You can find a standard black portfolio case for about $20 from your local office supplies store or an art supply shop. They come in several different sizes but you won’t need a very large one.

2- Purchase Extra Portfolio PagesYour portfolio case may come with some starter pages. These pages are protective plastic over a black page.

Go ahead and purchase a small pack of additional portfolio pages so you don’t have to worry about running out. You never know when you’ll need to add a new writing sample in a pinch and you don’t want to be without some extra pages.

3- Add Your Resume

Your resume should be the first page of your portfolio. Even though you’ll send your resume to potential employers or clients, you’ll still want your resume in your portfolio. You could be one of hundreds of prospects so it never hurts to reintroduce yourself and your qualifications with the first page of your portfolio.

4- Decide On Your Best Writing Samples

Even if you don’t have many writing samples to your credit, you’ll need to pick out your best work for your portfolio. Don’t be afraid of using text on paper as some of your writing samples.

Many times, copywriters have a great project they’ve finished but the project is still in production and hasn’t gone to print yet. You don’t have that full-color brochure or that glossy print ad to put in your portfolio but you’ll want to show off your copy so you can land the next assignment.

This is also a similar case for the budding copywriter who has no official samples to showcase at all. You can create SPEC ADS, which are ads you’ve created on your own. In other words, you can rewrite an ad for a major company with your own style, label it as a SPEC AD and industry pros automatically know you’re showing your ability to write without you trying to mislead them into thinking you really wrote that Nike ad, for example.

Choose the work that best shows your copywriting talent, even if it is simple text on a piece of paper.

5- Create Divider Section

Let’s say you’ve got three commercials, four samples of print (both brochures and print ads) and three samples of Web site copy you want to include in your portfolio. Create divider sections to help your work stand out and not get lost in the clutter.

In our example here, we would create a divider page with a heading for Commercials, one for Print and then another for Web (or Internet). Remember, copywriting is a creative talent so don’t be afraid to get creative with your own portfolio.

Dig into your old magazines and cut out various pictures from ads. Arrange these so that your divider page appears like a collage, just like the picture above shows.

This helps your sections stand out on their own and shows your creativity at the same time. It really helps your portfolio become more memorable, which is a huge plus when you’re competing for a job or a client.

6- Dress Up Those Text Ads

Don’t think your text ad isn’t worth putting in your portfolio. You can dress up these ads and make them every bit as appealing as a full-color ad.

For copy you don’t have in final “pretty” form, you can simply put at the top of your page, “In Production.” For copy that is written as a SPEC AD, meaning you wrote the ad on your own to show your writing ability, title it “SPEC AD.”

Remember, employers viewing your copywriting portfolio are looking at your ability to write. They’re not hiring a graphic designer so don’t try to pretend you are one by wasting all of your time designing a mock-up ad so that your copy looks more finalized. Even seasoned copywriters put their best work in their portfolio and that doesn’t always mean they have the final printed version of the material so they use plain text on paper.

To dress up those plain text ads, print them on professional-quality paper. This is the same type of paper you would use to print a resume on.

To really make that text ad stand out, buy a decorative background paper and offset the two by about an inch. The image above shows an example of how great your sample can look with just a little extra effort.

7- Arrange Ads for Easy Access

Don’t glue your brochure down to the portfolio page and then hide it behind the protective plastic. Be willing to cut into the portfolio page so that the person looking at your portfolio can have easy access to the materials. This means you may have a brochure flap sticking out of the protective plastic but your prospect can easily see your work.

Your portfolio pages are also designed to protect your work. The last thing you want is a prospect wanting a closer look, so they start trying to feel the protective plastic back to get their hands on your materials.

8- Change Your Portfolio

Never be afraid to adapt your portfolio’s pages to a client or employer’s specific needs. If you’re interviewing for an agency position that exclusively handles direct mail, load your portfolio up with direct mail samples. A hodgepodge of samples won’t do you as much good as the types of materials the agency specializes in.

Same goes for freelancing clients who need something specific. Your portfolio is your calling card and it will change with you and your prospect’s needs.

