10 Best Writer Portfolio Websites for Freelancers
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Are you a writer seeking to amplify your online presence and boost your career prospects? Look no further. Today, I’ll share the most effective writer portfolio websites you can implement today and lay the groundwork for future success.
With freelance writing becoming more popular, a well-crafted portfolio that showcases your talent provides a distinct advantage. In 2022, 57% of all organizations outsourced content marketing tasks and activities. That number will continue to rise.
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or learning how to become a copywriter, taking the extra time to set up a portfolio website can be the difference between no money and having a cash register at your fingertips.
Get ready to step your game up, enhance your visibility, and seize new opportunities in the dynamic writing landscape. It’s time to capitalize on your efforts and attract new clients.
What Are the Best Writer Portfolio Websites?
Ready to showcase your freelance writer prowess? Well, buckle up. Whether you’re a talented wordsmith or just dipping your toes into the water, sit up and pay attention. These are the hottest platforms to strut your stuff with right now:
1. Authory
Authory simplifies the process of showcasing, sharing, and preserving your writing and media content by automatically creating a stunning online writing portfolio. It aggregates all your written and recorded work, generating a visually appealing page that reflects your professional skillsets.
Forget about the hassle of manually updating new content. That’s a thing of the past. Now, automation keeps your page current and captivating without the stress or time investment.
Key Benefits
- Personalized Notifications: Stay informed whenever your favorite journalists publish new articles, regardless of the publication platform.
- Easy Reader Updates: Effortlessly keep your audience engaged and up to date on your latest work, fostering reader loyalty.
- Hassle-Free Portfolio Creation: Create a comprehensive portfolio effortlessly, showcasing your expertise and attracting new opportunities for your freelance writing business.
- Automatic Portfolio Updates: Your portfolio stays current and dynamic, with new pieces automatically added upon publication, demonstrating the breadth and depth of your work.
- Proof of Publication: Display where you’ve published your articles, building credibility and recognition for your work.
Pricing
Authory offers three pricing options: the Standard plan at $15/month, the Pro plan at $24/month, and a Free plan accessible after starting a trial of the Standard or Pro plan.
The Free plan has limitations, including no auto-importing of content and a maximum portfolio item limit of 10. For more details, visit the pricing section on Authory’s website.
2. Squarespace
Squarespace has a versatile and customizable platform for creating stunning websites. Whether for showcasing a portfolio, running an online store, or managing a personal blog, they offer customization for your content.
With an array of pre-built layouts and flexible design tools, users can effortlessly craft professional-looking pages to showcase their talent.
From custom color palettes to built-in photo editing and animation options, Squarespace provides the ideal solution for writers aiming to create a captivating portfolio website and display their writing samples.
Key Benefits
- Easy Website Creation: Effortlessly create a professional portfolio website using user-friendly templates and customizable layouts, saving time and effort for writers and creators.
- Showcase Your Work: Highlight individual portfolio projects with flexible sections, visually displaying your work in an engaging manner to captivate potential clients and audiences.
- Expand Your Network: Utilize integrated marketing tools to reach a wider audience, promoting your online writing portfolio and attracting new opportunities for freelance writers and artists.
- Sell Products and Services: Utilize rich product offerings and scheduling tools to sell art, photography, prints, and services, monetizing creative work effectively.
- Connect with Your Audience: Share new work directly with your audience through email campaigns and social media integration, fostering engagement and growing your following as a writer or artist.
Pricing
Squarespace offers pricing plans that can be paid monthly or yearly. They provide fully-managed cloud hosting and integrate with Stripe, accepting credit card payments, including Apple Pay and PayPal.
There are no transaction fees for Squarespace Commerce plans (Basic and Advanced), but a 3% transaction fee applies to the Business plan.
Prices shown do not include taxes, and the final pricing inclusive of taxes will be shown before checkout. For more details, visit the pricing section on Squarespace’s website.
3. Site123
Site123 is an efficient, user-friendly free website builder. Beginners can create cross-platform content with no need for coding or design skills. Speed will never be an issue as they leverage a content distribution network (CDN). With global servers, SITE123 ensures swift loading times for visitors from the closest server location.
