5 Mistakes That Are Killing Your Editing Portfolio Site

Most editing portfolio sites don’t convert to jobs—and for a long time, mine didn’t either. But once I stopped guessing and actually paid attention to how high-end clients make decisions, everything changed. That shift helped me build an editing career that generated over $1M before I turned 30. In this video, I break down the five biggest mistakes that quietly kill editing portfolio sites and what to do instead.

The biggest issue I see is editors trying to be everything at once. High-end clients don’t want a department store. They want a specialty shop. If your site lists editing next to color grading, sound design, and a dozen other services, it sends a clear message: you’re not a specialist. Early in my career, I made this exact mistake by marketing myself as a producer, editor, and composer—and my site converted terribly. Once I positioned myself as just an editor, the quality of clients improved immediately.

From there, specialization goes even deeper. Clients usually already know what type of editor they want. When I stopped showing every type of project I’d ever worked on and focused on the niche I was best at—comedic broadcast commercials—I actually booked more work, not less.

I also see a lot of editors hiding their best work. Big mosaic grids might look cool, but they slow people down. High-end clients should see your strongest work within seconds. A couple of short, clearly labeled reels beat a cluttered homepage every time.

Beyond the work itself, trust matters. A strong headshot and a short, front-loaded bio instantly change how professional you feel. And finally, if it’s hard to contact you, people will leave. Skip the contact forms. Make your email obvious, clickable, and easy—and respond fast.

Quick takeaways:

• Sell only one thing: editing

• Focus on 1–2 clear niches

• Showcase only your strongest reels

• Build trust with presentation

• Make contacting you effortless

Fix these five things, and your portfolio stops repelling clients—and starts booking them.