9- Take Extra Resumes

Yes, you’re in the employer’s office because he or she looked at your resume and called you in for an interview. As mentioned before, you could be one of hundreds of people going after the same gig.

Stuff some extra copies of your resume in the back flap of your portfolio case. Now you’ve got your first page of your portfolio with your resume as described in Step 3 and you can also hand a copy of your resume to the prospect for them to keep. This is especially handy in interviews when the employer or client just can’t seem to find your resume!

10- Never Leave Your Portfolio

“It’s the best portfolio I’ve ever seen! I just have to show it to my business partner.”

What a great compliment. But never, ever leave your portfolio no matter how much you want the position.

Once your portfolio is out of your hands, you have no idea how it’s going to be handled. Portfolio cases can easily get damaged and even lost in an office. You don’t want your portfolio to end up stuffed in someone’s inbox with papers all over it while it also serves as a coaster for morning coffee like the one in the picture above.

You have a couple of options so you don’t offend anyone. You can say you would love to schedule another appointment to show your portfolio. Or you can even say you’ll be happy to fax over a copy of your portfolio, which is basically a black and white copy of all of the materials you’ve shown in your portfolio.

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Taking on your own advertising campaign is no easy task. You can do it on your own but get ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Your Marketing Plan
Nothing can help you identify your goals more than your marketing plan. You learn a lot about your company, your competitors and your long-term goals by creating and following your marketing plan. This is crucial to knowing what type of advertising is best for you.

Create a Plan of Action
Once you have your marketing plan, you must create a plan of action. This model shows you how freelancers and agencies put their own plan of action in place. Your plan of action also gives you crucial info you can use in executing your ad strategy.

Define Your Advertising Budget
How you advertise depends on your ad budget. You need to strategically use your advertising money. If you’re only allowing a small portion of money to advertising, you wouldn’t want to throw it all into the production of one commercial that runs at 2 a.m. Know exactly how much you will spend on your advertising first so you can make wise decisions in the creation and placement of all ad mediums.

Hunt for Affordable Opportunities
Running your own ad campaign means you have to be your own media director. You’ve got to find the best ad placement and the most affordable opportunities to fit into your budget. If you’re limited to a very small budget, you can find many ways to bypass high advertising costs.

Know Your Target Audience
You can’t advertise effectively if you don’t hit your target audience. Know who they are before you start creating your ads. If your company sells scooters to seniors, you don’t want to invest in cable ads to run on MTV.

Advertise in Appropriate Mediums
Of all the different advertising mediums you can use, you have to be able to use these mediums to your benefit. Spending all of your money on a direct mail campaign when your ad dollars would be better spent on print ads is going to limit how many customers you could’ve gained. Take a look at each medium, think about your target audience, take a look at your marketing plan and your plan of action and decide which medium(s) will be best for your ad dollars.

Don’t Be Afraid to Hire Freelancers
If you can’t turn your advertising over to an agency, still consider hiring a freelance copywriter and/or graphic designer. These professionals know what makes a good advertisement.

Many freelancers have worked in advertising agencies so you get the benefit of their expertise. Plus, freelancers can give you professional copy and materials at an affordable cost.

Consistency is Key
If you’re running TV and radio commercials, print ads and a direct mail campaign, keep them consistent. Use the same announcer and music for your commercials. Print materials should use the same colors and fonts. Use the same tag line. You want to keep everything consistent so your potential customers start identifying your tag line, your colors, your font, your announcer, jingle - everything - that relates to your company’s ad campaign.

Frequency
Buying space for one radio commercial that airs once at 4:30 in the morning isn’t going to get much of a response. You want commercials to have a larger frequency so you can increase your chances of hitting that target audience. If you’re running a direct mail campaign, decide the frequency of your materials up front. Once you send your initial materials out, how many times will you send out follow up materials? Know the answers before you begin to help maximize your strategy’s success.

Books
When all else fails and you still run into questions, there are plenty of books you can use to give you guidance. Also be on the lookout for titles that have just been released so you can keep on top of current advertising trends.

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Find an Ad to Rewrite

Find any ad you feel is missing something. Are the words not packing a punch? Does the headline fizzle? Is the call to action weak? Not motivated to buy the product after you finish the ad? Choose an ad that is missing the key elements all copywriting projects need.

