What Is a Freelance Ghostwriter?

You’ve probably heard the term, but what is a freelance ghostwriter? What do they do? How do they do it? Could you be one?

Here we’ll explore this professional writing specialism, and answer all of those questions.

Spoiler alert: It’s not all about celebrity memoirs. And yes, you could be a freelance ghostwriter. Stick with us, and we’ll show you how.

What Is a Ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter is a writer who is paid to create content that is credited to another person or company.

Although you might have heard of ghostwriters in connection with celebrity autobiographies, they’re used across the full spectrum of written content. And most of the clients aren’t celebrities (sorry to disappoint).

Some of the common types of ghostwriting projects include:

• Website copy: A strong online presence often begins with a well-written website. Ghostwriters can be engaged to create persuasive and SEO-friendly copy for homepages, about pages, product descriptions, and more.
• Blog posts and articles: Beyond the website copy, businesses, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders often hire ghostwriters to produce regular content for their blogs and websites. This content helps them maintain an up-to-date and relevant online presence.
• Social media content: Having a frequent social media presence is increasingly important for reaching and engaging with audiences.
• Ebooks and white papers: Companies often need comprehensive guides, white papers, and ebooks to establish authority in their industry.
• Speeches and presentations: Public figures, executives, and politicians often use ghostwriters to craft compelling speeches and presentations that convey their message effectively.

But why, we hear you ask, would anyone hire a ghostwriter? Won’t they lose face for not having written the content themselves? There are various reasons:

• Time constraints: Many clients lack the time to write due to their busy schedules. Even social media posts can be time-consuming. Using ghostwriters helps clients maintain their output without sacrificing quality.
• Lack of writing skills: Not everyone is a skilled writer. Ghostwriters provide professional writing expertise to those who need it.
• Consistency and quality: As professional writers, ghostwriters ensure that content is produced regularly and to a high standard, which is crucial for building and sustaining a client’s reputation.
• Brand voice: Maintaining a consistent brand voice across all written materials is essential for businesses. Ghostwriters excel at adapting their writing to match the client’s unique style and tone.

What Skills Do Freelance Ghostwriters Need?

To succeed as a freelance ghostwriter, you need a specific set of skills:

• Research skills: You may have to write about something you’re not familiar with. Strong research skills are therefore vital for producing accurate and informative content on behalf of the credited writer.
• Versatility: Remember that you’re writing as someone else each time. You must be able to write in different styles and tones to match the individual needs and voice of each client.
• Confidentiality: Writing as someone else involves being entrusted with their information. Maintaining confidentiality and respecting your client’s privacy is paramount in ghostwriting.
• Communication: If you’re going to write as someone else, you’ll need to make sure you understand them, their needs, and their expectations. You’ll only manage this if you listen carefully and ask questions for clarity.
• Time management: Having established that one reason for engaging a ghostwriter is due to time constraints, it follows that you, as a ghostwriter, need to be able to meet the deadlines set.

How to Become a Freelance Ghostwriter

Sufficiently intrigued? Think this could be the job for you?

Here are some practical tips to help you get started as a freelance ghostwriter:

Build a Strong Portfolio

Start by creating a portfolio that showcases your ability to write in various styles and for different audiences. Include samples of blog posts, articles, social media updates, and any other relevant content.

Initially Offer Free or Discounted Work

What if you don’t have samples to put in your portfolio yet? When you first start out, consider offering your services at a discounted rate or even for free. This is also a great way to gain testimonials, which can lead to paid opportunities as you establish a reputation.

Create a Professional Website

A well-designed website acts as your digital résumé. Include your portfolio, testimonials, services offered, and contact information.

Network and Market Yourself

Join professional writing groups, attend industry events, and use social media to connect with potential clients. Make it known that you’re available for work as a ghostwriter.

One simple way to network without traveling would be to start (or update) a LinkedIn profile.

Marketing yourself effectively will help you find opportunities and build a client base.

Check Job Boards and Marketplaces

You may have found some willing clients through your networking and marketing efforts, but if not, you’ll need to extend your reach.

You could advertise your services on marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr. Or you could search and apply for ghostwriting gigs advertised on job boards like Freelancer and Truelancer.

Develop a Niche

Specializing in a particular writing niche can set you apart from other ghostwriters. It will also keep it more interesting – and less stressful – for you.

Whether it’s technology, healthcare, finance, speech writing, blog posts, or social media, having expertise in a niche can make you more attractive to clients.

Continuously Improve Your Skills

Even a brief look at the marketplaces we mentioned earlier, will show you how much competition there is for work. Continuing to improve your writing skills and keeping up to date with technological developments will give you an edge and encourage repeat business. It will also help you to work more efficiently, which will improve your earnings.

Consider taking writing courses or attending workshops to hone your skills.

Ask for Feedback

This might seem like the scariest bit, but the more often you ask your clients for feedback, the easier it gets, and you’ll benefit from whatever comments they give.

For every positive comment, consider asking your client if they’ll agree to be quoted for a testimonial (remember how useful those can be?).

If the comments are negative, investigate further by asking what you could do to improve. This allows you to work on those skills and show your client that you’re dedicated to delivering high-quality content.

Maintain Professionalism

Sometimes the feedback you get isn’t constructive; the way you deal with it, however, can and should be.

Be professional in your communications and dealings with all clients and at all stages of the work. This builds trust and fosters positive long-term relationships.

Start Your Freelance Ghostwriting Career with Knowadays

So now you know:

• A freelance ghostwriter gets paid to write without receiving a writing credit.
• Being a ghostwriter requires the ability to adapt to different styles and voices as well as the usual freelance writing skills.
• You could be a freelance ghostwriter.

If you fancy giving your prospects a boost, why not take our Becoming A Freelance Writer course? You can even try a couple of lessons for free.