Additionally, it provides access to an extensive image bank with high-quality pictures, empowering writers and freelance artists to craft visually appealing websites effortlessly to showcase their writing samples and portfolios.
Key Benefits
- Effortless Website Building: Quickly create an online portfolio or professional website without technical skills, ideal for writers and freelance artists looking to showcase their work effortlessly.
- Fantastic Features: Access powerful tools to enhance website functionality, providing flexibility and creative freedom for portfolio display and content promotion.
- Free Domain Registration: Obtain a free domain name, reducing initial costs for small businesses, photographers, freelance writers, and event organizers seeking an online presence.
- Fast Loading Time: Swift website provides a seamless browsing experience for potential clients and minimizes bounce rates.
- Mobile-Friendly: Automatically adjust websites to smartphones and tablets, maximizing accessibility and user experience for on-the-go visitors.
Pricing
SITE123 provides four pricing packages: Basic, Advanced, Professional, and Gold, catering to diverse website user needs. Plan options include 3, 12, 24, and 36-months. Pricing starts at $12.80 per month for an annual subscription, featuring a complimentary year of domain service.
Take advantage of the 14-day money-back guarantee and test out its capabilities. For further details, explore the pricing section on SITE123’s website.
4. Carbonmade
Carbonmade is the ultimate platform for writers seeking to showcase their portfolio and writing samples in a professional, conversational manner. It offers a diverse array of customizable blocks, including gallery, text, embed, and magazine layout blocks, allowing unlimited uploads of images, HD videos, audio, PDFs, and more.
With an emphasis on freedom and creativity, Carbonmade enables users to craft unique websites without the need for coding, thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
Additionally, hosting and a sub-domain are included, ensuring a straightforward and cost-effective experience for freelance writers and creatives.
Key Benefits
- Unlimited Customization: Say goodbye to cookie-cutter designs. Your portfolio page layout includes colors, and fonts that are easy to implement even if you’re not tech-savvy. Make it uniquely yours for a standout showcase of your work.
- Seamless Media Uploads: Don’t let file sizes or formats hold you back. Upload unlimited images, videos, and files of any size without no need for web optimization. Your portfolio stays sleek and professional, no matter the type of content.
- Enhanced Video Capabilities: For animators and videographers, every detail matters. Enjoy full HD support and lightning-fast load times for your videos. Your audience gets the full experience without any buffering or delays.
- Mobile and Tablet Compatibility: Your work must shine on every screen. Ensure seamless functionality and display across desktops, smartphones, and tablets. Accessibility is key to reaching and impressing potential clients wherever they are.
- Social Media Integration: Extend your portfolio’s reach with ease. Connect it to your social media accounts for effortless sharing and promotion. Expand your audience and engage with followers, all from one centralized hub.
Pricing
Carbonmade offers three straightforward pricing options:
- Beginner: $9 per month or $99 per year
- Pro: $12 per month or $119 per year
- Unlimited: $22 monthly or $199 per year
Each plan comes with unique features and benefits, and users can easily upgrade or downgrade whenever they like.
Additionally, all plans include a free Carbonmade sub-domain, responsive design, dynamic blocks, and reliable customer support. For more details, go to the pricing section.
5. Journoportfolio
Journo Portfolio is a feature-rich platform. It empowers writers to showcase a good writing portfolio and updates with ease. With extensive customization options, it allows users to tailor layouts, fonts, colors, and more to suit their preferences.
The platform’s strong focus on search engine optimization ensures high visibility for portfolios online, while advanced settings provide additional customization flexibility.
Pages are constructed using versatile ‘Blocks’, enabling users to create a dynamic and personalized portfolio that effectively showcases writing samples and attracts potential clients.
Key Benefits
- Effortless Portfolio Creation: Quickly build a professional writing portfolio website that impresses clients and employers, with easy customization and import options.
- Versatile Display Options: Showcase work in various formats such as grid, column, blog, or image gallery, providing a visually appealing presentation to the world.
