Act as a senior copywriting portfolio editor. Help me build a portfolio for [TARGET ROLE AND EMPLOYER TYPE] using only my real experience in [WORK HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTION], [PORTFOLIO SAMPLES], [RESULTS AND EVIDENCE], and [VOICE AND FORMAT]. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing. Do not invent clients, performance metrics, responsibilities, testimonials, awards, approvals, or before-and-after results. First, identify the 3-5 samples that most directly prove the role’s required skills. Explain the selection against the role, not by prestige. Then produce: 1. A portfolio opening of 70-100 words: positioning, relevant audience or channel experience, and the kind of business problem I solve. Avoid empty claims such as “results-driven.” 2. For each selected sample, a 140-180-word case-study entry with: context and audience, brief and constraint, my exact contribution, the key copy decision, a short excerpt or link label, and outcome. If no verified outcome exists, say what the work was designed to achieve and label the result unavailable. 3. A sample order for a PDF or website, with a one-line caption that tells a hiring manager what to look for in each piece. 4. A 40-word closing call to action appropriate for [TARGET ROLE AND EMPLOYER TYPE]. Tailor language to the job’s actual priorities while keeping the work recognizable as mine. Self-check: flag every statement not supported by my inputs; ensure each case study makes my personal contribution distinct from the team’s work and does not disclose confidential information.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [TARGET ROLE AND EMPLOYER TYPE] | Paste the target role or job description and describe the employer, industry, and audience. | In-house B2B SaaS copywriter at a workflow software company; role asks for lifecycle email, landing pages, product messaging, and cross-functional work. |
| [WORK HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTION] | List your relevant roles, projects, exact responsibilities, collaborators, and what you personally wrote or edited. | At AlderDesk, I wrote onboarding emails and edited landing pages with a product marketer and designer. At Pinyon Studio, I wrote web copy for local service businesses. |
| [PORTFOLIO SAMPLES] | Paste or link each writing sample with its format, audience, client permission status, and any useful context. | AlderDesk five-email trial onboarding sequence; AlderDesk reporting-feature landing page; Pinyon Studio plumbing-company homepage; each sample is approved for a redacted portfolio. |
| [RESULTS AND EVIDENCE] | Provide verified performance data, feedback, awards, or state clearly when results are unavailable or confidential. | Onboarding sequence: internal dashboard showed trial-to-paid conversion rose from 8.1% to 9.4% during the two-month test, alongside product changes; landing-page result unavailable. |
| [VOICE AND FORMAT] | State the desired tone and whether the portfolio will be a website, PDF, Notion page, or application attachment. | Clear, analytical, not salesy. A six-page PDF for applications, with links to redacted live samples. |
How to use
- Paste the job description and label exactly which sentences, pages, emails, or edits you personally created.
- Provide only metrics you can source and include context such as test dates or concurrent product changes.
- Check that each case study states the audience, constraint, copy decision, and your contribution before it mentions a result.
- Follow up with: “Reorder these cases for this job description and cut the opening to 75 words without adding any claims.”
Variations
Junior portfolio
Use this when you have limited client work or are applying for your first copywriting role.
Help me create an entry-level copywriting portfolio for [TARGET ROLE] from [REAL EXPERIENCE], [SPEC WORK OR EXERCISES], and [AVAILABLE SAMPLES]. Select 3-4 pieces that show different skills such as research, audience awareness, headlines, email flow, landing-page structure, or editing. Write truthful captions that clearly label unpaid, classroom, or spec work. For each piece, state the brief, target reader, constraints, and what I wrote. Do not present practice work as client work or invent results. End with a short learning-focused bio and a list of one missing sample to create next.
Portfolio case study
Use this when you need to turn one project into a credible detailed case study.
Turn [PROJECT MATERIALS] into one 350-450-word copywriting case study for [TARGET AUDIENCE]. Use [MY EXACT ROLE] and [VERIFIED RESULTS] to structure it as problem, audience insight, brief and constraints, copy approach, collaboration, selected copy excerpt, and outcome. Explain the rationale behind specific messaging choices, not just the deliverable list. If a result is confidential or unavailable, state that plainly. Flag claims that cannot be supported and redact private client details. End with three possible case-study titles.
Agency pitch book
Use this when preparing samples for agency interviews or new-business conversations.
Curate a concise copywriting pitch book for [AGENCY OR CLIENT TYPE] using [SAMPLE LIST], [MY CONTRIBUTIONS], and [RELEVANT INDUSTRIES]. Recommend a six-sample sequence that demonstrates range without becoming a scrapbook. Write a 25-35-word caption for each sample naming its audience, channel, business objective, and my role. Draft a 90-word introduction that connects the selection to the prospect’s likely needs. Do not imply I led strategy, owned results, or worked with a client unless the supplied records say so.
Tips
- A portfolio case study should show the decision behind the words, such as reframing a feature as a buyer problem, not merely display polished copy.
- Label work that was collaborative and name your own contribution precisely; hiring managers can spot vague ownership language quickly.
- Use outcomes carefully: a conversion change from a test is useful only when you include the period, baseline, and material concurrent changes.
- If client work is confidential, show a redacted excerpt, a recreated layout with permission, or a clear description of the decision process rather than publishing protected material.
FAQ
Do I need results for every copywriting sample?
No. Strong samples can show audience understanding, structure, and judgment without public metrics. Do not manufacture numbers; explain the intended objective and constraints instead.
How many samples should a portfolio include?
Usually three to six well-framed pieces are enough for an application. Match the mix to the job rather than trying to represent every format you have written.
Can AI write my portfolio case studies?
It can help organize and edit them from your notes. You should supply the factual contribution, constraints, and outcomes, then check every claim before publishing.