Why You Don’t Need a Website to Get Started
When I first thought about going freelance, I believed I had to do all the “professional things” right from the start: launch a personal website, get a fancy logo, maybe even pay for a domain name. That’s what all the online advice said, right?
But here’s the truth no one really tells you:
Clients don’t hire you because you have a website.
They hire you because they understand what you can do for them.
And that understanding? It doesn’t have to come from a flashy portfolio site. Especially when you’re just starting out — maybe juggling parenting, housework, or another job — you simply don’t have the time (or the money) to spend weeks building a site that won’t get any traffic. I’ve been there.
In fact, my first few clients came to me through totally non-digital, low-key ways:
- A PDF I made in Google Docs
- A pinned post on my social media
- A Notion page that looked like a portfolio, but was just a smartly organized outline of what I do
- Word-of-mouth from someone who saw my work and shared it for me
No code. No hosting fees. No design degree.
Just clear messaging, thoughtful presentation, and small, consistent actions that said:
“Here’s how I can help — and here’s proof.”
So if you’ve been holding back from freelancing because you don’t have a website (yet), let me reassure you:
You can absolutely start building a portfolio that works without one.
Actually, in some cases, not having a website can be a secret advantage — because it forces you to focus on your message, not your menu bar.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I did it.
Step by step. No fluff. No expensive tools. Just what worked — and what didn’t — for a freelance mom like me working from my dining table in Tokyo.
Who this is for:
- Freelancers starting from scratch (especially moms and non-tech folks)
- Anyone who feels stuck or overwhelmed by “build your website first” advice
- People who want to show their skills before they spend hours on SEO
What you’ll get:
- Practical steps to make a portfolio today
- Tools I used (and which ones I dumped)
- Examples from my own setup
- A mindset shift that helped me stop “waiting until I’m ready” and just start
You don’t need to be techy.
You don’t need to be visible everywhere.
You just need to be clear, consistent, and findable — in a way that suits your life.
Ready to explore how?
Let’s dive into the actual methods I used to build a portfolio without a website — and still get hired.
How I Built My First Portfolio Without a Website
So — you’re convinced you don’t need a website to get started. Great. Now what?
Let me walk you through how I actually built my first portfolio from scratch. I didn’t follow a perfect formula. I didn’t even know what a “portfolio funnel” was. But what I did worked — because I kept it simple, focused on real value, and built something that I could share immediately.
Step 1: Define What You Want to Be Known For
Before anything, ask yourself:
What do I want to be hired for?
Not in a vague way like “writing” or “design” or “consulting.”
Get specific:
- “Helping small businesses write better product descriptions”
- “Designing clean, mobile-first websites for local restaurants”
- “Fixing messy Excel sheets for busy moms”
The more specific you are, the easier it is to show proof — even with just a few examples.
📌 What I did: I wrote a short positioning statement and stuck it at the top of everything I shared:
“I help solopreneurs and creatives write clear, warm, and conversion-friendly website copy — even if they hate writing.”
Step 2: Gather Your “Proof of Work”
You don’t need 10 perfect case studies. You just need a few solid examples.
If you’ve done client work before — great, collect screenshots, quotes, before/after text, links.
If not — create samples. Yes, real ones. Don’t overthink it.
📌 Try this:
- Rewrite a product description for a small Etsy shop (real or made-up)
- Design a 1-page mockup for a pretend restaurant
- Build a small app to solve a problem you have at home
- Translate a famous article into your second language, and explain why you did it
📌 What I did:
I rewrote my own “About Me” section three different ways — and used that to show range.
Then, I helped a friend edit her resume and turned that into a mini case study with before/after screenshots. No permission needed, no waiting.
Step 3: Choose a Format You Can Easily Update
Forget fancy tools. Choose one format you feel comfortable editing — so you don’t need to hire someone or fight with HTML.
📌 Three beginner-friendly formats that work:
- Google Docs
- Shareable link, clean layout, easy to edit
- You can “style” it with headings, sections, and even logos
- Notion
- Visual and flexible, good for combining text and images
- Shareable public page with a custom cover + emoji branding
- Canva PDF
- Great for visual creators (designers, illustrators, photographers)
- Looks professional, easy to download and send via email or attach to DMs
📌 What I did:
I started with a Notion page because it looked clean and “modern,” and I could update it between dinner and bedtime.
Then I turned it into a PDF for clients who preferred email attachments.
Step 4: Add Personality — But Keep It Focused
This is where most people overdo it. You want to show who you are, but not overwhelm people with your life story. Clients want to see what it’s like to work with you.
📌 What to include:
- Short intro (who you help, how, your tone)
- 2–3 samples with brief context (“Client X needed help with Y. Here’s what I did.”)
- 1–2 testimonials, if you have them (even unpaid or volunteer work counts!)
- Clear way to contact you (email, Instagram DM, LinkedIn message — whatever works)
📌 What I did:
I included a short “About Me” with a photo taken in my kitchen, and wrote:
“I work from Tokyo, usually in between my toddler’s nap time and a warm cup of tea. If you need copy that sounds like a human wrote it, I’m your girl.”
