Here’s your answer… a blog.

Here Are 10 Reasons Why Blogging Is Important For Your Business

Reason #1 – Blogging Keeps Your Website Updated

If your website looks like it was developed way back when the internet first became a thing, it’s probably hard for potential clients to tell if you’re still in business. While you could likely use a complete website make-over, publishing new content on your blog is the next best thing and it’s 100% free if you do it yourself. A consistent publishing schedule lets your website visitors know that you’re still relevant and ready to take them on as clients.

Reason #2 – Blogging Gives You An Opportunity to Add Content

Does your website have a super sleek design that you don’t want to clutter up with a ton of words? No worries. Blogging regularly allows you to plug all kinds of new content into your site without interfering with the design.

Blog posts are typically kept all together within one feed on a ‘blog’ page of your website. Super simple. Super clean. TONS of excellent content. If you don’t already have a blog, you should set one up today. You may not realize it yet, but blogging is important for your business! Keep reading…  

Reason #3 – Blogging Helps You Establish Your Expertise

Let’s pretend like you are a world renowned cat trainer. You create a beautiful website that provides contact information and cat training services. But now what? Without anything else, how are potential clients supposed to know that you’re freakin’ awesome when it comes to training cats?

You blog! That’s how!

Blogging is important for your business because it allows the opportunity to provide your audience with information that will establish your expertise and set you apart from the competition.

Let’s go back to our cat training example. Here’s a quick list of the blog post topics I’d recommend that our beloved trainer begin blogging about right away:

• Experience with cat training.
• Different cat training methods, which ones work best?
• Cat training education – do you need a degree? What matters and what doesn’t.
• Case studies – how successful cat training has impacted the lives of clients.
• Can a cat really be trained? YES – of course!  
• Break down the services… how do you know what package to pick for each cat?
• What to expect during the training process.
• How do I know my cat is actually going to learn something?
• Can you guarantee success?

Alright, are you picking up on what I’m saying here? Each of the answers/responses to these questions will help our fave cat trainer share their message with potential clients without having to reach out to each one individually. You dig?

Reason #4 – Blogging Helps You Stop Answering The Same Old Questions

Potential clients are going to have the same basic questions. That’s just how life is. But you don’t have to spend tons of time answering that same question over and over again. Rather than writing yet another boring email, send that client a quick personal note along with a link to the blog post that will not only answer their question but talk about related issues as well.

Bonus points here. Make sure your services are linked well throughout your website and answering one of those ‘same old’ questions may actually help you sell your products/services!

Wondering how? That may be a post for another day, but long story short – every blog post should have a call to action (CTA) at the end. Whether you’re inviting someone to sign up for your newsletter, inviting them to your Facebook group, or selling a product – ADD YOUR CTA! Always. Done and done.

Reason #5 – Blogging Helps Build Your DA & PA

Yep, this is a little technical, but DA and PA are important and both can be improved by adding excellent content to your website on a regular basis (likely through a blog).

DA is your domain authority. It’s a search engine score developed by Moz that is calculated by evaluating a number of different factors including the number of links that connect back to your site.

PA is your page authority. It’s another score developed by Moz that indicates how likely a page of your website is to show up in a web results for a specific term.

So why do you need content for this? It’s all about the common word – authority. You want to build authority through excellent content that will then be linked by other websites. A link from an external  is basically a voucher saying that your site is legit. A big deal in the search engine optimization (SEO) world when you’re trying to get more organic traffic.

Wondering where you rank? Check out your DA and PA here: SmallSEOTools.com

Reason #6 – Blogging Gives You Something to Share On Social Media

Sometimes you just need a little more oomph behind a post than an inspirational quote. Rather than writing a SUUUUUUPER long Facebook post that people have to click into a new window to read, write it all down on your blog and then share a link on your social profiles.

You won’t want to do this for every post, but every now and then sharing a link on your social profiles can help boost the traffic that gets to your website. You worked hard to create it, might as well show it off – right?!?

By the way, something I’m loving lately is Linktree. For platforms like Instagram that only give you the opportunity to share one link, it’s a dream come true! Check it out and start gathering your favorite links now.

Reason #7 – Blogging Gives You a Competitive Advantage

When shopping online, potential clients are going to do their research when it comes to the options available to meet their needs or solve their problems. They’ll start by comparing the basics – services and prices. But then what?

