To land a contract writing job you want greater than your writing portfolio these days. That is one thing I’ve been considering these days and I even wrote about it over on LinkedIn.
For years, the recommendation for brand new freelance writers has been fairly easy: create a number of writing samples, put them in a portfolio and begin pitching.
I imply that is what I’ve been educating for over a decade.
And sure, you STILL want writing samples.
A possible consumer must see you can truly write, perceive their business and create the kind of content material they’re searching for.
However after the period of AI, I believe there’s one other piece changing into simply as vital.
Proof.
What occurred after your article was revealed?
- Did it rank on Google?
- Did it herald visitors?
- Did different web sites hyperlink to it?
- Did folks share it?
- Did it generate leads?
- Is it exhibiting up in AI search outcomes?
As a result of nearly anybody can create a polished-looking article now as a result of AI can do this in seconds.
What AI can’t hand you is a monitor report exhibiting that the content material you created truly did one thing for a enterprise.
And that’s the place freelance writers want to know in the event that they wish to succeed RIGHT NOW and past.
As a substitute of solely exhibiting a possible consumer, “Right here’s one thing I wrote,” you can begin exhibiting them:
“Right here’s one thing I wrote—and right here’s what occurred due to it.”
After all, there’s one BIG downside with this.
Most freelance writers aren’t given entry to their purchasers’ analytics!
I actually don’t know the visitors, conversions or leads generated by each article I’ve written over the past decade.
And after I introduced this up on LinkedIn, different freelance writers identified the very same factor.
So, how are you presupposed to show your writing will get outcomes when the consumer by no means offers you the outcomes?
Nicely, you might need extra proof obtainable to you than you suppose.
You simply need to know the place to look. So let’s digest this a bit of bit and see what you really want and tips on how to get it.
So, What Do You Really Want In addition to a Writing Portfolio?
So, if a portfolio full of fairly writing samples isn’t sufficient anymore, what ARE purchasers searching for?
From all of the discussions going round (and from my very own peresonal expertise) freelance writers want to begin exhibiting proof of what their writing can do.
And that proof doesn’t need to be some elaborate case examine with charts, conversion charges and income numbers. It could possibly be including extra context to the writing samples you have already got.
For instance, as a substitute of claiming:
I wrote this 2,000-word weblog submit for a B2B SaaS firm.
You possibly can say:
I wrote this 2,000-word web optimization weblog submit focusing on , and it’s presently rating on web page considered one of Google.
Or possibly you’ll be able to present that your article:
- Ranks for its goal key phrase or a number of associated key phrases
- Brings in natural visitors each month
- Earned backlinks from different web sites
- Was cited or referenced by one other publication
- Reveals up in AI search outcomes
- Generated social shares or engagement
- Helped generate leads, signups or conversions
- Continues to rank months and even years after publication
You may also present proof that goes past numbers. Possibly the consumer employed you to jot down one article and ended up hiring you for 20 extra.
Possibly they informed you your draft wanted nearly no edits. Or an SME cherished the way you turned their interview into an article.
It might simply be that the consumer got here again six months later as a result of they needed to work with you once more.
That’s proof too.
However I do know for brand new writers, they might hear “outcomes” and instantly suppose they want entry to conversion charges, income and the consumer’s total Google Analytics dashboard.
Ya’ don’t.
You’re merely making an attempt to reply the query a possible consumer might be already asking once they have a look at your portfolio:
“Okay, this particular person can write. However can their writing assist my enterprise?”
The extra proof you may give them that the reply is sure, the stronger your portfolio turns into.
However this brings up a reasonably BIG downside.
How are freelance writers presupposed to show any of this when most of us don’t have entry to what occurs after we submit the article?
Most Freelance Writers Don’t Have Entry to Consumer Analytics
Okay, so this all sounds nice, proper?
Present that your article ranks. Present the visitors it generated. Present the leads, conversions, backlinks or AI citations.
Besides there’s one fairly BIG downside with that recommendation.
Most freelance writers don’t have entry to any of this data.
As soon as I submit an article to a consumer, make my edits and get the ultimate approval, I’m often onto the subsequent piece. I’m not sitting inside their Google Analytics or Search Console watching what occurs to that article over the subsequent six months.
And different writers really feel the identical abou this.
Senior web optimization contnet author Damilola Ajayi introduced up this actual downside:
“You’ll be able to write one thing that brings in visitors, rankings or conversions and by no means truly comprehend it. So when it’s time to point out proof of affect, all you’ve got is the revealed piece and possibly a contented consumer.”
Precisely!
And Content material Strategist Anmol Sachdeva agreed, saying:
“Sadly, entry to efficiency metrics is one thing that the majority freelance writers won’t ever get.”
He referred to as it a “real-world downside,” and I believe that’s precisely what it’s.
As a result of I can inform writers all day lengthy to point out proof that their content material performs, however the place are they presupposed to GET that proof?
One other content material strategist identified one other a part of the issue:
“It’s uncommon to have entry to that knowledge from firm till you employ a paid instrument.”
And that is why I don’t suppose the reply is that freelance writers immediately want entry to each consumer’s analytics dashboard.
We have to get a bit of extra resourceful. In reality, web optimization content material author Dhiman talked about this in his remark. He stated:
“Displaying a few of our related items isn’t sufficient anymore to attract the eye of latest purchasers.”
So, in case you really feel caught and frusteratead as these writers know thtat there’s fairly a bit you will discover out on-line your self to point out proof.
Methods to Discover Proof Your Freelance Writing Will get Outcomes
So, what CAN you do in case your consumer doesn’t hand over their analytics?
