3 Top Tips for Hiring a Ghostwriter
Content is more and more valuable for businesses and organisations these days, no matter the industry or the type of content required. Search engines pay a lot of attention to the content firms post, and audiences engage with clear, entertaining, educational, and well-written pieces, too.
However, many people simply don’t have the time to create their own content, such as blog posts, articles, social media updates, e-newsletters, e-books or printed books, website content, and more. That’s where it’s worth hiring a ghostwriter in Australia or beyond to help you out.
As a long-time freelance writer, copywriter, and ghostwriter in Queensland who works for clients worldwide, I have written across most content forms and for all audiences, from young children up to seniors, and in many markets.
I’ve been a writer for hire for children’s books for publishers and other companies, and I’ve been a ghostwriter for e-books, white papers, reports, product descriptions, and numerous other projects. Over the years I have learned how I can make a difference to the businesses and lives of those who hire me, and what works and doesn’t work when developing pieces to get results.
Whether you’re looking for a copywriter on the Sunshine Coast, ghostwriting services in Queensland, an Australian children’s author to elevate your books, or freelance work-for-hire services done remotely for any global location, you must hire strategically. There’s no point spending money on services that you’re not happy with or that don’t get delivered when you require them.
Here are three top tips for finding experienced freelance ghostwriters and copywriters for your needs today.
1. Determine your budget upfront and share information to get an accurate quote
There’s no point wasting your time or a freelance content creator’s time in asking questions and getting into the details of project briefs if you don’t have a clear idea of your budget upfront. Know what you can afford to spend on writer-for-hire services and exactly how much content or editing help you hope to get for that amount.
Research average freelance writing rates to get an idea of what you might need to outlay but remember that you do get what you pay for. If you only want to spend a small amount on content because you’ve seen some content mills that offer articles for five dollars or books written for a couple of hundred, you can’t expect to be able to hire a ghostwriter who has the experience, knowledge, skills, and dedication to their craft (and deadlines) that you would hope for. Those who come up with quality work and have been honing their craft for years expect to be remunerated fairly for their time, just as you do for yours.
It pays to give people an idea of your budget when you first contact them so that if this number is way below their standard rates, you won’t waste time. Or, you might ask them to let you know what they could provide for your allocated amount.
Some freelance writers and work-for-hire ghostwriters and editors mention their rates on their websites or other profile pages, but most don’t. This isn’t because people are trying to be vague but because writing projects can vary hugely and we copywriters typically need to understand exactly what’s involved in writing a children’s book or other content before we can put together an accurate quote.
For example, roughly how many words, pages, or articles might you need, and will we need to do a lot of research to create suitable content? Do you want a certain round of edits on each piece, and do we need to include SEO keywords to help your website ranking? We may need to obtain images, source quotes or information from experts, engage sensitivity readers, or consider other aspects, too. Timelines and schedules are other key factors you’ll want to convey so the freelance ghostwriters for hire you approach can determine if they’ll have the necessary availability.
There is much more to a ghostwriting quote for books, articles, blogs, or other content than you might realise, so don’t be put off by someone asking you for more details. In fact, when a professional ghostwriter asks for clarity about your needs, this shows that they take the work seriously and want to ensure they deliver content you’re satisfied with, on time, and to budget.
2. Ask about skills, qualifications, and experience
As you would with any other service provider you hire, when searching for a ghostwriter for content for your business or other projects, learn what makes different freelancers suitable for the job. You will often find freelance ghostwriters for hire via a Google search and can examine their websites, LinkedIn profiles, and other pages.
Check out what they mention about the education they have, the types of projects they’ve worked on, the clients who have hired them over the years, the audiences they specialise in creating pieces for, and more. If you can’t see enough details, don’t be afraid to ask copywriters for more information about what qualifies them and how much experience they have.
The more in-depth, complex, or specialised the work is that needs doing, the more imperative it is that you find a ghostwriter in Australia or elsewhere who can handle the intricacies of the project. Be as specific as possible when you search online for freelance writers or ask around for recommendations.
For example, if you want to locate a writer for hire for children’s books, seek out people who have traditionally (rather than self) published their own early readers, picture books, middle-grade books, or young adult novels. This way, you know a publisher has already invested in them because they know how to create engaging content for kids. A specialist children’s book ghostwriter will understand how to write for junior audiences and use appropriate language, tone, topics, and themes.
Someone who has only ever focused on business ghostwriting services, on the other hand, might be able to produce well-written content but this doesn’t mean it will actually suit or engage the children you’re creating the books for. Hire people who have the right experience and you’ll get a much better return on your investment.
It often pays to ask for some samples of a writer’s previous work, too. In some cases, you may need to pay for professionals to create a sample just for you, based on your project, so you can tell if they’ll be a good fit or not.
3. Look for people who are committed to learning and growing
Writers, just like those in other occupations, need to keep learning and growing and challenging themselves to get better at their craft so they can offer more to their clients. When you look for work for hire writing services in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Europe, or anywhere else, be on the lookout for professionals who are committed to constant improvements.
For example, ask ghostwriters on the Sunshine Coast or in Queensland, Australia, etc., for details about the last books they read, the courses they’ve completed, literary festivals or conferences they’ve attended, and so on. Choose an experienced freelance copywriter who is constantly reading and taking in the written word. They might use a Kindle every week to download new content, buy books from stores, or head to their local library to check out the latest offerings in their field.
They should also keep abreast of the latest developments in search engine optimisation (SEO) and digital marketing and writing trends, so they know how to best create content for online needs. They should utilise social media in at least some capacity, too, so they can help you put together work that engages audiences on networking sites.
If you’re looking for children’s book editing services, a proofreader for kids’ books, or someone to help you with work for hire children’s book creation, you’ll also want to know that writers understand what’s popular with kids these days, the appropriate word counts and pacing for junior content, and what types of themes may be most sought after or, conversely, no longer popular.
You may be under a tight deadline or just want to tick the task of hiring a ghostwriter for children’s books or other content off your to-do list ASAP. However, don’t rush the process. Take your time to find the best person for the job, and ensure they’re pleasant, a good communicator who is known for sticking to schedules and briefs (or coming up with excellent content ideas, as needed), and experienced. The time you take at the start to locate the best freelance copywriter will pay dividends in time, money, and results later on.
