UH OH… YOU NEED A PORTFOLIO!
IF YOU WANT TO PITCH CLIENTS, APPLY TO JOBS, OR GENERALLY COLD EMAIL PEOPLE…
YOU NEED COPY WRITTEN YOU CAN SHOW FOLKS!
HERE’S A STEP BY STEP PROCESS WE RECOMMEND…
STEP 1
Write a squeeze page for some random freebie lead magnet, delivered via email. Use 3 to 5 good bullets.
Why is this Important: This gives you practice on headlines, research, offer creation, bullets, and the funnel for a business/email sequence.
What is a squeeze page? Click here.
What is a bullet? Click here and then here.
What is a “freebie” lead magnet? Click here.
Tips for producing good work:
Example squeeze pages:
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The Copy That! Squeeze Page Template of Victory
STEP 2
Write 1 welcome email that goes to people who would sign up on that page
Why is this Important: This gives you practice with evergreen copy, email, fulfillment, and the balance between copy that sells and engages.
Tips for producing good work:
Example welcome emails:
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The Copy That! Welcome Email Template of Victory
STEP 4
Copy paste your favorite of those emails into a FB ad mockup generator and rework the copy a bit to fit that platform
Why is this Important: This gives you experience with PPC ads and repurposing copy across channels.
Tips for producing good work:
One (of many) FB ad generators you can use:
Example FB ads at the Facebook Ad Library.
STEP 3
Write 3 mocked up marketing emails for the (potentially made up) business that would host a page like what you made
Why is this Important: This will give you experience with marketing email (or “lift”) copywriting and writing based on a list’s prior experiences.
Tips for producing good work:
Example lifts:
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The Copy That! Email Template of Victory
This whole process - from learning what this kind of copy looks like to researching to writing to revising - should take you two weeks.
And when you're done?
You have both practiced interrelated skills AND you have a starter portfolio you can use to get work.
And then: the work you do for clients then become portfolio pieces you can add to your collection!
NEWBIE QUESTION:
Q: How do I host these portfolio pieces? Do I need a website? Are word or google docs good enough?
A: It all works! Clients are generally not picky about where your words live, so long as your words are good! A Google Drive folder full of Word Docs is more than adequate!
Of course, if you want to wireframe your copy, create fully designed mockups, or more… Well, in our experience, the people who go above and beyond tend to get more (and better paying) gigs!