It wasn’t “professional” in the corporate sense. But it was memorable — and human.
Step 5: Share It (Even If It Feels Awkward)
Here’s the biggest block: most people build something decent, but never share it.
You don’t need a big launch. You don’t need an audience. You just need a few pairs of eyes.
📌 Where to share:
- Send it privately to people you trust: “Hey, can I get your thoughts on this?”
- DM potential collaborators: “If you know someone looking for XYZ, feel free to share this.”
- Pin it to your Instagram/Twitter bio or add it to your email signature
- Mention it when chatting in online communities
📌 What I did:
I posted my Notion portfolio link in a Slack community with one sentence:
“Hey friends, I’m opening up spots for small projects — here’s what I’m offering!”
From that, I got two warm leads. No website. No cold pitching. Just visibility.
Tools I Used (and What I Ditched)
✅ Used and loved:
- Notion (free version)
- Canva (for PDFs)
- Google Docs (for drafts and versioning)
- Slack + DM (for outreach)
❌ Tried and quit:
- Wix (too slow and clunky)
- WordPress (too much setup)
- Buying a domain too early (waste of money for me at the start)
Building a freelance portfolio doesn’t mean building a brand from day one.
It means building trust — and you can do that in one link, one doc, or even one smartly written email.
In the next part (“転”), I’ll dive into how I kept improving my portfolio as I gained experience — without losing my sanity.
We’ll also look at some mistakes I made and how I fixed them.
But for now:
Pick one format.
Pick one project.
And start showing what you can do — no fancy website required.
What I Changed Along the Way — How My Portfolio Evolved With Me
So — I had a portfolio.
People saw it. I got a couple of responses. And for a while, I felt like I was doing the thing.
But here’s what no one talks about:
Just having a portfolio isn’t enough.
If it doesn’t evolve with you, it can actually start holding you back.
In this section, I’ll be honest about what didn’t work, what felt awkward, and how I tweaked things as I grew. Because the version you build first? That’s not the one you’ll keep forever. And that’s a good thing.
❌ Mistake #1: Trying to Sound “Professional”
At first, I wrote my bio the way I thought I was supposed to:
“A detail-oriented communications specialist with experience in multi-channel content strategy…”
…ugh. It didn’t sound like me. It sounded like LinkedIn AI.
The result? People didn’t connect with it. Even my friend said,
“It’s polished… but I wouldn’t have guessed you wrote this.”
📌 Fix:
I rewrote it in my own voice. Still professional, but warmer.
Instead of trying to impress, I focused on making it easy to understand what I do.
“I write clear, kind, and strategic copy for busy creatives — from About pages to product blurbs. Based in Tokyo, usually typing with one hand and holding a cup of tea in the other.”
And guess what? That version got shared. It made people smile.
More importantly, it made people remember me.
❌ Mistake #2: Hiding Unpaid Work
I used to think I couldn’t include anything that wasn’t “real client work.”
So I left out all the small projects I did for myself, for friends, or even just for fun.
That was a big mistake.
Those early pieces showed initiative, taste, and how I thought — which was the thing that clients wanted to see.
📌 Fix:
I reframed unpaid work as “self-initiated projects” or “practice for real-world scenarios.”
I added mini case studies explaining why I made those choices — not just what I did.
For example:
“I redesigned this newsletter layout to improve readability on mobile. This version reduced the scroll length by 35%.”
It made me look proactive, not amateur.
And no one cared whether I got paid for it or not.
❌ Mistake #3: Making It All About Me
This one was subtle. My portfolio was technically “good,” but too focused on my journey:
- “I love writing.”
- “I started freelancing after having a baby.”
- “I wanted to help small businesses.”
All true. But clients aren’t hiring you for your story.
They’re hiring you for how your story helps them.
📌 Fix:
I added a client-focused intro to each section.
Instead of saying, “I enjoy editing,” I said:
“If you’ve written your website copy but feel stuck or unsure if it flows — I can help tighten, rephrase, and guide your voice.”
That small switch made a huge difference.
Clients started responding to how I could solve their problem, not just who I was.
🧩 What Helped Me Keep Improving
Improving a portfolio isn’t about adding more stuff.
It’s about:
- Cutting what doesn’t serve your message
- Rewriting things that feel vague or stiff
- Making your value easier to see
📌 Three prompts I now use regularly:
- “Would I hire this person today?”
- “Is this clear to someone who doesn’t know me?”
- “Is this useful, or is it just filler?”
I ask myself these every month when I do a quick “portfolio check-in.” It takes 20 minutes, max. Sometimes I don’t change anything — but just looking at it reminds me who I want to help and how I want to grow.
🪴 My Portfolio Grew As I Did
Here’s what my portfolio timeline looked like:
| Phase | Format | What Changed |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | Notion page | Focused on clarity and first few samples |
| Month 3 | Canva PDF added | Created a visual version for easy email share |
| Month 5 | Testimonials added | Included feedback from small unpaid jobs |
| Month 6+ | Skills section refined | Reworded to reflect new tools and projects |
I didn’t “launch” a new version each time. I just added or adjusted things as I gained confidence. Like tending a garden — trimming here, watering there, and letting new ideas grow.
