How to Send Samples, & what Kind of Samples are best?

I am new to online freelance writing and was wondering about a few things.
Most job offers require for you to send some samples of your work, and I was wondering how is it usually done?

Do you attach a PDF file in your e-mail, a .txt file, or perhaps just link to your portfolio? I would love to know so I can finally get started with trying to land me a project.

Another question would be: What kind of sample articles are best to send?
Does an article covering a specific subject be more appealing than one that covers another? If so, what category is it usually that impresses a client?

I do need a lot of guidance so far, so thanks for taking the time.

 

Because I have an online portfolio, I just link them to that, and offer to send more directly relevant samples if they want to see something not up there that I may already have.

As for what kind, send whatever's relevant. If they want business articles, show them business articles. If they want dog articles, show them dog articles. That's precisely one of the reasons you should specialize.

If you need beginner info, check out the freelance writing blog in my sig. There are a lot of articles there, including some questions I've answered for other new writers that may help you out with this. Especially look at posts on specialization vs generalization and setting freelance writing rates, so you get yourself off on the right foot.

 

Remember to always follow the directions in the job ad perfectly! If they ask for samples to be attached, attach them. If the ad doesn't specify, I like to paste my samples into the body of the e-mail. It's easier for the client to scroll through and see if the samples match what they are looking for and that way, they are able to keep your work organized.

Having an online portfolio is a great idea, especially for those clients who aren't very specific about what they'd like to see from you. That way you can do as Jen says and point them to the portolio and tell them that you're happy to provide more specific information and samples if they would like to see them.

 

Yeah, I should have mentioned that - if you're answering an ad, try to do what they say (unless they tell you to write a custom sample - there's never a reason to do that as long as you already have a portfolio together). I don't answer many ads, so wasn't thinking along those lines before.

 

Thanks a lot for the very helpful advices jhmattern and snarke!

I am right now creating a portfolio for myself but since I have had no past experiences with online writing jobs yet I don't have much to put on it really, and I doubt it's going to impress anyone much at all.

I am now visiting the link in your sig jhmattern in order to learn more in this area, I obviously have a long way to go.

 

I use a blog to create and share my samples. You might want to take a look. It does not take much to put your samples online. As others mention you send the clients whatever you are going to be writing for them. If you going to be writing articles, you show them writing samples, web design you show them sites you have created for them. Here is my little portfolio: http://www.nichecopywriting.net

 

Thanks MisterEThoughts for sharing with me the link to your portfolio, I am gladly checking it out now.

 

I direct them to my online portfolio, and if they specifically mention they need attached samples, then I'll add those as well. Most of the time, an online portfolio works just fine.

 

Hi Love,

It really doesn't matter that no one has 'paid' you to write for them yet. When most people look at your writing samples, they'll primarily be looking at 1) the QUALITY of your work and 2) how much you charge.

I recommend you spend a day or two proofreading whatever you have and making it look organized and neatly presented. Save your samples as various PDFs, and send your prospects the samples that are most similar to what they're looking for.

Also, you may need to just go ahead and create a variety of new writing samples. If you're a blogger or have a Squidoo lens or have written for EzineArticles, any and all of this can be considered your writing samples. Just give people a link to it, or copy-save your articles and attach them as various PDFs.

I've been hiring freelancers for years and just need to see how well people write. I do like to see about 3 good samples, to feel sure you're consistently good. But I've bypassed people who sent samples in the niche I needed, having noticed typos, run-on sentences, etc. I'll hire someone whose samples are crisp and engaging but not in my niche before I hire someone writing my niche, but in need of too much editing.

 

Thanks rayaan, now I have some idea how other writers go about sending their sample articles.

Thanks for that very helpful post, viqifrench! You've basically clued me in with all I needed to know and so I'm no longer as lost.
That was all very good advice, thanks for the time.

 

I to was looking for some guidance on this issue, many thanks for the advice.

Be well.

 

I can relate to your sentiments.

A lot (if not all) new freelance writers literally have no idea where to start, what to do, really we can do research for days and still not get any answers on the very simple and basic things that we need to know about because nobody talks about these tiny little details. Sometimes, we just have no choice but to ask, if we ever plan on knowing.

 

As others have mentioned, it is absolutely ESSENTIAL to follow directions in the ad specifically. A lot of times, the advertisements doesn't specify how to send samples. In those cases, I forgo attaching writing samples and simply send links to direct them towards my work. I've found that's the easiest way for a prospective client to take a look at your writing.

Take a look at Jenn's site; she has tons of helpful advice for beginning writers.

 

I have not yet ever sent and "hard copies" or clips as I have heard them referred to. I usually e-mail a copy of an article that I have submitted to a publication with

Seasidewriter
Lighthouse article for Vacationer's Guide
Summer 2006

written in the corner. I think it helps sway buyers when they see where I have been published before.

 

Treat it like a photographer would. Send them what you consider your best work.

 

Like Denise, I always send a link if they don't ask for a sample. I only send a link to my website, which isn't really a portfolio, but it serves its purpose as to showing people how I write.

 

Build up a portfolio of previous work, and it's always nice to put up some PLR articles on a blog or website you own, as well. Keep it top notch and professional, though. Sending a client an article you wrote when you first started freelancing probably won't work good for you in the long run.

Justin

 

It reminded me of those early days when I was struggling with same kinda issues.I didn't know if DP existed.I used to hit and try everywhere I could. Those were the early days when in India the broadband internet services were under establishment and we could have an access to it for a considerable time.I was a newbie web-writer.Despite having a wast experience of print media writing the web-world was quite new to me.When webmasters used to ask me to show samples and I used to get baffled up as how to show them up. I did not know how I could do this other than sending through an email.
I then established a blog for myself. I used to write daily on this blog. It was a purely blogger.com fun but few weeks later I had several posts on the blog and it became easier for me to demonstrate. Just a link was more than sufficient.
The blog however does not exist anymore but it gave me a real push. I started getting assignments . It served its purpose in an excellent way.
Experts like "Jenn" and "DeniseJ" are obviously better guide to teach how to work more professionally. I now understand the importance of making a begining in a professional way but I was not fortunate like you.I did learn everything from scratch. You may take the advantage of other's experiences.

 

I guess that having a website with all the information about you. And having a portfolio on a professional website with the best articles that you've created so far would be better than text/PDF files, that can be a little bit more confusing.

Also the portfolio on the website should have different types of services that you plan to offer. This way it will be easier for you and for your clients to get them.

 

I send samples that are good as well as average together or something in between if only one sample is sent. I will only send only my best article samples, only if i am very sure of reproducing that quality in each article.

I don't want people to get too high an expectation from reading my best article samples. Quality is often dependent on topic and whether i'm in the groove and various other factors.