ForumsAdvertising, Sales and Marketing

Obviously, the work you did for other agencies was work-for-hire -- i.e., you have no intellectual rights to it (unless you had specific written agreements to the contrary, which would be extremely rare). Even so, you were a contributor to the campaigns and projects you worked on, and that's exactly what I would say. I would show the "real" work and say you contributed to it. There's no need to over-explain what your specific contribution was in each case, unless someone asks -- then be honest about the role you played.

I know you're a little skeptical of some business owners' awareness of the whole advertising game, but most managers to whom you'll be promoting your services understand the "team" nature of an innovative marketing campaign. They won't expect you to have a portfolio full of brilliant projects that you conceived and executed all by yourself -- but they will expect you have a portfolio full of brilliant projects that you participated in.

It's a good idea to talk to some allies who are still with your old employer about the project work you intend to highlight -- and if a potential client wants to verify your role on one of those projects (I know I would), then give the person to whom the potential client will speak a quick "heads up" call so he or she is prepared to tell the client something that helps you. If you get the client's work, send the person who spoke on your behalf a thank you note and something like a gift card for a favorite restaurant. Until your firm builds a reputation of its own, you have to work off your personal rep just as you would if you were looking for a regular job.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks. I would have marked all of them helpful but it wouldn't let me.

My plan is to get permission before posting anything. My biggest concern is how potential clients feel, what do they want to see? Good thinking shows through in either spec and real work. Does it make a difference?

Moving from freelancer to agency is a huge step. As a freelancer, I could walk in show my work and that was all it took. As an agency, I am selling a relationship, strategic thinking and quality execution. It is more long term in nature. That's why I am not pushing my services here. My plan is to be more than a project by project resource for a business. I want to help a business grow through careful planning and thoughtful execution. I want to follow the model of the great advertising houses, and build relationships from the ground up that last for years.

Thank you so much for your input. If you don't mind, could you tell me your thoughts on the spec vs. real as it relates to what you would like to see from an agency or does it matter?

I second that. Does not matter, as long as the work is good.

Yeah, dont pull a Gary Gygax....Gary Gygax is the creator of Dungeons & Dragons...he later started his own gaming company under the monicer Mythus...in it he told of how he created this game while working for D&D....he lost "Everything!"