- Enhanced Privacy and Protection: Protect and backup work with privacy options and automatic screenshot backups of online articles, ensuring security and peace of mind.
- Audience Engagement: Build a following, track progress, and notify subscribers when new articles are published, fostering audience engagement and growth.
- Seamless Integration: Integrate with Google Analytics for comprehensive tracking and insightful performance analysis, empowering users to make informed decisions.
Pricing
Journo Portfolio offers three straightforward pricing options. The Free plan includes a yourname.journoportfolio.com domain, 10 portfolio items, and a home page.
The Plus plan costs $8/month annually or $12/month monthly, offering a yourname.journoportfolio.com domain, 50 portfolio items, and 5 pages.
Pro costs $14/month annually or $18/month, including a custom domain name, 1000 portfolio items, and 10 pages. For more details, you can check out the pricing options on the official website.
6. Writer’s Residence
Writer’s Residence is journalists, screenwriters, novelists, PR professionals, and content writers. The platform offers customizable themes to create personalized portfolios reflecting individual styles.
Users can categorize their work, add tailored pages, and benefit from a straightforward five-step setup process. With a focus on design, Writer’s Residence empowers writers to fully concentrate on their craft, making it easy to get a website up and running in less than thirty minutes.
Key Benefits
- Professional Portfolio Creation: Build a pro-grade writing portfolio in just five simple steps, showcasing your work with a professional website.
- Customizable Themes: Personalize your portfolio with customizable colors, images, fonts, and more, ensuring it reflects your individual style and brand.
- Unlimited Content Showcase: Add new writing samples or multimedia content anytime and in any format, allowing you to keep it simple or build an extensive library to impress potential clients or employers.
- Private or Public Sharing: Choose to create a password-protected portfolio for private sharing or showcase your expertise without editorial constraints to get noticed by the right audience.
- Easy Search Engine Optimization: Help search engines find your portfolio with easy optimization steps and handy on-screen tips, increasing your online visibility and attracting more opportunities.
Pricing
The pricing options for Writer’s Residence are clear and cost-effective. Users can access a single, straightforward plan that includes an easily manageable website for $9 per month.
This plan allows for the unlimited upload of writing samples, pages, and blog posts in any format. No long-term contracts or hidden fees, users can cancel at any time.
7. Format
Format is a specialized platform dedicated to photographers, graphic designers, and artists, offering a diverse selection of curated themes to suit individual brands. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, model, or tattoo artist,
It has an extensive library of themes you can tailor to your needs. In addition, they offer the option to collaborate with experienced designers at an affordable price, removing the complexity of website building. With Format, users can elevate beyond a freelance writing portfolio, allowing their work to stand out.
Key Benefits
- Professional Portfolio Creation: Effortlessly create a visually appealing and professional portfolio website with a robust range of professionally designed templates and intuitive tools.
- Streamlined Photography Business Operations: Manage your photography business like a pro with workflow tools for contact management, collaborations, contracts, and client galleries, ensuring efficient operations.
- Enhanced Brand Visibility and Sales: Expand your brand’s visibility and sales potential by reaching a wider audience and selling products, services, and digital downloads online, commission-free.
- Cloud Image Storage: Safely store and manage your creative work in the cloud, ensuring convenient access and security for your valuable assets.
- Professional Website Design for Pro Plus Members: Pro Plus members enjoy the benefit of a professionally designed website, enhancing their online presence at affordable pricing.
Pricing
Format’s online portfolio plans offer three straightforward options. The Basic plan, priced at $12 monthly, includes essential features such as website pages, high-resolution images, and mobile optimization.
The Pro plan, at $24 monthly, provides unlimited website pages, more image storage, an online store, and professional tools like a custom code editor.
For advanced needs, the Pro Plus plan, priced at $36 monthly, offers unlimited high-resolution images, expanded video hosting, priority support, and additional business-focused features. Learn more about these pricing options in the Plans & Pricing section on Format’s website.
8. WordPress
WordPress.com offers an array of design customization options, from extended color schemes to typography and borders, empowering users to exercise control over their website’s CSS.
