Ask What should a freelance portfolio include if you have no clients yet?

[Edward22]

Building a portfolio before you have any real clients feels like a problem with no clear solution, but most experienced freelancers say it is still possible to put something meaningful together. The question is what that should look like when you have nothing from actual paid work to show. Some people suggest creating sample projects or doing small work for free, while others say writing about your skills in detail can also help. I am wondering what a portfolio without real client work should actually contain to still come across as credible.