Hi guys and gals,

I've been lurking here for ages, and feel like I know many of you..... it's great to see a board with such vibrant personalities.

I finally launched (last week) my copywriting site and am very pleased with it.

But, I have an issue with some copy I'd like to add to my portfolio.

I've just finished a project that involved re-writing the content for almost an entire site, and I'm very pleased with the results.

I want to showcase it in my online portfolio, and I'd like to link to the pages themselves..... just seems better for validation and confidence boosting that way.

However, the client has fiddled with the copy a little bit. Nuances have been lost, a few phrases have been changed, and some text they probably considered a bit too 'hypey' (even though the hype was fairly light on as I didn't think it appropriate for the target audience) has been deleted. Not many changes overall though.

Question.... Would you put the copy in your portfolio and link it to the site even though some changes have been made? Or, just include the copy with no link?

Cheers,

Linda,

I have faced this problem many times. It's a rare client who will keep your stuff exactly as you have determined it will work best.

The worst situation is when you think that they have kept it as you wrote it and then suddenly someone lets you know that it is a horrible sample for you, and you take a look and they have completely revamped it.

I usually figure out a way to provide my original copy as the sample. Sometimes I have changed the name of the company when doing so, so that people looking at the sample can't easily go look up what the company did with the copy and see how they messed it up.

Good luck,
Marcia Yudkin

I would have the "before" page, the "after" page as you originally finished designing it, plus a photo testimonial from the client describing in specific numbers what sales conversion improvement was made.

Ken

Hi Linda ... and all,

Perhaps you could consider taking "snap shots"
of the before and after with snagit.

Or just the after, if that's your style.

This little utility makes a good, scrolling pdf,
and will also allow you to comment and "mark up"
the image to draw attention to those brilliant
subtleties of yours so easily overlooked
by the philistines.

Here's an example from my buddy Harlan,
and how he uses snagit (no "before" pics though).

http://www.overnight-copy.com/Samples.html

Jim Van Wyck

Hi Marcia, Ken, and Jim,

Thank you all for your replies, some food for thought to mull over. They haven't uploaded all their pages yet, so I'll wait and see what happens and then decide.

It would certainly be a huge selling point to put in a before and after if I can work it that way.

Not having been in the biz 'officially' for long, I'm still getting used to asking for testimonials - a photo testimonial would certainly be great. I have to learn to ask more for the things I want.

I also have to learn not to feel guilty about asking for the fee I think my writing is worth!

All things to learn in time!

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Cheers,

Hi Linda,

I normally just place the 'original' copy that I did on my
website and link to it. This is always a problem as stated
above.

Sometimes I have clients who use stronger language than
I condone so I really don't want those chnages be attributed to
me.

And there are the few clients who DON'T want you to post their
letter at all. Wel ...


Regards,

Ray Edwards,
" the gets results copywriter!"

This is always a problem if you dont tell the client outright from the outset that your the writing expert and to leave you to do what you do best.

You spend weeks on a piece and the client turns around and changes it then tells you its not doing as well as they expected. Then you have to explain to them that one or two words can make a difference - especially if they play with your headline.

In any case, its a good idea to link to the new piece you wrote to give the client of the 'feel' of the work rather than your maximum capabilities. Sometimes even grouping your pieces into 'styles' works quite well.

Thanks Ray and Sammer, I really appreciate the thoughts and advice. I can see learning the 'client dance' is going to be fun.

Cheers,
Linda.

That's kind of a masochisme. Paying for high class copy writer and then say "I don't want to use what I just paid for".

It's like going to a plastic surgeon and then after the surgery say "No, I want to look a little uglier".


Christian G

I guess I've been pretty lucky, but I haven't had clients that touch the copy without talking to me first. And the times when the copy has been changed was because of technical issues (factual stuff that needed to be modified for one reason or another) - and I always did it.

I do think it is very important to respect a client's wishes if they don't want you to say you have written the copy. I know some copywriters simply add on a little bit extra to the price if they can't put the sales copy in their portfolio.

Trust is a key element in a good copywriter - client relationship... and this requires a little nurturing in the beginning, but it's mostly common sense stuff.

I work almost 100% by referral now so this helps in creating a trusting and healthy relationship from the beginning. This is exactly what Michel is doing now too - it's wonderful to work this way if you can - with people you already know, or who know a past client - things tend to go smoother.

All the best,

Tim