If it helps, you can also take the perspective that what you’re writing is not really your intellectual property — it’s your clients. For example, I just wrote a very complicated paper on economic diversification in the Middle East region. Yes, I figured out the best way to explain the key points that the authors wanted to convey. But were they my key points? Based on my research? No. I served only as the messenger, if you will, for the researchers’ conclusions and recommendations. It’s their research, their expertise that I’m selling. That means they get the byline.

My gut response is to decline. I do not expect to have a byline but neither do I want my work to be passed off as someone else’s, even though they are briefing me thoroughly and providing support material.

I fully agree.

Mike

Building a portfolio of writing samples is key to building a copywriting business. I have prospective clients ask me all the time for samples. In the old days (pre-Internet) I used to spend big dollars to make photocopies and snail mail pieces. And, I used to lug around a huge portfolio.

Now I just email links or PDFs. I also add samples to the portfolio page of my site.

Most everyone who is looking to hire a B2B copywriter knows that work samples don’t come with bylines.

Your advice to not write a press release about a White Paper you wrote for a client seems like such a no-brainer. But as a publicity expert, I get the same question from my readers and I give them the same answer you did above.

That said, I encourage people, as you most likely do, to write press releases about their own White Papers. Yet so many people cannot write a simple press release. Or they fail to understand that we don’t write press releases only for the media.

I’m offering a free email course called “89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases.”

I explain why we should also write press releases for consumers who can find the releases online, click through to our websites and enter our sales cycle, even if journalists don’t think our release is worthy of attention.

The course includes several terrific press release samples as well as “before” and “after” makeovers.

You can sign up for the free tutorial at http://www.PublicityHound.com/pressreleasetips/art.htm

It’s a very long tutorial but please stick with it. By the time you’re done, it will be like earning a master’s degree in writing and distributing press releases. And you’ll know more about this topic than many PR people.

Good point!

There are exceptions.

If you are Steve Jobs or perhaps some other high profile figure, it might add credibility to have your name on the paper for your company.

Mike