Creating a Showcase of Prior Work to Give Clients Confidence

If your startup is a service provider or a consulting company, it pays to have a solid portfolio of work to use in your sales process. Your portfolio will show potential clients that you have the experience and skills to handle their projects. However, one of the challenges to creating a quality portfolio as a startup is gaining the experience and examples you need to make the portfolio. Using a little creativity and some effort, you can create a portfolio that will have your clients eagerly signing up to do business with you. Here’s how to build a portfolio the right way.

1. Spec work

Spec work is work that you essentially do for free upfront with the hopes of being paid. The agreement between you and your client is that they will pay you for your work and provide a testimonial if they like it. If they don’t like your work, they won’t pay you. When you feel confident you can deliver work that will delight the client, it’s an excellent way to get around the objection that you don’t have a solid portfolio yet. Moving the risk from your client to you makes it easier to get a yes. 

Additionally, once they’re pleased with the work, and they will be because you’re going to knock their socks off, you can use the work in your portfolio. Plus, you can add their testimonial to your sales page. Even if they don’t like what you deliver, you can still use it in your portfolio if you’re proud of the results.

Note: Sometimes, spec work is done for the raw materials or labor cost. This is common when the service cannot be performed without them, and they are substantial, as in the case of catering, home improvement, landscaping, events, and so on.

2. Volunteer work

Volunteer work is another opportunity for you to build a portfolio and do good simultaneously. Many non-profits can benefit from the work of startup service providers and consulting firms. They get a needed service at no cost, and you get quality samples for your portfolio. It’s great when you can reference something and show potential customers where they can find your work online too. It’s instant credibility.

3. Courses

There are several quality skill-building programs online. These programs often offer homework assignments along with professional feedback. This is an excellent way to develop content for your portfolio. The classes not only give you the opportunity to work with experts in your craft but exercise your skills in a wide variety of areas. Additionally, you can use the credentials you receive from completing the class as a source of credibility for your marketing materials.  

Expanding Your Portfolio

As you build your client base, it’s important to ask clients if you can use your best work in your portfolio and get them to sign off on it. They’re most often quite proud to be shown off, and it’s good exposure for them as well. Display your work in the most professional manner on your website and in your marketing collateral. If you have print samples, scan them onto your computer and save them as an image. Don’t just link to your client’s website or content because those links will change. Save the work you’ve done as an image or a document so you’ll have it in a format that you can show your prospects so they can see your work firsthand.

Have confidence in your work, whether you’re just starting out or have a portfolio full of professional samples. Confidence and the courage to take a few risks will help you build a portfolio the right way.