Updated 2023
Are you an aspiring ghostwriter keen to learn the ins and outs of this career path? In this epic guide to ghostwriting, Day Translations lays down all the basics (and then some) about becoming a ghostwriter and establishing a solid basis for a successful career.
To help you avoid embarrassing situations where you need to ask the client what exactly they mean by ghostwriting, we’re going to save the day. So, let’s start with the basics.
What is Ghostwriting?
You may or may not have a vague idea of what ghostwriting entails.
In the simplest of terms: Ghostwriting is you (as the writer of a piece of content) allowing someone else to put their name on your work. And yes, that means you don’t get any credit for the authorship.
In most cases, the person that commissions the work also owns the copyright, which gives them the freedom to modify and republish your content in whichever way they see fit.
While you might be quick to jump to the conclusion that people only use a ghostwriting service because they don’t have content creation skills or don’t have any new ideas, the most common reasons for hiring a ghostwriter include:
- There isn’t enough time to write original content
- Although they have a great story to tell, they don’t have the creative flair to pen the story themselves
What Exactly Do Ghostwriters Do?
Ghostwriters are typically tasked with any one of the following projects:
- Editing and expanding on rough drafts for content marketing campaigns
- Expanding on the original idea and finishing a storyline of book as part of the process of producing a final manuscript
- Transcribing the notes of bloggers and turning the notes into blog posts
- Writing podcasts and putting together functional blog posts
- Taking a brief outline and ghostwriting a post in the client’s tone and writing style
- Creating blog posts on nothing more than titles
- Creating new ideas for blog posts and writing the content
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, the demand for qualified and experienced ghostwriters is growing exponentially, so much so that California State University in Long Beach offers a Ghostwriting Professional Designation Program!
Is it Worth It to Become a Ghostwriter?
There are a couple of major benefits that this gig can bring to the table. Here’s a look at the two most promising benefits of professional ghostwriting.
#1 – Ghostwriting Pays REALLY Well
One of the most attractive benefits of ghostwriting is the remuneration. And yes, this type of writing often pays much more than freelancing. Why? Because attaching your name to a piece of work can help you showcase your talent and build your reputation, and this is why ghostwriters can charge more per hour to compensate for that loss.
It’s also highly likely that you’ll secure ongoing contracts with a client for writing content once you’ve established a working relationship with them, as most clients want consistent writing, which means sticking to one writer is the best option.
#2 – You’ll Expand Your Network
Ghostwriters generally work closely with their clients during the writing process, and they also tend to specialize in an area of expertise, especially if they write for specific blogs. What this means is that the professionals that ghost write often have opportunities to get to know some well-established names in their field.
As you build your professional network, your work might get shared by your clients through social media posts, and that can bring you even more clients. Did you know that much of blogging success depends on the help of other bloggers and social media posts? More specifically, bloggers with larger audiences and big reputations!
How Can I Start My Ghostwriting Career?
In case you’re not clear on the basics of the careers of freelance writers, here are the elemental steps to follow:
#1 – Improve Your Writing Skills and Get Experience in Content or Book Writing
You need to know how to create great content if you want to become a ghostwriter. This means you need to understand and master content frameworks, solid headline creation, understand how to support your standpoints, and use the right words to keep your readers engaged on an emotional level. Whether you’ll specialize in book writing or offer other ghostwriting services, the basic idea is to get clued up on the essentials of writing.
#2 – Deep Dive into SEO
Nowadays, clients are looking for writers that already have the right skills in place to create content that ranks well on Google. It’s essential to learn as much as possible about Search Engine Optimization and apply it to the content you create.
#3 – Build Your Portfolio to Offer Ghostwriting Services
The best approach to this is creating a portfolio that has a few different levels. One level should showcase your excellent writing talent. The next level should demonstrate the fact that you’re a subject matter expert on a given topic. And the final level should highlight your successes working with previous clients and one or two samples of your past work experience. Many clients that hire ghostwriters tend to hire an experienced writer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start working on smaller projects to help build your portfolio.
#4 – Find a Paying Client for Your Ghost Writing Services
It might be hard to start landing paying clients initially. Even with excellent content creation skills and SEO knowledge, it can be hard as nails to find clients without some word-of-mouth referrals.
Good starting points include pitching to software company blogs like HubSpot, Sumo, and Ahrefs while doing as much as possible self-promotion. You can also check out freelancer platforms like UpWork and ZenDesk. Although it might be a slow process at first, you’ll be set once you land your first few clients.
Final Thoughts
Ghostwriting is a task best left to a selfless writer. This prevalent practice is a great way to gain some experience early on in your writing career, but it might not be the best choice for writers looking to build their professional profiles and establish their own personal brands.
There are some major benefits to becoming a ghostwriter, but there are also caveats, which can be dealbreakers for some. At the end of the day, it is up to each individual to weigh up the pros and cons when deciding whether or not it’s a job they’d be happy doing.