To help you get a little more comfortable with the thought of letting go of one item on your task list, I thought I’d add a level of transparency to the process and tell you exactly what to expect when you hire a ghostwriter for your business. It’s fairly cut and dry but it’s going to be a little different for every ghostwriter you work with and there’s nothing clearer than clarity, right?
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.
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