A Noob’s Guide to Ghostwriting as a Freelance Writer

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If you have always considered a life as a writer but you’re not sure where to start, you may want to consider freelancing. Freelance writers can make up to $100,000 per year or more, provided they connect with the highest-paying clients and have a strategy for developing their freelance writing career.

Why is freelance writing needed?

Freelance writing is needed by both publishers and business sites or blogs due to the sheer amount of content it takes to keep their sites high in the rankings, as well as to draw in views from their target audience. People will pay for high-value content and they are often on the lookout for skilled writers.

But where do you start if you are just beginning your career as a freelance writer? While there is no exact technique or procedure that you should follow every time in order to achieve success as a freelancer or ghostwriter, there are some basic tenets that are important to keep in mind. We hope this article will help you get started.

Rule #1: Pay Your Dues

First, no one started out as Ernest Hemingway the first time they wrote an essay. The same is true of freelance writing. In that way, it is no different than any other professional. You have to prove yourself first. You can do this in a number of ways but the main thing you have to do is to convince the publishers that you have what they need: great content.

If you are dealing with an individual blogger or website owner, the same is true. So, when you are applying for work with a website or blog, first read the website or blog thoroughly and get a feel for the voice they are trying to capture. Remember, as a blogger or ghostwriter, there should not be much difference between the way the original blogger sounds and the way you sound. So try to capture the tone and style of the blog before you submit a sample piece.

Paying dues also refers to the fact that you will not make a large amount of money just starting out. Be honest if you are a noob, but show your natural talent to get your first gigs. You may even have to write a few free at the onset. Then, as you get more publishers to trust you, you can increase your rate.

Rule #2: Specialize

Blog owners and website owners are looking for specialization. This is because their websites and blogs are specialized in a specific niche area. So you need to have a good knowledge base of the material that you are writing about. If you want to write about gardening, for example, make sure you have a general knowledge base about how to tend to gardens, how to select plants or seeds, and how to maintain a garden. You can learn more as you go but your basic knowledge in the area you are choosing to specialize in should be broad.

Not only is it important for a freelance writer to understand what their best writing skills and expertise are in, it should also be provided through outsourced writing platforms as well. Take a look at Bid4papers which specializes in essay writing. The more they know about their target audience (students) and how to provide them with the best value possible, the better the writers they can bring in, while also building a quality service and business model in the process.

Rule #3: Differentiate Yourself

This is not a job interview, but it is similar. Whenever I submit content to a new client for the first time, I always pull my “best card” from the deck. By that, I mean that I think about what experience I have had (either writing or life experience) that could add real value to my posts for a specific website or client, then use that “card.” For example, if I want to write for a media or news publisher, I might tell them about my Radio-TV degree and the fact that I worked for commercial radio for 12 years. If I am writing for a restaurant, I should talk about how I love good food and offer some tips on how to bring in customers to a restaurant. Anything you can use to differentiate yourself from your competition is fair game.

Rule #4: Apply to several publishers

Another strategy you can use to getting jobs as a freelance writer is to apply several places. You never known which publisher might take to your work so it’s a good idea to put your work out there to several. However, it’s important to remember that, if you submit an original piece that has not been published yet, you can only sell full rights to one of them. So you should usually go with the one who pays the best rate, then withdraw your sample from the others.

You also should decide how much money you need to make to support yourself and go for publishers that can pay your rate.

Publishers do not know where or if you are publishing your work, so they depend on you to be straightforward with them about which ones are sold, published, or unpublished. Usually, publishers just want to get a feel for your style and ability so they can see if it is a good fit for their website or publication. So any sample of previous work will work, but make sure it is relevant to their topic. They are also looking for knowledge in their industry.

After You Get the Gig

Once you do land a great job following the above principles, make sure you follow up on your promise to provide great content. Publishers want content that entertains and informs. People read blogs for information, not for a sales ad. If you make your content too sales-oriented, you will lose your target audience. The whole idea of a blog is to step away from the sales copy that is on your website about your brand and offer something free for your potential customers that has value.

Then, if they like the information they got from you, they may return to do business with you later. So, while the goal of a blog is to lead customers to a website, this fact cannot be obvious and sales copy should be left at the door. Writing for a blog requires empathy for the reader, an understanding of what they value, and an ability to make the reader feel comfortable with a brand or website. It’s not about sales, even if that is the goal.

So, freelance writers should be able to be a number of things for their clients. They should be able to capture the voice of the site or blog, provide valuable information that leads the reader to the client’s website, but to do it in a subtle way so that it is not like sales copy. This requires a unique skill but it is one that can be developed with practice.

Develop a portfolio

Unlike in the real world where you can show potential clients your work in person, you deal with online clients in a virtual environment. So you need something to show them what you can do. You can create a digital online portfolio such as a blog or a sample copy of your work to illustrate your ability to do ghostwriting. Putting your portfolio on high-profile sites such as Upwork or Freelancer.com might be a way to gain exposure.