💡 Bonus: Feedback That Shifted Everything
One of the best things I did?
I sent my portfolio to two friends who weren’t in my industry.
I asked them:
“If you read this and didn’t know me — would you understand what I offer? Would you trust me to do it?”
Their answers helped me rephrase things I hadn’t noticed:
- One said, “This sounds smart, but I don’t know what the word ‘UX’ means.”
- Another said, “You say ‘copy editing’ — does that include blog posts?”
So I rewrote parts in simpler language.
Clarity > cleverness. Always.
Your portfolio is not a museum.
It’s a living, breathing reflection of what you can do now — and where you want to go next.
In the final part , I’ll share:
- How I finally built a system to attract better-fit clients
- How I used my portfolio to say “no” to the wrong gigs
- And what I’m planning for version 3.0 — still without a website
The Long Game — Letting Your Portfolio Speak for You (So You Don’t Always Have To)
By now, I’ve shown you how I built my first freelance portfolio without a website.
I’ve shared the early steps, the things I fixed, and how I slowly turned my scattered samples into a tool that works for me.
But here’s the most important thing I learned:
Your portfolio isn’t just a document.
It’s a quiet conversation starter.
A filter. A boundary-setter.
And, eventually — your best spokesperson.
In this final part, I want to walk you through how my portfolio started doing the talking for me — and how that helped me find better-fit clients, say no more confidently, and protect my time and energy as a freelance mom.
💬 When Your Portfolio Starts Doing the Talking
Something shifted around month 6 of freelancing.
I stopped explaining myself in every message.
Why? Because my portfolio did it for me.
Instead of writing long DMs or anxious pitch emails, I started saying things like:
“Here’s a link to a few past projects that explain my style better than I can.”
Or:
“This doc will give you a feel for how I work — and if it’s not a fit, that’s totally okay.”
What surprised me was how people respected that.
Some even said:
“I loved the part where you explain how you think about voice. That’s what sold me.”
It wasn’t my bio. Not my pricing.
It was the clarity — the calm confidence of “Here’s what I do, and how.”
My portfolio had become more than a list of work.
It was a filter for mutual fit.
🧭 Saying “No” with More Confidence
Before I had a strong portfolio, I felt like I had to say yes to everything.
Every vague request. Every underpaid gig. Every “can you just take a look?”
But once my portfolio was more focused — and clearly said what I don’t offer — I had something to refer people back to.
“I mainly focus on editing and copywriting, so I won’t be the best fit for full brand strategy — but thank you for thinking of me!”
That shift was huge for my sanity.
Because as a mom with limited hours and energy, my time is precious.
When you have a clear portfolio, it doesn’t just help others choose you.
It helps you choose yourself — with boundaries.
📈 My Portfolio Today: Small But Strategic
Right now, my portfolio is still simple.
No fancy scrolling animations. No 10-page brand deck.
It lives in three formats:
- A Notion page I keep updated every other month
- A PDF version I send with proposals or applications
- A Google Doc version for quick copy-paste sections when replying to inquiries
But here’s the thing: each version says the same thing in a slightly different tone.
That’s by design.
Why?
Because I now understand who I’m talking to.
- The Notion page is for curious potential clients who like to browse
- The PDF is for people who want clean deliverables
- The Google Doc is for me — to reuse my own language and save time
The goal is consistency, not complexity.
🌍 Looking Ahead: When (and If) I’ll Build a Website
Do I still think about making a real website someday?
Sure. I probably will — when it makes sense.
But now I’ll do it from a place of clarity, not insecurity.
Because I know:
- Who I help
- How I help
- What proof supports it
- What I want more of (and what I don’t)
If I do launch a site, it won’t be the beginning of my freelance journey.
It’ll be a milestone — a home for everything I’ve already built with care.
Until then, my “non-website” portfolio does everything I need it to.
🛠 Final Tips If You’re Starting From Scratch
If you’ve read this far and still feel unsure, here’s a checklist to keep things simple:
✅ Choose one service you want to offer
✅ Create one project (real or made-up) that shows it
✅ Write a short intro (who you help, how)
✅ Pick a format you won’t procrastinate updating
✅ Share it once — in a message, a post, or a pinned link
✅ Improve it once a month. That’s it.
You’re not behind. You’re not invisible.
You’re just pre-website. And that’s a valid place to be.
🧡 A Word to Fellow Moms (Or Anyone Feeling “Small”)
You might feel like your work is scattered, part-time, or not “serious” enough.
But let me tell you:
Your perspective, your multitasking brain, your quiet late-night effort — all of it counts.
Your portfolio doesn’t need to look like a startup pitch deck.
It just needs to tell the truth:
“Here’s what I can do. I’m ready to help. Let’s talk.”
And that? That’s powerful.
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