A social media portfolio is, first and foremost, an opportunity to brag to potential future employers about your experience. Managers hiring people to run their social media want to know about all the successful campaigns, rockstar analytics results, and stunning design work you\u2019ve accomplished\u2014so why not show them?<\/p>\n
Read on to learn all the best components for making a portfolio that pops (and helps you get your next job), a free social media template, and examples to inspire you.<\/p>\n
Plus, we turned to Rebekah Ho, Canada Wide Media<\/a>\u2019s Digital Marketing Manager, for expert insight. With her breadth of experience working for graphic design firm Glasfurd & Walker and media company Hypebae, Ho shares her top tips for turning out a social media portfolio that sets you apart from the competition.<\/p>\n A social media portfolio is a collection of past work that showcases a social media manager\u2019s experience and expertise.<\/p>\n A portfolio usually has examples of past social media campaigns, including content, copywriting, and design work across multiple platforms, as well as meaningful analytics that prove a social media professional\u2019s success.<\/p>\n Social media manager portfolios are used to help land freelance work <\/a>or full-time jobs in the industry. Potential clients and hiring managers will look at your social media portfolio to determine if you are the right fit for the job.<\/p>\n TL;DR:<\/strong> An awesome portfolio can be the difference between landing a new gig<\/a> and getting tossed in the \u201cprobably not\u201d pile of resumes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your social media portfolio is a chance to showcase all of your best work in one impressive package.<\/p>\n A portfolio is concrete evidence of your expertise, skill, and success <\/a>on social, so potential employers know that you can really walk the walk.<\/p>\n While resumes and cover letters are great for explaining your past experience, there\u2019s limits to how unique and personal they can be. <\/p>\n A social media portfolio shows not just your skills, but your personality\u2013your taste, your design sensibility, your voice\u2014and can help a hiring manager get to know you.<\/p>\n Often, hiring managers will have more job applicants than they know what to do with.<\/p>\n Anything that sets you apart from the crowd will increase your likelihood of scoring an interview<\/a>\u2014especially in an industry as creative as social media. <\/p>\n A great portfolio will help you get noticed and be remembered<\/strong>, and in competitive positions, that\u2019s half the battle.<\/p>\n Psst:<\/strong> Sometimes, potential employers don\u2019t spend much time looking at your resume and cover letter.<\/p>\n In Ho\u2019s experience, folks hiring freelancers rarely ask for them at all. \u201cThey\u2019re not calling your references or asking for a cover letter in a freelance situation,\u201d she says. \u201cSo your work has to speak for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Managers will appreciate you making their job easier (after all, that\u2019s ultimately what you\u2019ll be doing when you start working).<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just good practice to step back and take a look at your work,\u201d says Ho. \u201c Working in social media means you\u2019re probably spending a lot of your time focussing on singular posts, analyzing micro-trends, and having your head down in Canva, but it\u2019s important to look at the big picture once in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Making a portfolio isn\u2019t just helpful for potential employers; it\u2019s a good exercise for you to see what you\u2019re excelling at and what you need to work on<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Bonus: Download a free, fully customizable social media portfolio template<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>to make your work shine \u2014 and land more clients.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Because visuals are such an important component of social media, it\u2019s important that your portfolio showcases great hi-res imagery. Potential employers will assume that your portfolio represents the caliber of work they can expect from you\u2014so make sure the imagery is top-notch.<\/p>\n Source: Kristine Gumera<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Similar to the above, any of the writing included in your portfolio is a chance for you to show off your skills: grammar, spelling, and overall tone should be edited carefully.<\/p>\n Ho notes that \u201cnot paying attention to the details\u201d is the biggest mistake you can make when building your portfolio. \u201cIf there are spelling mistakes, low-res images, or broken links in your portfolio, that\u2019s definitely going to reflect badly on you,\u201d she shares.<\/p>\n Employers may ask for both your resume and portfolio, but there\u2019s no reason not to link one to the other.<\/p>\n Your portfolio should contain everything that the hiring manager needs to know about you, so be sure to include your resume (through a downloadable PDF, a hyperlink, or in the form of copy within your portfolio).<\/p>\n Don\u2019t sabotage yourself by making it difficult for people to get in contact with you. Clear contact info is essential<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Double-check that any hyperlinks lead to the proper channels and that there are no errors in your email address or phone number.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the exciting stuff: this is your opportunity to showcase your strategy in action. Always include analytic results whenever you can (PS: Hootsuite can provide that for you<\/a>).<\/p>\n Source: BM Social<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Pick diverse projects that display a variety of different skills, and include analytics from your examples as evidence of your past success.<\/p>\n Your writing proficiency should also be evident\u2014choose copywriting examples that prove you can nail a brand voice and communicate clearly and efficiently<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Link to past social media profiles you\u2019ve managed<\/a>, and provide examples of specific content you created or contributed to.