Building an Online Presence: Creating a Writer's Portfolio for Nurses

Hey there, fellow nurses with a passion for writing! Today, we're diving into the world of building an online presence as a nurse writer. Whether you're just starting or already have some writing experience under your belt, having a writing portfolio is key to showcasing your skills and attracting potential clients. So, let's explore how to craft an attractive and compelling writer's portfolio that truly reflects your expertise.

The Power of a Writer's Portfolio

First things first, what exactly is a writer's portfolio, and why is it important? Think of it as your professional showcase, a curated collection of your best writing work. It's like a window display that entices passersby to step inside and discover what you have to offer. For nurse writers, a well-crafted portfolio not only demonstrates your writing abilities but also highlights your unique insights and experiences in the healthcare field. It's a powerful tool for landing freelance gigs and establishing your authority in the health writing industry.

Showcasing Your Expertise

As nurses, we have a wealth of firsthand knowledge and insights that deserve to be shared with editors, clients, and the public. Your writer's portfolio represents the perfect platform to showcase everything you bring to the table for clients.

When you’re just starting out as a health writer, you’ll want your portfolio to include every clip you acquire. But as time goes on, you should consider curating what you consider to be your best clips.

You can think about (and categorize) your clips in several ways inside your portfolio. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Group your clips in the ways you think your ideal client would want to review them on your website. A few common ways to group clips include:

• Type of Writing Sample: Group together all of your health article clips, your blog posts produced for clients, your video scripts, white papers, etc.
• Topic: If you specialize in a particular health niche – let’s say diabetes – but you also write on other health topics, you might consider grouping your clips by subject matter, with all of your diabetes clips in a group, all of your heart failure clips in group, and so on.
• Audience: If you write both B2C and B2B content, you might want to create two separate portfolio headings for each of these because a content manager interested in hiring a B2B writer may not want to wade through a lot of B2C clips to find what they’re looking for, and vice-versa.

It’s worth noting that, depending on how your portfolio is hosted (more on that in a moment), you may be able to create multiple groupings of clips that contain some of the same samples. For example, a consumer health article on how diet affects blood sugar levels might be included in a “health articles” group and a “diabetes” group.

Crafting a Compelling Bio

Your writer's portfolio isn't just about the work; it's also an opportunity to introduce yourself to potential clients and readers. A well-written bio gives a glimpse into who you are, what drives your passion for writing, and how your nursing background informs your work. Don't be afraid to infuse your bio with personality and warmth – after all, you're not just a nurse; you're a storyteller with a unique voice.

Bios normally run in conjunction with the published piece, and they should always include (if the publisher or client allows it) the name of your website or a link to it. On your website, consider your “about” page to be your author bio, but also weave in biographical information on your clips or work samples page because there’s no guarantee a prospective client will bother to click over to your About page.

A Few More to Explore on This Topic

• What Clients Really Look for In a Freelance Writer
• What Makes a Nurse Writer Credible in the Eyes of Clients?
• What Skills Does a Nurse Need to Become a Writer?
• Payment Terms Every Nurse-Writer Should Know
• 3 Types of Content Writing Nurses Can Excel at – and Where to Find Opportunities

Selecting the Right Platform to Host Your Writing Portfolio

Where you host your writer’s portfolio is important because it determines how much copy you can write to accompany your clips. For example, hosting your clips on your personal website gives you maximum flexibility to write accompanying sales copy, while hosting your clips on a site created strictly for curating work samples may offer you very little ability to create sales copy on the page.

We strongly recommend you host your writer’s portfolio on your own website, but we appreciate that many nurses new to the field of freelance writing are hesitant to invest in a professional website before they’re earning any money. So, we’re offering you several different portfolio platforms that provide visually appealing and organized portfolios at various price points.

These options include:

Personal Website

Hands-down, this is the best way to showcase your portfolio. Building a dedicated website gives you full control over the design and content of your portfolio and all the other, accompanying web pages. It's like having your own online headquarters where visitors can learn about your writing business and peruse your work.

RN2writer recommends two website providers:

1. Jottful – use this link to receive one month of FREE hosting!
2. Prebuilt Sites – mention RN2writer to receive a special deal!

Professional Platforms

Websites like Contently or LinkedIn offer the option to create a writer's portfolio within their platform. Of these options, we rank Contently the highest, but you must go through an acceptance process to be able to set up a profile on Contently – and your portfolio essentially “belongs” to Contently, which means they can remove it at any time, without warning. Just something to be aware of. 

In terms of LinkedIn, many editors and clients have told us that “digging for clips” on sites like LinkedIn is a non-starter for them. They want direct links (URLs) to specific clips when a writer is pitching them – which is why having your own website is the best bet.

Online Portfolio Services

There are numerous online portfolio services that offer templates and tools specifically designed for creating digital portfolios. These platforms often provide a user-friendly interface for organizing and presenting your work. Two such platforms that RN2writer can recommend are JournoPortfolio and Authory – both of which offer free starter plans.

These services are perfect for nurse writers who are just starting out and don’t want (or can’t afford) to invest in a professional website. The main drawback to these sites is your limited ability to add any sales copy to your page(s). Mainly these sites simply display your clips.

Embracing Visual Appeal

It’s imperative your digital writer’s portfolio be visually appealing. This means your clips should be arranged on the page in an attractive way, with images that draw the viewer in.

At a minimum, your clips need to look organized, in rows and columns, which is why investing in a professional designer can be a smart business move. It can be challenging on your own to create a visually appealing portfolio page that renders professionally on all types of devices, and a disorganized portfolio can look sloppy and be a turn-off for prospective clients.

The Art of Curation

As you gather your writing pieces for inclusion in your portfolio, remember that quality trumps quantity. It's better to showcase a few stellar examples of your work than to overwhelm visitors with an extensive but mediocre collection. Choose pieces that demonstrate your range as a writer and your deep understanding of healthcare topics. Be selective and aim for a balance of different writing styles and subject matters to showcase your versatility.

Eventually, you will want to prune all clips older than five years, no matter how well they showcase your talent. Editors and clients want to see what you’ve done lately.

Keeping Your Writing Portfolio Updated

Just like your overall website, your writer’s portfolio is a “living organism” that must be maintained. Keep your portfolio fresh and up-to-date with your latest bylines and other publications. Whether you've recently penned an insightful article, contributed to a magazine, or received accolades for your work, these accomplishments deserve a place in your portfolio. Regularly revisiting and updating your portfolio ensures that it remains a true reflection of your growth and expertise as a nurse writer.

Your Health Writer Portfolio is a Powerful Client Acquisition Tool

In a nutshell, your writer's portfolio is your digital ambassador, representing your skills, experiences, and unique perspective as a nurse writer. It's almost a living, breathing entity that evolves alongside your writing journey, and it has the power to open doors to exciting opportunities in the writing world. So, fellow nurse writers, let's embrace the art of creating a compelling writer's portfolio.