As a blog or niche site owner, you might be considering whether to hire a ghostwriter to create content for your website. Doing so is one way to boost growth and It’s a common question faced by many online entrepreneurs. Thoughts of delegating tasks start when you begin to feel the pressure of consistently producing high-quality articles while managing other aspects of their business.
Hiring a ghostwriter can save you time and effort, while allowing you to focus on growing your business, networking, or making sales calls. When deciding if it’s the right choice for your website, it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of using a ghost writer for your content. After all, each and every piece of content gives an important first impression as to your trustworthiness as a resource on the internet.
Below I discuss some of the main things to keep in mind if you are considering hiring a ghost writer.
What is a ghost writer?
A ghost writer is a professional writer who creates content, such as books, articles, or blog posts, on behalf of someone else. Ghost writers typically do not receive recognition or credit for their work; instead, the person who hires them is listed as the author.
Ghostwriters can bring experience in a variety of writing styles, SEO skills, and the ability to adopt an existing brand’s tone. While you might be able to create content yourself, a skilled ghostwriter could complete the task faster and more effectively, relieving you of unnecessary stress. However, finding the right match in terms of writing style, industry knowledge, and budget is essential for the success of your partnership with a ghostwriter.
With that said, it’s also likely that no one is every going to put the same level of care and detail into an article as you. That’s something I had to accept. Because they are my websites and it’s my business, I have the most skin in the game and therefore have a good chance of producing the overall highest performing content. That doesn’t mean that others won’t be able to produce some really good content as well though.
What they do
Ghost writers can work on a wide range oſ projects such as:
- fiction and non-fiction books
- blog posts
- speeches
- social media content
- technical manuals
- and more..
A good ghost writer should be skilled in adapting their writing style to match the voice and tone required by the client or project. Sadly that is not always the case just like with any other profession, when hiring you have to filter out the bad apples to find a good one.
When you do hire a ghost writer, they should collaborate closely with you to understand your goals, target audience, and preferred writing style. Once they have a clear understanding of your needs for your site, they will start creating content that meets your specifications according to your SOPs and instructions.
Should You Hire a Ghost Writer for Your Niche Site – Pros & Cons
Pros of Using a Ghost Writer
There are several advantages to hiring a ghostwriter for your niche site, which can help you overcome some challenges and achieve your goals more efficiently:
- Save time: If you’re short on time or juggling multiple projects, a ghostwriter can help you create high-quality content while freeing up your schedule for other important tasks.
- Expertise in writing: Ghost writers are professional writers who have honed their skills over time. They can bring clarity, structure, and style to your content, making it more engaging and accessible to your audience.
- Explore new topics: A ghostwriter can help you expand your niche site into areas that you may not be as familiar with, diversifying your content and appealing to a wider audience.
- Collaborative effort: Working with a ghost writer allows for a collaborative process, enabling you to bounce ideas off each other and create content that is both unique and well-researched.
Cons of Using a Ghost Writer
Despite the benefits, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider when deciding whether to hire a ghostwriter for your niche site:
- Cost: Depending on their experience and workload, hiring a writer in general can be expensive. You’ll need to carefully evaluate your budget to ensure that hiring a ghostwriter is a practical investment for your site.
- Lack of personal voice: Since someone else is writing the content, it may not have the same personal touch or authenticity you would be able to provide if writing it yourself.
- Communication issues: Working with a any writer requires clear and open communication to achieve the desired results. Miscommunication could lead to content that doesn’t meet expectations or align with your vision for the site.
- Ownership and credit: As a ghost writer writes the content, they typically don’t receive credit for their work. This can be a drawback for the writer, and it’s essential to ensure you have a clear agreement with your writer about ownership and attribution.
How to Find a Ghost Writer
Getting started can seem challenging if you don’t know where to find a good writer. But by following these tips you’ll be able to find a ghost writer for your site.
- Know your requirements: It’s essential to have a clear idea of what you need before you start searching for a ghost writer. Know your exact topic(s) to be assigned, niche, approximate length, target audience, and your preferred tone of voice just to name a few things. A writer will want to know these and if you don’t tell them they will just do what they want.
- Utilize professional platforms: Online platforms like WriterAccess and Upwork have a dedicated pool of ghostwriters for you to choose from. These websites offer easy access to profiles, reviews, and portfolios, making your search more straightforward. There will be fees involved for using these platforms either on the front end or the back.
- Seek recommendations: Reach out to fellow niche site publishers or peers in related forums and social media groups. See if they know of any writers needing work that they’ve maybe worked with in the past.
- Examine their portfolio: Review the ghostwriter’s previous works to ensure their writing style, tone, and expertise align with your vision. You may also want to ask for a paid sample article.
- Conduct interviews: Narrow down your choices and interview potential ghostwriters to ensure compatibility, communication skills, and a mutual understanding of the project’s objectives.
- Hire quick and fire quicker: In the end it’s best to start throwing work at the best looking candidates as soon as possible. Keep the ones that shine and let go the ones that aren’t great.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
When deciding whether to hire a ghostwriter for your blog or niche site, it’s essential to take into account the legal and ethical considerations involved. Things like copyright issues, as well as confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.
Ownership and Copyright
Hiring a ghostwriter to write content for you is perfectly legal. However, it’s crucial to ensure that your agreement with the writer clearly outlines what rights you have over the work they create.
Before hiring a ghostwriter, make sure you have a clear understanding of the agreement. Let them know whether or not they are even allowed to use work created for you in their portfolio. I do not allow this, but that’s just me.
Getting this stuff out of the way will help you navigate any potential issues regarding long-term ownership and control over the content.
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure
Ghostwriting often involves working with sensitive or proprietary information. As a result, it could be in your best interest to establish a confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement with the ghostwriter you hire.
With that said, I don’t think this applies for most blog or niche website publishers out there… but it could. Maybe you don’t want a disgruntled ex-writer spilling the beans about your keyword strategy or something like that. Personally I don’t bother with this.
This agreement could serve to protect both parties by ensuring that any sensitive information shared during the project remains confidential and is not disclosed to third parties.
If you end up drafting a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement, be sure to include specific clauses outlining the responsibilities of each party, as well as any consequences for breaking the agreement. This will help establish trust between you and the ghostwriter and provide a secure foundation for working together.
