Tin't escape it, eh?

The dreaded writing sample.

Also known every bit writing clips – if you wanna get all fancy.

How to Easily Write a Writing Sample for a Job (Examples Included)

You demand it to show prospects you lot can write out complex ideas and, in turn, prospects or the employer will use writing samples to ensure the person they rent for content writing is knowledgeable in their industry topic.

Information technology'southward a tall order to fill, especially if you're a new educatee to online writing. Having a writing sample for a job application is one of the tools you need to start freelance writing, and without information technology, it's going to be hard to land gigs.

A writing sample besides has a lot of requirements too like the writing topic and – how long should a writing sample exist anyways?

In this post, I'll dive deep into writing samples – from what information technology is to why you demand them to how to create a writing sample for your job and more.

What is a Writing Sample?

A writing sample is the best representation of your writing skill and writing style that shows your expertise in a topic.

A writing sample comes in many different forms – weblog posts, emails, brochures, landing page copy, books, magazine commodity, or advert copy.

Equally an online author, having a writing sample weblog post would exist ideal considering it's ane of the all-time representations of online writing in that location is.

A writing sample generally isn't an essay, enquiry newspaper, bookish paper or a creative writing sample.

This written work isn't what you would run into in graduate school or a graduate programme. This is a representation of professional person evolution in writing.

Just, if you desire to be a copywriter, then providing a writing sample email letter or a longer document advertizement re-create for a shoe store tin can be a better show of copywriting.

Why You Demand a Writing Sample for a Job

You might be wondering why writing samples are needed for a job anyways.

A while back, I had a kid tech company reach out for content writing.

They wanted a writing sample because they weren't confident that I could write about tech stuff. Made sense since the content they knew me about was about parenting and digital marketing.

So, I chose to write an excerpt – an un-paid 300-word writing sample on the Gro Clock.

This is a freelance writing example that you could provide.

Unpaid 300-give-and-take writing sample

If yous know my story, then you know that product clarification writing is something I loathe! Only, now I only dislike it.

Simply, this writing sample I did for the Gro Clock was extremely fun for me. Why? Considering I had a Gro Clock and the story I shared is a legit true story.

My twins love their Gro Clock, and they do not get out of bed until the sun shows.

So, I had a strong feeling towards this product, making it a sure-fire to write about it. And, since it was less than 500 words (not an entire slice of content), I felt it unnecessary to become paid for this sample.

From this instance, if a hiring manager or client isn't sure you lot can write for them, they may seek out a writing sample. I highly suggest you enquire for a paid writing sample instead of opting for a free ane.

Why would I say this when I clearly showed you I produced a complimentary sample of my writing?

Because I was at a bespeak that I could pick my clients and I mostly work with assisting businesses that value content marketing. And then, there was no incertitude that they would pay for my writing, if they hired me.

But, if you're a new freelance author with no writing samples and a prospect asks for i – get paid for it!

Some other reason why you need writing samples is but to show prospects you are a legit author and not a hobby blogger.

If you visit whatsoever mom weblog or habitation decor blog out there, they most definitely don't have a writing sample's page. That's because they are a blogger and not a author.

To stand out from other bloggers, have a portfolio page, or a skillful writing sample page with your writing samples.

My portfolio folio

This immediately makes yous await more professional and experienced.

Can't I just use my blog as writing samples?

Yes, you can, but there are some exceptions to this.

I was able to state some gigs with my passion blog, Twins Mommy, only they were few and far between.

So, if you take a blog with audience-driven content and yous don't need to make a living as a writer, then go ahead and start a blog, have fun and see if y'all can state some writing work.

However, about of y'all out there want to make a living writing! If so, having a dedicated writer website is what will go you to that signal. Guaranteed!

And yeah, you tin have a weblog on your writer website. This is just supplemental, notwithstanding, and shouldn't be the only writing samples you showcase.

Finally, having a writing sample can bear witness to prospects that other people "hired you" or published your work.

A great way to create a adept writing sample is to invitee post. This shows easily that other people dearest your writing and then much, they decided to publish your work on their blog.

How Long Should a Writing Sample Be?

Equally you lot can see from my case, I wrote a 300-word sample slice.

Merely, in general, your writing sample should be between 800-1200 words if you are writing a blog post. For other forms of content, it can be shorter or a larger document – emails are less than 500 words, books start at 10k words and legal writing samples are 8-twenty pages long. Sometimes, it can be a longer paper too.

Remember, employers or blog owners don't have fourth dimension to read lengthy blog posts. And then, information technology'south in your all-time interest to provide valuable content in effectually 1,000 words – any is your writing ability is fine as a beginner.

And some other affair, you might be thinking about how old should a writing sample be?

I recommend having writing samples displayed on your author website no more than than iv years old.

You lot want to show prospects that yous know the trends and most upwards-to-date stats and tactics regarding your niche and that ways fresh writing samples.

Jobs that Require a Writing Sample

For jobs that need strong writing skills or journalism-blazon jobs, writing samples are a given to the potential employer.

So, equally a freelance writer for rent online – having writing samples on a writing portfolio page but makes sense. Your writing sample examples can seal the bargain for potential clients looking at your website.

