How to Build a Career as a Professional Ghostwriter
As technology advances, more business ideas and brands will keep springing up. In all of these, one thing is common – the need for content. It is clearer that we all need content to drive whatever products or services we offer to our target audience. A writer is skilled in weaving the right words together into a readable and relatable piece.
Over the years, we have seen the importance of ghostwriters and the services they offer to clients globally. However, there are people who are yet to grasp who a ghostwriter is, what ghostwriting is about, and how to build a career in it. This article offers a detailed guide on how to become a ghostwriter and get started with a professional ghostwriting career.
Table of Contents
Ghostwriting Explained for a Beginner
Imagine writing a novel as a random writer and selling it to a renowned author who pays you for the writing but publishes the finished work in her name. That is the best way to explain what ghostwriting is to a beginner, only that it can go beyond novels – it can be web copies, email newsletters, or cookbooks. Whatever can be published can be ghostwritten by one person and credited to another person, including YouTube scripts.
To get into ghostwriting as a career, you must start by understanding the nuances of writing. Then, you must decide what niche you want to specialize in. Considering that several options exist regarding specialization, you need to know the most profitable ones. After that, you’d need to develop yourself in that area through regular courses and consistent writing. The more you write, the higher your chances of building a rich portfolio that can attract clients.
The Benefits of Becoming a Ghostwriter
As with many other professions, you should know what you stand to benefit as a ghostwriter before considering a career in it. Undoubtedly, several benefits exist in the world of ghostwriting that you can tap into, and the most important of them include:
● It offers a higher level of flexibility
As a ghostwriter, you are not bound by the regular 9-5 work schedule sitting in the four walls of an office. Instead, you can decide when you want to work, how you want to work, and who you want to work for. This flexibility level means you can work during the day or at night, depending on when it is convenient for you.
● You can work as a freelance contractor.
The Internet is filled with several employers who are looking to hire freelance ghostwriters. With the right knowledge and access to clients, you can work with anyone, regardless of the country they are in. As a freelance ghostwriter who resides in the United States, you can work for clients in the United Kingdom.
In addition to this, being a freelance contractor means that you can work for more than one employer at the same time.
Tips On Landing Clients for Your Ghostwriting Services
One of the many challenges faced by individuals who want to build a career in ghostwriting is landing their first clients. Some people believe that the hardest task is always landing the first, which is true. This doesn’t mean landing other clients after is guaranteed, but your knowledge of landing the first can be helpful for others
Some proven tips that can be used to land clients who need your ghostwriting services include:
● Write a detailed cover letter highlighting your interest, abilities, and possible certification you have in that writing niche.
● Craft a convincing resume that highlights your recent writing experience and the goals you achieved.
● Have samples you can send to prospective clients that convince them of your writing abilities.
● You should be willing to take some sample tasks from certain clients to show you are the right fit.
Top Places You Can Find Ghostwriting Jobs
It’s one thing to be an amazing ghostwriter and another thing to know where to find these ghostwriting jobs. With the right tips on landing clients after knowing when to find them, you can build a successful ghostwriting career. Interestingly, the Internet offers a variety of options when it comes to finding writing gigs, and some of them include:
1. Upwork
2. LinkedIn
3. Fiverr
4. Guru
5. Freelancer
6. Indeed
7. Freelance Writing Jobs
8. Legit
9. PeoplePerHour
10. X (formerly known as Twitter)
11. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp
While these places are great places to land ghostwriting gigs, they are not automatic. Upwork, for example, will require you to send convincing proposals, while LinkedIn requires a comprehensive profile, a CV or Resume, and a job-tailored cover letter. Take your time to research the platform and know which works best for your ghostwriting niche before starting.
Conclusion
The ghostwriting space is a very profitable one to consider a career in. However, like other career lines, you will need to put in the work, and that is where the tips for landing clients discussed above come in handy. Also, you must know that different platforms offer ghostwriters jobs based on their profiles. To have leverage, you can register on more than one ghostwriting platform and build your portfolio on them with time.
