Building Your Marketing Portfolio

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Many of those inhabiting marketing positions don’t often think that they need a portfolio of work. We are businessmen and women, taught that we need a resume, a LinkedIn page, and a strong professional network. These are the tools that we can use to establish our credentials and work to climb the ranks in our professional lives.

On the other hand, portfolios are the “resumes” of the art world. Designers need them. Photographers, developers, and architects need them. But not marketers. Right?

Wrong. While a marketer’s portfolio may not resemble exactly the artist’s portfolio, it is becoming more and more crucial for marketers to maintain a record of their work in an easily-presentable format.

And a personal website is the perfect tool for that. Whether you use blog posts or articles, slideshows, images, videos, pages, or all of the above, this kind of presentation will help set you apart from other marketers in an increasingly competitive field.

What belongs in the marketer’s portfolio?

  • Major projects – any large scale projects that you were a part of. Break down the strategy – what problem you were attempting to solve and how. And share the results.
  • Examples of leadership – did you take the lead on any project or team? Did you manage any staff?
  • Personal and professional accomplishments – awards, recognition, certifications.
  • Work samples – will vary from person to person, but should include presentations developed, writing samples, screenshots of campaigns, etc.
  • References
  • Contact information

The portfolio, a living collection of your life’s work, available online, is the single best tool you have to reach your professional goals. It is available for all to see, and can be included both in your LinkedIn profile and your physical resume. Potential employers can view it themselves, or you can walk them through it during the interview process.

Best of luck!

Marketing Yourself with a Website

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Why would you ever want to market yourself?

I can think of a few reasons. Maybe you want to get a job. Maybe you want to sign a client. Maybe you want to grow a following outside of your 9-5.

Whatever your reason, it’s important to know how to market yourself. Even if you don’t have a reason now, you never know when the time will come when you need (or want) a new job. And if you’ve been preparing all along, the task won’t seem as daunting.

Yesterday we discussed how to market yourself with LinkedIn. Today, let’s talk about how to market yourself with a website.

Having your own personal website puts you in control of your online persona. Instead of relying on a pre-built platform like Facebook or LinkedIn, a website puts all the power in your hands. You can customize the way it looks, the content you share, and how people can interact with you.

To be clear, a website does not replace a LinkedIn profile. Rather, you should have both. But you should use your personal website to help attract potential clients or employers.

On your website you can write articles, or link to others you’ve published outside your own website. You can link to your resume and LinkedIn profile. You can add a simple contact form and list other ways people might get in touch with you.

Your website should highlight your past achievements, showcase content or projects that you put together, and tell people why you’re an expert in any given area.

And when you do apply for a job, include your personal website on your resume and in the application process. Many employers will ask for your site URL directly. Having one helps you stand out from the crowd.

Marketing Yourself with LinkedIn

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We spend a lot of time on this site talking about how to market your company, your products, your services. But we don’t spend nearly enough time talking about how to market yourself.

Luckily, a lot of the same tips for marketing other things apply when marketing yourself. You still want to stand out from the crowd. You still want to highlight the value. You can still use the same communication channels.

One great way to market yourself is LinkedIn.

If you’re in the business world and you don’t have at least a basic LinkedIn profile, you’re falling behind. When you need (or want) a new job, that’s not the time to get started on LinkedIn. The time is now.

Everyone should have a profile with a recent photo, a list of past employment with key achievements highlighted, and a basic description that tells people what you do and why. Your LinkedIn profile should be able to stand in for your resume.

Once you have the basic profile down, it’s time to start making connections and filling up your recommendations. Your connections on LinkedIn are encourage to add recommendations for you based on certain skills you possess (like SEO or Social Media). Not everyone will value those recommendations, but some will.

Connections alone will open up new opportunities. You may find out you know someone who works at a company you’re applying to. You may learn about open positions through your LinkedIn network.

Any time you are being considered for a job, your LinkedIn profile will get viewed. So make sure it’s up to date and includes everything recruiters and hiring managers want to know about you.

How to Land That Job – Part 1

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As the hiring market picks up and new technologies put marketers in high demand, it is important to be ready to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. With that, welcome to our weekly blog series on getting that marketing job you’ve always wanted. Each week we will discuss a new tip or technique you can use to land that job you’re after.

This week’s topic = Where to Look

It makes sense to start talking about how to get a job with where to look. Because that is usually step one.

Sure, sometimes the job finds you. But it is much more likely you are either fed up with your current position, looking for a change, or just getting started in the field. And so you want to know how to find the kinds of opportunities that will get you excited.

Here’s how to get started:

The first place to look is Craigslist. I know, I know. Craigslist? But yes, that is the first place I would look because it’s simple, and it will let you know how much is out there in your field, and what people are willing to pay. You might not find THE JOB, but you will find a lot of jobs available. And sometimes, quantity matters. (I found my current job on Craigslist and love it)

Some other job boards to check out are Mashable and LinkedIn. Both offer a growing number of great marketing jobs that are searchable and sortable, so you can narrow it down to find the opportunity you are looking for at the career level that suits you.

Another way to look is to tap your professional and social network. The internet has made this effort all the more simple. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are great resources. Just let people know what you’re looking for, and see if they have heard of anything that fits. Recruiters and HR managers love getting personal referrals. So if you find an opening through a friend or coworker, you are one step ahead of the competition.

And finally, you can never go wrong with a recruiter. Do a quick search for recruiting firms in your area and reach out. They will want to gather some background information on you, probably meet with you in person, and then start sending your information to companies that are looking for people that fit your skill set. And the company foots the bill, so the recruiter is encouraged to find you something that works, and quickly.

Have anything to add? Keep the conversation going in the comments below…