They’re going to judge you. Whether you realize it or not, the decision on whether or not a client will hire you or purchase your products depends on way more than whatever it is you are selling. The decision to buy depends on their overall impression of you and your business/brand.

The biggest factor of this being your website. How it appears. How it functions. What message it gives. And yes, you’ve probably guessed where I’m going with this. Aside from the cornerstone content on your main pages, blog posts are the best way to communicate your brand’s message to your audience.

Reason #8 – It Gives You The Opportunity To Earn Money

Some brands will actually pay you to publish their content on your website. Yes, it’s true!

This is often referred to as a sponsored post. While these are not the easiest to seek out, if you get a website up and running with consistently published well-written content, the opportunities will find you. Just make sure that your contact information is easy to find on your website and you’re golden.

There are other ways to find these opportunities on your own, but more on that later.  

Another way you can make money with your blog is by selling ad space. Often placed in the side bar or within the body of a post, banner ads can pay big money if you get a good amount of traffic to your site.

Last but not least, blog posts give you a great opportunity to plug your affiliate links. If you aren’t familiar with affiliate programs, here’s the basic breakdown… affiliate programs are kind of like being a salesperson for a business. You share information about a specific product or services and if someone uses your affiliate link to make a purchase, you get a cut. The commissions can range from pennies to a serious chunk of change, depending on what you’re selling.

Reason #9 – Blogging Will Help You Improve Your SERP Ranking

When people ask me why blogging is important for their business, I will often ask what context they are considering in terms of ‘importance’. There are obviously a zillion reasons (10 of which are listed here), but one of the most popular is that content writing (blogging) is often one of the major factors in a search engine optimization strategy.

Every blog post gives you the opportunity to cram it full of wildly valuable content that your clients will devour and the search bots will use to rate your site. While most think that ranking is all about cramming keywords into your meta title and meta descriptions, that’s not at all true. Yes, keywords need to be there, but not in a spammy way. In fact, Google may even penalize those who just stuff keywords into their sites without adding relevant content to go along with it.

So how does a blog post help you rank on Google? Blog posts allow you to answer questions that potential clients are asking. Let’s go back to the cat trainer example. If someone does a search on Google for ‘how to train a cat’ – Google wants to provide results that will actually help that person figure out how to train a cat.

So rather than just plugging the words ‘how to train a cat’ into the cat trainer’s website, they’ll need to back up that title with real strategies for teaching people how to train a cat. This doesn’t mean that you can’t sell yourself, but for this example – the cat trainer might start with five different tips and then at the end of the blog post they’d go into a sixth tip of ‘hiring the right cat trainer’.

See how that works? Always. Always. Always. Add a call to action.

Always write real content that relates to your title and never spam. It’s not worth it. There’s no value and it may end up actually hurting your ranking in the long run.

Reason #10 – Blogging Lets You Control Your Content

One of the most valuable reasons why blogging is important for your business… unlike social media posts, you get full control over how your content is communicated on your blog. Do you want your photos to be giant or do you want them teeny tiny? Veritical? Horizontal? Whatever you prefer, darling.

While you might need a little assistance from a website designer, the world is yours.

You also have full control over the longevity of the content, so you don’t have to worry about some platform deleting your well thought out words just because they feel like it. Say what you want, how you want. And do it as often as you’d like! Publishing content on your website is a worry free zone that you should enjoy and take advantage of to the fullest.

Now you see why blogging is important for your business. Right?!

But wait.

You hate writing.

You can’t stand it.

It gives you anxiety looking at a blank page, watching the cursor blink at your.

Staring you in the face. Daring you to put words down. Judging you. Marking your typos with bright red lines and throwing in green marks for grammatical errors. Darn you

DO NOT WORRY.

I’ve got your back. I can handle this. Seriously.

I will write for you.

This is not a dream. No typos. You’re reading this correctly. I’m a ghostwriter. I write thousands of words each day and get zero public credit for it. No one knows it me, but that’s okay.

I love writing and am thrilled to be able to provide this services to businesses and brands around the world. Wondering what it costs or just interested in learning about how the whole ghostwriting process works? Let’s talk. Fill out this quick form and I’ll be in touch ASAP.

