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You probably always wanted to write a book but either didn’t know where to start, found it too daunting or just never found the time.

Well you’re in luck…

Because you’re about to learn what EXACTLY a ghostwriter is, why you might want to hire one and how to choose the one that is right for you.

Not too long ago, many people thought it tactless to hire a ghostwriter.

(Or at least admit to it).

But now even big names like Hilary Clinton, Prince William, Gwyneth Paltrow, James Patterson, and Laura Bush have said openly that they have used a ghostwriter.

In fact, it was reported that Hilary Clinton paid half a million dollars to her ghostwriter to help with her book.

And according to Page Six, Moehringer got “at least $1 million as an advance to ghostwrite Prince Harry’s memoir, while Harry himself got $20 million.

(Definitely not a bad payday!)

Finding the right ghostwriter is extremely challenging because it’s not just about who is the most elegant writer or who is the best at quoting from the most famous style manual: The Elements of Style 

Ghostwriting is so much more than that.

For many, the act of transmitting your thoughts into the written word can be a challenging one.

If you are embarking on your own book, the whole process can seem like a lofty and time-consuming endeavour.

Not to mention lonely.

It can be hard to know if what you’re writing is any good or if it’s just a huge waste of time!

Author’s Note: If you want to know more about how a ghostwriter can get you more clients check out this blog post HERE

A ghostwriter is a perfect solution to all those writing roadblocks.

By hiring a ghostwriter you can save yourself hundreds of hours instead of trying to do it yourself.

If you’re an inexperienced writer you will be pouring over the outline, doubt whether you’re going in the right direction, and then rewriting all the material over and over again.

It will take you twice as long as it needs to.

A ghostwriter will avoid all those pitfalls.

What is A Ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is hired to write for another person, often credited under that person’s name.

The “ghost” in ghostwriter refers to the fact that they operate invisibly, behind the scenes.

The person for whom the ghostwriter writes is typically credited as the author.

Ghostwriters are often used of various types of writing projects, usually a book but it can also be a blog article, white paper, video scripts, speeches, journalist pieces, testimonial or case study.

Ghostwriters have also been used in the music industry to write lyrics and in Hollywood to polish scripts.

(Otherwise known as script doctors)

Occasionally they are even used by rap artists.They are particularly common in the fields of politics, business, and celebrity memoirs, where the “author” might not have the time, writing ability, or expertise to write the work themselves.

The ghostwriter doesn’t get credit for his or her work but instead works behind the scenes to ensure the written content is well structured and free of grammatical and spelling errors.

Being a good writer is one thing, but the key to being a good ghostwriter is to get the tone and voice of the author correct.

A ghostwriter usually spends a good deal of time with the author interviewing them and studying their language to ensure he or she captures the author on-page.

If you want to learn more about the difference between a co-author and a ghostwriter click HERE

Is It Okay to Hire a Ghostwriter?

If you’ve ever wondered about this, you’re not alone.

This query sits at the intersection of creativity, ethics, and professional services…

Let’s unpack it together.

Ghostwriting, at its core, is a service in which a writer is hired to produce content, but the credit for that work goes to another individual or entity.

From books and speeches to blog posts and social media content, ghostwriters operate behind the scenes, bringing ideas to life without the spotlight.

On the practical side of the argument, ghostwriting can be a valuable resource, especially for individuals or businesses that lack the time, skill, or interest to write their content.

It allows experts in different fields to share their knowledge, insights, and stories without having to navigate the complex world of writing themselves.

From a business perspective, content is king in today’s digital age.

However, not everyone is a skilled writer or has the time to produce consistent, high-quality content.

Hiring a ghostwriter ensures that businesses can maintain an active online presence, attract new clients, and engage their audience effectively without the stress of content creation.

There’s no definitive right or wrong answer to whether it’s okay to hire a ghostwriter.

(If you thought I was going to just tell you that you MUST hire a ghostwriter because I am one, you were wrong.)

It depends on your perspective and your specific needs. However, as long as there’s a clear understanding and agreement between the client and the ghostwriter, and the work produced aligns with the client’s ideas and voice, ghostwriting can be a valuable tool.

Always remember that while the ghostwriter provides the technical skills to articulate your ideas, the thoughts, experiences, and values expressed are inherently your own.

