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Sep 02 2014

Using clients' names: OK or not?

A reader asks: On my website and resumé, is it OK to use my clients’ names? Does it matter if I worked for them directly or through an agency?

Short answer: To be safe, never use a client’s name without their permission. If you’re “sure that the client won’t mind,” then why not take two minutes and write them an e-mail, just to make sure. Clients may have their reasons for not wanting you to use their name, so why risk the relationship over it?

Longer answer: Using clients’ names in your marketing materials is a big asset, especially if the client is a big-name one. But if you use a client’s name without permission, you can create a very bad situation for them, and thus for yourself as well. Here are my personal recommendations for using clients’ names, with the caveat that these fall on the conservative side. Only use a client’s name in your marketing materials if:

  • You worked for them as an employee, not as a freelancer;
  • Or, if your name appears in the credits of a published translation for that client;
  • Or, if you have the client’s permission in writing;
  • Or, if the client wrote you a public testimonial or LinkedIn recommendation (or similar) and included their name on it.

I recommend never using the name of an end client that you worked for through an agency. They’re the agency’s client, not yours: the agency presumably found, landed, and retains the client, and you have no direct relationship with the end client. For similar reasons, an agency should never use the end client’s non-payment as a reason not to pay you, but that’s another post entirely!

I think that these (fairly restrictive) guidelines help avoid misunderstandings, and respect the fact that even a client with whom you have a good relationship may decline to be named publicly as one of your clients. By the same token, I always ask my direct clients to put my name on the translation (and many of them agree), but I never push back if the client declines this request.

Other thoughts on using clients’ names?

Written by Corinne McKay · Categorized: Clients, Direct clients, Freelancing, Marketing · Tagged: freelance marketing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mylene Vialard says

    September 2, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    Hi Corinne,
    Thanks for this post! I totally agree with you: always ask! The answer is quite interesting sometimes. I have a client who allows me to talk about them but not print their name on my resume or LinkedIn profile. So many times, we have to be quiet about clients we’re very excited about so I’m grateful for this and name-dropping in a conversation can be quite powerful too.
    Cheers!
    Mylène

    Reply
  2. Louise Souter says

    September 2, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    Hi Corinne,

    Interesting post, thank you. What frustrates me is when a potential client asks for details of your current or previous clients but then you discover that this potential client does not like freelancers giving their details to other potential clients.

    Reply
    • Ariana says

      September 3, 2014 at 4:13 pm

      I once had a potential client ask me about my list of clients. I didn’t understand the purpose of this. Why would this be of interest to them? I never tell who my direct clients are.

      Reply
      • Sarah says

        September 4, 2014 at 5:38 pm

        Hi Ariana,

        I would never disclose a list of clients, especially direct clients. Maybe this person is just pretending to be a potential client to find out who your clients are and they are actually a competitor.

        Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 10, 2014 at 2:58 pm

      I feel like this is kind of a growing problem, and not just in the translation or freelance world (It’s especially prevalent in retail.). More and more companies seem to want references before they’ll hire, but aren’t willing to later provide references. And few of them seem to recognize this hypocrisy in themselves. It can definitely add an interesting wrinkle to the process of looking for work.

      Reply
  3. Ying Peng says

    September 2, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    Occasionally, I wonder about the origin of this “no-naming-client” practice in translation industry. It is “common” practice now so few people raise questions any more. However, in other professional services (freelancers included), it is common practice to list your projects and clients on your portfolio, and provide samples of past work. Not doing so will be considered a huge “red flag.”

    Does this has anything to do with agencies fearful of competitions?

    Meanwhile, sometimes the way agencies poke around for references make me wonder whether their main goal is to poach other agencies’ clients and translators :).

    Reply
  4. mcltheblog says

    September 17, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    Reblogged this on mcl | the blog and commented:
    My thoughts exactly. Always take a moment to write to a client or colleague and ask them whether you can add their name to your resume and how they would like it to appear there.
    Plus, on the bright -and networking- side of things, asking is a wonderful opportunity to remind them of you and the great work you did for them. And in a very positive way too since you are caring for their public image as well.
    So, when in doubt, ask.

    Reply
  5. Alex says

    December 1, 2014 at 9:42 pm

    Is it OK to give the names of one’s clients as references for a translation agency? Many agencies ask for such references and I think to myself: what a wonderful…way to steal your clients.

    Reply
  6. Adeline says

    November 4, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    What about using the names of translation agencies?

    Reply
    • Corinne McKay says

      November 9, 2015 at 4:56 pm

      Always ask first! Just use that as a rule: always ask.

      Reply
      • Adeline says

        November 9, 2015 at 5:35 pm

        Thank you for the piece of advice! 🙂

        Reply

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