If your first marketing project failed, would you still put it in your portfolio?

[DanielMorgan_]

Imagine spending weeks working on a marketing project, only for the results to fall short of your expectations. You learned a lot from the experience, but the numbers aren't exactly something to brag about. Would you still include it in your portfolio and explain what went wrong and what you'd do differently now, or would you rather leave it out? I'm curious how much clients value the lessons behind a project, even when the results aren't great.

 

[oliviaadsstudio]

Personally, I wouldn't include it in my portfolio because I'm worried it might leave a bad impression on the company I'm applying to. I'd rather showcase projects that reflect my skills and what I can do. But if they specifically ask to see that project, I'd be willing to show it and explain what went wrong and what I learned from the experience.

 

[Charlotte&AnneWilson]

Personally, I wouldn't include it in my portfolio because I'm worried it might leave a bad impression on the company I'm applying to. I'd rather showcase projects that reflect my skills and what I can do. But if they specifically ask to see that project, I'd be willing to show it and explain what went wrong and what I learned from the experience.

Yeah, exactly. Why include a project that didn't turn out well when you're trying to impress potential employers? They're more likely to be interested in work that shows what you can actually do. I'd rather focus on my successful projects unless they specifically ask about the ones that didn't go as planned.

 

[evanturner]

A portfolio should show what you can do, so I'd be careful about including a project that didn't get good results. I'd rather highlight the work I'm confident in and keep the unsuccessful project as a learning experience. If a potential client asks about it, though, I'd be honest about what went wrong and explain what I'd do differently next time. You can still learn a lot from a project without having to showcase it in your portfolio.

 

[NicholasGrant7]

I'd honestly think twice before putting a failed marketing project in my portfolio. I'm not judging anyone who does, but shouldn't we have a clear plan and some idea of what could go wrong before launching a campaign? Of course, mistakes happen, but we should still do our best to avoid them and aim for good results. I feel like a failed project can say more about your skills and how you handle your work than the portfolio itself. Clients want to know what you can bring to the table, so that first impression really matters.

 

[ElizabethParker]

I'd honestly think twice before putting a failed marketing project in my portfolio. I'm not judging anyone who does, but shouldn't we have a clear plan and some idea of what could go wrong before launching a campaign? Of course, mistakes happen, but we should still do our best to avoid them and aim for good results. I feel like a failed project can say more about your skills and how you handle your work than the portfolio itself. Clients want to know what you can bring to the table, so that first impression really matters.

That's what makes it a little confusing to me, too. The whole point of managing a marketing project is to make it work as intended, so if it fails, I'd want to understand where things went wrong. Was it the planning, the execution, or the person handling the campaign? Not every failure means someone is incompetent, of course, but if the same mistakes could have been avoided with proper preparation, then that raises questions about whether the person in charge was really equipped for the job.