You’re going to use this original ad to create your own version. This is called a SPEC AD.

In the advertising industry, a SPEC AD (for speculative ad) is an ad you created on your own. You didn’t work with the ad agency or client to create the ad. You are simply using a SPEC AD to show your own take on how you would write the ad.

SPEC ADS are very common for budding copywriters who have little to no experience under their belt. They are a great way for you to display your copywriting talent to a potential client or employer.

Most copywriters who use SPEC ADS in their portfolio have limited or no copywriting samples to show in the interview process.

For our example, we’ve selected a print ad in a magazine.

1. Find an Ad to Rewrite
2. Set Up Your SPEC AD Page
3. Get Ready to Write
4. Begin With a Headline
5. Use a Subhead When Necessary
6. Create Your Copy
7. Your First SPEC AD!
8. Dress It Up for Your Portfolio
9. Use the Original Along With Your SPEC AD Version
10. All Done, Now Create More

Set Up Your SPEC AD Page

Prepare a simple text page with your name, the product and the word SPEC AD in the upper right hand corner. Be sure to include the words “SPEC AD” because your goal is to show a potential client or employer your talent and not to deceive them into thinking you really worked with this particular client.

For example, if you were using an original Kraft Foods print ad as your SPEC AD, leaving off the words “SPEC AD” leads the potential client/employer to believe you worked with Kraft Foods and its agency to create the original.

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You’ve decided to become a freelancer in the advertising industry. Maybe you’ve even quit your job. But one thing’s for sure, you’re ready to take on your first freelancing project.

Great! Now what?

Whether you’re looking for freelance copywriting work or graphic design projects, you have to have a plan and set it in motion.

Put Your Name in Print: Business Cards

First thing you should do is head to your local print shop and order business cards. Nothing fancy. You simply need a card that has your name, address, phone, fax (if available), Email and Web address.

You can usually order a set of business cards for under $20. Check VistaPrint.com for a great selection as well.

Wait a Minute.

Did She Say Web Site?

In the computer age, everyone needs a Web site. Even on the most basic terms.

You can simply include your pricing info, samples of your work (if you have any) and your Email address. Your own domain name isn’t a requirement. Just make sure you have a respectable-sounding Web host and your URL isn’t WildmanRulez.info. Bizland.com offers a professional URL such as yourname.bizland.com.

Get Ready for Clients. Create an Info Packet

Besides your Web site information, you need a print information packet. Your Web site and print info packet can even mirror each other. They go hand-in-hand and provide your potential clients with everything they need to evaluate your freelancing skills.

First off, design a simple letterhead that you’ll use throughout your packet pages. You’re trying to land a freelancing project, not get a job in a stationery store. So don’t go into elaborate detail on your design.

Bottom line: clients want to find out what you can do for them. They’re not going to call you because you used a Helvetica font over Arial.

Include pricing information, what you guarantee (if anything), turnaround time and your general procedure over several pages. Sure, you really don’t have a general procedure just yet. But you will soon and clients need to know how you’re going to work with them.

Uh-oh! I Don’t Have Any Writing Samples

Even if you don’t have one single credit to your name, you can still become a freelancer. Take a look at a print ad in your favorite magazine. If you’re looking for copywriting work, rewrite the ad. If you’re seeking graphic design projects, create this ad with different graphics.

This tells a prospective client you have a creative mind, despite your lack of credits. Plenty of people have made it in this business with nothing but sample ads in their portfolio prior to their first project.

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Ignore Your Target Audience
If you don’t want any customers, be sure to ignore your target audience. Don’t worry that you’re trying to sell scooters for the elderly in a teen magazine. Your target audience doesn’t really matter, does it?

Knowing your target audience is crucial to any successful ad campaign. Always identify your potential customers before beginning any work on your ad campaign.

Don’t Let the Pros Handle Your Materials
Save a buck and create your own materials. It won’t make that much difference right?

There’s a reason people hire ad agencies, freelance copywriters, freelance graphic designers and production houses to handle their ads. You’re an expert in your field and they’re experts in their fields.

