How To Hire A Ghostwriter To Capture Your Voice?

Ghostwriters are hired for various reasons. When the presumed author does not find time to put their words, ideas, thoughts, and information in writing, they hire a ghostwriter.

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who writes books, speeches, and articles for the presumed author and lets them take credit.

It can be time-saving to hire a ghostwriter, especially if you have a lot of information and lack the professional skill of being a writer.

A ghostwriter does the writing, proofreading, and formatting and profiles you in the final draft, which is ready to publish.

You get a professionally written copy that looks good on paper. Then, when you provide information and ideas, the ghostwriter uses their professional writing skills and creates a draft per your requirement.

Additionally, it helps if the ghostwriter knows SEO as they can use keywords and phrases that are most searched and relevant to the information provided by you.

You will have a competitive advantage when you hire a ghostwriter for the books you want to author. In addition, ghostwriting is legit in most professions, where a professional draft needs to be produced.

Ghostwriters also have the right tools and technology to do the job more quickly and efficiently. It is essential for content marketing and creating other written marketing material.

Organizations that do not have writers on their team can hire ghostwriters to create various written material such as web content, user guides, Ebooks, emailers, and other marketing material.

How To Hire A Ghostwriter?

Producing written material is no more a daunting project when you know how to hire the right ghostwriter. Furthermore, it is an essential collaboration for most organizations as they can be hired from any corner of the world to deliver good content.

A ghostwriter will rely on the author or the client to provide information, stories, etc., to write professional content. They also perform the research required to create content for their clients.

For fiction and non-fiction, ghostwriters are hired to create a part of the content or the entire content as they also organize and format it apart from writing.

Therefore, knowing what parameters to look for when hiring a ghostwriter is essential. These are the steps to hiring a ghostwriter.

Initial Draft

When you hire a ghostwriter, ask them to write an initial draft, so you get an inkling of their writing style. The clients who hire make comments on the content created to make any changes needed.

Based on the number of edits needed, a final draft is created. It is easy to find a ghostwriter online as it is easy to collaborate from across the world. Communication via the internet to make changes and create good content copy has become easy and practiced in most organizations.

Either the ghostwriter does the editing and proofreading, or you must hire an editor and proofreader to create the final draft. If you have constraints on the budget, hire a ghostwriter who does the job of editing and proofreading.

Define The Goals And Scope Of Your Project

Before hiring a ghostwriter, be clear about what you want and define the project’s goals. Then, ask yourself, what does the reader or the consumer want? Will it help them understand and provide them with a perspective?

Who is the target audience you want to reach? You can set the tone of the content to formal or informal depending on the audience and demographics you want to reach.

Know Where To Find Ghostwriters

Many websites and forums on social media networks are dedicated to hiring people for all kinds of professional work.

You can post job postings in Facebook groups, Upwork, Freelancer, and many other websites dedicated to hiring professionals online.

Click on the category of writers or ghostwriting, and you get a list of sub-categories to choose from, such as engineering, marketing, healthcare, etc. In addition, you will find a list of writers in various categories whom you can contact for hiring.

Reach out to a few writers looking at their previous work and reputation. You will need one who delivers on time and provides accurate content per your requirement.

Assessing Ghostwriter’s Skills

Apart from writing professionally and in any tone, the writer must also have the skills to research and organize the information provided. They must be able to write in the voice of the organization or the client.

You can hire new or experienced writers who provide the content you need. It also depends on your budget to hire a new or professional writer.

Assess The Ghostwriter’s Previous Work

It gives you an idea about the content they have created in the past. A few writers are versatile and create content for a variety of industries. They can adapt to any style of writing.

You can look for a writer whose writing style and experience match the content you want to create. Assessing their previous work also gives you an insight into the scope of work they have previously done.

You have to expand your search to find the writer that fits the content you want to produce. They must be able to understand the tone and style of the content you wish to create.

If you are still determining the style and tone you want to create, an established ghostwriter will create one that suits you. You can interview the ghostwriter to understand their writing style, knowledge, and area of expertise.

Be Clear About What You Expect And Deadlines

This is essential because every project needs to be completed within the deadlines. If you need clarification about what you want, at least have an outline so an experienced ghostwriter can lead you through the entire process and create content that satisfies your readers.

Check with the ghostwriter for daily or weekly updates, edits, and changes so you complete the entire project on time. It also gives you valuable insights to make changes, if any, to create content that connects well with the audience.

A ghostwriter could also contribute their ideas and expertise, which is advantageous for your project to bring better results. You can meet the writer at your office or set up a virtual meeting depending on the geographical distance where the writer is available.

Online hiring has become a trend because it becomes easy to connect with them anytime, anywhere, schedule meetings, etc.

Discuss The Process Details

Your organization may have a particular working style. Explain to them your working style and the process of completing the work so you and the writer are on an even keel. Give them insights about your organization and work culture, so they know what communication style to adopt.

If you want the work chapter-by-chapter basis or view the work in parts, etc. is what you can explain during the meetings. A piece of sound advice is to micromanage only if the project has too many details or changes.

Determine the time frame you need to communicate between every edit. For example, do you want to make a suggestion in the comments and give them a few days to make edits, or do you need it in a short time?

All these factors are essential to establish with the writer so both have clarity and clarity. Specify every instruction in the communication about the daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines.