Want to just chat about why blogging is important for your business? Email me at amy@atterbie.com and I’ll get in touch right away. In the meantime, here are a few other posts you might be interested in:

• Are freelance writing services the same as ghostwriting services?
• What industries can you hire a ghostwriter for?
• How and why to hire a ghostwriter for your photography blog.
• What to expect when you hire a ghostwriter for your business.
• Find a ghostwriter for your business… now!

Let’s get personal for a minute. Are you someone who is building a brand? Maybe a mom who works from home or someone with a great idea that will help make the world a better place.

Here are six reasons why blogging is important for you on a personal level!

Reason #1 – There are no limits.

If you’re just getting started, blog away. Don’t worry about reading tutorials or how to do it ‘right’. Just get started. Get use to writing. Use your voice. Develop your style and learn along the way.

Reason #2 – Reach far and wide.

It’s called the World Wide Web for a reason. When you publish something to the web, anyone with an internet connection can access it. This is good and bad, because while you need to get a hang of writing you also must make sure that you don’t publish something you’ll eventually regret. Off topic is one thing, inappropriate is another. Be smart, peeps!

Reason #3 – Connect with your friends and family.

Do you love keeping your friends and family in the loop about your latest adventures? Blogging is ideal for you! Another reason why blogging is important for you on a personal level is that you still get to control the content and how it’s displayed 100%.

Reason #4 – A blog will remain as long as you maintain it.

Social media channels may not. All I have to say to explain this is one word… MySpace. Enough said?

Reason #5 – You can monetize a personal site.

You don’t need a business to make money online. If you have a self hosted site, you can monetize it.

Reason #6 – Age matters.

The length of time that a domain has been registered (age), is a serious factor when it comes to domain authority (DA). If you have any plans to monetize a personal site or build a business site in the future, register that domain today and let it start the aging process.

There’s no better time to start a blog than yesterday. You won’t regret it!

Ready to register your domain and set up your new hosting plan? Check out BlueHost!

I use them for this site and many others. They’re super cheap (only $3.95/month) and their 24/7 support is helpful. I should note that this is an affiliate link, so while it does not cost you any more to purchase – I earn a small commission if you end up making a purchase.

The post 23 appeared first on Atterbie.

At least that’s what I thought.

12 years ago I hired a professional photographer for the first time ever. Gone were the days of the Olan Mills and JCPenny photo shoots that I’d grown up with maybe once a decade. I’d decided to embrace this whole adult thing and capture my ‘now’ with professional photos.

My ‘family’ at the time was made up of myself, my boyfriend, and our combined four dogs.

In order to make sure I was getting the most for my money, I did all kinds of researched. Checked directories, scoured through website after website, emailed and gathered all of the appropriate intel.

Once I found a photographer that fit my budget and my style, I dug in a little deeper. I clicked on every page of her portfolio (even those gorgeous newborn baby photos that I knew nothing about), dove into session pricing options including digitals and prints – becoming wildly familiar with what she offered and what she did not, and of course…

I stalked her blog!

Photo day finally came. I wore a black knit sweater, stiletto heeled knee boots, and skinny jeans. My guy (now my hunky husband) loathes having his photo taken, so he reluctantly grabbed two of the leashes and headed out to the session with me.

We went to a nearby park and then back to the house to have a snuggle session on the sofa. Before we had the opportunity to take photos sans dogs, we were both covered in dog hair and appeared to be a hot mess. Nonetheless, we persisted.

We took a few cheesy pre-engagement pose ‘love’ photos near my neighbor’s tree and the entire time I just prayed that the photographer would be able fix the dog hair that covered me head to toe.

The hour we spent with the photographer was a non-magical barking mess where I struggled to restrain four dogs and keep my guy at least partially smiling.

After the session, I expected this kind woman to run home and immediately publish some type of post on her blog that lovingly doted on my family. The words would be flowery and kind. I’d blush, smile, and then read it over and over again.

I must have hit the refresh button on her blog a thousand times over the next few days.

And nothing appeared.

No new blog posts. Nothing mentioning my name. Nothing saying how much she loved spending time in my home and with my family. No sneak peek photos because she ‘just couldn’t wait to share’. Nada. Zero. Zip.

Even worse, like a solid punch to the gut, other posts were published. Other clients were getting all of the digital attention that I anticipated. These people weren’t as cute as my family. They didn’t grace the pages of her blog like I knew our images would.