So, if you’re considering hiring a ghostwriter, reflect on your reasons, ensure the process is transparent, and that your voice shines through the ghostwritten content.

After all, authenticity is key, no matter who holds the pen.

What To Expect When Hiring A Ghostwriter In 2024

So what’s changed in writing this year?

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that ChatGPT and AI writing has taken over the industry.

But can AI write your book for you?

The use of AI as a ghostwriter has both pros and cons.

One of the key advantages of using AI as a ghostwriter is speed and efficiency.

AI-powered writing tools can generate text quickly, making them a great option for writers who are looking to produce a large amount of content in a short amount of time.

Additionally, AI ghostwriters can often produce writing that is grammatically correct and well-structured, which can be especially beneficial for writers who struggle with these aspects of writing.

However, there are also some significant drawbacks to using AI as a ghostwriter.

One of the main drawbacks is that AI-generated writing can often lack the nuance and personal touch that comes from working with a human writer.

AI-generated writing can also sometimes come across as robotic or formulaic, which can detract from its overall quality and impact.

AI-generated writing can be limited by the data it has been trained on, and may not always be able to produce writing that accurately reflects a specific voice or perspective.

Overall, the use of AI as a ghostwriter in 2023 has both advantages and disadvantages.

While it can be a fast and efficient solution for some writers, others may prefer the human touch and creative freedom that comes with working with a human writer.

It ultimately comes down to personal preference and the specific needs and goals of the writer.

At the moment, AI can’t effectively write your book for you (unless you want to put your writers to sleep with boring prose and stiff writing.

But check back with me in 5 years…

Things will probably have changed.

But then again in 5 years, AI has probably take over all our jobs and we might all be out on the streets… so there’s that.

What You Need To Know When Hiring A Ghostwriter

There are many things you need to know (or at least think about) before you even contact a ghostwriter about your book.

Some of these are:

• Your goals for your content
• The length of your content
• The type of ghostwriter you’ll need
• Where you are going to find your ghostwriter
• Your timeline
• How much you can afford to pay

One of the first things to consider is what is the purpose of your book.

As the thought leader Simon Sinek always commands, you need to start with ‘why.‘

This isn’t always a simple question to answer and you should never jump headlong into a writing project until you have thought deeply about this question.

Are you writing it for marketing or because you just want to get an idea out into the world.

Maybe you just want to tell your story and hope it inspires others.

Or are you writing it to further your career?

Or are you just writing it for some notoriety and fame?

It’s okay if it’s the latter, just be honest with yourself and understand that is why you are writing the book.

Do you want to make money through book sales? Or through speaking and consulting?

Do you want to become a bestselling author?

Or perhaps you just want to capture your life down on paper to pass it on to your children.

There are no right or wrong answers, but being able to communicate those goals to your ghostwriter is important.

When you’re planning to work with a ghostwriter, you’ll find it helpful to have a clear overall goal.

What do you want to get out of your book?

A better sense of yourself as an expert?

To increase sales for your business?

Many benefits can be accrued from writing a book and getting it published.

And working with a ghostwriter helps you achieve all your goals.

Questions To Ask A Ghostwriter Before Hiring Them

If you’re thinking about hiring a ghostwriter, then you should be prepared before you talk to them.

A ghostwriter offers invaluable assistance when you’re writing a book or needs someone to help out with your social media posts, blogs, and website content.

The ghostwriter or the “ghost” welcomes any writing task that most authors or writers dread of doing on their own.

Hiring a ghostwriter isn’t cheating.

(At least it shouldn’t be if you hire a good ghostwriter!)

Some people call it an escape from the arduous responsibility of writing, but there are valid arguments on why they do it.

If you’ve decided to work with a ghostwriter, one of the things to remember is that not everyone is as good as they say.

Despite the recommendations and excellent online feedback, you can’t know for sure if you’ve found the right “ghost” unless you do an interview.

The interview is your best chance to ask pertinent questions to figure out if the ghostwriter has what it takes to get the job done.

But it’s not all about the talent and skills; you will work closely with the “ghost,” so hire someone with who you can get along with.

Anyway, let’s save the “personality” aspect of hiring a ghostwriter for another day, and let’s focus on which questions to ask instead.

So, here are the ten most critical questions you should be asking potential ghostwriters before hiring them.

1 – Have you written books that have been published?

