-year old son to the grand opening of a new grocery store. There were balloons everywhere, and my son asked if he could have one.
My wife was about to tell him they were “just for show,” but before she could get the words out I’d already walked up to the store manager and asked if they had an extra balloon for my son.
She smiled and handed me an entire bouquet of balloons. When I gave it to my son he was beaming from ear to ear. But I’ll never forget what my wife said:
“Huh. It never occurred to me to do that.”
(Flickr Creative Commons image via Crystal)
Here’s an uncomfortable question for you: How often do we choose a hard path in life just because an easier alternative never occurred to us?
Sure, putting in years of work will lead to a big portfolio… But what do you do in the meantime?
Do you just stay stuck in the catch-22 of “I can’t get freelance jobs without a portfolio…but how can I build a portfolio without getting any jobs?”
That’s one option. But I’ve found there are times in life when it’s OK — even preferable — to take a shortcut.
Yes, you can build your freelance portfolio the hard way — or you can use one of the following EASY portfolio ideas and give yourself permission to stop worrying about it and start doing work you enjoy:
How to build a freelance portfolio the easy way:
- Don’t have your own samples? Just critique someone else’s work
- Portfolio samples don’t always need to be finished projects
- Show the results of your work — even if they aren’t dramatic
- Write (mini) case studies on your freelance clients…or anyone you’ve helped
- You can use screenshots for more than just “creative” projects
1. Don’t have your own samples? Just critique someone else’s work
The next best thing to showing off your own work is talking about someone else’s work in a way that demonstrates your knowledge and expertise.
Here’s an example of simple, 3-minute website teardown:
Anyone can do this! Just use an app like Camtasia (you can even use their free trial) to record your screen while you talk. Keep it short and simple.
(And please don’t tell me “this is just for freelance writers/designers/web developers”! You can critique spreadsheets, Google Analytics dashboards, legal disclaimers, software, 3D renderings, translations, architecture, or anything else.)
2. Portfolio samples don’t always need to be finished projects
Once, when I was 17 and working in a restaurant, I helped a chef prepare stuffed mushrooms. My job was simple: to remove the stems.
When I finished, I went to throw the scraps and stems out. But the second before I dumped everything into the trash, the chef yelled, “WAIT — We can use those to make soup!”
Master craftsmen leave nothing to waste.
Similarly, one FTW student started writing a blog post using my Crystal Ball Technique and realized that — even without finishing it — it was enough to show off her writing skills. So she added it to her Upwork portfolio and called it a “blog post excerpt.”
The result? In less than the time it would have taken her to finish the full blog post, she’d already used it to land a new client!
There’s no rule that says your portfolio can only contain examples of completed projects. Look at the publishing business — an author can write a single chapter of a manuscript and use it to get an entire book deal! You can do the same with your portfolio.
You can do this with visual work as well. For example, graphic designers/artists can show sketches instead of finished images, UI/UX designers can show wireframes and mockups instead of completed apps, and web developers can build just one page of a multi-page website.
Of course, this works for non-creative work too:
Instead of a full manuscript, proofreaders can put a single page (or paragraph) of rough text in a Google doc with edits made under suggestion mode.
Instead of putting together a 10 page report, research assistants can show just half a page of detailed notes on a random subject.
The posibilities are endless.
3. Show the results of your work — even if they aren’t dramatic
Showing screenshots of results you’ve been able to achieve is always a great idea. Even you’re not able to display the actual work itself (perhaps due to contract agreements), showing the results will get the point across just as well, if not better.
If you’re brand-new, keep in mind these don’t have to come from previous clients — they can be results you got for yourself, at a previous job, or even for a friend or relative.
They also don’t need to be dramatic or “hardcore” results.
A Facebook post with a bunch of likes and shares can work wonders if you’re involved in marketing, social media, or content creation.
An accountant can show how she saved a family member a couple of hundred dollars on their taxes. (If accountants can do this, I don’t want to hear anyone else complain that it doesn’t work for them, OK?)
If you’re a copywriter, you can write an email for a friend’s business and take a screenshot of the results in MailChimp. This will show clients that you’ve sent emails that have been opened and read by X-number of people. (Any client who wants help with their email marketing or copywriting will love this.)
