Writing can consume too much of your time, especially if you have many writing projects on your plate. Whether you’re publishing content for your blog or writing a best-selling book, hiring a ghostwriter is a huge help. Even the most renowned authors in the world hired a ghostwriter for help — R.L. Stine, Nancy Drew, Jason Bourne, Harry Houdini, to name a few.
Of course, finding a quality ghostwriter is a tall order. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack! To avoid hiring the wrong one, here’s a six-step guide on snatching a worthy ghostwriter.
1. Determine your goal
To hire the right person, you have to know what your goal or purpose is. There are various types of writers for hire, and a ghostwriter is one of them. If you don’t know what the job and pay entail, then you might be led on the wrong path.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What type of content are you publishing?
- Are you buying the rights or crediting the author?
- How much is your budget?
The most common types of writers are content writers and ghostwriters. A content writer creates content for websites and is credited for every published content. On the other hand, a ghostwriter doesn’t have rights to all their write-ups.
That said, know how you want your content to be published. Understanding publishing limitations means a smooth work relationship with the ghostwriter. Also, setting expectations makes the hiring process more straightforward.
2. Sign up for freelance marketplaces
One surefire way to find freelance ghostwriters are through online marketplaces. Read reviews about each platform and sign up for high-quality marketplaces. A high-quality platform means a stringent freelance registration process. Here are some freelance marketplaces to check out:
- Upwork
- People Per Hour
- Toptotal
- Guru
- Freelancer
- Fiverr
- Simply Hired
- Worksome
- Twago
3. Write a good job posting
Job hiring and application is a two-way process. Employers don’t only assess the applicants, but the applicants also gauge whether the job offer is worthy or not. And you can impress more applicants through your job post.
Make sure you write an irresistible job post. Here’s how:
- Give it structure to make it easy to read
- Write a company overview for credibility
- Include a brief overview of the job position
- Jot down the characteristics of the applicants you’re looking for
- Jot down the job requirements and responsibilities
- Add some essential information if necessary
4. Post on social media groups
Another way to find quality ghostwriters is to search from social media groups. First, find out which social networks ghostwriters frequently hang out. Reddit, LinkedIn, and Facebook are a few text-based social networks that might have several ghostwriters looking for projects.
Then search for social media groups or like-minded communities that revolve around ghostwriting. Write your job description from there or start a conversation that can attract ideal candidates.
5. Look for vital characteristics
No matter how excellent the ghostwriter is when it comes to outcome, specific characteristics are still crucial during the hiring process. If the ghostwriter can indeed create quality content but doesn’t communicate thoroughly, this can lead to miscommunication or deadline issues.
That being said, here are some characteristics you must look for in a ghostwriter:
- Well-thought-out proposal
- Asking the right questions
- They must read your brief
- Passionate
- Organized and plans their approach
- Reasonable rates
- They must ask about revisions
- Flexible with availability
- Responsive
- Has good reputation
6. Check their portfolio
A responsible recruiter knows how imperative checking every applicant’s portfolio is. Remember, writers might put together all their best blogs. So ask for various projects they’ve written for in different industries. Check the brands and websites they’ve worked with and browse through the write-ups. Also, make sure you ask for the raw copy to ensure that they wrote the content.
Conclusion
Hiring a ghostwriter is the simplest step to help you out with your content. Another option is to employ on-demand writing services that eliminate all these steps. Depending on your needs, you have complete control over how to find a writing assistant.