The point of writing a book is to publish it for your target audience.

There’s no way to get monetary compensation for your efforts if it remains unpublished.

You probably have started writing a draft or story but never managed to finish it for whatever reason.

The same thing happens even to the best ghostwriters out there.

The ghost is about to wrap up the project, only for the author to lose interest in it.

There are times when the book is complete, but the author decides not to publish it.

The ghostwriter is left hanging when the author dies before publication.

Of course, there’s a possibility of the ghostwriter baling out or walking away from the project for personal reasons or disagreement.

Narrow down your list of prospects by eliminating those ghostwriters who can’t show proof of a published book.

It’s not a red flag in its entirety, but hiring a ghost with evidence of a published work should be factored in.

2– Are you willing to include a non-disclosure agreement in the contract?

Disclosure of ghostwritten work is the author’s prerogative, but it won’t hurt if you ask the ghostwriter about the non-disclosure provision in the contract.

In the “ethics” perspective, a ghostwriter must embrace confidentiality in his/her work.

Nonetheless, it’s always better to put the agreement into writing to prevent legal implications later.

3 – Do you understand the legal concerns about the book?

Speaking of legal ramifications, don’t forget to ask a ghostwriter if he/she acknowledges them.

If you’re commissioning someone to write a nonfiction book, it means the information must be factual.

Every bit of information obtained from a source must be well-cited to avoid plagiarism.

The truth is even novels and other fiction books may slander others.

The last thing you need is a lawsuit caused by your ghost’s negligence or ignorance of the responsibilities.

4 – Do you have a grasp of the subject matter?

A ghostwriter isn’t an expert in every subject matter, but competence and expertise are two different things.

You only need your ghost to be well-versed in your book’s subject matter.

It should be enough for him or her to perform the necessary research and come up with a seamless flow in writing.

Find a ghostwriter who understands the subject matter because it’ll help cut down the time spent in research.

5 – What is a ghostwriter’s typical fee?

Fees are determined based on several factors, including how much work you’d like to give them.

If you want to retain all or most creative control over your book, the writer will take on more responsibility and charge accordingly for their services.

Does it matter if you ask for the rate if you’re not looking for a cheap writer?

Even if you’re not concerned about the price as long as you’re getting a skilled ghostwriter in return, you still need to know how much you’re going to spend for someone to write your book.

It’s more on setting a budget instead of haggling for the price.

Most ghostwriters offer free consultations to have a preview of the type of work needed.

They give you an estimate or quotation once they understand what is required of them.

Although pricing isn’t a significant concern for most authors, know that it means everything to a ghostwriter to be paid fairly and reasonably.

You must strike a balance, and it’s not as straightforward as it seems.

6 – Can we negotiate rates?

A typical negotiation tactic is to start high and counteroffer at a lower fee.

However, some writers will refuse to negotiate their rates because they’ve already thought about what it would take for them to write your book based upon hours, research required, etc.

7 – How long will it take the ghostwriter to finish the job?

This is arguably the most challenging question to ask, but you have to ask it anyway.

Don’t expect an accurate timetable, nor should you insist on a deadline.

Ghostwriting, especially when the job is about writing a book, takes a lot of time.

There’s also a bevy of factors that affect progress, including personal issues, the unfamiliarity of the subject, research, and others.

The best ghostwriter acknowledges the responsibility of finishing the job within a reasonable timeframe, so you don’t have to compel them to get it done based on your terms.

The only reason why you’re obliged to ask this question is that you want to have a clear picture of the turnaround.

8 – Do you write yourself or delegate it to someone else?

Choose a ghostwriter who assures you of handling the writing job without someone else’s help.

You’re hiring him/her based on qualifications and skills.

So, if he or she merely delegates the job to someone else, there’s a chance that you won’t get the quality you expect.

Some ghostwriters handle several clients at once, which is why they hire a subcontractor or freelance writer to help them with the workload.

If that doesn’t sit well with you, then be quick to ask your prospect about it before hiring.

9 – What’s your preferred way of communication?

Ask about the most convenient way to communicate with each other.

It’s your right as a client to know how often you can get updates.

Find someone who shares the commitment to continually fill you in with progress reports on a preferred communication medium, i.e., email, instant messaging, phone.

Sometimes, the lack of communication causes a rift that puts an end to a book project. Insist on your need to keep in touch throughout the working partnership.

