A social media portfolio is, at the beginning, a chance to brag to potential future employers about your expertise. Managers hiring folks to run their social media need to find out about all of the profitable campaigns, rockstar analytics outcomes, and gorgeous design work you’ve achieved—so why not present them?
Learn on to be taught all the perfect parts for making a portfolio that pops (and helps you get your subsequent job), a free social media template, and examples to encourage you.
Plus, we turned to Rebekah Ho, Canada Huge Media’s Digital Advertising Supervisor, for knowledgeable perception. Along with her breadth of expertise working for graphic design agency Glasfurd & Walker and media firm Hypebae, Ho shares her high ideas for turning out a social media portfolio that units you other than the competitors.
Key Takeaways
Consider a social media portfolio as your private spotlight reel! It’s a assortment of your finest work that showcases your abilities, creativity, and profitable campaigns you’ve run.
In a aggressive job market, a stellar portfolio may be your secret weapon. It helps you seize consideration and makes you memorable to hiring managers who could be sifting by means of tons of functions.
Creating your portfolio is a wonderful means to replicate in your progress and achievements. It’s not nearly touchdown a job—it’s a wonderful means to see what you’ve achieved and determine areas to enhance.
A social media portfolio is a assortment of previous work that showcases a social media supervisor’s expertise and experience.
A portfolio often has examples of previous social media campaigns, together with content material, copywriting, and design work throughout a number of platforms, in addition to significant analytics that show a social media skilled’s success.
Social media supervisor portfolios are used to assist land freelance work or full-time jobs within the trade. Potential purchasers and hiring managers will take a look at your social media portfolio to decide if you’re the correct match for the job.
TL;DR: An superior portfolio may be the distinction between touchdown a new gig and getting tossed within the “probably not” pile of resumes.
Showcase your experience
Your social media portfolio is a likelihood to showcase your whole finest work in a single spectacular package deal.
A portfolio is concrete proof of your experience, ability, and success on social, so potential employers know you could actually stroll the stroll.
Share your persona
Whereas resumes and canopy letters are nice for explaining your previous expertise, there’s limits to how distinctive and private they are often.
A social media portfolio exhibits not simply your abilities, however your persona–your style, your design sensibility, your voice—and might help a hiring supervisor get to know you.
Stand out amongst the competitors
Typically, hiring managers could have extra job candidates than they know what to do with.
Something that units you other than the gang will improve your probability of scoring an interview—particularly in an trade as artistic as social media.
A terrific portfolio will assist you to get seen and be remembered, and in aggressive positions, that’s half the battle.
Make it simple on future hiring managers
Psst: Typically, potential employers don’t spend a lot time your resume and canopy letter.
In Ho’s expertise, of us hiring freelancers hardly ever ask for them in any respect. “They’re not calling your references or asking for a cover letter in a freelance situation,” she says. “So your work has to speak for itself.”
Managers will admire you making their job simpler (in any case, that’s in the end what you’ll be doing once you begin working).
Evaluate your previous experiences and achievements
“It’s just good practice to step back and take a look at your work,” says Ho. “ Working in social media means you’re probably spending a lot of your time focussing on singular posts, analyzing micro-trends, and having your head down in Canva, but it’s important to look at the big picture once in a while.”
Making a portfolio isn’t simply useful for potential employers; it’s a good train for you to see what you’re excelling at and what you want to work on.
Bonus: Obtain a free, absolutely customizable social media portfolio template to make your work shine — and land extra purchasers.
Skilled imagery
As a result of visuals are such an necessary element of social media, it’s necessary that your portfolio showcases nice hi-res imagery. Potential employers will assume that your portfolio represents the caliber of labor they’ll count on from you—so make sure that the imagery is top-notch.
Supply: Kristine Gumera
Clear copy
Comparable to the above, any of the writing included in your portfolio is a likelihood for you to exhibit your abilities: grammar, spelling, and general tone needs to be edited fastidiously.
Ho notes that “not paying attention to the details” is the most important mistake you may make when constructing your portfolio. “If there are spelling mistakes, low-res images, or broken links in your portfolio, that’s definitely going to reflect badly on you,” she shares.
Your resume
Employers might ask for each your resume and portfolio, however there’s no purpose not to hyperlink one to the opposite.
Your portfolio ought to comprise the whole lot that the hiring supervisor wants to find out about you, so make certain to embrace your resume (by means of a downloadable PDF, a hyperlink, or within the type of copy inside your portfolio).
Contact info
Don’t sabotage your self by making it tough for folks to get involved with you. Clear contact information is important.
Double-check that any hyperlinks lead to the correct channels and that there are not any errors in your electronic mail tackle or cellphone quantity.
Related social media expertise
Right here’s the thrilling stuff: that is your alternative to showcase your technique in motion. At all times embrace analytic outcomes every time you possibly can (PS: Hootsuite can present that for you).
Supply: BM Social
Case research, particular tasks, and campaigns
Choose various tasks that show a number of totally different abilities, and embrace analytics out of your examples as proof of your previous success.
