Whether you’re a freelancer pitching editors or a staff writer looking to make a career change, having an online writing portfolio is one of the easiest and most effective ways to showcase your work. In recent years, many online platforms have emerged that are designed to help writers create a cost-effective, easy-to-use portfolio. Here are five that you should try:
Since its creation in 2008, Muck Rack has been successful in building a community of journalists who use the tool to both showcase their work and connect with one another. Muck Rack offers free and premium plans and allows users to not only build a portfolio and profile, but also have access to their “Who Shared My Link?” feature, which allows users to calculate the total number of shares an article has received on social media. There is also a version of the platform made available to PR professionals, marketers, and companies that allows for users to both connect with journalists and track articles written about their business.
2. Clippings.me
A sleek and easy way to build an online portfolio, Clippings offers both free and premium plans and allows users to attach links, upload PDFs, and add multimedia samples. The website also features a journalism directory that allows you to search through portfolios by name, title, country, or category.
3. Journo Portfolio
Journo Portfolio is one of the easiest ways to organize and upload your body of work online. The website offers a free plan that allows you to upload a maximum of 10 articles, but offers premium plans that allow for unlimited articles for less than $3 a month. Writers have the ability to categorize their articles by theme or publication, and are featured in the platform’s directory.
4. The Freelancer by Contently
Created by the content marketing company Contently, The Freelancer allows writers to create a free, easy-to-use portfolio. The website tracks the number of shares, likes, and followers your stories have and allows you to sort them by publication. The site is easy to use: Simply enter a URL or upload a PDF and you’re all set. The Freelancer also publishes articles on trends and best practices and shares information on job and freelance opportunities via its relationship with Contently.
5. PressFolios
While PressFolios may seem a bit outdated and not very customizable, it is a simple, easy-to-use way to showcase one’s writing. The platform’s design allows visitors to your portfolio the ability to scan and read your articles with ease. Users can sort their articles into categories, whether it be by publication, topic, etc. PressFolios offers both free and premium plans, and allows you to upload a resume and put a badge next to your profile picture that shows you’re available for freelance.