10 – How will you deliver the output?

Even if you have no preference in the type of deliverable, you still should ask your ghostwriter how he/she plans to deliver the content.

You must agree on the specific details of the output, including the file format (Word document, PDF, etc.) and the number of copies you’ll receive.

11 – How do we keep control over what is published?

Unless you sign away all rights as the author of the work, you remain the rightful owner of your book and can take it elsewhere if you’re not satisfied with the writer.

Finding the right ghostwriter means asking the right questions.

Figure out if your communication styles mesh while sharing what each of you can bring to the party.

You have everything to gain by ensuring that all parties are satisfied with the arrangement before working on a project together.

12 – What happens to the material if I choose to cancel or terminate the contract?

Even with your commitment and effort, there are times when parting ways with the ghostwriter is the best thing moving forward.

It isn’t always about the lack of chemistry, but more on unforeseen stuff like conflicting schedules, communication problems, health emergencies, to name a few.

Be prepared to face the possibility of contract termination by discussing the fate of the unfinished content and research material with the ghostwriter.

Your focus is on protecting your intellectual property, while the ghostwriter wants a laid-out solution on the work he/she’d done up to the point of termination.

Below you will find some benefits that a ghostwriter can offer your writing project.

But what exactly can a ghostwriter do for you?

Well, that takes us to the next part of this blog…

The Steps To Hiring A Ghostwriting 

You might think hiring a ghostwriter is too big of a task or chore, that it’s too big of a project, but in actuality, it’s a fairly simple and straightforward process, and that isn’t as daunting as it may look.

While every ghostwriting project requires a unique approach based on the individual and their thoughts and ideas, here is a general guideline of how ghostwriters may go through the process.

Editors Note: I’ve also done a video of the entire process below if you prefer to watch instead of reading, detailing the entire process.

Is Ghostwriting an Ethical Practice?

Ghostwriting might seem like a gray area for many people because it’s not something done in the public eye.

But rest assured that there are legal and ethical standards for both you and your writer to follow. For instance:

• Your contract should include clauses about payment, book title credit and more
• All material should be original to you, and any shared research must be acknowledged
• You should have complete editorial control over the work

So, if these guidelines are followed, ghostwriting is a perfectly ethical way to get your project accomplished.

Isn’t it Unfair to Hire a Ghostwriter?

Because ghostwriters are paid for their work and expertise, they get compensation for their time and skills.

Of course, many ghostwriters do it as a secondary source of income while working on other projects.

But there’s no reason you can’t find one who does it full-time and is passionate about what they do.

The reality is that this profession embraces the concept of anonymity, so writers don’t care whether they get credit or not.

What are Some of the Most Common Ghostwriting Services To Hire?

Ghostwriters come in all shapes and sizes, but there are general categories they fit into.

If you want someone who can write smoothly, use words that convey your message accurately, and stay true to your voice, then you must have a “sit down” with your writer to figure out if your communication styles are compatible.

The “sit down” can help you figure out what kind of ghostwriter will be most suited for your book. Keep in mind that it’s not always possible to find one person who has all these skills.

Who Hires A Ghostwriter?

As we pointed out, a lot of celebrities and business people hire ghostwriters.

However…

You might be surprised that more people use ghostwriters than you might think.

It’s not just famous celebrities, sports stars, CEOs, and actors who use ghostwriters.

In fact, it is estimated that about 60% of non-fiction bestsellers use ghostwriters.

Although that figure is hard to verify because by nature ghostwriters are not given credit and many of them sign non-disclosure agreements with the author. (More on that later.)

Whatever the number, it’s a safe bet that many authors use ghostwriters to help them tell their stories.

If you’d like to learn more about books you might be surprised were ghostwritten click HERE

What Are The Benefits of Hiring A Ghostwriter?

Ghostwriters are a fantastic option for people who want to get their ideas out into the world.

Writing a book can have numerous benefits including giving you authority on a particular subject.

It can be used to market your specific skill set, or it can just be a way of persuading your audience on a particular viewpoint.

Working with a ghostwriter can have many benefits beyond the final content as well.

Many people who hire ghostwriters find that the interview process helps them develop clarity around their business and brands beyond what is in the book’s pages.

Explaining your ideas to someone else forces you to articulate and clarify them in a new and often exciting way.

