Download Article
Create a freelance bio to attract clients and land writing jobs
Download Article
If you’re a freelance writer, a great writing profile is essential for getting paid gigs. Start with a 1-2 sentence summary of your skills, background, and services offered. Write a small intro paragraph, followed by a list of your services explained in-depth. Include a portfolio of your best work, plus testimonials from happy clients, if you have any. This guide explains each of these steps in detail, with examples to serve as inspiration for your profile.
What to Write in Your Freelance Writer Profile
- Write a brief summary of your skills, background, and services offered.
- Add an intro paragraph describing your experiences and achievements.
- Include a list of topics you write about and services you offer.
- Add a portfolio with 3-5 writing samples.
- List your employment history and other relevant experiences.
- Include any testimonials from past clients.
Steps
Section 1 of 2:
Creating Your Freelance Writer Profile
-
Begin with a 1-2 sentence summary of your skills & services. Mention your background and “niche,” a.k.a., your area of expertise. Place your summary at the top of your profile. Potential clients will quickly scan this text before reading the rest of your profile, so be sure to make it clear and succinct. [1] X Research source Write in abbreviated sentences, or write a “list” using the | or • symbol.
- Example summaries
:
- Video game journalist with 3+ years experience covering gaming industry and culture. Available for breaking news, product reviews, commentary, and features.
- Video game journalist | 3+ years experience | Expert in Gaming Industry & Culture | Breaking News, Product Reviews, Features, & Commentary
- Example summaries
:
-
Write a short intro discussing your experience in detail. Make your intro paragraph 3-4 sentences long. Begin by stating your job and niche, then discuss your writing experience and services you offer. List outlets where your work has been published, or describe the kinds of clients you usually work with. Write in third-person to convey a formal tone, or use first-person for a more personal touch. [2] X Research source Use the following examples to create your intro paragraph:
- Make your intro concise and straightforward. This makes it easy for clients to determine if you have the skills and background they’re looking for.
- Choose the proper perspective and tone for the kinds of clients you want to attract.
- Write in the third-person
to sound more formal if you want to create content for companies or news websites.
- Example: Maria Miller is a freelance copywriter with 2 years of experience creating content for commercial websites. She has a proven track record of creating engaging, high-quality content on a wide range of topics for marketing, SEO, technical documentation, blogs, and social media. Her previous clients have included ABC Pharmaceuticals, XYZ Financial Firm, and Smith & Smith LLC.
- Use the first-person
if you want to write op-eds, narrative stories, or other content written from your perspective.
- Example: I am a fashion writer and recent graduate of FIT, where I studied fashion merchandising and wrote for the campus newspaper. I have written product reviews, op-eds, and feature-length stories on industry events in the NYC metro area. In addition to writing for FIT’s student paper, I maintain the fashion news blog “Fashion XYZ” on Medium, which has over 2500 monthly readers.
Advertisement -
Provide a list of services you offer. Services can include topics you write about, or specific types of writing such as copywriting, ghostwriting, journalism, translation, etc. Choose services that you know you’d be able to provide. For each service, use keywords to help your services stand out to prospective clients. Then add 1-2 sentences explaining that service. [3] X Research source
- For example
, if you’re a technical writer with a background in finance, you might create the following list:
- Financial Writing . I am available to write about money, budgeting, accounting, investing, credit, and other financial topics. Formats can include blog posts, news articles, marketing materials, and technical documentation, among others.
- Technical Writing . I am adept at creating concise, detailed technical documents on a variety of financial topics. These may include technical manuals, summaries of research papers, internal company documentation, and more.
- Marketing Copywriting . I have a proven track record of creating engaging, informative content for marketing campaigns, websites, and company blogs.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) . I am available to edit existing web content or write new content to improve search rankings and maximize user engagement. I also provide SEO for social media, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Linkedin.
- For example
, if you’re a technical writer with a background in finance, you might create the following list:
-
Add a portfolio with 3-5 samples of your best work. Choose writing samples that demonstrate your skills, expertise, and unique style. Include a link to each piece of work, followed by a brief description of the work. If a piece of work is not found online, upload a copy to a cloud hosting platform like Google Drive or Amazon Cloud Drive, then provide a link to the document. [4] X Research source
- Your writing samples can include
:
- Articles, essays, op-eds, or other writing published under your name on third-party websites, including news sites, popular blogs, and student publications. Be sure to only include content from family-friendly websites.