Other things you can do to draw attention to your freelance ability is to create Amazon Kindle shorts (short articles or eBooks) for people to download or create your own website displaying your work. It’s also important to make sure you have a professional photo and bio that can easily be seen when browsing through a freelance writer directory.

You should also think about whether you want to write for publishers or websites. There is a difference in their expectations and format, so you should get to know what they want before submitting content.

Credit v. Money

Being a freelance or ghostwriter also requires that you are willing to give up your rights to some content. While most magazines and some online publications will give you credit and a byline for your work, most websites or blogs do not. Ghostwriting involves getting paid for posing as the author or individual who has hired you to write the copy because they either do not have the time or the skills to do it. There are also many online courses dedicated to how to become a better writer and building a business and brand around your expertise.

You do get paid but you do not get credit as a ghostwriter. You are also not allowed to share the fact that you wrote this copy with anyone.

As a freelancer, which is a broader term for a professional writer who is not employed by a particular publisher exclusively, you have more options than simply ghostwriting. So look into doing some of the following to get your career going:

  • Writing Ebooks
  • Making public appearances about freelance writing
  • Hosting your own website and blog
  • Pitching to magazines
  • Writing different types of copy (white papers, TV scripts, etc.)
  • Creating and maintaining a great portfolio

All of these things should help you. But the best thing you can do after you’ve researched it is just to get started.

How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

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Freelancing is a thrilling yet terrifying line of work. Getting started as a freelancer is the most difficult and challenging step. Especially if you’re coming from the stability and predictability of full-time work, freelancing can seem vague, threatening and terrifying. When you’re just beginning, you’ll be on a constant hunt for freelance writing jobs. Let’s consider some popular ways to can find freelance writing jobs for beginners and get your career off the ground. [Read more…]

When Do Freelance Writers Need to Think About Setting Up Their Own Website?

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If you’re a freelance writer, you probably, like some of your peers, don’t have a website. You may have considered getting one but always found a reason for not doing it.

Some writers mistakenly think there’s no need for a website. They can always find clients on job search sites. Maintaining one will consume their time, which should be devoted to income-generating writing instead. It will be an expense without an assured ROI. They’re on LinkedIn and Facebook anyway. They have their bylines on their articles posted on other sites.

Some of the above excuses may be true for the short-term, but if your goal is to establish yourself as a serious writer and build your credibility, nothing beats having your own website. The world turns to the internet for information, and while social media platforms are undeniably key sources, you don’t own them. You’re just one of the thousands of freelance writers on Twitter and Facebook.

When Do Freelance Writers Need to Think About Setting Up Their Own Website? Click To Tweet

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5 Industries Freelance Writers Should Be Targeting

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As digital marketing becomes an even more prominent aspect of business growth, the demand for freelance writers continues to skyrocket. But as a freelance writer, it’s often difficult to know which direction to go. There’s a lot of demand, but which niches are most profitable? Once you discover the answer to this question, you’ll find that the money has a way of rolling in.

Target these markets and expand your freelance writing business. Click To Tweet

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Screenwriters, Watch These Movies Based on True Stories and Learn

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Writing an amazing screenplay about fictional events can be challenging. By basing your screenplay on a true story, you can use the basic structure of true events as a framework to hold the rest of your narrative. It can also be a lucrative way to convert existing non-fiction writing into potentially valuable Hollywood property. Watching movies based on true stories is a good way to hone your screenwriting skills.

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Here are some of the best true story movies that can serve as inspiration for your screenplay in the making. [Read more…]

Learn Specialized Vocabulary and Take On Higher-Paying Gigs

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Some of the best freelance writing jobs are specialized tasks, such as technical writing work, medical or legal transcription, or work in the arts, architecture, or music. The one serious challenge with these jobs, though, is that most freelancers don’t necessarily know the full array of vocabulary necessary to complete these jobs. Though they may be interested in the field or have some background knowledge, technical language skills are often acquired in the course of the job. [Read more…]

5 Tips to Finding the Best Freelancers for Your Business

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More and more people are leaving conventional, full-time traditional employment and becoming freelance workers and independent contractors. This offers a ton of benefits for businesses of all sizes; you’re able to pay talented, trained experts to complete work or projects based on your need. You don’t need to hire them as an employee and pay taxes or have a set amount of work a week, and—best of all in the eyes of many—you don’t have to train them.

Finding truly talented and exceptional freelance workers, however, can be a major challenge. People have been lying on their resumes for decades, and it’s all too easy to hire someone who looks good online and pay way too much money for work that doesn’t even come close to meeting the mark. One of the best ways to find a high-quality writer is to find one with real history, customer feedback, author profiles and especially if they have a website or blog of their own.

With so many resources online for how to start a blog, it would be rare these days to find a professional freelance writer that doesn’t have a site of their own. However, don’t let that be the determining case on whether you are going to hire someone or not. To help with this complicated decision process, we are going to highlight five of the best ways to find a high-quality freelance writer for your site. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look, and what to look for.