A ghostwriter specializes in digging beyond the surface, digging up the ideas with specific questions to get at the heart of the author’s position.

Don’t forget that the content can also be broken up to be used for articles, blogs and even videos.

Protip: As a ghostwriter of dozens of books, and a writer of thousands of articles for other people, I have seen firsthand how ghostwriting can help entrepreneurs achieve their business goals. Sometimes I’m credited with the writing and sometimes not. It’s usually negotiated and put into the contract before starting.

The process of ghostwriting a book typically involves a lot of thought from the author – you.

While the ghostwriter might do a lot of the grunt work, all the thoughts and ideas come from you, the original author.

The ghostwriter may massage or help coax those ideas out, but nowhere do they insert their own thoughts or opinions into the work.

Once a ghostwriter starts to write the book, they embody the client’s tone and voice to meet the goal of the book.

They often pour through hundreds of pages of interview transcripts looking for patterns that identify the author’s personality which they can then translate onto the page.

Author’s Note: If you want to learn more about why you might want to hire a ghostwriter click HERE

1- A Ghostwriter Can Help You Focus

If you are entertaining writing a book then you will find that your energies will be largely focused on the content of the book, and not so much on how it is written, ie word choice, syntax, or correct spelling.

Enlisting a ghostwriter can fill in those necessary gaps for you.

You can dedicate your time to brainstorming ideas, fleshing out what information you want to incorporate, and crafting the overall narrative that your book will follow and less on the technical aspects of crafting sentences.

The rest can be left to the services of a literary professional who is skilled in the art of compiling those ideas and putting them onto paper in an easily digestible and enjoyable format.

2- A Ghostwriter Gives You Back Time

You’re probably a busy person with lots to do.

You might be running a business, spending time with your family etc.

Your time is your most valuable commodity.

Not money.

Not your staff.

Not your customers.

All of the above you can get more of…. But time?

That never comes back and you only have a limited amount of it.

Not enough entrepreneurs and businesses protect their time.

You should only be doing the highest level of activities.

That usually revolves around:

• customer service
• sales
• training
• business operations
• hiring

But we get it….

Life certainly gets in the way.

You don’t always spend the time as you should.

Because let’s face it… if you were on point all of the time, you would be the next Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos or Warren Buffett.

But maybe you enjoy writing.

There are so many of us who, at one point or another want to get around to writing.

You’ve probably been inspired to translate your story to a written format at one point or another…

But how many actually take the next step?

This hesitation can be attributed to a myriad of factors, the main one being the elephant in the room (no surprise here again)…TIME.

In fact, time is the number one reason why people don’t write a book or start a book but don’t finish it.

Juggling the demands that our professional and personal lives require at a basic level is a struggle enough.

Even if you have an award-winning idea for a book, who has the time to sit down and actually initiate writing those thoughts down?

Once again, a ghostwriter can help alleviate the time-consuming process of putting your ideas into cohesive, well-written, and grammatical sentences.

Don’t let your lack of free time compromise your dreams and visions for literary greatness!

3- A Ghostwriter Has Writing Skills

Unless you are a seasoned veteran in the written word, then you might be unaware of how insanely competitive this industry can be.

In an age where consumers are constantly bombarded by stimuli, you are constantly vying for their attention amidst the chaos.

A ghostwriter can be an invaluable asset in turning your vast knowledge base and life experiences into an organized and structured piece of literature that will appeal to your target market.

A ghostwriter does one thing and one thing only — they write.

This means they are very, very good at it.

Since it is a profession, a great ghostwriter can help communicate and enhance the voice of any person, whether they are a coach, a company leader, or someone looking to tell their story.

They can also offer valuable insight into how to best market and publish your book, and get it out into the world (and ideally, onto the shelves of your local bookstore!)

4- Ghostwriters Help Build Brand Awareness

Yep… you heard that correctly.

A quality ghostwriter can help you with your brand.

Your brand is sacred.

It is what allows you to charge more and get better clients.

In the competitive, dynamic global village, your brand is the one thing that is going to save you from competing with everybody on Upwork, Freelancer.com Craigslist, and other job boards

However, it’s not something that you can build overnight.

Ghostwriters can help companies and people build brand awareness by leveraging your time and spreading your message quicker.