If you’re still new or just don’t have any concrete results to share, don’t worry — as a copywriter, it was years before I had a single concrete result to show and I still managed to pull in a six-figure year on Upwork without it. But if you keep improving your skills and do good work you will eventually have results to show off.
4. Write (mini) case studies on your freelance clients…or anyone you’ve helped
A case study is a story about someone you helped. Here’s a real example of a case study on one of my students. Yours doesn’t need to be nearly as long — a few paragraphs (or even a few sentences) will do the trick.
And again, it doesn’t necessarily need to be about a client — it can just as easily be something you did for a friend, coworker, boss, relative, or anyone else.
Maybe you helped someone set up Google Analytics for their website. Maybe you showed them how to use Quickbooks. Maybe you created a Facebook page for their business. The “what” doesn’t matter — anything can become a powerful case study that shows off your skills.
If you’ve really helped someone solve a problem or accomplish a goal (even if it seems small to you) then there will be a story to tell. Even helping someone simplify their life by organizing their Google Drive files can make a great case study that can help you get clients.
5. You can use screenshots for more than just “creative” projects
You don’t need to be in a creative industry like writing or graphic design in order to build an impressive freelance portfolio.
I know of a clever lawyer on Upwork who created a portfolio filled with screenshots of custom contracts she’d worked on (edited to black out sensitive information, of course).
It doesn’t matter what type of work you do. Screenshots of spreadsheets, research documents, social media posts, apps and anything else you can imagine can all make great portfolio pieces that make you look smart and credible.
Action Time — How will you build up your freelance portfolio?
It’s cool to read blog posts about freelancing, but I didn’t create this site for your “edutainment” — I did it to show you that you have the power to do work you enjoy, charge what you’re worth, and have freedom and control over your life.
That doesn’t happen without ACTION.
So I want to challenge you to pick one thing off the list above, and block out just 15-30 minutes in the next week to make it happen. Then drop a comment below and let us know which one you’re going to do.
Please be SPECIFIC. Don’t just say “Screenshot sample” or “Case study” — tell us exactly what you plan on doing (e.g. “I’m going to write a blog post excerpt about fitness” or “I’m going to critique my sister’s web design”).
The more specific you get now, the easier it will be to follow through and start building up your freelance portfolio.
Join my free Mini-Course: Create your Minimum Viable Portfolio (MVP) and land your next client
Which of these sounds better to you:
- Spend months or years building up a “well rounded” spec portfolio, or…
- Create a Minimum Viable Portfolio (MVP) in ONE AFTERNOON so you can start getting paid to do work you love immediately?
If you chose 2, I’ve got something special just for you. Join my free email mini-course to learn how to create your MVP in a few hours, then use it to start getting real paying clients…TODAY.
The course is totally free. Here’s what you’ll learn when you sign up:
- How to use even a single portfolio item to craft killer Upwork Proposals and get clients who pay you to do work you ENJOY
- A complete list of easy portfolio ideas (including several bonus ideas and lots of real examples for inspiration)
- How to use your MVP to attract high-quality job invitations from great clients on Upwork
- And much, much more…
Get access to the free portfolio mini-course by signing up here.
Thanks for sharing
Am a newbie in freelance writing and am finding it hard to understand portfolio
I’m writing a case study about a voluntary job I did in 2012 as it relates to what I want to do now. It’s computer/swdev, I’m wondering how much detail to go into. BTW, I was at teh European Freelance webinar you did yesterday.
Thanks for sharing such great insights.
thank you i thing with this proposal should be good
Well, thank you for sharing and God Bless.
Thanks so much for sharing
Brilliant post. Thanks Danny.
I will be including some of my completed blogs (though not fully related), a few unfinished blogs and an email campaign I ran a few days back to 100+ people.
Thank you so much for sharing such an informative and helpful content.
Thank you so much… This was all I needed. I actually was struggling with the same question. I will use screenshots of my projects (because they aren’t published yet)
It wonderful content.
Thank you so much for these valuable tools in upwork. Am also new to upwork but I will try to use screenshots of finished and unfinished works in writing that I did for friends and clients in the past.
Thanks for this info! I just joined Upwork 4 days ago and have zero professional experience, but tons of samples from helping friends and family. I’ll be writing a blog excerpt about local dining, and taking some screenshots of previous editing/proofreading I did for my cousin’s college paper.