Then one day. Finally, right at the deadline stated in our contract, she published it.

A blog post. All about my family. Only our photos. And it felt….

Lame.

It mentioned the fact that I asked to include the dogs, which was unusual but something she loved. Other than that, there was no personal shout out. None of the butterflies and glitter that I had imagined in my brain a thousand times. Just very basic words that said ‘we had a photo session’ followed by a selection of photos.

I was so happy to have my images. Seriously happy. She did a good job. The images were consistent with her portfolio and represented us well.

However.

I felt like I got the short end of the stick. Like I had missed part of the experience.

I expected (for some weird reason?!) her to dote on my family. To gush over the time spent with us. I know it sounds a little crazy (especially now, a zillion years later), but I thought that her publishing beautifully written and of course, wildly flattering, words about my family would just be the icing on the cake. That it’d top off my experience and make the purchase worth every penny I spent.

Who doesn’t love a nice pat on the back every now and then, right?

I expected that a pro would just make this magically happen, but it did not.

Fast forward 15 years and I totally understand what happened, I think.

My photographer was BUSY. She was bouncing around to a zillion sessions throughout the week and by the time she got home after ours, she was ready to put down her camera and hang with her own family. I’m pretty sure that the last thing she wanted to do when she got home that night was to immediately pop her memory card into the computer and post a sneak peek on her blog after a few ‘quick’ edits.

My photographer was OVERWHELMED. She was (is) really good at her art and the business was run by her and her only. There was no team backing her up. No processes that took place when she got back to the office with dozens of little elves just waiting for her to say go. When you’re a one-man-band, business life is hard and you often have to just make sure the basics are covered in order to keep things moving on a daily basis. You are spread thin and don’t always have time to do the ‘extras’.

My photographer was likely NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY. Let’s face it, the session she did with my family was probably a little overwhelming. With four dogs involved, we didn’t have a ton of time to make a personal connection and become BFFs in the matter of an hour. As much as my pride wouldn’t have wanted to admit it back then, she probably didn’t have anything flowery and flattering to say.

Here’s the funny part…

I now spend the majority of my days gushing over photography clients as a ghostwriter.

What does being a ghostwriter mean?

I write the words that you see on blogs, websites, and brochures but get zero credit.

For photographers, I write the flowery, kind, loving, generous, doting notes that you see connected to the client session sneak peeks on their blogs. This isn’t something that is required in any photography session contract, but I can tell you from first hand experience (ah hem, story above) that a simple blog post can make clients feel special, loved, acknowledged. That it will keep them coming back and leave you with happier clients and most importantly for your business – return clients.

For others, I write blog posts that help educate their clients, grow their overall brand awareness, and boost their search engine optimization (ranking). The goals are the same for the pieces that I am a ghostwriter for. We want happier clients and return clients.

So why should you, as a business owner, find a ghostwriter?

Here are four reasons that you should find a ghostwriter for your business today:

1. You want to get stuff done.

Not you personally, but you want your business task list to shrink rather than grow. If you need help checking things like blog posts or other content writing off of your list, find a ghostwriter today. You’re not going to believe how much stress it can take off of your plate!

2. You’re spread too thin.

If you know things need to happen but you just don’t have the time (too busy?!) then you need to find a ghostwriter. What you should know is that when you find a ghostwriter, it will allow you to hand things off in a way that doesn’t require you bringing on a full time employee. Ghostwriting is typically completed on a contract or per project basis, which allows you to keep costs affordable and controlled.

3. You don’t know what to say.

If you know you need content and see the value in what it does for your brand and what it can do to help evolve your customer relationships, but just aren’t sure what to say – find a ghostwriter now. Seriously. The thing about ghostwriting is that the writer does all the work and you get all the credit. All of it. People will think that you’ve got all the right stuff in all the right places, even if you don’t.  

4. You know the value of excellent content.

Whether you’re focused on the client relationship benefits (we’ve talked about that, right) or just love what solid content does for your search engine optimization (SEO) and overall ranking on Google, you need content. Right? If so, you need to find a ghostwriter that fits your style and budget, and get a writing project started today!

Convinced that you need to go out and find a ghostwriter?

