How can you create a killer software sales portfolio?

1 Choose your format

The first step is to decide how you want to present your software sales portfolio. You can choose from different formats, such as a website, a PDF, a slide deck, or a video. The best format depends on your personal preference, your target audience, and your type of software sales. For example, if you sell complex enterprise software, you might want to use a slide deck or a video to explain your sales process and showcase your demos. If you sell simpler or more visual software, you might want to use a website or a PDF to display your screenshots and testimonials.

2 Select your best work

The next step is to select your best work to include in your software sales portfolio. You want to choose work that reflects your sales goals, your industry, and your niche. You also want to choose work that demonstrates your skills, such as prospecting, qualifying, presenting, negotiating, closing, and upselling. You don't need to include every deal you ever made, but you should aim for at least three to five examples that highlight your achievements and challenges. For each example, you should provide some context, such as the customer name, the software name, the deal size, the sales cycle, and the outcome.

3 Gather your evidence

The third step is to gather your evidence to support your work examples. Evidence can include anything that proves your sales performance, such as contracts, invoices, receipts, proposals, quotes, emails, letters, reports, charts, graphs, or certificates. You should also include any feedback, reviews, ratings, testimonials, or referrals from your customers, managers, peers, or partners. Evidence can help you validate your claims, quantify your results, and show your impact. You should organize your evidence by work example and label it clearly.

4 Write your summary

The fourth step is to write your summary for your software sales portfolio. Your summary is a brief introduction that summarizes who you are, what you do, and why you are a great software sales professional. It should highlight your unique selling proposition, your value proposition, and your career goals. It should also include some personal details, such as your name, location, contact information, and social media links. Your summary should be concise, engaging, and tailored to your target audience. You should write your summary in the first person and use a friendly and confident tone.

5 Design your layout

The fifth step is to design your layout for your software sales portfolio. Your layout is how you arrange and display your content, such as your summary, your work examples, and your evidence. Your layout should be clear, consistent, and professional. It should also be easy to navigate, scan, and read. You should use headings, subheadings, bullet points, and white space to organize your information. You should also use colors, fonts, images, and logos to enhance your visual appeal. You should make sure your layout matches your format and your brand.

6 Review and update your portfolio

The final step is to review and update your portfolio regularly. You should check your portfolio for any errors, typos, or inconsistencies. You should also ask for feedback from someone you trust, such as a mentor, a colleague, or a friend. You should use their feedback to improve your portfolio and make it more compelling. You should also update your portfolio with new work examples, evidence, and achievements as you progress in your software sales career. You should keep your portfolio fresh, relevant, and current.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?