I have a question about critiquing someone elses work. Don’t you then need permission to post it on your portfolio? Why would someone agree to let you post a video talking about the aspects of the website you would change? I love the idea I’m just worried about infringing on someone’s rights to their material
Amazing never knew I could put an unfinished work in my portfolio, am new to upwork and I haven’t gotten my first job yet but I feel it coming
I’m going to write a blog post excerpt about fitness
Thanks Danny
I am very new to upwork scared to even exhaust my connects for now.
I had to source for offers with smaller connect and Yes I read your posts on Jobs a beginner can handle with ease
Transcription
Whiteboard animation
Blog/Story creative writing and I have sent some proposals plus receiving your mail on great proposal samples.
I must say I got value.
Thanks.
Thanks Danny! I just joined Upwork a month ago. I have applied severally but yet to land a job.
Hopefully l will apply your tips and start building my portfolio.
I will share screenshots of some posts l had written on social media.
I can’t wait to get my first paying client on Upwork.
Thanks for dishing out so much value.
Awesome hacks, you make portfolio making super simple. thanks a lot
Awesome hacks, o love them, you just make portfolio making super simple. thanks a lot
I am new in Upwork. My profile just got approved 2 days ago. I have created my cover letter with the help of this blog. I’m hoping to land my first ever client soonest. Just waiting for her reply on my proposal. Thank you.
Man, I wish I’d learn this years ago! Anyway, I found not just these, but ALL of your hacks are good! I’m working toward fulltime through upwork. Will let you know when I reach that goal! Thanks for all the tips!
Thank you very much for the time and effort you put in to give us these
valuable information.
I’ll write blog excerpt about “health and fitness”.
I can’t wait to make these improvements. I never thought about the task this way and I’m so excited to get a head start.
Thank you for paying it forward and helping the next freelancer “secure the bag”
I am so impressed with this website and with everything I have learned in such a short amount of time. Your article made me feel less intimidated at the thought of creating a portfolio. I plan on providing an example of an excel spreadsheet of a budget that I made for a friend. I plan on writing a blog post as well.
You are eliminating the fear and anxiety I have of pursuing freelance work. I have yet to write a proposal because of the rejection I believe I will receive for not having much of a portfolio. Howeveeeer, I plan create a sample for each of the skills that I am freelancing. So, I plan to write a sample blog post about a spiritual subject. I plan to create a sample of the DEI plan that I started on with a public health organization. I will also create a sample or two where I entered data. Thanks for sharing your journey… Read more »
Great Post! I am about to start apply in upwork! This article it is really great! I will try to apply all your tips for creating my portfolio! Thank you Danny for this great info!
Thanks for the info! I’m going to create samples. I will write up blog posts, then show my edits and corrections on them. I also plan to use screenshots – finding errors in things I read and showing how I would correct them.
Thank you for the practical advice! I plan on finding excerpts of my writing to put in my portfolio.
Thanks Danny I will chose 2
Thanks Danny I will go for second option
Thanks Danny, this blog is really awesome, im just starting my luck at upwork, hopefully they approve my profile and begin being a freelancer. I will surely get inputs from your advice once I’m in @ upwork, best reggards!
I wonder how I missed this marvellous gateway to start freelancing on Upwork up till now–Great job is done, Danny! Although I am yet to get your MVP portfolio tutorial but is it something like “editing” my present portfolio on Upwork replacing it with a brand newer MVP?
This blog has helped me FINALLY take a shot with Upwork. My first email copywriting samples may need some work but at least I did it! I’m still working on finding my voice and just learned spam words are a thing, haha.
I love it! Great attitude and it sounds like you’re having fun with it which is just the best. Enjoy.
On a related topic, how do you handle potential clients who ask for things like conversion rates for your copy, when clients from sites like Upwork never share those numbers with you (if they even know the numbers)? It’s hard to share data you haven’t been given. The best I’ve been able to come up with is something like “Conversion rates depend on a variety of factors beyond the copy, such as the traffic source. They’re also private, and most clients don’t want their numbers shared, if they even disclose them to the writer. Do you want me to share… Read more »
Is there a way of having my name rather than email displayed on these posts? I’d rather not have my email address posted publicly Everyone else seems to have a name or nickname showing instead- how can I get that? It makes me not want to reply any more.
I’ve written about this before on the blog. Look for it and you’ll find it.