And then, typical content jobs that demand a writing sample might be:

  • Blogging jobs
  • Copywriting jobs
  • Mag jobs
  • Remote writing jobs
  • Job clarification that require writing

Before we become into a writing sample template, if yous want more than help in writing the perfect writing sample – and finding the perfect subject matter for your first sample that will concenter clients – make sure to check out the Writing Sample Starter Kit!

Writing Sample Template & Example

The writing sample template I'll share is for a standard blog postal service in particular. Over again, I feel this makes a great writing sample for your portfolio folio.

Writing sample template for a weblog postal service

For your writing sample blog postal service, the set up is:

  • Introduction – provide a claw and promise of what your reader will learn in your mail service
  • Body – this is where you break downwards your blog post into subheadings and actionable ideas
  • Decision – All writing samples should take a conclusion paragraph. Clients similar to see this!
  • CTA – this is your call-to-action. Requite your readers something to do like share your post.

Retrieve, this is a mock-up sample of what a blog mail service would be. Of course, you lot tin use this writing sample template for all your blog writing and guest posting.

This is the template I utilize for my blogs likewise!

How to Create Writing Samples

Let's dive deep into the steps for creating writing samples.

i. Sympathize the Industry and Audience

Before yous being writing your writing sample for a job, y'all have to be clear on the topic or manufacture you will be writing for.

If you make up one's mind to write in the health niche you might enjoy writing about senior wellness tips. If this is the example you need to do your research on the content that'southward already published.

This tin can tell the types of topics discussed, the length and whatever extras such as interviews with doctors or mini case-studies.

Senior health writing sample examples

Y'all can also think of your writing sample as, What'south In It for Them?

If your ideal client read your writing sample what would you desire them to go out of your content?

  • It has the latest industry stats
  • Information technology's long form
  • It's engaging with bullet lists and images to break up the content
  • Information technology has keywords to aid information technology rank
  • It has graphics to share on social media

This grade of a content brief should be at the forefront of what your writing sample will expect like.

Can you lot write a sample in social sciences or public relations?

Typically, for a task, you would want to stick to industries where businesses rent writers.

Applicants for writing gigs need to prove to businesses they know how to write online content and they do that with a writing sample.

2. Think of a Keyword to Target

One thing that online business owners seek is an SEO writer.

SEO stands for search engine optimization and by using certain key words you can make your writing sample rank in Google. If this happens, you lot'll proceeds many clients that want your targeted, SEO writing.

To detect suitable keywords and phrases, you can catch the Chrome extension Keyword Surfer.

This is a complimentary keyword tool that works within Google. Only search for a topic and Keyword Surfer volition show y'all the traffic and contest.

Keyword Surfer

Notice keywords that have low contest and is something that could look good on a customer'south website.

3. Craft a Clickable Headline

The headline you cull should be optimized for engagement. You lot want to use superlatives (if advisable) and use powerful words that catechumen.

If you need help try Coschedule'due south headline analyzer.

Information technology volition assist you craft a good headline that will get clicks. Remember, yous want your writing samples to bespeak to prospects that your blog post could potentially be on their website.

Then when crafting that headline, call back about a prospect's website and brand and how y'all can infuse that personality in your headline.

four. Write a Strong Introduction

The introduction of your writing sample needs to hook a reader in immediately.

Prospects don't accept a lot of time to read your content, so if y'all can draw them in at once, they will stick around and read your writing sample. Some ways to start your introduction are:

  • Apply a question
  • Utilise a shocking statistic
  • Use a saucepan brigade

You should also frame your introduction as a superlative-downwardly process – yous introduce the broad topic and narrow it down to the problem yous are discussing and the solution y'all will share.

5. Brand the Body of Your Writing Sample Valuable

The torso of your writing sample should be anchored with subheadings.

This shows prospects you know how to write for an online audience since this is more often than not specific to online writing. When creating your outline, each point in your blog post should exist a subheading.

For example, if you want to talk about whether or not Instagram is great for business, I may talk about these ideas:

  • What is Instagram?
  • Businesses already using Instagram
  • How tin you lot get started using Instagram
  • Instagram bio
  • Instagram stories
  • etc.

Every bit I think about my weblog post idea for my writing sample, I can pinpoint the discussions I want to cover. Every bit I'm writing, I can make up one's mind if these topics warrant a subheading.

To kick it up a notch, you tin do an interview or a case report in your writing sample. With clean copy all around, a sample like that tin convince prospects to rent you.

vi. Write a Full Conclusion

Your determination paragraph should artfully summarize your blog post. This conveys to prospects they will get an entire blog post when they hire you.

7. Always Stop With a CTA

As an added bonus to your writing sample, add a CTA. This call-to-action makes your writing sample legit and existent. Yous tin have readers share your mail service or y'all can inquire a question to elicit comments.

Brand sure to utilise an editing tool like Grammarly, to fix whatever grammatical errors in your paper.

What Are Writing Sample Examples?

As I mentioned, the best blazon of writing sample instance is a blog post.

Why?

Because it's the most versatile type of content online. Hopefully, a business owner that needs articles can wait at a writing sample blog post on your website and hire you!