Rather than allocating time to publish content, a task, let’s be honest here, that always gets pushed down the ladder of priorities, hiring a reputable ghostwriter can speed up the process of getting your brand’s story out there.

Your brand story is important and it deserves to be told!

Business executives have to manage company business and deal with all the headaches that come with it.

They have an angry customer, their employee quit, and that shipment didn’t arrive.

Why worry about one more thing if you don’t have to?

Many CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals have the best intentions at heart when they create a content marketing strategy but often, for many valid reasons, it doesn’t happen.

It’s not an immediate problem that needs to be solved and is not in their immediate wheelhouse.

CEOs are great at making large, high-level business decisions; they are not necessarily great at creating content.

Therefore, as with any other task, why not delegate to someone who excels at it?

5- A Ghostwriter Can Help You Gain Insight Into Your Audience

Now that you have your time back, a ghostwriter can actually help you test different pieces of content to see how your audience reacts to them.

You can delve into all those super-important aspects of content creation that you never could get around to before.

You can look at likes, shares, and analytical data to see if your audience responds to a certain subject.

This doesn’t just help with search engine optimization (SEO) but can also help get your content (and your brand name) out in front of different types of people.

6-A Ghostwriter Can Help You Edit

A quote attributed to Stephen King said: “to write is human, to edit is divine.”

He was of course borrowing from the famous English poet and satirist Alexander Pope.

King’s point is well taken.

Why?

Because the magic of writing is not what you first put down on the page but how you wrangle them into a usable shape.

In other words, how many people read your work will really come down to how you edit.

No matter how good of a writer you are, you always need a second, third, and sometimes even a fourth rewrite to get it into shape.

Sometimes your writing might just need a few tweaks — a change in wording here, a fixed typo there bu,t more often than not a more in-depth look at the content is needed.

This is especially the case if you’re writing about something that is complex, technical and/or needs a lot of explanation.

As an expert, you might think you’re being perfectly clear but your audience is probably lost in the weeds.

A ghostwriter can help you not only with the writing process but also with the editing, ensuring that you put your best foot forward.

As experienced writers, ghosts are good at pinpointing weaknesses and rephrasing words to appeal more to the intended audience.

They work as editors, specifically fixing typos and changing some words so that the material reads better.

Author’s Note: If you’d like to learn more about the editing process and hiring an editor click on this link HERE

7- Writing isn’t Your Forte

It’s not uncommon for people to have brilliant minds but lack the writing prowess to convey their ideas.

Countless prominent figures in their fields can’t write, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have the knowledge to share.

Some best-selling authors managed to put their sensational stories in print because of ghostwriters.

Your lack of skill in writing shouldn’t stop you from succeeding.

A ghostwriter’s role is to fill that gap through research and writing. Consider hiring a ghost to help you convey your expertise and thoughts into a written account.

If you want to hire a ghostwriter for blog posts then learn more HERE

Types of Books Ghostwriters Can Write

The type of books a ghostwriter can write is really limited only to your imagination.

The right ghostwriter can help you write a fiction or non-fiction book.

There are many genres and sub-genres, too many to really go over but we’ll list a couple of the most popular ones that a ghostwriter can help you with:

• business book
• memoir
• autobiography/ biography
• self-help
• instructional
• cookbooks

Should You Hire A Ghostwriter To Write A Book?

The answer is it depends.

Writing is not a one-size-fits-all kind of activity.

If you enjoy writing and don’t mind taking the time out of your schedule I say go for it! Write your book yourself.

Author’s Note: If you’re thinking about writing an entire book check out my blog post about it HERE

But if you are short on time and you can leverage your skills for higher money-making activities (like selling or serving your clients) then hiring a ghostwriter might be optimal for you!

Or maybe you hate the idea of writing.

Can’t stand the thought of sitting down in front of a computer and typing out word… after… word.

But still would like to be a published author then maybe a ghostwriter can help.

Ghostwriters have many advantages and not all of them may be apparent!

I want to self-publish. Can I still Hire a Ghostwriter?

Yes! In fact, ghostwriters are often sought out by authors interested in self-publishing.

However, it’s important to remember that self-published books still follow the same rules as traditionally published ones, which means you’ll need a ghostwriter to take care of your writing.

What Are Some Drawbacks To Hiring A Ghostwriter?