The intuitive Block Editor facilitates effortless content and media organization through drag-and-drop tools, while the highly optimized cloud platform and global CDN ensure rapid page loading.
Users can easily create visually appealing layouts by integrating elegant pre-built block patterns into their pages and posts.
Key Benefits
- Versatile Design Customization: Tailor your site’s appearance using beautiful themes, drag-and-drop layouts, and extended color schemes, enhancing its visual appeal and user experience.
- Scalable Content Creation: Seamlessly expand your site with unlimited pages, and invite an unlimited number of users to contribute, fostering collaboration and growth.
- Efficient Content Management: Utilize the time machine feature to revert to previous post edits, and offer built-in newsletters and RSS subscriptions to engage and retain followers.
- Secure and Sustainable Platform: Benefit from brute-force protection, smart redirects, and a commitment to creating a site designed to endure, ensuring security, longevity, and reliability.
- Monetization Opportunities: Monetize your content through paid content gating, subscription tools, and 10% commission (plus standard processing fee) for payments, empowering you to generate revenue from your site.
Pricing
WordPress.com offers a range of plans with varying features and rates:
- Free: $0 per month
- Starter: $4 per month
- Explorer: $8 per month
- Creator: $25 per month
- Entrepreneur: $45 monthly
Each plan comes with specific features to meet various needs. For detailed pricing information, visit the plans & pricing tab on the WordPress.com website.
9. Wix
Wix focuses on performance for faster site loading and provides SEO capabilities for improved search visibility. With enterprise-grade security, site and visitors’ data are safe 24/7.
Its hyper-fast infrastructure ensures nearly 100.00% uptime, even during traffic spikes. Wix offers a smart drag-and-drop editor, thousands of advanced design capabilities, and full-stack web development tools for custom functionality. Additionally, its AI technology can even create a site for you.
These features cater to the needs of individuals seeking to showcase their writer portfolio, writing samples, or freelance writing portfolio.
Key Benefits
- Unlimited website creation: Build without limits, and explore infinite possibilities.
- Powerful infrastructure: Faster loading, SEO optimization, enterprise-grade security.
- Customizable templates: Choose from 900+ free, industry-specific designs.
- Advanced design capabilities: Smart drag and drop editor with 1000s of features.
- Full-stack web dev tools: Access custom functionality with full-stack development tools.
- AI technology: AI tools generate text, images, and more for your website. Reliable web hosting: Free hosting with 99.9% uptime and multi-cloud hosting.
Pricing
Wix Premium plans suit different project needs for your professional online portfolio or ecommerce stores. Customers can try any plan for free for 14 days and get a full refund if not satisfied.
Features include connecting your own domain, removing Wix branding, and more. Most plans also come with a 1-year free domain voucher. For more details, visit the pricing section on the Wix website.
10. Weebly
Weebly simplifies the website creation process, offering a platform where imagination meets functionality. With no need for technical expertise, users can craft a site that truly represents them, complete with integrated analytics for expert website management.
The platform’s advanced mobile apps ensure you’re always connected, able to monitor your site’s performance, and engage with visitors on the go. Ideal for showcasing a writer portfolio or freelance writing samples, Weebly empowers you to bring your professional online presence to life effortlessly.
Key Benefits
- Easy Website Creation: Weebly offers an intuitive platform for building mobile-optimized websites, making a professional online presence accessible to entrepreneurs.
- Integrated Marketing Tools: With advanced analytics and marketing features, Weebly empowers businesses to track performance and understand customer behavior effectively.
- Streamlined eCommerce Management: Simplify the complexities of online store management with Weebly’s integrated tools for shipping, taxes, and inventory.
- Flexible In-Person Selling: Thanks to its integration with Square, Weebly enables seamless in-person sales, enhancing business flexibility.
- 24/7 Business Operations: Weebly and Square ensure that your business is always accessible, allowing customers to shop at their convenience.
- Trusted Platform: Established in 2007, Weebly supports millions of entrepreneurs across over 50 million sites, offering a reliable platform for business growth.