Let’s move on to the next question that I know you’re going to ask… how do I find a ghostwriter that knows my niche, fits my budget, and can write in a voice that represents my business well?

The answer is pretty simple here. The first thing you should do, is connect with me. Here’s a basic form that you can fill out to help us connect about your ghostwriting project. It makes the process of you finding a ghostwriter super simple and allows us to  get straight to business. (Don’t worry, we will still chat and make sure our energies work well together before any $ are exchanged or formal projects are assigned.)

Okay, now that the form is complete, here are a few things you need to consider while you’re on the hunt to find the perfect ghostwriter for your project.

1. Does your project require technical expertise?

If your writing project needs a formal degree, certification, or some kind of knowledge outside of what can be gathered with a reasonable amount of research – please be up front about it. You need to find a ghostwriter that is a good match with your project requirements, not just your budget.

2. What is the purpose of your ghostwriting project?

I mentioned a few reasons above, but here are a couple more:

• Establishing a consistent online presence with your blog.
• Letting potential clients know that you are still in business and ready for their business.
• Boost your SEO and overall ranking.
• Create backlink opportunities for possible sponsorships.
• Create excellent content for any affiliate relationships you might have in place or may want to implement in the future.
• Educate your clients and potential clients.

If you don’t know the reason why you’re writing, it’s going to be a tougher pill to swallow when it comes to paying the bill. It’s easier to invest in something when you see the value in it, trust me.

3. Are you ready to find a ghostwriter?

I don’t mean ‘do you need one’ because chances are you do. I’m referring to your digital assets here. Is your website live and ready for new content? Are your social media channels prepared for sharing content and connected in a way that allows everything to work together to support your overall brand and clients?

4. Do you want your clients to love you?

It happens. I hope you’re okay with that. When you start creating content that clients will love and feel supported by, you’re going to find that your products and services will sell themselves. Ideally, your clients will start selling for you! How, though referrals. Word of mouth. Shares on social media. You get it! It’s all good stuff.

Okay, let’s cut to the chase now – you need to find a ghostwriter.

I want you to reach out to me so that we can connect and see if I’d be a good fit as a ghostwriter for your business. I’d love to write for you! To make things super easy and get the process started, I’ve already compiled a collection of writing samples for you to easily review.

Here’s the link:  atterbie.com/writing

Have you already worked with me and are ready to start another project? Let’s do it! Standard blog posts are available for purchase (individually and in bulk) in the store here. If your project is outside of these parameters, email me at amy@atterbie.com and I’ll reply ASAP so we can get to writing.

I can’t wait to hear from you!

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The first thing you’ll need to do once you’ve decided to hire a ghostwriter is to find one that you feel comfortable with. Ask your friends, do a quick Google search, scroll through your Facebook groups… however you go about it, connect with potential ghostwriters and start asking questions.

Here are the things you’ll want to cover.

First things first: May I see examples of your recent work?

Most ghostwriters work on a variety of topics, so they may not have an exact example of their writing for your exact industry or business. That’s okay. I repeat, no worries here.

The first thing you need to check off your list here is that they do have some examples of recent work, whatever that may entail. This is important because you need to know that they can actually get the job done.

Even if it’s a brand new ghostwriter who only has writing samples from school work or personal projects, you need to see that they can actually finish and submit a writing project on a particular topic.

The next thing you’ll want to look at when browsing through their writing samples is general readability. Do the words make sense? Does the writer sound like a native speaker of the language that you will publish the post in? Is their grammar decent? If these basic items are good to go, you’re okay to keep moving forward through the process.

Keep in mind that every writing sample will likely vary due to the unique requirements of each client.

If for whatever reason the ghostwriter cannot provide examples of their work due to confidentiality or some other reason, consider asking for them to write a test post for you. Something short and simple enough, so that if they charge you at all it’s at a deeply discounted rate.

The second question you should ask: How much does it cost?

Costs will vary widely, depending on the type of project you are working on and what ghostwriter you decide to hire.

The easiest way to compare cost is to get a quote from each prospective ghostwriter so that you can compare on a per word basis. Be sure to provide all project requirements so that you can compare apples to apples. To calculate this cost, take the total rate and divide it by the number of words included.

For example, my cost for a 400+ word blog post is $49 for a single purchase (discounts available for bulk purchases). Take $49 and divide it by 400, you’ll get 12.25 cents per word.