Writing that brochure on your own and printing it out in black and white on your printer may sound like a good idea to save money.

All it will do, though, is make your company look unprofessional.

Copywriters are specifically trained to write copy that sells. Graphic designers are trained to create eye-catching materials that make your company stand out. Taking a stab at it yourself may sound like a good idea but the selling message will suffer and your company will lose sales.

Plans? Who Needs Plans?
Just start advertising willy nilly without really thinking about your budget and the right places for you to advertise and you’re sure to blow your ad campaign quickly.

Every successful ad campaign begins with a well-conceived plan. From identifying the target audience to knowing exactly where you need to advertise, your plan is a must for your ad budget to be spent wisely and your potential customers to be turned into paying customers.

Run That Ad Just Once
Your ad is so great, you only need it to appear once to make a huge splash. Whether it’s a commercial or a print ad, just run it once and you’ll instantly blow your ad campaign.

Frequency is the key. When you know your target audience, you also know where you need to advertise. How often you run the ad makes a big difference in if the ad will be effective.

One ad won’t do the trick. It’s better to run that one print ad multiple times than just once if you really want to gain customers.

Who Needs Consistency?
Trash all of your hard work on an ad campaign by making each ad different. Who needs the same tag line in every ad? Who wants the logo to look the same every time?

If you’re not keeping your materials consistent, you’re not making an impression with customers. The more people see your logo, your tag line, even the same colors in your ads, the more they’ll begin to associate your company and products with the place they need to be spending their money.

Don’t Tell the Customer to Act Now
Your “Call to Action” is completely optional if you want to turn your ad campaign into a disaster. You might as well tell customers, “Contact us if you want to or when you get around to it.”

A compelling Call to Action is crucial to completing the sale. Tell customers to, “Call Now!” or “Hurry! This offer expires soon.” If you’re not telling the customers to act right away, they won’t. They’ll put your company in the back of their mind and then forget about you in a few minutes.

Budgets are for Schmucks
Don’t worry about the numbers and you’ll find yourself in a jam when it comes to advertising. Of course, that means you’ll lose out on advertising opportunities you could’ve invested in but you didn’t want any sales, right?

Plan out your ad budget to the penny.

This way, you’ll know exactly what you can afford for your ad materials as well as how often you can advertise and in what types of mediums.

If your budget is low, you may find a commercial is out of the question and your money would be better spent in print. After all, since frequency is the key, you don’t want to spend your entire ad budget on one commercial that can only air once when you could’ve run a print ad multiple times to gain customers.

If They Have Good Rates, Spend Your Money Wherever
That budget publication can offer you more for your buck than those bigger publications. Advertise with them no matter what if you want to blow your ad dollars.

Shop around. Your the customer when it comes to buying space in publications or on the airwaves.

Anyone who doesn’t want to blow the company’s ad campaign will compare the rates to how many people the publication or time slot will reach. A commercial at 2 a.m. will be dirt cheap compared to one that airs during the nightly news but how many people will actually see the ad at 2 a.m.?

A print ad running in a small publication will be much cheaper than running an ad in a national publication or even a local magazine but are you talking about reaching a handful of prospects or thousands? Compare the price difference with the difference in viewers/subscribers and it will be easy to see where you should be spending your ad dollars to make the campaign effective.

Write to a Broad Audience
You want to appeal to everyone so you can reach every single consumer with the product or service you’re trying to sell.

Back to the real world now. That’s just not possible if you want to write an effective advertisement that will reel in the customers. You think your big screen TVs would definitely be right for a college student but what college student is going to be able to shell out hundreds of dollars for your product? Write to a specific audience - your target audience - that person who you’re going to speak directly to and who has the wallet with the cash needed to buy your product.

Any Old Publication Will Do
You’re selling disposable underwear for the eldery and this entertainment magazine has great rates. It’s a no-brainer. They’ve got the subscriber base you want and you’re seeing dollar signs.

How many elderly people do you know who like to read about Brad Pitt’s latest movie or George Clooney’s current girlfriend? Think about who will be reading the publication you’re interested in and how that content relates to your target audience. If your target audience isn’t buying that publication, they won’t be seeing your ad.

