So, you’ve just graduated from college and are trying to land your dream job in marketing…but where do you begin? You’ve taken classes, possibly had an internship, spent way too much time thinking about your next steps, and now need a place to start. That’s where a digital marketing portfolio comes in. 

A digital marketing portfolio is your time to shine. Your portfolio highlights who you are, your accomplishments, and your work, and lets you stand out from the giant pool of other marketing girlies who are competing for the same jobs as you. 

You can include videos, screenshots, pictures, links to live campaigns, or even break down your strategy for a campaign you were a part of. Feel free to also include any results from campaigns if you have them. You can show off your creativity and also highlight analytical skills with results-driven work. 

Now that you know having a portfolio will help you stand out, how do you make one? What do you need to include? Let's dive into what you need to know. 

What is a Digital Marketing Portfolio? 

A digital marketing portfolio is a place for you to showcase your work, almost like a “picture book” version of your resume, but cooler. Your portfolio should showcase the words and skills written in your resume. It can include campaign work, social posts, content writing, certifications, and more.

Think of it as your digital proof. Anyone can say they “know social media”, but your portfolio will show it. These TikTok videos shown below are great examples of what a marketing portfolio can look like.

They each are unique, show off skills, and speak to their marketing experience. If you are stuck in a creative rut, just scroll on TikTok for other examples. There is so much out there for you to get inspired by, but remember not to copy someone else’s work - you want your digital marketing portfolio to be representative of you. 

The first two portfolios shown below (left to right) were posted by were created by students who completed the Sky Society Accelerator Program. The Accelerator is an online marketing bootcamp designed to help women in the early stages of their careers gain hands-on, real-world experience and build portfolio-ready projects.

These portfolios are a direct result of practical, experience-based curriculum. They show just how powerful learning by doing can be, and you can do it too, even if you aren’t in a program like the accelerator. Open up Canva and start creating; the possibilities are endless. 

TikTok 1
TikTok 2
TikTok 3

What to Include? 

While your portfolio should be unique and show off your personal branding and skill set, there are a few topics to include. Remember to make each section easy to read. Don’t add a ton of words and information on one page. 

 “About Me” Section: Mention who you are, what kind of marketing you love, and what makes you unique. Bonus if you include a fun fact. 

Think of this as your elevator pitch. What makes you, you? What are you passionate about? There are so many marketing avenues, don’t be afraid to brand yourself or define your strength in one area of marketing. While it is great to show off all of your marketing skills, if there is an area that you are focused on, that works as well!

Skills & Certifications: Use this area to highlight your top marketing tools, strengths, and certifications. This helps you stand out by showing that you’ve gone the extra mile to learn something. There are tons of free certifications that you can get, including:

1. HubSpot Academy 
2. Google Career Certificates
3. Meta Blueprint
4. LinkedIn Professional Certificates 

Your Work: This is what truly stands out. Employers want to see what you’ve done and what you can bring to them. Include work like social media content, email marketing campaigns, blog posts, SEO writing, events that you planned/executed, and any analytics that you have.

 
1. With that being said, if you just graduated or have limited experience, you can create mock campaigns, social posts, and copy. Be creative! 
2. As a new graduate, having tons of experience is likely not happening 

Contact Info: Always include a way to get in touch - either your email and or LinkedIn. It’s easier for someone looking at a bunch of applications to have a quick way to connect with you. You can also link your portfolio to your resume and LinkedIn. 

How to Make It Stand Out

Your portfolio must be easy to follow, but you don’t want it to be boring and generic. Showcase your personality, skills, etc., in a fun way while also keeping it easy to follow. Think “clean girl” or “it girl”, make it elevated and chic.

You could also play off current social trends, showing that you are up to date with what’s currently trending, and that you know how to create content that connects with your target audience. 

Extra: Show Your Personality

Skills matter, but personality and creativity sell. You are more than just a marketer, so don’t be scared to show yourself and your skills off. Some extra ideas to include are your Pinterest board, brands you love, or something that inspires you. 

Where To Design a Portfolio

As with most things on the internet, there are so many options to choose from. There are tons of sites that have portfolio templates, or you could design one from scratch. If you are looking for the easiest option, Canva has a variety of templates that you are able to customize.

They range from free to paid with their pro subscription. You can also find Etsy templates for Canva. Other great options are Wix, Squarespace, and Figma. If there is a different platform that you want to use, feel free to do that!

Your portfolio is ultimately a representation of yourself, so don’t feel like you need to use what everyone else is gravitating towards. 

Final Tips

Before wrapping up, take a second to double-check your work. Often, when we are looking at something for too long, we forget to include something or make a mistake. Take a breather and come back to your work. You can also have your friends and family take a look at your portfolio and give some helpful feedback. 

Questions to consider

1. Is your layout easy to follow? 
2. Does each piece of content show what you did?
3. Do all of your links work? 
4. Is everything in your portfolio relatable to the roles that you are interested in or applying to?

Now that you are all done, it’s time to show off your digital marketing portfolio and get hired!

✍️ Written by Makayla Fornaldes