That’s not all though. You’ll want to find out if a writer charges more (or less) if they do not hit the target word count on the head. So using that same example, if I end up writing 450 words instead of 400, the price doesn’t change and the client still pays $49. Other ghostwriters would adjust the rate and multiply 450 x 0.1225 to get $55.13. The client ends up paying more just because the ghostwriter went over the word count. Is that okay with you?

Finding out what the costs are in advance will allow you to budget accordingly and save any heartbreak from either party if a bill comes due that cannot be paid (or that the client does not want to pay).

The absolute best case scenario here is that you ask for a custom quote with a detailed breakdown of what to expect. It should include the total cost, the number of words included (what happens if it is more or less), turn-around time, delivery details, and payment terms.

Many ghostwriters require either payment up front or some type of deposit (50% is standard for new clients) in order to start writing. 90% of the work goes into creating the first draft, so it’s not only the standard practice but completely reasonable. Having those payment terms in writing will protect both parties in case any issues arise.

The next thing you’ll want to know: What’s the turn-around time?

This will be different for every single ghostwriter and every project type. If you need a 300-word blog post that’s going to be completely different than a 400-page book. Before you purchase anything, you need to know what to expect.

My turn-around time is two business days (Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard Time) from when a purchase is confirmed and the topic assigned. This type of post includes 400 words minimum and follows all search engine optimization best practices.

Some are faster, others slower. Either way, you’ll want to be sure that the anticipated time frame fits your project requirements.

For question number four, you should ask: How will the work be delivered?

While the options are fairly unlimited and again will vary between all writers and depending on the project, here are the three main methods that I’ve seen (and experienced) ghostwriters delivering their work.

Option #1 – Sent via Email

Signed, sealed, and delivered. Typically a Word Doc attached to an email, the work is delivered straight to your inbox. It’s the most simple method and provides both of the parties a stamp on when the exchange took place, which is good for everyone involved. The only downside to a Word Doc is that it doesn’t provide for many collaboration opportunities other than the mark-up process which I’m not sure if many are familiar with these days?

Option #2 – Google Docs

The ghostwriter uploads their work to a Google Doc and shares the link with the client. This could be delivered through an email, a PM, or shared directly through the Google Docs platform. It’s perfect for collaboration, especially if you anticipate a long editing process. Major bonus, you avoid all kinds of back-and-forth emails and miscommunication.

Option #3 – Prepared For You in WordPress

The option that many clients prefer, this is a completely done for you delivery method that allows the ghostwriter to set everything up for the client to review and publish when they are ready. If search engine optimization is a consideration here, it also gives the ghostwriter the opportunity to ensure that the formatting for the related images and meta title/description all follow the same strategy as the content.

And finally: What if I need edits?

This is most common at the beginning of a relationship when you hire a ghostwriter. They are still trying to get a solid grasp on your brand’s voice and your expectations. You’ll want to find out if the ghostwriter is willing to make edits based on your comments and if so, what is the anticipated turn-around time on those edits?

There’s a huge learning curve when it comes to ghostwriting. It’s so much easier to write the 10th post for a client than it is the 1st. That’s why I give a significant discount when blog posts are purchased in bulk of 10+. I know that by the time we get through the first few posts, we’ll be on a roll. I’ll know exactly what you expect, be comfortable communicating your brand’s voice, and you’ll get to rest easy while I work on knocking out your content to-do list.

Words of advice: Get everything in writing and have very clear expectations.

While everything in the ghostwriting world varies from cost to delivery method to editing, it’s important that both parties know what to expect. Whether you’re purchasing from an online shop or receiving a custom quote, read the item descriptions and be sure that they match your needs.

Are you ready to hire a ghostwriter? I’d love to chat with you to see if I’d be a good fit for your project! Email me at amy@atterbie.com or use the contact form to get in touch. I can’t wait to hear from you.

The post What to Expect When You Hire a Ghostwriter For Your Business appeared first on Atterbie.

So the question is, what industries can you hire a ghostwriter for? And the answer… every single one. Seriously. From accountants to photographers to eCommerce sites to real estate development companies, and everything in-between. If your work requires some type of content creation, you can hire someone to do it for you and then take all the credit for yourself! I’m not saying this in a selfish way, it’s just an excellent opportunity for you to outsource something that may otherwise totally cramp your style.

