I walked away from a project because the client wanted me to ghostwrite a competitor's bad press

Last month, a marketing firm hired me to write blog posts, but then they slid in a request to draft negative articles about a rival company. They said it was just 'competitive analysis,' but it felt like smear tactics. I told them I wouldn't do it, even though the pay was great and I needed the work. They argued that everyone in the industry does this kind of thing to get ahead. I held firm, and they dropped me as a freelancer on the spot. Now I'm scrambling to find new gigs, but I don't regret calling them out. Sure, freelancing is tough, but if you start lying for clients, where do you draw the line? I'd rather earn less and keep my conscience clear.

2 comments

2 Comments

leeknight8d ago

Yeah, the "just how things work" line gets used to justify some shady stuff. I see it in my own field when clients ask us to hide expenses or use creative math. Sticking to the rules might mean losing them to a cheaper firm, but then you're just part of the problem. It never feels good to win by playing a dirty game.

milalopez8d ago

Did you ever think about giving in before this? I used to think it was just how things work, but you made me see it differently.