Copywriting
Your writing proficiency also needs to be evident—select copywriting examples that show you possibly can nail a model voice and talk clearly and effectively.
Social media profiles managed
Hyperlink to previous social media profiles you’ve managed, and supply examples of particular content material you created or contributed to.
Profitable social technique
Share your social media technique and clarify why it really works and the way it has labored for manufacturers you’ve managed up to now.
Work as a social media supervisor
Any work that you simply’ve achieved as a social media supervisor suits into this class, even when it’s volunteer or for a private account.
So long as it’s skilled and consultant of your expertise, it counts.
Testimonials from purchasers
In case you have them, any rave evaluations from previous purchasers go a great distance in a portfolio. Form phrases to again up your knowledge will construct a extra well-rounded image of you as an worker.
Supply: Quantity One Studios
“About You” info
An “About You” part is your likelihood to introduce your self and set the tone on your portfolio.
Ho shares, “I would include a brief summary of your work experience, key brands you’ve worked with, and a few highlights of your skillset.” Including, “include a brief line or two about what you’re passionate about when it comes to social media.”
Supply: Alisson Rojas
That is your alternative to spotlight not solely your abilities, however your pursuits—what would you like to do?
“There are a lot of roles you can take in social media, and it’s important to specify what you want to spend most of your time working on, especially if you’re applying for a job within a bigger digital team,” says Ho.
A photograph of your self
This isn’t obligatory, however it’s endorsed. “It’s almost a requirement these days to be comfortable in front of the camera if you plan to work in social media,” says Ho.
Determine which format of social media portfolio most closely fits your wants from these 4 choices.
1. Doc or PDF
PDFs get pleasure from being simple to learn and share. They are often tailor-made to particular person purchasers or potential employers. Plus, you possibly can connect them to emails or textual content messages for optimum comfort.
The draw back of a doc or PDF is that, relying on how your purchasers view your doc, there could also be a lack of decision when incorporating photos and movies. Moreover, some PDF readers might not assist movies or extra interactive parts.
Listed below are a few ideas to be mindful when creating a doc or PDF portfolio:
Embrace a “Table of Contents” web page with web page numbers for straightforward navigation.
Incorporate hyperlinks to touchdown pages or different related net pages, if relevant.
Save and again up a copy of your social media portfolio.
2. Easy slide deck
Slide decks are very readable and visually pleasing. There are many choices for customizing and modifying slides for various alternatives, and slide decks will also be hooked up to emails.
The draw back is that slide decks aren’t obtainable publicly, which implies a buyer would wish to contact you instantly to see examples of your work. You’ll be able to keep away from this difficulty by internet hosting your deck dwell by means of Google Slides, Canva, or different internet hosting platforms.
In the event you do determine to create a slide deck, hold the following tips in thoughts:
Watch out not to overload your slides with an excessive amount of info.
Hold a number of copies of your deck (a dwell hyperlink, PDF, and PowerPoint is a good begin).
Use hyperlinks within the deck to direct readers to related social media presence, profiles, and web sites.
3. Social media portfolio web site
A web site is a wonderful means to create a public-facing and searchable portfolio of your social media work. It’s additionally probably the most versatile possibility, as you possibly can customise it to look precisely the way you need and embrace a vary of pages, media, and easy-to-use contact kinds.
The draw back of a portfolio web site is that they’re extra advanced to create. Fortunately, there are lots of user-friendly web site builders to get you began, reminiscent of Wix and Squarespace.
Listed below are a few web site portfolio ideas:
4. Social media profile
Social media platforms reminiscent of LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram enable you to create interactive profiles that give potential employers an outline of your expertise and ability set. It’s probably the most literal instance of what you are able to do!
Utilizing a social media profile as your portfolio permits potential purchasers to see precisely the way you lay out a web page, publish constantly, curate, and create content material. It even exhibits the way you work together along with your viewers.
The draw back: not each consumer is on each social media channel. So, you both want to be energetic all over the place or select probably the most applicable platform on your audience.
Listed below are some ideas to be mindful when creating a social media profile portfolio:
Use a distinctive visible fashion on each platform.
Publish constantly, however prioritize high quality over amount.
Commonly work together along with your viewers.
While you’re on the job hunt, any headstart is a good one—enable us to offer you that first little enhance.
Hootsuite’s free social media portfolio template is straightforward to customise and tailor to your personal expertise. We’ve constructed this template in a Google Slides doc, however you possibly can simply copy this template into Canva, PowerPoint, and even a PDF.
This template consists of all the weather you want to create a complete social media portfolio, together with a abilities part, marketing campaign portfolio, buyer testimonials, service web page, and extra.
All you want to do is faucet into your design abilities and customise the template with your personal content material and pictures.
1. Determine on a portfolio template/format
First, select which portfolio format is finest for you in accordance to the choices above.