Be smart with your ad dollars and your ad campaign. Your company’s success depends on it.

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Think of how much advertising you run into every day. Magazine ads, television, radio…in some places you’ll even find advertising in bathroom stalls!

You must make a marketing difference. You need a strategy. You have to be distinct.

So just how do you stand out from the competition? It’s a long, well-thought out process. And it begins with your marketing plan.

There are several key factors you must identify to make your marketing plan a strong one:

• Who are your potential customers?
• What’s the most effective way to inform your potential customers?
• What do your customers want?
• How can you position your product/service in an appealing manner?
• Look closely at your target market. What’s their age, sex, profession, income level, educational level and residence?

If you’re selling $70,000 vehicles, it really is a waste of time to target an audience who’s making minimum wage.

Sure, they may come by the dealership and test drive the car. But will they be able to afford the payments? It may sound like a cold way to approach your marketing strategy but, after all, you’re in business to make money.

Learn all you can about your competitors:

• Who are your nearest direct and indirect competitors?
• What are their strengths and weaknesses?
• Analyze market research data.

Now compare your product/service to your competition:

• Is there a demand for your product/service?
• What are the similarities and differences between your product/service and the competition?
• Assess the unique features of your product/service.

Once you identify how your product/service is different, you can begin your description. Emphasize the special features.

Hit your selling points. Is your product easier to use, faster, smaller, cheaper?

You know your company provides a product or service that’s better than your competition. Now you’re ready for the meat of your marketing plan. Your marketing budget includes:

• Advertising and promotional plan
• Costs allotted for advertising and promotions
• Advertising and promotional materials
• List of advertising media to be used and an estimate of costs for each medium

You know how much you can spend now and just where you should spend it. You’re ready to focus on your product’s pricing strategy.

Write a brief description of your pricing techniques. Several elements can help you determine your pricing strategy:

• Retail costing and pricing (for retail businesses only)
• Competitive position
• Pricing below competition
• Price lining
• Multiple pricing (for service businesses only)
• Service components
• Material costs
• Labor costs
• Overhead costs

Overall, your marketing plan is designed to give you short- and long-term goals as well as a strategy to achieve those goals. Spend as much time as you need on your marketing plan.

It’s a hashing out process that’s a lot like a child. It will only be successful if it’s given a lot of time and attention.

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The Viral Internet Marketing Center (VIMC), would like to provide a free based community for our UTP student and ex-student named UTPNetMy :: University Teknologi PETRONAS Online Community Forum
Our domain for this community is www.utp.net.my where we buy and maintain it with ownselves.

 What is the Purpose?
1. To gather back again ex-students (as we are also the ex-student of UTP) and current students with UTP.
2. To provide more services to our students and ex-students.
3. To keep in touch during holidays by having activities.
4. We will provide things that happened (news) in utp for those who is ex-utp that seldom or not going to utp, then you will be up to date to the changes that have been made by our beloved rector.    
5. It will not only a place to express yourself, but also a medium xspecially for the student to think outside the box with the latest knowledge in various field.                                                                           

We know that we have alumniutp.com to do this things, but at utp.net.my; We are not going to compete with alumniutp.com but works as a relax (more to “santai”) community. People are free to talk about anything they want (current issue or create their own issue).

utp.net.my is from student to student, x-student to student, student to x-student and x-student to x-student. No matter if we already working or still study, we are UTPian

We also want ourself to have a one good strong community that we can show to others that UTP still and can survived although located in Tronoh

We have many ideas in making this online community alive but still we need your support to make all this happened. If you currently, thinking or have an ideas of building a community for UTP Student, feel free to team up with us.

We are look forward to get more people in our team.

We also look people that have interest and capabilities in the areas:

1. Design

- Web Design & Graphic Design

2. Programming

- Web Programing

3. Forum Moderator

If you have any ideas to add about our project, feel free to contact Elina at norelina [at] vimc [dot] com [dot] my

p/s: please forward this email to other utpian member oke and gimme the feedback

What we will get with all this?
Satisfaction!

Thanks and Regards,
–

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