Amazing, hardworking freelancers are out there; you just have to find them and do your best to keep them once you do.

1. Know What You Need

If you’re going to hire someone, the best thing you can do is determine what exactly you’ll need them to do. If you’re looking to hire a freelance writer, for example, are you going to want them to write ebooks, blog posts, or email marketing campaigns? Some can do all three, but some can’t; each has separate skills required. Good blog post writers have an understanding of SEO and keywords; email copywriters should know about that particular branch of marketing.

Understanding, to the best of your ability, what your needs are and how it will impact your business (are you creating a blog to increase traffic, or to drive sales, or both?) will help you find someone with the necessary skill set to complete the job, and do it well.

2. Be Willing to Pay More

The top talent in any field will almost certainly get paid more; their work offers more value, and they’re in more demand. While you can find a large number of freelancers online who will do the work for very cheap (particularly in the digital marketing/design field), you’ll often get much better results if you’re willing to pay more for someone with more experience. By being willing to pay more, you’ll automatically have an easier time finding the best freelancers.

You might be lucky and stumble onto a worker who is new to the industry and isn’t charging a lot for their services yet while they build a resume; that’s great at first. Keep in mind though that if they’re really good, other businesses will see it, too, and you’ll likely have to pay more to keep them on board.

3. Ask People You Trust for Referrals

A big fear of a lot of businesses or business people when it comes to hiring freelancers is that they can be unpredictable and unreliable. They don’t want to pay that upfront deposit in case the freelancer takes off without doing the work, or they don’t want to pay a hefty hourly fee to someone who may waste their time. A good solution to this is to ask the people you trust for referrals.

Asking a friend, colleague, or industry peer if they have a freelancer they use and recommend can be a great way to connect with a worker who you already know has produced solid work at least once.

You can even ask the freelancers or contractors that you’re already working with if they have recommendations. A blogger or copywriter, for example, may have a great relationship with other types of writers, a website designer, or a graphic designer that they’ve worked with in the past. Because they know their reputation can be impacted by their recommendation, they’re a lot less likely to make one rashly.

4. Pay for a Short “Test” Project

Plenty of employers will ask prospective employees to demonstrate their abilities before offering them a job; hiring a freelancer doesn’t have to be any different. Especially for large (and expensive) projects, asking freelancers to complete a short, paid test project can help you decide if they’re right for your business. Even the best freelancers out there won’t be the right fit for every business.

Test projects give you the opportunity to determine not only that the quality of their work is high and that it’s what you need, but several other factors, too, including:

  • Whether or not they meet their deadlines. If they don’t meet their deadline on the test project, where they’re supposed to be strutting their stuff, they probably won’t meet the deadlines later on, either.
  • How they communicate. Communication is so important, especially when you’re looking to have the work done right. Are they clear about what they need from you? Do they ask for help or clarification when they need it?
  • How often they communicate. If the person you’re looking to hire as a freelance worker doesn’t check their email or their phone as often as they might need them to, the working relationship won’t work. Some projects need constant communication, and if you need someone who will be open to that, it’s good to find out early.

Keep in mind that even the best freelancers out there won’t be the right fit for every business; if you find a seemingly amazing freelancer that doesn’t have a communication or work style that meshes with yours, they’re probably not right for you, even if they come highly recommended. That’s the point of the test project—to see who will and won’t work.

5. See How They Respond to Feedback

No matter what business you’re in, we’ve all experienced a coworker, boss, or even a friend who is incapable of accepting feedback of constructive criticism. When they receive it, they point fingers at everyone else and get angry. This is the very last thing you want when hiring a freelance worker or independent contractor.

If at all possible, keep an eye on how a freelance worker responds to feedback and criticism. A good way to do this is by asking them to complete that test project discussed above, and then asking them to edit it with your notes. If they’re willing to do so, that’s a good sign. If they’re not and have no good reason as to why, cut your losses and run.

This is someone you’re paying for a service or a product; if they are unwilling or unable to give you exactly what you want, it’s just not going to work.

How Freelance Writers Can Use HARO to Produce Better Work

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Finally, you worked hard to find new opportunities, and you’ve landed that dream assignment. The one for the big publication like VICE or Forbes. The one that’s going to take your portfolio to the next level and open up opportunities with all the other major publishers.

However, you need something to put your writing over the top. You don’t want to just rehash what others have already written. You want to do your research and add something new to the conversation. But maybe you’re not an expert on the topic, and all the research has been used over and over. [Read more…]

7 Benefits of Using an Editing Tool

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What’s the worst thing you can do as a freelance writer?

While each of us can think of different horror stories, we can all agree that sending content to a client with technical gaffes and sloppy writing is the best way to ensure you will not be invited back for another gig. But unless you have an editor to review everything you write – which we can’t all afford to have – how can you be sure you’re catching it all? 

Here’s where editing tools can make a dramatic difference. [Read more…]

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