HMD

I've been the content lead at a marketing agency for the past 3 months. I can tell you for free that you have a much better chance of landing content & marketing gigs if you can do these 2 things religiously (me i've tried it o) 1. Build a portfolio around case studies. 2. Create demo videos showcasing your skills. Let me explain why these two things can give you an advantage, especially if you're just starting out. 1. Stop filling your portfolio with writing samples alone. Writing samples are important, but content marketing goes beyond writing. Businesses want people who can research, develop strategies, understand audiences, identify content gaps and connect content to business objectives. Your portfolio should demonstrate these abilities. For instance, if you want to work with SaaS companies, find three SaaS brands and analyse their content marketing strategies. Look at their websites, blogs, social media platforms, messaging and content distribution. Identify problems and develop practical recommendations. Turn your findings into detailed case studies. Be transparent that these are independent projects, not paid client engagements. 2. Start creating demo videos. This is one strategy I think more beginner content marketers should adopt. Instead of just telling potential clients that you understand content marketing, RECORD YOURSELF demonstrating what you know. For example, create a 5-minute video showing: - How you conduct a content audit. - How you develop a content strategy. - How you create a 30-day content calendar. - How you analyse competitors. - How you identify content gaps. - How you develop content pillars for a business. Use Loom or OBS Studio to record your screen while explaining your thought process. (You can also use your phone recorder) 3. Why do these demo videos give you an advantage? Think about it from a client's perspective. You're asking someone to pay you for a skill they've never seen you demonstrate. A demo video changes that. Here's what happens: • It builds trust: Clients can see how you approach real business problems instead of relying on your claims. • It demonstrates expertise: You show your research, strategic thinking, communication and problem-solving abilities. • It reduces hiring uncertainty: A client gets a preview of how you might approach their project before committing money. • It makes cold pitching easier: Instead of sending generic emails, you can send personalised videos highlighting opportunities you've identified in a prospect's business. • It differentiates you: While other beginners are submitting CVs and writing samples, you're giving potential employers something more substantial to evaluate. 4. Where should you start? Here's a practical assignment: 1. Pick an industry you want to work in. 2. Identify three businesses in that industry. 3. Analyse their existing content. 4. Develop three case studies highlighting problems and proposed solutions. 5. Record three demo videos explaining your recommendations. 6. Upload everything to Notion, Substack or Google Drive. 7. Add your portfolio link to your CV, LinkedIn profile and cold pitches. You don't need 10 paying clients to build a portfolio that demonstrates your capabilities. Start with independent projects. Be honest about what you've done and what results are hypothetical. As you gain clients, replace those projects with actual client case studies and measurable results. Stop building portfolios that only tell people what you can do. Build portfolios that SHOW them what you can do. The difference between being another applicant and becoming the candidate a business wants to speak with is how well you demonstrate your abilities. Bookmark this. You might need it when building your next portfolio.