How can you start your copywriting journey without clients? And how do you get clients without a portfolio? Building a copywriting portfolio from scratch can seem daunting without any experience. What steps can you take to create a compelling portfolio that showcases your skills effectively?

Let me share five tips on copywriting to help you build a portfolio from scratch. If you're new to copywriting and feeling stuck, this write-up can give you ideas to get started.

Do An Experience & Skills Round-Up

Most of the time, people tend to underestimate the experience they already have in the books, and don’t realize that copywriting is not just writing! Half of the actual work happens before the copy ever gets written.

Well, it’s the researching, the ideating, the conceptualizing, and the strategizing that happens long before you put a pen to paper, or fingers to keys. And even if you’re young and have little job experience, you weren’t born yesterday!

So, if you’ve ever written a report or contributed to an online newspaper or publication. If you used to write memos or briefs or presentation decks in your previous job. Or, if you used to work in a related role such as social media or project management where writing was required. These are all related skills that you can add to your portfolio!

Yes, carry as much forward from your previous work experience or education as you can. Even if they’re not specifically related to copywriting!

Join A Practical Copywriting Program

Great copywriting courses don’t just teach you the right techniques and show you the best templates but they actually help you write copy. So, one day you can walk away with key assets and samples and that you can then add to your portfolio. Even if it’s not something you were paid to do.

You’ll always want to be clear in your portfolio that those writing assets were from a program (and not from a paid client). Trust me the main thing your potential clients care about is your ability to hook, connect, engage, and compel them with your copy. At the end, they need you to be the voice and the messenger for their brand.

So if you come forward with an amazing portfolio full of copywriting pieces that showcase your ability, it really doesn’t matter where they come from.

Rewrite or Critique Existing Copy

Yes, there is absolutely no harm in reaching out to companies that are hiring (or are potentially hiring) to offer some free copy editing or critiquing as a way to get their attention and lead with value.

As a newbie copywriter, send quick reviews to potential clients so that they can get a preview of your work and expertise. It can just be a quick email with 3 to 5 tips on how they can improve their homepage copy, and then of course offer to help them re-write it! What worse could they say? They could say no thanks.

And that’s it!! But, what if they accept your offer and decide to hire you, then that's a great experience you can add to your portfolio!

You can read Beginners Guide to Copywriting at Courses Buddy.

In the market, many companies looking to hire copywriters will ask you to complete copywriting tests or samples as part of the recruitment process anyway. So why not beat them to it and get it done in advance?

The rule of thumb is to remain honest about your work.

If you’re adding in a copy piece to your portfolio that you decided to rewrite, do not take full credit. Be clear that it was for a “rewrite” of an existing piece.

Start A Blog

Writing a public blog is a great way to express your writing skills even if you are not looking to be a content writer. Blogging, no matter the format, the style or the topic you want to write about, still showcases an understanding of some of the key fundamentals of copywriting such as hooks and headlines. Still, it can be used as a reliable writing reference!

Customize Your Portfolio

Now, you have your writing materials all packaged up and ready to send out to the world. There is a great tip for every copywriters out there, that is, personalize your portfolio to the client you’re sending it to. Don’t just blanket blast it out to everyone. Getting clients is not a one size fits all approach.

Well, you must curate the content so that it’s relevant to the industry and the company you’re hoping to get in the door with. So, always include a personal note and a cover letter that shares why you’re excited about their brand and what’s unique about you and what you offer. And share why you chose the pieces that you featured in your portfolio, and include some highlights or lessons that you learned from the experience.

And remember!!! Keep it clean and simple.

When your portfolio, that must be in a format that’s easy for them to access, open and download. And never ever send an email with a ton of attachments. Use Dropbox or Google Drive to share your portfolio. And don't forget to give your access first so they don’t have to request it!

No matter, be honest about where you are at. Don’t embellish your ability or your experience. A lot of clients are looking for green writers. Fresh and new writers have the potential to grow with the company and shape their writing to fit the brand voice.