All this talk about samples(see other threads here), made me realize I really should finish up my site and get some samples on there. What do you as fellow writers consider to be good topics to serve as samples on writer's business website?
As for articles, I have samples that cover all the major topics that I'm willing to write on in my portfolio. Followed by samples of other types of work such as website content, SEO specific content, industry specific content, blog posts,... If a subject / category / service is not listed, I don't write for it. I provide enough examples of my work so interested parties can get a good idea of what I offer and my skill level without it being over whelming or a free for all for those who want to try to copy/steal my work.
What might appear as popular topics to cover to some people can be completely different to someone else. You're never going to please everyone with your portfolio. Showcase the content you offer in the topic(s)/subject(s)/niche(s) that are your strong suit. Don't try to cover all to please all, because you never will. Make a list of all the content you have. Make a list of all the services that you offer. Go through the list of content and match it to your services. Make a list of categories. Match content to categories. Example: for articles, health, technology, gaming, gambling, cell phones, sales & marketing... Then go through your content, trimming the list as you go until you have say 2 pieces of work that best represents your skills in each category or sub-category.
One thing that I did was a create a specific page for a specific target market. I'm trained in dentistry. Some of my writing targets the dental market. I created a section of my site that speaks to this target market. I'm also a first-time mom raising an 11mth old baby girl. Some of my writing targets pregnant women, moms, infants/toddlers. I participate/interact in places where the preggo and mom community gathers. Part of my site is specifically for this target market. The same with the health niches. Part of my schooling to become a dental assistant included medical. I also became certified in radiology, which included some medical studies. I created a section of my site specific to people looking for content in the various health/medical niche(s).
I do have many hobbies, whether or not others then me find them interesting is in the eye of the beholder I guess I decided to just start writing and wrap categories around what pops out
That's kinda how I started my site and I now have articles in my crafts niche, on SEO, writing, selling, traveling, product reviews and a bunch more. It just kinda grows by itself. And, that's just for one of my sites/blogs.
I'm not quite sure where to start on this. I would like to turn the question on its head and say what are your customers interested in? You could do the old Reader's Digest trick and write an article about something in three totally different ways. Which is the one your readers like most? Which is the one they click on most, stay on the longest? Yet the articles are all describing the same thing! That way you'll get feedback on your style from the horse's mouth. Only, they're visitors. Who's buying. It may be that the article with the least clicks generates the best leads! The point is to find out what your readers like best, and then work out which of them is buying.