Don’t Be In A Rush To Hire

Often organizations need to hire ‘available’ writers. But they must know that availability is not the ground rule for hiring the best writers. There is a slim chance that a skilled writer will be available as you search.

Skilled and experienced writers might be tied up in long-term projects. If you have a crucial, long-term project, choose from available writers. You can select from available writers if you have a short-term project or writing work with no stringent parameters.

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Clearly understand how the project works for you professionally and personally. Don’t just hire based on a fee that suits your budget. But, on the other hand, if the project is crucial to you, keep going and maintain quality when you can hire the best writer.

The fee of the writer is not the only factor to look into when hiring a ghostwriter. Assess what value and results in their writing will bring to your project.

Will Writers Get Credit And Royalty?

Hiring writers for writing fiction can leave you with a lot of options. A few might ask for sharing the credit and royalty from the published book.

If you want a skilled and experienced writer, you must know what parameters to set before hiring one.

You might also lose a good writer willing to work if they get the credit. So, it can be challenging to hire one that suits your needs. You must explore and choose from a gamut of good writers to get the content you need.

Cost Of Hiring A Ghostwriter

The cost varies per country and project. For instance, short articles are paid less compared to Ebooks, journals, copywriting, marketing content, and Ebooks. The cost also depends on the quantity and quality of the work.

A few writers accept short, bulk articles. Such articles are paid less compared to well-researched long articles and other content.

The cost also depends on the industry. Healthcare and technology industries pay more to ghostwriters compared to fashion, entertainment, or other industries.

The cost depends on the content and quality of articles required by the client. Usually, the client sets the rate per word or per article. Experienced writers get paid more than novice writers.

In countries like U.S. and Canada, an experienced ghostwriter gets paid a minimum of $0.70 per word and, on average, can earn a minimum between $40,000 to $60,000 per year. A few content costs between $20 to $90 per hour.

The cost of content writing varies and depends on the industry and the experience of the ghostwriter.

If novice ghostwriters have been researching skills and a good command of the language, they can earn as much as experienced ghostwriters.

Project Scope And Details

Ghostwriters can take up long-term as well as short-term projects. The cost depends on the scope, complexity, and duration of the project.

If you choose a project that needs to be built from scratch, you can charge more.

Specialization And Expertise

Ghostwriters also come with specialized experience. You can take on projects in the area of your expertise.

For instance, if you have specialized knowledge in tech, healthcare, fashion, entertainment, etc., you can charge more for your expertise and knowledge.

A ghostwriter can as well take up well-paid projects in their area of expertise and earn well. If you have a proven track record in a certain area with specialized knowledge, you can get a better fee based on the same.

Content Creation And Strategy

A ghostwriter can charge a fee based on creating content as well as content strategy.

For instance, book writing projects are usually well-paid. You can also get paid to develop a content strategy for a company.

Targeted Audience

Writing for a general audience usually costs less compared to writing for a specific audience. This also depends on the demographics and the content reach. If your content is meant to reach a wider audience with variable demographics, you can get paid better.

Also, if there are fewer who can create content in a certain industry, you have a chance to be paid well for ghostwriting services for having specialized knowledge and expertise.

Pros and Cons Of Hiring A Ghostwriter

Hiring a ghostwriter is mostly advantageous, but it also has a few pitfalls. A ghostwriter is helpful for creating content if your organization does not exclusively need to hire a writer.

Pros

Save time, money, and resources

Quick turnaround and delivery

You get what you need

Professional writing that brings desired results

Easy to find one in a pool of writers that fits your vibe and project

Cons

Coordinating, especially online, can be challenging

It could cost you more depending on the parameters set

You might not always find one that precisely matches your requirement.

Conclusion

Ghostwriting is a valid profession that lets you earn well if you have experience and expertise in at least one industry.

Ghostwriters are usually flexible with creating content for a wide spectrum of industries and formats.

The fee per writer may vary depending on their experience and geographic location. Choose a ghostwriter that suits your needs after an interview and provide project details, terms, and conditions.

Finding a ghostwriter that suits your project is not difficult. Many websites like Upwork provide a pool of projects as well as writers available for writing services.

For long-term and short-term projects, it is easy to find one from across the world that suits your budget and requirements.

FAQs

What is a ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who writes content for someone else who is credited as the author.

Why do people hire ghostwriters?

People hire ghostwriters to write books, articles, speeches, and other content on their behalf.

This is often done by busy professionals or celebrities who want to share their ideas but do not have the time or writing skills to do so.

How do I find a good ghostwriter?

You can find a good ghostwriter by asking for recommendations from colleagues or industry professionals, searching online directories, or working with a reputable ghostwriting agency.

How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter?

The cost of hiring a ghostwriter varies depending on the project’s scope, the writer’s experience and expertise, and the amount of research and interviews required.

Generally, ghostwriting services start from a few thousand pounds for a book and can go up to tens of thousands for larger projects.

How do I ensure my ghostwriter understands my vision?

The best way to ensure your ghostwriter understands your vision is to provide clear and detailed instructions, including your goals and expectations.

You should also have regular check-ins with your ghostwriter to discuss progress and provide feedback.

How do I protect my intellectual property when working with a ghostwriter?

To protect your intellectual property, it is essential to have a written agreement in place that outlines the terms of the ghostwriting project, including who owns the rights to the content.

You may also want to consider a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to prevent the ghostwriter from sharing any confidential information.