Can a writing sample be annihilation?

Yeah! If y'all aren't interested in writing a blog post as a writing sample, hither are some other great types of writing sample examples.

  • E-mail – creating a mock-upwards e-mail writing sample can wow potential clients to hire y'all equally an email author
  • Invitee posts – showing potential clients that your writing sample is published in another weblog tin prove them you are legit and that the blog owner liked your content so much they published it
  • Manufactures – articles can differ from weblog posts past the content and the outline. For instance, an article may interview or apply quotes in their projection. For your writing sample, you can write an article with a nut graph and atomic number 82 for sure!
  • Case studies – for high-paying clients, having a example study every bit a writing sample will show prospects your procedure and in-depth content.

Here are some writing sample examples:

  • Can You Use Instagram to Abound Your Business?
  • 21 Super Uncomplicated Website Ideas for Bloggers
  • iii Copywriting Tricks to Elevate Your Content (And Make You Stand Out)

Where to Display Your Writing Samples

Now that you have your writing samples, where do you house them?

Let's expect at some pop places yous can showcase your writing samples.

i. Your Portfolio Page

Your blog, or writer website, is a dandy place to house your samples. Yous want one central hub online to promote and share with prospects. Your writer website fulfills that task!

On your blog, you can ready a Portfolio page or Samples page and brandish them in that location.

An easy style to share your samples is by using links. This is what Jen Mattern did:

Writing sample every bit links on your website

You can also bear witness them with a characteristic grid. I show yous how to exercise this in Writer Website in a Weekend.


2. Contently

Contently is a portfolio platform where you lot can upload your content or links to brand your portfolio.

Hither is what mine looks like:

Writing samples on Contently

If you tin't sport a writer website right now, then go ahead and use Contently. Information technology's a professional person portfolio platform, and information technology'due south free to use.

What'due south great well-nigh this style to brandish your writing sample is that information technology's professional looking. You can definitely link this portfolio in your writing pitches and gain online jobs easily.

3. Contena Publishing

Contena is a task board but they likewise have a free publishing platform for writers.

Y'all can utilise this platform to write your first writing sample fifty-fifty if you don't nonetheless have a blog. It's super easy to prepare your profile and outset writing.

4. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media platform for businesses.

Y'all can create a profile on LinkedIn and attract prospects to hire you. Your LinkedIn contour is as well your online resume.

And so for nether feel, y'all tin showcase your samples from your writer website.

LinkedIn likewise has a publishing platform, which ways yous can write your sample straight on LinkedIn and generate a link to your sample easily.

LinkedIn Dashboard to write a writing sample

5. Medium

Medium is a gratis blogging platform where y'all tin start writing immediately. Set upwardly your profile and become to it!

One time you publish your writing sample on Medium, you lot get a live link which yous can use for your pitch emails.

What'south great with Medium is you take the power to make money with your writing past signing up to their Partner Plan.

By submitting your pieces to publications with a larger audience, you tin proceeds some money for views and engagement. It'due south not a lot, but it'south something!

Where Do I Write a Writing Sample?

As I said previously, you can write your writing sample on LinkedIn, Contena, and Medium, just if y'all want to write a writing sample on your site or as a guest postal service where should you write information technology?

Some writers, write their writing sample on Google Docs, simply I personally don't like that option.

I have a invitee publication blog called Freelancer FAQs and I become pitches to write on that site. While I take guest writers log in and write their post in the backend of WordPress, before I had this selection I had writers e-mail me their completed mail service.

And, when I got a link to a Google Dr. and copy and pasted their text to WordPress it just was all formatted incorrectly and sometimes there would exist spaces and the incorrect places.

HTML of wrong formatting with Google Dr.

I know when I become these types of guest submission I get a little upset considering now I have to take more time out of my day to set the formatting.

If you lot are a new freelance writer wanting to invitee mail service I advise y'all skip Google Docs (unless the site tells you use to use this platform) and apply evidently ol' Microsoft Word.

When you are done, save information technology and attach it to your email when submitting your writing sample guest post!

Popular Types of Writing Sample

When writing your sample, make sure to provide a versatile type of writing sample or one that is specific to your writing niche.

For case, here are versatile types of writing samples:

  • Blog mail
  • SEO weblog post
  • Landing page
  • Long form commodity
  • Guest post

Specialized types of writings samples that are based on the type of service yous are providing may look like:

  • White papers
  • Sales page
  • Landing page
  • Ads similar a Facebook advertising
  • Emails
  • eCommerce production description
  • Case study

My suggestion is to create a versatile writing sample like a "listicle" blog post and then a more concentrated writing sample such as a casey study or email, i.due east. based on your writing niche.

How to Write a Writing Sample

There ya get!

Having writing samples is important if yous're make new to freelance writing. From the prospect's point of view, they don't know you at all, and they don't desire to hire a stranger that may non know how to write.

Only, if you have a professional website with a portfolio folio – or a Contently page – you can show prospect's y'all're the writer for them!

Over to yous –

Where do you brandish your writing samples and what types of writing samples practise you have? Share in the comments!

Don't forget to pin me!