Ghostwriter? Is That Someone Who Talks to Ghosts or Something?

One of the many great things I've found on Social Networking sites such as Twitter is the multitude of professionals who bring a wealth of experience to the table. In my October newsletter I profiled @WriteSyntax (aka Cori Padgett) who is a professional ghost writer. As this topic was all abuzz on Twitter in October I thought who better to talk about the industry and its merits than the "ghostwriter" herself...so without further adieu here is Cori Padgett.

If there is one question I get asked on a regular basis, it is what the heck is a ghostwriter? What do you DO? :) The short answer is... I write. However, I write not only for myself, but for clients as well, who perhaps can't write, don't have time to write, or utterly abhor writing! They then take what I write, stamp it with their own style (or not) and use it as their own 'creation'.

I write things like ebooks, articles, blog posts, and sales copy. Whatever the client asks for, I can most likely write it for them, unless it's wildly weird, wildly technical, or wildly dirty. That my friend, you will have to write yourself! ;)

Hmmn... that sounds neat... So how exactly does one go about finding a quality ghostwriter? Glad you asked! It can be tough at times, especially if you're new to outsourcing, or have never hired a ghost before. It can be hard to know what to look for, what equates to quality, and what your first step is. Many people will offer a lot of well meaning advice on where to look, what to pay, etc.

And unfortunately many business owners (especially small business owners) can be leery of outsourcing, simply for fear of the unknown. It's a shame because outsourcing is such a critical part of success and peace of mind when running a business, whether it's hiring a ghost to write for you, an accountant to manage your money, or a VA to manage your day to day. It can be such a huge weight off your shoulders, finding the 'right' help for your needs.

That being said, here are a few tips on finding a quality ghostwriter. (Or any type of help really.)

First of all, don't be fooled by sites like GetAFreelancer.com. Yes it's possible to find good help there, but many people go there thinking they'll find good help for cheap. Sorry, but the cheap ones generally turn out to be not so good help, and the good ones will be charging what they're worth, whether you find them on freelance sites, or forums, or word of mouth.

So that is the first thing you need to understand when hiring a writer. You get what you pay for, and cheap almost always results in sub-par work and leaves you unhappy. Now, that doesn't mean expensive is always better, but in my experience, if they are charging high fees, it's because they are GOOD at what they do. You can't command those kind of fees and NOT be good at what you do, because word gets around.

Which brings me to my next point. Research your potential ghost. The best ones are usually found through word of mouth or referrals, or sometimes you just get lucky and happen upon them. That being said, regardless of how you find them, Google them. If they are legit, they will have a decent website, and SHOULD have plenty of testimonials from happy clients.

Ask them for examples of their work, and if they don't have any they can share (which is extremely rare) they will most likely offer to write a quick sample for you based on the topic of your choice. If they don't offer, ask. Unless they are extremely well known, and their work speaks for itself, they shouldn't have any problem doing this for you.

Once you see samples of their work, that can help you decide if their style meshes well with your own and the vision you have. A good ghostwriter will already be adept at adapting to each clients needs, but there will always be times where you are just not a good fit, for whatever reason. That's OK and just means it's time to renew your search for the perfect ghost.

Finally, if you like their work, everything adds up to a picture you can appreciate, and the price is right, take the leap and hire them already. Most will be happy to start out with a 50% deposit to start a project, which provides a medium of protection for you both. Some of the the elite may demand payment in full upfront, and that is entirely up to you on whether or not you choose to accept that, or prefer to find another writer who is more compromising in that regard. And don't be fearful about asking them to sign a ghost agreement. They will be perfectly willing if they are true professionals, and if they aren't willing, consider that a red flag and an indication to steer clear.

Bottom Line?

Finding a ghost that fits doesn't have to be difficult. Do your due diligence, make sure they have a great reputation, and that you see samples of their work. Only you know your budget, but remember you get what you pay for. Cheap doesn't always cut it, and often times, if you are paying higher fees it is not only for the quality of the writing itself, but speed of delivery, quality of service, and often times additional value in ways you did not expect. A ghostwriter can be an amazing asset when you find the perfect one that suits YOU. Happy hunting!

Warm regards,
Cori Padgett

Getting everything in life means to me helping someone get what they want - first.

Wow has it really been over a month and a bit since my last post...I guess the only explanation I can come up with is that I've been doing quite a bit of nurturing...family, friends and of course those that know me professionally or virtually on the Social Networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. This is where I'd like to start for my post this month - nurturing your "Fan Club" and what it means to you. For me it means taking the time to live the adage "in order to get what you want in life help someone get what they want".

Over the past month I have made a concerted effort to get to know those in my network a little bit more and to identify those areas that they are most interested in - whether personally or professionally - and to actively attempt to help them in these endeavours. For instance, each month I distribute a newsletter that features either articles penned by me about topics of interest within Multimedia Communications or friends such as Anick Losier (@Anick_Losier on Twitter) or Catherine White. What this does for them is help attract a much larger audience to their messages - what it does for me is enhance the quality of the information that I share with my readers - an opportunity of mutual benefit.

In addition, I have incorporated a section dedicated to sharing with my readers profiles of people on Twitter such as Laura Lake (@laura_lake) and Cori Padgett (@WriteSyntax) who have had an impact on how I interact on the network. I can recall a post by one of my "Tweeps" Shelly Kramer (@ShellyKramer) that stated that Twitter is about engagement, leading to relationships and finally as I see it opportunities of mutual benefit. It can't be just about flogging a product or service - you don't amass friends or advocates by constantly trying to close the sale. What does happen though is a slow, methodical and truer understanding of what makes these entrepreneurs tick - and for them you. We're all trying to navigate the uncharted waters of Social Networking but the basic concepts of relationship building remain constant.

This is where I think the importance of nurturing your relationships comes in by sharing with the greater community those things that are important to your fans. For the past few months I have been attempting to do just this for my friends Bev Wallace (@nursebevw) and Kathy Caya (@madtownbabe) who have been sharing details on a cause they are supporting. Not only have I supported their efforts financially I have also done so by sharing the details for others in my network to view and consider - maximizing the reach and impact of the cause. I see it this way - if one of my "Tweets" helps someone within my network get a step closer then I have done what I set out to do..."helping someone attain what they want in life in turn helps me get what I want" regardless of whether this is immediate or years down the road.

In my mind, expanding your friend and fan base through these efforts is the stuff that life-long friendships and professional relationships are made.