In the event you’re constructing this portfolio for a particular potential employer, verify to see in the event that they request portfolios in a particular format. Then, select a template that fits your fashion—subsequent, it’s customization station.
2. Introduce your self and expertise
It’s time to make a nice first impression! Introduce your self, your strengths, abilities, and previous work expertise. It’s a good concept to additionally state what sort of work you’re in search of.
3. Embrace gorgeous imagery
Hello-resolution imagery will showcase your abilities with visuals, however it would additionally make your portfolio extra partaking and simpler to learn for potential employers. Use images and screenshots from previous campaigns to present your viewers what you’re able to.
4. Showcase your finest content material
Choose content material from totally different accounts you’ve managed and from a number of platforms to finest showcase your various abilities. “Show off the work samples you’re the most proud of,” says Ho.
When attainable, attempt to decide content material that’s more moderen, as properly—you don’t need your whole examples to be a number of years previous. Selecting well-performing, comparatively current content material is one of the best ways to present hiring managers what you are able to do, now.
5. Again up your work with knowledge
Present, don’t inform when it comes to your success in social media. Present stats about engagement, viewers, and attain.
“Make sure to showcase why they’re important and how you got there,” says Ho. “I think it’s tempting to throw a bunch of flashy numbers out, but you don’t want to overpromise or get stumped if the question comes up of how growth happened.”
6. Embrace consumer testimonials
There’s nothing fairly like consumer love to appeal to new enterprise alternatives. Make certain that you might have the consumer’s permission to share their phrases earlier than together with it in your portfolio.
7. Don’t neglect contact info
Wouldn’t it suck if an employer beloved your portfolio however couldn’t discover a approach to attain you? It’s not a dangerous concept to embrace a footer of contact information on each web page of your portfolio, simply in case.
1. Kayla McFadden
Freelance Social Media Supervisor Kayla McFadden’s public portfolio incorporates stunning imagery, constant branding, and private touches, like this testimonial from a previous consumer.
Supply: Kayla McFadden
2. Merely Multimedia
Advertising company Longhouse Media devotes a web page of their web site to a portfolio of labor. Every instance begins with a concise tagline explaining precisely what they achieved throughout every marketing campaign.
Supply: Merely Multimedia
3. Curated by Preeti
This Social Media Supervisor makes use of her Instagram highlights and pinned posts as a part of her portfolio web page: consumer testimonials, profitable campaigns, and providers provided are all simple to discover.
Supply: Curated by Preeti
4. The Shelf
The Shelf’s on-line portfolio consists of a snapshot of case research from manufacturers that they’ve labored with. Their case research define necessary analytics and energetic language describing the work achieved to obtain these outcomes.
Supply: The Shelf
5. Milou Pietersz
This Social Media Advertising Strategist makes use of Instagram as a portfolio, sharing her success tales in addition to free assets for others within the trade.
Supply: Milou Pietersz
1. Tailor to your viewers
Identical to it’s finest apply to tailor your resume and canopy letter to every job you apply to, the identical needs to be achieved on your portfolio.
This would possibly imply having a number of variations of your slide deck or updating your web site portfolio repeatedly. “You don’t need to include every single project you’ve ever worked on,” says Ho. “This should serve as a highlight reel of your work. Only include the best of the best.”
2. Make it as simple as may be
Ideally, making your social media portfolio isn’t grueling work. Use the free instruments and assets obtainable to you to give your self a enhance.
“While I think I have a great eye for aesthetics, my design skills aren’t expert-level, so anything that gives me a good template gets an A+ in my book,” says Ho.
An alternative choice is to discover a free template you’re keen on or rent a designer to create one. “They’re usually inexpensive and worth it because you’ll stand out,” Ho says.
3. Don’t rely out freshmen
Even if you happen to’ve by no means labored professionally as a social media supervisor, odds are you might have some expertise you could add to your portfolio.
Don’t dismiss your expertise simply because it’s not “corporate”—have you ever ever run the social media account for an after-school membership or rec sport? Does your private Instagram exhibit your social technique? Does your canine’s? So long as you possibly can show your expertise with analytics and clarify how that can translate into a skilled atmosphere, you’re set.
4. Be clear about your work
“When you’re showcasing projects, make sure to highlight exactly what you worked on,” warns Ho. She notes that social media is collaborative, and plenty of SMMs work with photographers, graphic designers, and writers.
“It’s not cool to take all the credit for yourself, and it can also be confusing for the person looking at your portfolio to understand what you’re showcasing.” Be particular about what a part of a marketing campaign you labored on when together with it in your portfolio.
5. Showcase work you loved doing
It’s attainable that your most profitable marketing campaign was a nightmare to execute—would you like to do it once more? It’s necessary to additionally contemplate what you want and don’t like once you’re selecting content material to be in your portfolio.
“Yes, include the posts with the big numbers, and the work that you received great feedback on, but you want to attract projects that you enjoy working on,” says Ho. “The way to do that is to highlight what was fulfilling and exciting for you.”
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