How to Gear Your Portfolio for Content Writing
If you’d like to pursue a career as a content writer, you’ll first need to create a portfolio that is geared toward content writing. The profession of “content writer” is extremely broad, and most content writers choose to focus on a certain subcategory such as news writing, creative writing or report writing.
The ways in which you gear your content writing portfolio will largely depend on the content writing specialization you choose. Furthermore, a content writing portfolio should adhere to the general guidelines imposed by most online content development companies.
Choosing Your Specialization as a Content Writer
When choosing your specialization as a content writer, it’s important to first assess your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, as well as your interests. For example, if you wish to pursue a career as content writer of news posts and current events articles, a background in journalism is preferable. Many universities and technical colleges offer degrees in journalism, though a degree is not always necessary to begin work as a news content writer.
It is advisable to research current events and write clear, concise articles about those events. Are you able to easily summarize the event while providing your own unbiased view of the story, or do you find yourself rehashing the article with a strong interest in the subject matter? Writing several timely articles about news events and breaking stories is a great way to gear your portfolio for content writing.
Alternatively, you might be interested in writing blog posts for entertainment or consumer websites. If this is the case, you might consider obtaining an education in creative writing. Although a degree in creative writing or English will serve as a definite advantage, those with the proper motivation and writing skills can find work as blog writers just as easily.
Select a diverse range of topics that interest you and build a portfolio full of articles with valuable information and timely subject matter. Don’t be afraid to lend your own voice and opinion to your articles. The best blogs look for writers with exceptional writing skills and their own creative voice, as these types of content writers usually write content that will be of interest to an existing readership.
Some content writing jobs deal with hard facts and technical information, in which the content writer is expected to develop reports and other materials related to more complex topics. If this is the type of content writing you wish to pursue, a background in technical writing is ideal. You can gear your portfolio for technical content writing by developing articles that clearly convey technical information in a concise manner. Strive for informational accuracy, appropriate formatting, and a demonstrable understanding of industry terms and styles.
Creating a Portfolio for a Content Writing Company
As you prepare your portfolio for content writing, it’s important to keep in mind some of the guidelines that typical content development companies adhere to. First, you should gain a basic familiarity with SEO, or search engine optimization. SEO is the practice of crafting content that will rank highly in search engine results.
To gear your content for SEO, it is important for your articles to be brief yet valuable and informative, typically with a length between 400 and 500 words. In addition, you should strive to include plenty of keyword phrases that will help search engines find your article.
To determine a good keyword phrase for your article, think about the search terms an average person might choose when they’re trying to find online content regarding the subject matter you’re writing about. Approximately 2% to 3% of your article should consist of these keyword phrases. Apply these suggestions to your portfolio, and you’ll be well on your way to a promising career in content writing.
