I'm in a bit of a bind with NDAs that restrict me from disclosing any information about my previous clients, even the company names and the fields they operate in. I want to honor these agreements because my existing clients are my priority, but it's making it hard for new clients to trust me without seeing examples of my work. I don't have the time to create dummy projects, and even those would be influenced by the information covered by the NDAs. I'm looking for advice on how to navigate this situation.
5 Answers
In the future, when presented with a new NDA, consider negotiating terms that let you showcase your work to prospective clients. If they aren't flexible, you might want to ask for a higher pay rate to balance things out. Always be prepared to negotiate, as contracts should be beneficial for both sides.
Absolutely, you should never compromise your NDAs! Always communicate this to prospective clients upfront. If they insist on seeing specific past work, suggest offering them a smaller initial project that lets them assess your work without revealing sensitive information. This way, they get a taste of your quality without compromising your integrity.
You might want to look into the enforceability of NDAs in your area. It's hard to believe that a contract could legally stop you from mentioning the company or even the general field they're in. Just because it's written down doesn't mean it's set in stone—consulting with a legal expert might clarify things for you.
You could reach out to a couple of your existing clients for permission to share their success stories in a more general way. Maybe they’d be open to a lunch discussion where you can talk about the impact of your work without breaching NDAs.
In my experience, company names aren't usually considered confidential under NDAs. I've signed loads of them and I tend to keep them, but I seldom mention names. Once a client goes public, their information is fair game. I usually avoid long-term NDAs and often negotiate for ones with shorter time frames. It’s surprising how often you can negotiate terms in your favor.
True, but remember that even if something isn't legally binding, clients expect you to honor the same confidentiality standards. It’s worth checking the legality, but also think about trust.