Here are the four reasons that business owners (or department leads) hire a ghostwriter:

Reason #1 – They don’t like writing.

I have probably said it before and I’m sure I will say it again… you are not alone! I’d venture to say that most people don’t necessarily like writing and even if they do, they aren’t prepared pump out thousands of words on a daily basis.

If writing is not your jam, for whatever reason, outsource that portion of your work! It’ll save you so much stress and anxiety, knowing that you’ve completed your task but haven’t actually had to write every word yourself.

Don’t forget, when you hire a ghostwriter, you are the client. So rather than having the pressure of creating something from nothing, you get the ultimate say in what is published. You have the right to ask for edits and to critique the work until you feel it fits the brand and voice that your business wants to communicate.

Reason #2 – They don’t have time.

If you’re an entrepreneur of any sort, your time is literally your money. There are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Especially if you’re trying to have some sort of balance in your work and personal life.

When you hire a ghostwriter, you save yourself SOOOOOOO MUCH time and headache.

In order to make things even easier, be wildly clear with your expectations for every item that you hand off to your ghostwriter. If there are specific sub-topics you wanted covered under your main topic, tell them! Ghostwriters are super quick typers, have a pretty good vocabulary, and (hopefully) love to write – but they are NOT mind readers. If you have something specific in mind, share and explain as best as possible. This will set everyone up for success in the long run.

Reason #3 – The team is spread far too thin.

If you’ve made it to reason number three, congratulations on building your business to the point of having a team. You are incredible and deserve to be properly supported. Chances are that when you hired each team member, you set up clear expectations on what their jobs would be. Rather than bombarding your team with the task of coming up with incredible content for your blog or website, hire a ghostwriter! It will save you all a ton of time and stress. I promise!

If you’re a one-man band, I’m certain that you’re already spread far too thin. Ask someone for help! Hire a professional to take care of those tasks that don’t require your personal touch but can still thrive with a little guidance from you. You’ll be thankful to hand something off and your business will benefit in the long run.

Reason #4 – You want to work on your SEO.

Long gone are the days where you can just shove keywords all over your website in meta tags, meta titles, meta descriptions, etc. Content is king and it’s reign is here to stay. If your goal is to help your website gain some traction without any type of ad spend, investing in your site’s content is the way to go.

When you hire a ghostwriter with any type of SEO goals in mind, be sure that the ghostwriter is familiar with SEO best practices and willing to write in a way that supports your purpose. It’s still content writing but has a different spin. They’ll have to think of things like keywords, keyword ratio, length of content, internal linking, outbound links, etc.

While you can always go back and make changes if necessary, it’s so much easier to begin with the best practices in place.

Here’s what you need to know:

Hiring a ghostwriter does NOT mean that you can’t write, that you hate to write, that you aren’t an expert in your industry, or that you don’t have time to sit down in front of the computer.

Hiring a ghostwriter DOES mean that you have other things to spend your time on where you can be more effective and have a bigger impact on your business and your life. Again, time equals money. Spend your time where it is the most valuable.

This applies to any industry and any business, no matter how large or small.

Okay, are you ready to hire a ghostwriter? Phew. Me too! Hahaha.

I’d love to chat with you to learn more about your business and content creation needs, and to find out if I would be a good fit as a ghostwriter for your business. Here’s how you can connect with me:

Amy at ATTERBIE
amy@atterbie.com
Hudson, OH 44236
(248) 885-0023

The post What industries can you hire a ghostwriter for? appeared first on Atterbie.

First, let’s talk about freelance writing services. This is when you hire an individual person in order to complete a writing project. This could be any type of project; a blog post, an article, a report, a book, you name it – freelance covers it.

All freelance writing services should have very clear expectations on both ends. Here are the factors you’ll want to consider when hiring a freelance writer:

• How much will it cost?
• How long should the writing project be?
  Define length by a very specific number of words. There’s nothing clearer than clarity and no happier client or freelancer than when their expectations are being met.
• What topic needs to be covered?
• Are there keywords that you want to focus on?
• What keyword density would you like maintained throughout the piece?
• Are there any specific formatting standards that should be followed?
• Is there a hard deadline on the submission date?
• Will there be time for comments and editing after the project is submitted?
• Who is the contact person in case there are questions regarding the project?