Do some digging your self!
Begin with three to 5 of your strongest writing samples—those you already ship to prospects—and see what you’ll be able to uncover.
It’s possible you’ll have already got some fairly spectacular outcomes sitting proper there on Google with out realizing it.
1. Google the Key phrase Your Article Was Concentrating on
That is often the very first thing I might do.
Should you keep in mind the principle key phrase for the article, open an incognito Google window and plug it in.
The place does your article present up?
Is it on web page one? Is it close to the highest? Does it seem for associated searches too?
I lately did this for a number of posts for an web optimization content material author position and put this in my pitch:
However in case you’re constantly seeing your consumer’s article rating properly for the subject you have been employed to jot down about, that’s one thing price investigating and documenting.
Take a screenshot, save the date and add it to your proof folder.
2. Examine Different Key phrases Your Article May Rank For
Google among the long-tail key phrases, questions and subtopics you coated within the article.
Most certainly you’ll be typing in the entire title of your submit and that’s OKAY…you’ll be able to nonetheless share in your pitch that for some longtail key phrases your article ranks.
Right here’s an instance of utilizing a lot of the phrases in my title to seek out it rank #1 (after the AI quotation).
Generally an article finally ends up rating for searches you weren’t even particularly focusing on.
You may also use web optimization instruments in case you have entry to them to see what key phrases a specific URL ranks for.
You may uncover that one article you wrote two years in the past is rating for dozens—and even a whole bunch—of associated key phrases.
That’s a lot stronger data to carry to a possible consumer than merely handing them the URL.
3. See If Your Article Is Displaying Up in AI Search
When your consumer submit ranked on the primary web page of Google you have been most likely ecstatic. Nicely, these days, these ten ten blue hyperlinks on Google don’t imply that a lot.
Should you don’t already know, an increasing number of individuals are utilizing AI to seek out solutions.
Ask ChatGPT a query your article solutions. Attempt the identical question in Google AI Mode or Perplexity and have a look at the sources they supply.
- Does your consumer’s article seem?
- Is one thing you wrote being cited?
- Is the model you’re writing for being talked about across the subject?
- Should you discover your article being cited or surfaced, screenshot it.
I plugged in a long-tail key phrase related to my title and located my GoDaddy submit within the AI quotation part of Google.
For SaaS writers particularly, I believe such a proof goes to turn into more and more helpful as manufacturers begin caring about AEO and GEO visibility alongside conventional web optimization rankings.
*Should you subscribe for my paid Substack, you’ll get my AEO/GEO e-book and properly as different books that can assist you along with your content material and earning profits.
4. Seek for Social Proof Across the Article
Don’t neglect about LinkedIn and different social platforms to point out proof of your writing.
Look to see in case your consumer share the article on LinkedIn and take a look at if there’s any engagement. It’s a superb factor to
Did their founder share it?
Did folks touch upon the concepts within the submit?
Did another person within the business share the article with their viewers?
Even a Google search of the article title can generally floor locations the place the content material was mentioned or referenced.
For me, I sadly didn’t take note of this and missed all these alternatives to take screenshots of when purchasers posted on social media.
So don’t be me! Examine and take screenshots!
5. Dig Via Your Previous Consumer Messages
I do know….this is usually a bit time consuming nevertheless it’s price it to undergo the 20+ thread submit you’ve got in your consumer (oh, is that simply meeeee?)
Proof doesn’t all the time need to be a quantity so via previous emails, Slack conversations, Google Doc feedback or wherever you communicated with the consumer.
Search for feedback like:
“This text is already rating.”
“We’re seeing nice visitors from this one.”
“Our staff cherished this.”
“This wanted nearly no edits.”
And even:
“Are you able to write 4 extra for us subsequent month?”
SAVE THOSE!
A consumer repeatedly hiring you is proof in itself.
So is a consumer telling you your writing carried out properly, wanted minimal enhancing or resonated with their viewers.
What I love to do is when a consumer gloats over my writing, I exploit that quote for advertising function on social media. Right here’s how I did it for LinkedIn.
6. Ask Your Consumer for the Outcomes
And at last, you’ll be able to merely ask for this inoformation.
You don’t want entry to their total analytics account.
If an article has been reside for a number of months, attain out and ask whether or not they have any efficiency knowledge they’d be snug sharing with you.
Possibly it’s visitors or key phrase rankings. What can be higher is that if they offer you conversion numbers and even publication signups as this reveals your content material is extremely actionable.
That is truly one thing copywriter Tonay T. talked about within the feedback on my LinkedIn submit. She stated:
“I began restructuring my contracts to incorporate some form of sharing of a small proof of metrics.“
I believe that’s SMART.
As a substitute of ready till six months after a venture ends and questioning what occurred to your content material, begin making outcomes a part of the dialog with purchasers.
As a result of your job doesn’t essentially have to finish with “Right here’s the Google Doc.”
Begin taking note of what occurs subsequent.
That’s the place among the strongest proof in your freelance writing portfolio is perhaps hiding.
Your Writing Portfolio Is Simply the Beginning Level
I don’t suppose having knowledgeable portfolio web page in your author web site isn’t going anyplace quickly.
Shoppers nonetheless must see you can write, perceive their viewers and create content material that seems like them.
So use the recommendations on this submit that can assist you present the immese worth your WORDS have for a consumer.
And even in case you are model new to freelance writing, that’s okay! Take note of rating and social chatter!
Over to you – are you discovering you want MORE than a portfolio to land work? Share within the feedback!