Pricing
Weebly offers five pricing tiers: Free, Basic Use, Personal, Professional, and Performance. Each tier provides varying degrees of customization and features tailored to different business needs.
For detailed information on what each plan includes and to determine which best suits your requirements, explore the pricing options on their official website.
What is a Writer Portfolio Website?
Your portfolio serves as a manifestation of your professional identity. It showcases your expertise, style, and versatility. In days gone by, a traditional resume was the norm.
Now, you have a plethora of dynamic platforms to exhibit your talents to potential clients and employers. With components such as a compelling bio, diverse samples of your work, and easy to access social media profiles, communicating your skills and experience is a breeze.
While blogs and personal websites still reign supreme, a writer’s portfolio is laser-focused on displaying your writing prowess in different formats. Impactful writer portfolio websites harness the power of visuals and design to captivate visitors, and integrate social proof and testimonials to bolster credibility.
As you progressively build your online presence, consider how these elements can elevate your professional brand and open doors to new opportunities.
Why Freelancers Need To Showcase Their Work
Establishing a compelling writer portfolio reinforces your credibility and professionalism within the competitive landscape of online writing. Well-equipped platforms expand your reach and enhance discoverability, enabling you to tailor your portfolio to attract the ideal client.
By showcasing diverse skills and versatility, your portfolio becomes a direct marketing tool, effectively communicating your unique value proposition to potential collaborators and employers.
The benefits extend beyond mere self-promotion. A well-crafted portfolio can significantly contribute to networking opportunities and industry recognition, ultimately fostering professional growth and visibility.
As you explore the possibilities of online writing portfolios, envision each element as a strategic asset. Once you understand and master hidden capabilities, you can position yourself for massive success in the digital arena.
Writing Portfolio Examples From An Expert
Buyers Guide: How We Conducted Our Research
To compile our list of the best platforms for a freelance writing portfolio, we conducted a detailed analysis based on key criteria. We examined the pricing structure of each option to ensure affordability and value for the money.
The standout features that each platform offered were highlighted, emphasizing those that enhance a writer’s ability to showcase their work effectively. We also identified any shortcomings or areas where platforms could improve, providing a balanced view.
To back up our recommendations, we went to Trustpilot and G2 to read customer reviews. It’s not enough to provide an opinion. Current customers have intimate relationships with these companies and shed new light on functionality, customer service, and ease of use.
Finally, the availability of community support, customer service, and refund policies were assessed, recognizing the importance of reliable support for writers. This thorough approach enabled us to recommend the most comprehensive tools for building a portfolio for writers.
Wrapping Up
A well-crafted freelance writing portfolio is crucial, serving as the cornerstone of your professional identity.
Begin with the basics and enhance your site as you grow, remembering that it’s an evolving showcase of your work.
Staying updated with industry trends ensures your portfolio remains relevant, underlining the importance of regular maintenance. Ultimately, a compelling writer portfolio opens doors to new opportunities.
So, don’t hesitate—take that first step towards building your platform today and set the stage for future success in your writing career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a portfolio to freelance?
Absolutely. Any time you can showcase your style and expertise, you have an opportunity to attract new clients. People are watching whether you realize it or not, and more exposure leads to bigger paydays.
What should be in a writer’s portfolio?
Include diverse work samples, client testimonials, a bio, and any awards. Tailor it to your target niches.
How long should a writer’s portfolio be?
Keep it concise—5-10 of your best pieces. This gives a clear view of your capabilities without overwhelming them.
Can I make $1000 a month from freelance writing?
Yes. Income depends on factors like experience and niche. Building your portfolio and improving skills is key to increasing earnings.
How do I start a freelance career without a portfolio?
Create samples on topics you enjoy. Write for free or at a low cost initially to build your portfolio. Consider blogging or contributing to platforms like Medium to showcase your work.
Ken Jones
Ken empowers small business owners and entrepreneurs to scale productivity through innovative content creation, strategic planning, and cutting-edge technology. He’s passionate about helping businesses thrive in the digital age.