Guides 3 min read Updated February 24, 2026
Portfolio Building Guide for Non-Designers (Writers, Devs, VAs)
"But I'm not a designer!" is no excuse. If you want high-paying clients, you need to show your work.
1. Case Studies > Pretty Pictures
Clients don't care how your portfolio looks. They care about **results**.
Instead of just linking to a website you built or an article you wrote, explain the problem and the solution.
Bad: "Here is a link to a blog post I wrote."
Good: "The client needed more organic traffic. I wrote an SEO-optimized guide that increased their traffic by 300% in 3 months. Read it here."
Good: "The client needed more organic traffic. I wrote an SEO-optimized guide that increased their traffic by 300% in 3 months. Read it here."
2. Use simple tools (Not WordPress)
Don't waste weeks building a custom site. Use these:
- Notion: Perfect for writers and VAs. Clean, simple, and free.
- GitHub: Verify your code. Your commit history is your resume.
- Google Slides: Yes, really. A well-designed PDF presentation converts better than a buggy website.
3. Focus on "Social Proof"
A portfolio without testimonials is just a gallery.
Ask every happy client for a 1-sentence quote. Put it right next to the work you did for them.
4. The "One-Page" Portfolio
You don't need a Home, About, Services, and Contact page. Put everything on one page.
- Headline: Who you are and what you do.
- Featured Work: Your top 3 projects.
- Testimonials: What others say.
- Call to Action: "Hire me."
What happens after they see your portfolio?
They want to hire you. Make it easy.
Send them a professional proposal and contract immediately.