These basic factors are the same for when you hire a ghostwriter. Here comes the difference…

When hire someone for general freelance writing services, compensation for the project may include:

• Cash (of course)
• A byline – listing the author’s name as the actual writer of the piece
• A link back to the writer’s personal website or social media platforms
• Royalties (depending on the project type)

When you hire a ghostwriter, things are a little different. The only thing a ghostwriter receives as compensation for the project is typically cash. They get no recognition or acknowledgment as being the author for the piece. In fact, the person who hired the ghostwriter will typically claim all writing credit for the piece that is submitted.

Once you’ve found a writer that you mesh well with, hold on to them tight! Even if the project takes an unexpected turn. Most freelancers who offer writing services will also entertain requests for ghostwriting services and vice versa.

Wondering what the cost is to hire a freelance writer or a ghostwriter? I’d love to chat with you! Email me at amy@atterbie.com and we’ll set up a time to discuss your writing project and how I might be able to help you knock it out with excellent content.

The post Are freelance writing services the same as ghostwriting services? appeared first on Atterbie.

To help you get started, I’m going to break down why you need to hire a ghostwriter for your photography blog today and exactly how it’s done. Ready to get started?

Let’s talk about the reasons why you need to hire a ghostwriter for your photography blog.

Reason #1 – You are busy!

Let’s be honest, if you actually get a little downtime the last thing you want to do is write. Right?

When you hire a ghostwriter, incredible content can be published on a regular basis without requiring you to sit down and do all of the work. Every writer works a little different, but the general idea remains… you pick the topic, they write. Simple as that. Who wouldn’t love to have a new blog post ready to publish on a daily basis without having to actually sit down and force your fingers to plunk out the words?

Side note… if you’ve purchased a domain name and set up hosting, don’t let your site just sit there! Hiring a ghostwriter is one easy way to put your (already paid for) site to work for you.

Reason #2 – You hate writing.

You are not alone.

In fact, I’ve found that more people hate writing than love it. I’m not sure why this is. Maybe the idea of writing causes flashbacks to school days and the fear of getting a bad grade. Maybe you just hate staring at a blank screen with that darn cursor blinking away at you. Whatever the cause, you can skip doing something you hate and still get the item checked off your to-do list by hiring a ghostwriter. They’ll do the heavy lifting, you just copy and paste or simply push ‘publish’.

Reason #3 – You need content.

If you want your website to gain any kind of traction, content is absolutely key. When you hire a ghostwriter, you are ensuring that someone is 100% focused on creating amazing content for your website. It’s a huge weight that can be easily lifted off your shoulders by developing a relationship with a ghostwriter who fits your style and writing needs.

Alright, you get the basic idea… hire a ghostwriter and get peace of mind, more time, excellent content.

Good deal? Let’s move on. How exactly do you hire a ghostwriter?

I’m so glad you asked! It’s actually pretty simple. You can email me at amy@atterbie.com and tell me that you’re ready to hire a ghostwriter. That’s all it takes. We’ll either email back and forth or set up a quick time to chat. Either way, here are the basic topics that will be covered in that initial conversation in order to move forward with the ghostwriting project.

• Do you have an existing website? If so, what’s the link?
• Talk to me about your voice. Do you speak in the first person? Second person? Is it conversational or formal? Share all the details to ensure that your brand is properly communicated in the ghostwriting projects.
• What is the goal of the content that you’d like created? To sell, persuade, inform?
• Is there an established list of topics you’d like covered?
• What is the desired length of content for each topic?
• Are you working on your SEO? Is there a keyword focus for each of the topics?
• Do you have a deadline for the project?

And now a list of the questions that you’ll want to ask me (or any other ghostwriter you might consider hiring for your photography blog):

• Do you have references or examples of your recent work?
• What’s the cost?
• Will your turn-around time meet my deadlines?
• Do you have the bandwidth to complete this much work?

Alright, we’ve covered the basics. Do you still have questions about why you need to hire a ghostwriter for your photography blog or how to do it? If so, I’d love to help you sort things out. Send me an email or comment below and I’ll be in touch. Talk soon!

The post How and Why to Hire a Ghostwriter for Your Photography Blog appeared first on Atterbie.