Hope Writes

How To Effectively Work With A Ghostwriter

Posted by Hope

Some new clients approach me tentatively, having never worked with a ghostwriter before. I’ve even had a few tell me that they almost didn’t contact me to hire me because they were too unsure about the whole process of working with a ghostwriter.

If you’re here looking for a skilled ghostwriter, but are so unsure that you’re thinking of clicking away, STOP! Today’s post is just for you. :)Here is a list of the things that every client needs to know when ready to hire me to write for them.

1. Provide a clear, concise idea of what you want the finished product to be. If you need to hire me to write a non-fiction book for you, you should be able to give me the overall theme and summary in a few short paragraphs (preferrably in one paragraph). Providing me with a tentative title, complete chapter outline, research material, notes, etc. ensures it will stay in line with your ideas.
2. Provide your tentative titles, keywords (I do not write keyword-stuffed articles, but I will use keywords as a starting point for article ideas.), outlines, general article ideas, etc. This is very important. I’ve had a few clients in the past who wanted to just leave it up to me. In the end, they didn’t all like the finished product, simply because it was all my idea, not theirs. It’s always best if you provide your ghostwriter with as many details as possible.
3. Respond to phone calls or emails as timely as possible. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a client that didn’t do this, but I do know other writers who have. When you hire a ghostwriter, you should be able to provide answers to any questions or additonal information, if needed. Sometimes the ghostwriter might hit a snag and need to run something by you before she writes it out. Or she might need to ask you important questions about the project that would affect the overal finished piece. Because of this, it’s always a smart thing to be as prompt in responding to your ghostwriter as possible.
4. If your project is a large one and is set up on a payment plan, be prompt with your payments. When working on a large project, like a full-length non-fiction book, there is usually a payment plan agreed upon. I’ve heard of writers who had clients that were more than happy to pay the retainer fee, but when it came time to finish out the payments they flaked on the writer. Some ghostwriters won’t even consider anything less than full payment in advance. So if you land a ghostwriter that is willing to work with you on a payment plan, do your best to meet your end of the deal.
5. Be flexible. If you are working with an established ghostwriter, keep in mind that you most likely aren’t the only client she’s working with right now. At any given moment, I could be juggling five or six clients at once. I don’t like to take on that many at once, but there are times when that does happen. If your ghostwriter requests a time extension or needs more research for your project, try to be understanding. Remember to communicate often and be sure your ghostwriter knows your plans as well.
6. I work with anyone, anywhere. Lots of people are under the mistaken impression that I only write for clients in the United States. That simply isn’t true. I have clients all over the world, and it has been a joy working with each of them. My own stipulation is that I receive payment in U.S. dollars, not in any other currency. So if you do use a different currency, check my rates then convert it to the currency you use.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Frequently Asked Ghostwriting Questions

Posted by Hope

Some of my recent visitors have never worked with a ghostwriter before. So I thought it fitting to compile a list of some of the most commonly asked questions about ghostwriting and then answer them. If I don’t answer your question here, leave it in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer it in a future post.

Frequently Asked Ghostwriting Questions

#1) What kind of qualifications should a ghostwriter possess? A competent ghostwriter should have some experience, at the very least. Some ghostwriters hold college degrees in English, journalism, etc. However, don’t be disillusioned into thinking a degree means that person has better talent than someone who doesn’t have a degree.

Overall, a good ghostwriter should:

• Reply to email or phone calls in a timely manner.
• Be courteous and friendly.
• Produce samples of previous work upon request.
• Work well with deadlines.
• Provide frequent updates if the project is a large one.

#2) How much should I expect to pay a ghostwriter? Rate of pay varies widely, as you’ll soon discover upon doing some research. That being said, a ghostwriter’s rates should usually reflect the amount of experience she has. If she is new, then her rates probably won’t be as high as one who has a decade or more experience.

Another thing that always surprises me is that some people purposefully seek out a “cheap” ghostwriter. In many cases, you get what you pay for. So if you’re looking for one that is less expensive, don’t complain if the work isn’t what you expected it to be.

#3) Why am I asked for full payment up front? Aren’t I taking a chance on him running off with my money and not producing the work I hired him for? Again, do your research before you decide to hire a ghostwriter. When you find a truly competent ghostwriter, you will more than likely be asked for payment in full before the project is started. At the very least you will be required to pay a deposit up front and then the rest when the project is completed (but before you receive the final product).

#4) What are some things I should look for when hiring a ghostwriter? When searching for a good ghostwriter, ask the following questions:

• How much experience does she have?
• Can he produce samples upon request?
• Does she have at least three references you could contact to inquire about her job ethics and performance?
• Have you seen his name in certain circles? If so, what kind of reputation has he built for himself?
• Can she work with you to map out a time line on when your project will be finished?

#5) What is the best way to work with a ghostwriter? This is a really good question that some don’t stop to think about. Working with a ghostwriter is more than hiring someone to write something and leaving it all up to him.

The first thing you need to do before you hire a ghostwriter is to be sure that you know exactly what you want in a final product. The worst thing for a ghostwriter is a client who changes their mind fifty times during the writing process. Not only is it frustrating for the ghostwriter, but it wastes an enormous amount of time. Know what you want before you hire a ghostwriter.

Second, you should provide as much information to your ghostwriter about the project as possible. One of my most favorite clients to date is one that knew precisely what he wanted in his book. When he hired me, he provided me with not only an outline and tentative title for his book, but also with copious notes and research he’d already conducted on the topic. I was able to write his book in record time because he knew what he wanted and he presented me with every bit of information he’d already collected.

