A client wanting to name you publicly, in a case study, a press release, a client list on their site, is genuinely flattering, and it also means your brand is now visibly attached to their business in the eyes of anyone who sees it. Saying yes reflexively skips a real decision worth making deliberately.
Being featured isn't something to accept or decline reflexively. It's worth a quick, deliberate check before your name goes out attached to theirs.
Flattering, and a real decision about what your brand gets attached to
Being publicly named as someone's vendor or partner puts your reputation alongside theirs, for better or worse, in front of an audience you don't control. Treat it as a real decision, not just an automatic yes to a nice gesture.
Confirm what they're actually asking to say before agreeing
"Can we mention you" could mean a logo on a client list, a detailed case study, or a direct quote attributed to you, each with very different implications. Confirm the specific scope before agreeing to anything.
In Stelaah, a client's project outcomes and permissions can be tracked directly on the record, making it easy to reference what's actually been approved to share publicly. See how clients works.
Review anything client-drafted before it goes out, every time
Never let a client-drafted quote, case study, or description of your work go out without your review, even when the relationship is warm and trusted. A well-meaning but inaccurate description can misrepresent what you actually do.
Decide your own comfort with being publicly associated with their business
Consider honestly whether this is a business and brand you're comfortable being publicly linked to, separate from how flattering the request feels in the moment. It's fine to decline gracefully if it genuinely doesn't fit.
Get it in writing if it's a standing arrangement, not a one-time mention
A one-time case study is different from an ongoing arrangement to be named as a preferred vendor or partner. For anything standing or recurring, get the terms in writing rather than an informal understanding.
A simple checklist
If you do nothing else, do these five things:
- Confirm the specific scope of what they want to say.
- Review any client-drafted content before it goes out, every time.
- Decide honestly whether you're comfortable with the public association.
- Get standing or recurring arrangements in writing, not just a one-off mention.
- Treat it as a real decision, not an automatic yes.
Do that, and being featured in a client's marketing becomes a deliberate choice you're comfortable with, not something you agreed to without thinking it through.
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