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N00b Question: Asking Clients for Permission to Use Work as Portfolio Samples?

by FreelanceAstrid
5 replies
Hi, everyone

My name is Astrid and I have been working as a freelance writer for one year. Thus far, I have been charging obscenely low rates of--trigger warning for copywriters prone to nausea--2.5 cents per word. I know that is a crime against God and humanity, but the problem I have had is that I would honestly write for free anyway, so I've had a hard time asking people to pay me a significant sum of money to perform one of the only activities I love.

After lurking on the Warrior Forums for a few weeks, I'm finally starting to extract my head from my rectum and realize that no one will take my work seriously if I don't take myself seriously as an artist. As part of the process of marketing myself more professionally and pricing myself more appropriately, I would like to incorporate some of the bits of copy, 100+ press releases, and hundreds of articles I've written into several online portfolios.

However, with the exception of two former clients, no one has ever either explicitly allowed or denied me to the right to use work I produce for them as portfolio samples. I recently tried asking a few clients if I could use their work as samples and received one response just a notch below hostile.

I did grant most of my 70+ past clients exclusivity, but in all but a few cases, I did not transfer the copyright of the work I provided to them. I certainly never sold master resale rights or anything like that for any of my work.

So, am I doing something wrong by asking clients for permission to use work I completed for them as portfolio samples?

What is the best way to politely ask a previous client if I can use work I have completed for them as a sample of my writing?

If I post these samples as images, downloadable files, or on pages where I've set up the robots.txt file so our friend Google doesn't come crawling, it won't actually impact these clients at all from an SEO standpoint, right?

Am I even ethically required to ask former clients for permission to use work I've written for them as portfolio samples in cases where I did not sell them the copyright to my work and they did not ask for any special conditions?

I know I should have made these terms clear from the beginning, and the fact that I didn't is evidence that I've been treating writing as a hobby, but I want to start correcting my behavior, and I can't think of any group of artists I'd like to emulate more right now than the copywriters on this section of the forum.

Thank you for your time.
#clients #copyright #exclusive #n00b #permission #portfolio #question #samples #work
  • Profile picture of the author recoverycherleen
    "So, am I doing something wrong by asking clients for permission to use work I completed for them as portfolio samples?"

    I believe it is just proper that you ask for permission first before you add the articles on your portfolio to show professionalism and respect to your former clients.
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    • Profile picture of the author FreelanceAstrid
      Originally Posted by recoverycherleen View Post

      "So, am I doing something wrong by asking clients for permission to use work I completed for them as portfolio samples?"

      I believe it is just proper that you ask for permission first before you add the articles on your portfolio to show professionalism and respect to your former clients.
      That is a relief; I think my first instincts were right

      Just to be clear, I haven't used anything I've written for a client as a sample thus far, whether it be articles or copy--hence why my portfolio is a polar bear in a snowstorm.

      Sometimes one just catches clients on a bad day, I guess.

      And thank you for your prompt reply. I really appreciate this forum.
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve The Copywriter
        Hi Astrid,

        And welcome to the copywriting forum.

        If you need any help with anything all you've got to do is ask.

        Now samples - yes, if you want to, get your clients OK and let the world see how brilliant you are.


        But don't be dismayed if your fabulous word plays are swiped for free.


        If this keeps happening, do what I do - give the (c) and a full non disclosure agreement to all your happy clients (after all they paid for the work).


        And explain to your new clients that you can't give "samples" and that you won't be dishing out their work either. Because you don't want it being "gifted" to their competitors.


        I've always found that clients greatly appreciate this.


        It also differentiates you from the hordes of writers who are just a bit too fond of their own work (sadly, not everyone agrees with the unique quality and stunning techniques) - usually they look like every other sales piece clients are forced to read.


        And the really good new clients get "sample fatigued" and give up in despair looking for an ace copywriter. All they ever wanted was a writer who is a touch (or a lot) better.

        You can create that intrigue far more effectively by not giving out samples.


        Safe in the knowledge that...


        The samplers keep screaming "Look at me please, go on please look - look how good I am, really I am - look at this letter - it made a massive £129,097.00 every day for the client - honestly it did!"

        Let's say it did - can the copywriter do this for every client?

        And if not how impressed will the new client be?


        Again (you may thank me for this) - by not giving out samples - it stops every client on earth bawling -

        "Astrid! Astrid! - let me see samples, let me see, let me see, let me see..."


        Ask yourself why do they insist on this?

        Could it possibly be they want to "help" themselves to your best work?


        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    Hi Astrid,

    Welcome and good luck! You'll feel infinitely better when you start getting paid what you deserve, promise.

    That being said, I typically ask my clients if I can use the work when writing up my agreement letter. I include a clause that says that with their permission, I'll use the work as a sample, except in cases where I'm hired to ghost write - then I'll ask them to be a reference or provide a testimonial. Not everyone will agree with my methods, but they've worked for me.

    When I met with clients who did not wish for me to use the work as a sample, I'd go back through and see if there were things I've written that the client discarded. I had a real estate client awhile back who told me what they'd like to see on their website home page, and when I wrote it they pretty much said - ummm. No. I liked it and thought it was a strong enough sample of my writing that I used it.

    Look through everything you've written. Ask clients you had a great relationship with for permission. If they get hostile, they're the assholes, not you. I bet if you sit down and think about it, you have more than enough sample work to be successful.

    Good luck, again!
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  • Profile picture of the author Chloe Emerson
    Hi Astrid!

    While I am not yet a copywriter, I do write content, and have been wondering about approaching clients regarding the use of work for my portfolio. I appreciate you asking the question, and I also appreciate all the answers given.

    Thanks so much!

    Chloe
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