- Content written for third parties that’s not published under your name. This could include material written for company websites, marketing campaigns, newsletters, and social media posts.
- A personal blog with an established readership. Avoid sharing your blog if it contains personal information, or if its content may be considered inappropriate or unprofessional.
- Content you’ve copyedited or proofread for a client.
- Content written for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
- Books, magazines, or other print publications where your work has appeared.
- Note : If the content you want to share isn’t found online, or isn’t publicly visible, contact the company to request permission to feature a copy of the content in your portfolio.
- Your writing samples can include
:
-
List relevant employment history. This can include jobs, internships, or other roles that are related to your writing. For example, if you’re a copyeditor, list any media internships, editorial jobs, or paid writing positions you’ve held. If you specialize in writing about education, include any teaching or tutoring positions you’ve held.
- Feel free to include unrelated employment that may reflect favorably on you, including prestigious internships, military service, or volunteer work.
-
List your education, certifications, & other relevant experience. Include college and other post-secondary degrees. If you obtained certifications in technical writing, copywriting, translation, or other relevant skills, include those too.
- For example: If you’re a bilingual writer who specializes in Chinese-American culture, mention your B.A. in Chinese history or your certificate demonstrating business-level proficiency in Mandarin.
- For example: If you mainly write about veterans’ issues, mention your military experience, including any awards or special recognition you received.
-
Include positive testimonials from previous clients. If you’ve received positive feedback from clients, ask them to write a brief review of your services or work. Then paste that review under a “Testimonials” section.
- If you haven’t received positive feedback or haven’t worked with clients before, skip this step for now.
-
Pick a professional-looking headshot. Profiles with photos get more attention, so be sure to include one if possible. Choose a headshot with a plain background. Make sure the photo is well-lit. Be sure to dress professionally and smile. [5] X Research source
- Avoid using selfies, candid shots, or social media photos.
- If you don’t have a professional-looking headshot, take one yourself or have a friend take one for you. Or hire a photographer to take professional headshots.
-
Consider adding a 1-minute video intro. This is optional, but it gives clients a better sense of your personality and lets you showcase your verbal communication skills. If you add an intro video, write a short script introducing yourself. Discuss your skills, background, and the kinds of clients you work with. Keep the following tips in mind as well:
- Memorize your script and look directly into the camera. Speak slowly and clearly.
- Dress professionally, just as you would for a job interview.
- Record your video using a smartphone or professional camera. Choose a quiet location with good lighting.
- Use a neutral background such as a blank wall, or a professional-looking setting like a home office. Make sure your background looks clean and organized.
- Record your video multiple times and choose the best version to upload.
- Edit your video to remove long pauses or other unnecessary bits. Use your smartphone’s video editing tools or desktop software like iMovie, Windows Video Editor, or Adobe Premiere.
-
Proofread your profile before publishing it. Fix any spelling and grammatical errors. Read your profile out loud to catch missing words or sentences that sound clunky or repetitive. If possible, have a friend read your profile and incorporate their feedback. Make any necessary edits to ensure your profile is well-written and free of mistakes. [6] X Research source
- If you’re feeling stuck or want a professional opinion, consider hiring a freelance writer or copyeditor to view your profile and recommend changes.
- If English is not your native language, have a native speaker review your profile for clarity and syntax.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about writing a profile, check out our in-depth interview with Charbel Atala .
References
- ↑ https://assets-global.website-files.com/60ef088dd8fef99352abb434/6476c716ffc5b105dc874fe9_htp_2.webp
- ↑ https://knowadays.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Professional-Bio-Examples_Tahney_23F.png
- ↑ https://knowadays.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Professional-Bio-Examples_Tahney_23F.png
- ↑ https://youtu.be/rjybdzdSzNI?si=5dVn9ziEwRzB83CK&t=105
- ↑ https://youtu.be/VDnIJ8gmC8c?si=hOKAHjQBRHgWyfJ1&t=168
- ↑ https://youtu.be/VDnIJ8gmC8c?si=Fdm-xQLjdyClVZab&t=48
- ↑ https://careercenter.utsa.edu/blog/2018/08/02/21064/
- ↑ https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/blog/2023/10/31/5-tips-to-get-started-as-an-independent-contractor-freelancer/
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,374 times.
Advertisement