9 things you should include in your marketing copy

Have you ever needed to create a marketing copy? Maybe as a small business owner, an author, a podcast guest? Whatever your marketing or content needs are, here are 9 things you should include in your marketing copy. But before I get into the post proper, let me share a little story …

Most days, I wake up at stupid o’clock and start my day on Quora and Twitter. I find that by the time I get out of bed, I have either learned something new or made a new connection. A few days ago, I started following the MARKETING feed on Twitter and that led me to a tweet on Here are 9 things you should include in your marketing portfolio by Christine Johnson.

Her tweets reminded me of the content I shared on the thank you page shown to people who book a slot to appear as a guest on my podcast The Segilola Salami Show. As my podcast booking thank you page is not widely shared, I thought that by sharing Christine’s tweets on my blog, I can help even more people.

I’ve been a podcast host for 5 years now and I think it is important to have a strategy whenever you create content irrespective of the platform the content is for. What you say and HOW you say it are just as important as each other.

So without much ado and with permission from Christine Johnson, here are 9 things you should include in your marketing portfolio… ?

YOUR MARKETING COPY NEEDS

1) An Effective Tagline
Make your tagline clear and catchy. Keep in mind that this is something that people will only glance at.

The Segilola Salami Show

An entertaining but educative podcast show

2) One Title
You probably aren’t an expert/ninja/guru in every area of your field. Just like a movie, you should only have one title and your title will be the theme of your portfolio. It sets an expectation for the viewer so they have an idea of what they’re about to read.

3) A Professional Headshot
This is mandatory. When you don’t have a picture of yourself on your website readers will wonder why. If they can’t see you they could get the impression that you’re hiding (which is the opposite of what you’re trying to do).

4) A Strong Elevator Pitch
Write out who you are and what you do in two paragraphs (max). Start with introducing yourself, talk about projects you’ve worked on, and then highlight what you’ve learned or what you value in your work.

5) What You Offer
When a recruiter or potential clients visits your online portfolio, there should be no confusion over what it is you offer. This is also your opportunity to highlight what kind of projects you enjoy.

6) Tools You’ve Worked With
You never know what technology stacks companies are using. Keep a list of platforms and programs you’ve worked with on hand. They provide hiring managers with a quick way to see what you’ve been up to.

7) Testimonials
There’s no excuse not to have these, even if you’re just starting out. Make a list of clients (old and new), colleagues, teachers, and employers that could help you out with this.
Try to find at least 2-3 to include.

Here’s the link to testimonials written by previous guests on The Segilola Salami Show.

8) What Value Do You Bring
Write out a few bullet points that clearly define how you’re going to help make someone’s life easier. Lean away from jargony language and make it as direct as possible.

9) Clear Way(s) To Contact You
The whole point of your portfolio is to help you connect with potential employers; make it easy for them to do that. This can be a simple form or an emailto link.

When you put it all together, it should start to tell a story about your career, interests, and ambitions.

Use compelling language that makes it clear (to anyone) how your skills will help a client or company fix a problem.

Keep in mind this is the first time someone is learning about you!

Bonus points if you use professional photos that are unique.

The goal of your marketing portfolio should be to keep the user’s focus. Adding too much is distracting. Less is more.

You could be highly skilled in your field, but if you can’t demonstrate what you’re capable of then nobody will understand how good you are. You need to take initiative to build a powerful portfolio that speaks to how you are different and what kind of value you bring.

It’s easy to find a portfolio template and start filling in the blanks without giving it much thought. When you do that, a few key elements are often overlooked. Here’s what most people flat out forget:

1. People hire to fix a problem.
Make sure you clearly understand what that is and speak to it. For example, no one hires a content writer just to have blogs populated on their website. They hire writers to attract targeted traffic and generate more business.

2. You control what the user sees.
Instead of dumping all of your samples of work onto a website, handpick your best pieces. That blog post you wrote in 2014 probably shouldn’t make the cut.

3. Communication is essential for any role.
It doesn’t matter what your field is, having strong communication applies to everyone. Your portfolio should reflect this.

The main takeaway here is that your portfolio isn’t just a recap of what you’ve done.
When evaluating an online portfolio, employers need to see that your skills are the solution to their problem. Make sure that’s communicated throughout the content and show your best work.

Pro Tip 1: Don’t make people Google you. Add links where they can find you online.
What you choose to add will depend on your field, but this might include your Linkedin profile, guest blog posts, & pieces of work on GitHub or Bitbucket.

Pro Tip 2: Don’t set it and forget it. Keep it fresh.
Set a reminder in your calendar to update your portfolio regularly. It’s easy to forget different projects over the years. Take time to update your testimonials and make sure that your portfolio is reflective of your growth.

Pro Tip 3: Don’t copy people. Do get inspired.
It is challenging to showcase your work in a way that’s effective. If you stumble across a portfolio that’s conveyed a message really well, you might want to mimic something similar down the line. Keep a bookmark folder for later.

About Christine Johnson

Hi, I’m Christine. I’m a public speaker & marketing professional with a specialization in digital strategy. I live and breathe all things content & marketing. In my previous positions, I’ve done everything from rebranding companies, launching new SaaS products, writing sales copy, and developing long-term SEO & social strategies. I believe that quality communication and measurable results are the key to every digital marketing strategy.