<\/p>\n Share your social media strategy and explain why it works and how it has worked for brands you\u2019ve managed in the past.<\/p>\n Any work that you\u2019ve done as a social media manager fits into this category, even if it\u2019s volunteer or for a personal account.<\/p>\n As long as it\u2019s professional and representative of your experience, it counts.<\/p>\n If you have them, any rave reviews from past clients go a long way in a portfolio. Kind words to back up your data will build a more well-rounded picture of you as an employee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Source: Volume One Studios<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n An \u201cAbout You\u201d section is your chance to introduce yourself and set the tone for your portfolio.<\/p>\n Ho shares, \u201cI would include a brief summary of your work experience, key brands you\u2019ve worked with, and a few highlights of your skillset.\u201d Adding, \u201cinclude a brief line or two about what you\u2019re passionate about when it comes to social media.\u201d<\/p>\n Source: Alisson Rojas<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n This is your opportunity to highlight not only your skills, but your interests\u2014what do you<\/em> want to do?<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of roles you can take in social media, and it\u2019s important to specify what you want to spend most of your time working on<\/strong>, especially if you\u2019re applying for a job within a bigger digital team,\u201d says Ho.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t mandatory, but it is recommended. \u201cIt\u2019s almost a requirement these days to be comfortable in front of the camera if you plan to work in social media,\u201d says Ho.<\/p>\n Decide which format of social media portfolio best suits your needs from these four options.<\/p>\n PDFs have the benefit of being easy to read and share. They can be tailored to individual clients or potential employers. Plus, you can attach them to emails or text messages for maximum convenience.<\/p>\n The downside of a document or PDF is that, depending on how your clients view your document, there may be a loss of resolution when incorporating images and videos. Additionally, some PDF readers may not support videos or more interactive elements.<\/p>\n Here are a few tips to keep in mind when creating a document or PDF portfolio:<\/p>\n Slide decks are very readable and visually pleasing. There are plenty of options for customizing and editing slides for different opportunities, and slide decks can also be attached to emails.<\/p>\n The downside is that slide decks aren\u2019t available publicly, which means a customer would need to contact you directly to see examples of your work. You can avoid this issue by hosting your deck live through Google Slides, Canva, or other hosting platforms.<\/p>\n If you do decide to create a slide deck, keep these tips in mind:<\/p>\n A website is a great way to create a public-facing and searchable portfolio of your social media work. It\u2019s also the most versatile option, as you can customize it to look exactly how you want and include a range of pages, media, and easy-to-use contact forms.<\/p>\n The downside of a portfolio site is that they are more complex to create. Luckily, there are many user-friendly website builders to get you started, such as Wix and Squarespace.<\/p>\n Here are a few website portfolio tips:<\/p>\n Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram allow you to create interactive profiles that give potential employers an overview of your experience and skill set. It\u2019s the most literal example of what you can do!<\/p>\n Using a social media profile as your portfolio allows potential clients to see exactly how you lay out a page, post consistently, curate, and create content. It even shows how you interact with your audience.<\/p>\n The downside: not every client is on every social media channel. So, you either need to be active everywhere or choose the most appropriate platform for your target audience.<\/p>\n Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating a social media profile portfolio:<\/p>\n When you\u2019re on the job hunt, any headstart is a good one\u2014allow us to give you that first little boost.<\/p>\n Hootsuite\u2019s free social media portfolio template<\/a> is easy to customize and tailor to your own experience. We\u2019ve built this template in a Google Slides document, but you can easily copy this template into Canva, PowerPoint, or even a PDF.<\/p>\n This template includes all <\/em>the elements you need to create a comprehensive social media portfolio, including a skills section, campaign portfolio, customer testimonials, service page, and more. <\/p>\n All you need to do is tap into your design skills and customize the template with your own content and images.<\/p>\n First, choose which portfolio format is best for you according to the options above.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re building this portfolio for a specific potential employer, check to see if they request portfolios in a specific format. Then, choose a template that suits your style\u2014next, it\u2019s customization station.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time to make a great first impression! Introduce yourself, your strengths, skills, and past work experience. It\u2019s a good idea to also state what kind of work you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n Hi-resolution imagery will showcase your skills with visuals, but it will also make your portfolio more engaging and easier to read for potential employers. Use photos and screenshots from past campaigns to show your audience what you\u2019re capable of<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Pick content from different accounts you\u2019ve managed and from multiple platforms to best showcase your diverse skills. \u201cShow off the work samples you\u2019re the most proud of,\u201d says Ho.<\/p>\n When possible, try to pick content that is more recent, as well\u2014you don\u2019t want all of your examples to be several years old. Choosing well-performing<\/a>, relatively recent content is the best way to show hiring managers what you can do, now.<\/p>\n Show, don\u2019t tell when it comes to your success in social media. Provide stats about engagement, audience, and reach.