Article writing is the same. I do not take on article writing clients any longer unless they provide me with the article titles, keywords, or topic idea that they want their articles written on. It simply makes for a more amiable and productive working relationship.

#6) Why are ghostwriting fees so expensive? One thing you have to remember about ghostwriters is that we do all the work, while you claim all the glory. “Ghost” means we are a silent and invisible part of the “writing.” As such, a greater price is required to compensate for this. You get a polished book ready for publication, with your name on the cover, and I simply get paid to write it.

#7) What is a specialist? A specialist is someone who is an expert in a specific area. Whereas a generalist tends to write on any subject. Ghostwriters who are just starting to build their career, or who don’t want to limit themselves to any certain topic are referred to as generalists. I’ve been a generalist up to this point in my career. Beginning in 2008, I will start specializing in writing about:

• Self-Improvement
• Writing
• Internet Marketing & Business
• Parenting & Family

As a last, closing thought, I’d like to remind you that clear communication is absolutely essential to working with any ghostwriter. The lines of communication must be open at all times, on both ends.

Technorati Tags: hire a ghostwriter, ghostwriting, ghostwriting questions

Popularity: 24% [?]

Why You Should Hire A Ghostwriter (ME!) To Write Your Articles

Posted by Hope

I’ve done quite a bit of writing for Internet Marketers over the last few years. It’s interesting to see how many different and varying niches there are online. What’s even more interesting is how something as simple as articles can be so very useful to your marketing.

If you are already using articles for marketing leverage, and if you are outsourcing your article writing, then you already know how important it is that you put out quality content. Finding a good ghost writer to produce excellent content can be challenging. There are so many people out there who call themselves “writers” but can’t string together a cohesive paragraph, let alone an entire article.

If you aren’t using articles to market your business yet, you could be missing out on a big piece of the pie. Most people know about article marketing, but there are so many more ways you can use articles to promote your business:

• Newsletters
• Blogs
• Paper Ads
• Website Content
• Video Promos

The list is truly of what you can do with articles is truly endless.

Many of my clients hire me to write articles for them for one of several reasons:

• They’re too busy to write articles.
• They hate writing anything, but especially articles.
• They like my writing style/voice.
• They need someone with a fresh perspective.
• They need frequent content within their niche to draw in more customers.

In many cases, clients will email me and request a project simply because they know I’ll deliver the goods without a hassle.

Should you hire a ghostwriter to write articles for you? That could depend on any number of things:

• Is your business growing, but you’d like to experience greater growth?
• Are you too busy tending to your business to write articles?
• Are your website visitors hungry for more content than you can possibly write?
• Do you need an easy, personable way to keep in touch with your clients?

If you answered “YES” to any of those questions, then it might be time for you to consider outsourcing to a competent ghostwriter.

Technorati Tags: hire a ghostwriter, ghost writer, hire a ghostwriter to write articles, write articles, article writer, Hope Wilbanks, Hope Writes

P.S. Would you like to hire me? Contact me for more information. Be sure to include details about your project.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Why You Should Hire A Ghostwriter To Blog For You

Posted by Hope

If your business does not already have a blog, why not? Blogs are so prevalent today that it’s hard not to find a blog on just about any topic you’re interested in. If you don’t like to write, or don’t have time to keep up with a business blog yourself, why not hire a ghostwriter to write your blog for you?

A business blog can:

• Draw in new customers/clients. It’s the old adage of attracting flies with honey. What better way to attract new business, than by giving interseted parties more information and persuading them to buy from you?
• Create new interest in old clients. Even while some clients may have been with you for years, if you don’t bring something new to the table, you face the risk of them growing uninterested and “cold.” A business blog can keep their interest peaked.
• Offer more options to your regular customers. Let’s say you have an established client base, but these customers have no idea about other services or products you have available. Your business blog can open your clients’ eyes to different aspects of your business that they didn’t know about before, and therefore, generate even more business.
• Generate a group of faithful followers. You might be wondering how this will help your business. When you have a faithful group of satisfied followers, you have built-in word-of-mouth advertising, which can go a lot farther than paid advertising. In fact, many companies have discovered that word-of-mouth goes so much farther and are now investing into this kind of advertisment options. You can do this with your business blog.
• Announce new products, services, contests, etc. Your business blog is a great avenue to share the news of new product launch dates, special services you offer to long-term clients, or fun contests and great prizes. It’s a great tool to use to create a “buzz.”

If you’d like to hire a ghostwriter to write your business blog for you, there are many options available. You can do a quick search for “hire a ghostwriter” or “write my blog for me” on Google and you’ll probably turn up quite a many ghostwriters to query. Or, if you’d like to save a lot of time and money, why not hire me to write your blog for you?

Technorati Tags: hire a ghostwriter, why you should hire a ghostwriter to blog for you, ghostwriter to blog for you, business blogging, why you should have a business blog

Popularity: 22% [?]

Do You Use Article Marketing To Promote Your Business?

Posted by Hope

If you are a writer, I have a quick question for you today: Do you use articles to promote yourself/your business? If not, then why?

Did you know that article marketing is one of the easiest ways to get your name out there? It’s true! Article marketing is free advertisement. You already write on a daily basis, so why not use free articles to advertise.

With article marketing, you…

• Create a buzz
• Become an expert in your area of knowledge
• Share your experience with others

…and so much more.

The reality of it is that just about everybody you know that is doing business online, is probably using articles to promote themselves (and if they’re not, they’re losing out, too!).

Tomorrow…How to get started with article marketing

Technorati Tags: article marketing, articles, writing articles, writers, write

Popularity: 26% [?]