Wow, I am quite impressed. This blog post is awesome mate. I am not sure which one I’ll do yet, but I’ll definitely take a few of these to build my portfolio. Will come back with the result!
Keep it up mate!
Thanks David, I’m so happy you’re finding it helpful. I’m sure you’ll do great with it.
What an article! it is just superb. very informative and easy to understand.. thankyou.
You are very welcome. Thanks for stopping by, hope to talk more soon.
Actually, I want to build my blog post. But I am not good at writing. So that’s the problem for me.
I envy the guys who can write 10 page documents in an hour.
How happy they are.
I’m going to pick 2-3 products ( I know one will be a face highlighter from an upstart cosmetics company), rewrite the product descriptions and showcase it like a before and after. All sensitive info will be taken off. I think I’ll also put a critique of my blog on my Upwork portfolio as well. Years ago, a graphic designer I had met would critique blogs on her blog. I submitted mine and was featured. It wasn’t a horrible critique. I’m thinking the critique could show potential clients my branding, strategy, and execution skills. I do have advertising critiques on… Read more »
You’ve got the idea. Best to pick a small manageable amount to do and keep it fun! Like I said looks like you are already there. Good job.
Thank you so much. I have been lost for weeks and have been applying to various jobs in Upwork with no success. Hopefully I will be luckier once I have applied your advice.
Rain, can I talk to you personally? My $kype id is vanhauduong727.
Hope to hear from you.
Great — I find my “luck” depends heavily on my state of mind. Enjoy and have some fun with it.
Ah! the light bulb just turned on!!!! I’ve been stuck with building my portfolio. I’m going to add the new biz directory site am currently working on to my portfolio – really, who says one can’t add unfinished works to one’s portfolio. Oh, I just never thought about it!
Thanks for the great tips.
Awesome! Those light bulb moments are the best, aren’t they.
Just finished making a video with Camtasia and it was pretty easy (haha, took me 3 days). Then I discovered that the free version puts an ugly watermark right in the center of the whole video! YouTube to the rescue!, But I won’t advertise the fix due to possible legal bla bla bla. Just search there and you’ll find it. Also, going to do a couple still shots to up the portfolio. This is for proofreading and editing. Was fun to show the whole backwards online proofreading process sped up by 30X. Point is, I thought I was going to… Read more »
Great work Richard. The first time I used Camtasia to make a video I was completely clueless — I wanted to make an online course teaching people about freelancing so I got Camtasia and watched a few of their tutorial videos and just sort of dove right in. My videos ended up pretty good all things considered! It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you’re interested in doing something and not being perfectionistic or second guessing yourself too much.
Thanks
Very nice, and it will help some freelancer to feel very confident. But, not all clients think this kind of situation, sometimes when they saw the profile with no job succes score or experience will automatically ignore or decline the proposal, sad but true.
Wow, this is great. I will choose # 2. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for this awesome post, Danny! I’m trying to land my first job on upwork and have been wondering how I can use my portfolio of niche sites to my advantage. I’ve done practically all the work on my WordPress sites (content, graphics, videos, email optins, etc). as well as the marketing aspect. I’ll use your suggestions and hope for the best. Cheers!
Its a great tips!:) and came at the perfect time for me as a newbie..
Thanks heaps!
I already have my own portfolio but I really like the points you’ve raised up here like doing mini-case studies and also taking screenshots. This will give a fresh look on my portfolio. Thanks!
I’m a bit late on this but this is just what I needed!
Thanks Danny
You’re welcome.
This is great Danny!
I hope to implement them and take my freelance writing career to the next level.
Great ideas in this article! I’d like to implement them all. But I’m going to start with #1: critiquing.
I’m especially wanting to work with clients involved in cause marketing campaigns. So I’d like to choose one of the biggest, most successful campaigns and highlight why the content is effective, and even suggest areas of content that could be added, and why.
I’m not ready for Camtasia yet, so I will simply write this up (for now).
Thanks for the great inspiration!
Janet
Writing works too–enjoy.
Even a failure can be a portfolio item.
How did you learn from this? How did you correct it?
Failing, then saving, will go much farther than an easy victory. Show your clients you’re willing to go to war for them. They’ll trust you in their corner.
Wow! Such a great advice. My favorite part is ”Show your clients you’re willing to go to war for them.”
Thank you, Vincent.
Great suggestion!!
Awesome insight.