<\/p>\n \u201cMake sure to showcase why they\u2019re important and how you got there,\u201d says Ho. \u201cI think it\u2019s tempting to throw a bunch of flashy numbers out, but you don\u2019t want to overpromise or get stumped if the question comes up of how growth happened.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing quite like client love to attract new business opportunities. Be sure that you have the client\u2019s permission to share their words before including it in your portfolio.<\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t it suck if an employer loved your portfolio but couldn\u2019t find a way to reach you? It\u2019s not a bad idea to include a footer of contact info on every page of your portfolio, just in case.<\/p>\n Freelance Social Media Manager Kayla McFadden\u2019s public portfolio<\/a> contains beautiful imagery, consistent branding, and personal touches, like this testimonial from a past client.<\/p>\n Source: <\/em>Kayla McFadden<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Marketing agency Longhouse Media devotes a page of their website to a portfolio of work<\/a>. Each example begins with a concise tagline explaining exactly what they achieved during each campaign.<\/p>\n Source: <\/em>Simply Multimedia<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n This Social Media Manager uses her Instagram highlights and pinned posts<\/a> as part of her portfolio page: client testimonials, successful campaigns, and services offered are all easy to find.<\/p>\n Source: <\/em>Curated by Preeti<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The Shelf\u2019s online portfolio includes a snapshot of case studies from brands that they\u2019ve worked with. Their case studies outline important analytics and active language describing the work done to achieve those results.<\/p>\n Source: <\/em>The Shelf<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n This Social Media Marketing Strategist uses Instagram as a portfolio, sharing her success stories as well as free resources for others in the industry.<\/p>\n Source: <\/em>Milou Pietersz<\/em><\/a><\/p>\nKey Takeaways<\/h3>\n
\n
What is a social media portfolio?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Why do you need a social media portfolio?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Showcase your expertise<\/h3>\n
Share your personality<\/h3>\n
Stand out amongst the competition<\/h3>\n
Make it easy on future hiring managers<\/h3>\n
Review your past experiences and achievements<\/h3>\n
What to include in a social media portfolio<\/span><\/h2>\n
Professional imagery<\/h3>\n
![\"professional](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.18.49%E2%80%AFPM-620x331.png?resize=620%2C331&ssl=1\"\/)
![\"professional](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.18.49%E2%80%AFPM-620x331.png?resize=620%2C331&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nClean copy<\/h3>\n
Your resume<\/h3>\n
Contact information<\/h3>\n
Relevant social media experience<\/h3>\n
![\"relevant](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.25.26%E2%80%AFPM-620x311.png?resize=620%2C311&ssl=1\"\/)
![\"relevant](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.25.26%E2%80%AFPM-620x311.png?resize=620%2C311&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nCase studies, special projects, and campaigns<\/h4>\n
Copywriting<\/h4>\n
Social media profiles managed<\/h4>\n
Successful social strategy<\/h4>\n
Work as a social media manager<\/h4>\n
Testimonials from clients<\/h3>\n
![\"testimonial](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.15.29%E2%80%AFPM-620x292.png?resize=620%2C292&ssl=1\"\/)
![\"testimonial](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.15.29%E2%80%AFPM-620x292.png?resize=620%2C292&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\u201cAbout You\u201d information<\/h3>\n
![\"about](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.06.07%E2%80%AFPM-620x346.png?resize=620%2C346&ssl=1\"\/)
![\"about](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-5.06.07%E2%80%AFPM-620x346.png?resize=620%2C346&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nA photo of yourself<\/h3>\n
4 social media portfolio formats<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. Document or PDF<\/h3>\n
\n
2. Simple slide deck<\/h3>\n
\n
3. Social media portfolio website<\/h3>\n
4. Social media profile<\/h3>\n
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Free social media portfolio template<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"hoostsuite](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-1.46.05%E2%80%AFPM-620x254.png?resize=620%2C254&ssl=1\"\/)
![\"hoostsuite](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Screenshot-2024-09-24-at-1.46.05%E2%80%AFPM-620x254.png?resize=620%2C254&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nHow to create a social media marketing portfolio: Step-by-step guide<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. Decide on a portfolio template\/format<\/h3>\n
2. Introduce yourself and experience<\/h3>\n
3. Include stunning imagery<\/h3>\n
4. Showcase your best content<\/h3>\n
5. Back up your work with data<\/h3>\n
6. Include client testimonials<\/h3>\n
7. Don\u2019t forget contact information<\/h3>\n
5 great social media portfolio examples to inspire your own<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. Kayla McFadden<\/h3>\n
![\"Kayla](\"https:\/\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image4-7-620x294.png.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/noscript><\/figure>\n2. Simply Multimedia<\/h3>\n
![\"Simply](\"https:\/\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image2-6-620x352.png.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/noscript><\/figure>\n3. Curated by Preeti<\/h3>\n
![\"curated](\"https:\/\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image3-7-620x540.png.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/noscript><\/figure>\n4. The Shelf<\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image1-7-620x632.png.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/noscript><\/figure>\n5. Milou Pietersz<\/h3>\n
![\"Milou](\"https:\/\/blog.hootsuite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image5-7-620x613.png.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/noscript><\/figure>\n