When it comes to producing written content, whether it’s for a book, a blog, or other media, hiring a ghostwriter can seem like an excellent solution. Ghostwriters provide a valuable service by lending their writing expertise to those who may lack the time, writing skills, or knowledge to generate quality content.

While the advantages of hiring a ghostwriter are clear, there are also certain drawbacks that need to be considered. Here are some of the main downsides:

Ghostwriting Can Lack a Personal Touch

One of the primary drawbacks of hiring a ghostwriter is the risk of losing your personal touch or voice in the writing.

Despite their best efforts to capture your tone, style, and perspective, ghostwriters are, after all, different individuals with their own unique ways of expressing ideas.

Confidentiality Risks

When you hire a ghostwriter, you typically need to share personal or sensitive information with them, depending on the nature of the content.

This can lead to potential breaches of confidentiality, especially if proper non-disclosure agreements are not in place.

Financial Investment of Hiring a Ghostwriter

Ghostwriting can be quite expensive. Top-quality ghostwriters command high fees for their services.

If you’re on a tight budget, this could pose a significant challenge.

Ownership and Copyright Issues

Depending on the terms of your agreement, the ghostwriter may retain certain rights to the content they produce.

This can lead to legal complications down the line if not addressed at the outset. It’s crucial to clarify ownership and copyright issues before work begins.

Dependency on a Ghostwriter

If you frequently rely on a ghostwriter, you might find yourself in a position of dependency.

This could be problematic if they become unavailable, raise their rates, or decide to stop offering their services. It may also impede the development of your own writing skills.

Ethical Concerns of a Ghostwriter

Lastly, the ethics of ghostwriting can be a point of contention.

Some argue that it is misleading to present ghostwritten work as your own, especially in instances where the audience values authenticity and transparency, like personal blogs or memoirs.

Should You Hire A Ghostwriter For Content Marketing?

Before we dive into book writing, let’s talk about good old-fashioned content marketing.

That’s right… blog posts!

There are thousands of ghostwriting services available that can provide professional customized content for all kinds of things including:

• case studies
• reports
• white papers
• video scripts
• speeches

All these can be used in your marketing efforts!

Author’s Note: If you want to learn how to write a case study read the blog HERE

We are constantly bombarded with advertisements, so much so, that we constantly shutting them out.

In fact, most advertisements are proving to be more and more ineffective.

Therefore, we need to spend more and more money to break through the noise and be heard.

Facebook, Google ads, and Instagram used to be cost-effective but now businesses need to dump more and more money into these platforms.

Ultimately this is a game most small businesses can’t win.

If that’s the case, how do businesses acquire customers?

Businesses are turning to content marketing to demonstrate their expertise and gain customer trust and loyalty.

This is otherwise known as educational-based marketing and has been around longer than you think!

In 1895 (that’s right, more than a hundred years ago) John Deere published a magazine to help farmers grow their crops. But really what they were trying to do was sell John Deere products!

It worked so well that marketers have been doing it ever since!

It’s no secret that high-quality content leads to better lead generation and improved visibility online which in turn gives a business more sales.

Hiring a professional writer to craft technical documents, catalogues, reports, and press releases make a big difference in how you acquire customers.

Content marketing may seem like an easy and cheap solution (you don’t need to pay for splashy centrefolds or hit customers again and again with the same advertisement) but it does take time (and I mean a lot of time) to create great quality content.

If you’re a business owner that is time you don’t spend strategizing, looking for customers, or hiring employees and other important high-level tasks.

Author’s Note: If you want more info about how ghostwriters can help with content marketing check out my blog post HERE

If you are currently in this boat, then you may want to consider hiring the services of a ghostwriter.

Writing is challenging and you should look to the professionals for some help.

How Much Influence Should I have Over a Ghostwriter?

Book writing is a collaborative process; if you want to produce a quality book, you should put your trust in the ghostwriter’s judgment.

After all, they’re the experts who know how to communicate with an audience and write eloquently about a topic.

Having said that, it’s your book and you are hiring a ghostwriter to do a job so you should be happy with the end product.

Communication is key when working with a ghostwriter

I’m the first to say that ghostwriters aren’t the best communicators…

At least when it comes to talking to a client.

So make sure you’re instructions are clear and check in with them to make sure that they are on the right path.

If anything isn’t up to standard then talk with them.