Ghost Writing - Where to start?

[tess47]

Hi warriors,

I have been in the affiliate marketing business for a while now, and that is going well.

Because of my love of writing articles, I would like to start writing for other people - especially in the health, weight loss, affiliate marketing niches. I would write about nearly any topic, but those are my favorites.

I have posted a few ads on Craigslist, but so far no replies. The rates I have posted on my site begin at $10 for an average 250 - 400 word article. Too high?

Anyone have suggestions how to better advertise my service or what rates would be in line with the norm? Thanks for any feedback!

[ShayRockhold]

Hey, Tess!

Bev Clement is full of good advice about ghostwriting!

I highly recommend her!

[Charles Harper]

Originally Posted by Shay60654

Hey, Tess!

Bev Clement is full of good advice about ghostwriting!

I highly recommend her!

I second that on Bev.

Jenn Dize is a good resource too.

Charles

[adamv]

Originally Posted by tess47

Hi warriors,

I have been in the affiliate marketing business for a while now, and that is going well.

Because of my love of writing articles, I would like to start writing for other people - especially in the health, weight loss, affiliate marketing niches. I would write about nearly any topic, but those are my favorites.

I have posted a few ads on Craigslist, but so far no replies. The rates I have posted on my site begin at $10 for an average 250 - 400 word article. Too high?

Anyone have suggestions how to better advertise my service or what rates would be in line with the norm? Thanks for any feedback!

$10 is not too high for good writing but it might be too high for Craigslist no matter how good the writing is. In my experience with Craigslist (which I admit is not extensive) there seems to be sort of a garage sale mentality. People want quality but don't want to pay for it.

Maybe you could put up a simple website and run a WSO or a classified here on the Warrior Forum to get some customers.

[Abigail Beal]

Hi Tess

I've done some ghostwriting (though I don't think I have the "street cred" of Bev....even though I am new to WF). I thought I would offer some suggestions that might help.

Some of my clients have really wanted articles for Ezine Articles. Getting an account with them and publishing a variety of articles -- even a small number of articles -- can be very helpful. That will prove you know how to write for Ezine Articles and that your articles get "approved."

Look for other opportunities to write. You could publish some articles at Associated Content. They don't pay a great amount, but again what you are seeking are quality samples you can show a potential client. This will also show your passion for a subject.

Consider starting a blog. You can talk about topics that interest you and a potential client can get a sense of your writing style.

I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck!

Abby

[Daniel Deegan]

Ideally you want to have a solid portfolio online asap for potential customers to view. Also having some testimonials and feedback is a big help since it adds social proof. You might want to offer your services here for free or on the cheap to get those testimonials and maybe even some future clients.

[BradCarroll]

Hi Tess,

You can definitely charge $10/per. And honestly after you get a good name for yourself, start charging more. You can find people who will pay $15/per (or more) for good content.

Definitely set yourself up a website with four or five samples.

Also PMing you about a place that could use some IM writers.

Brad

[Alan Cheng]

Bev got my ghostwriting business off to a flying start. So yes. She is the one you need to contact.

Here's some brief advice on what to do:

1. Create a WSO offering to write articles for a cheap price
2. Make a damn good job of the articles, deliver on time and ask for testimonials.
3. Create a website with the testimonials and slowly increase the price when you get more customers.

[cashtech29]

Hello Tess.
There's a lot of good stuff in this thread.
$10 seems to be reasonable for an
article to be written.
I also agree with the WSO.
Write up your special offer,
then add a post to it every now and then
to bring it back to the top.

EJ

[getmorebuyers]

I have also done lots of freelance and ghostwriting and I started out at elance.com and got quite a lot of business from that. I also searched craigslist writing ads and got business from that as well. $10 is fine, but some people want to pay less and you could accept some of those just to get samples of your work. Good luck.

[angela99]

Ghostwriting can be very profitable; however, you need to build up a client list who know you, and the quality of work you do. Once you're known, you'll have 20 to 30 clients who have you on a monthly retainer (charge $100 for a set number of articles per month), because hunting for writers is a huge pain.

To get started, either go to Elance and bid, or offer a WSO. Either will do. The idea is to get TESTIMONIALS. You need them, because of all the "writers" who take people's money and don't deliver.

Once you've got testimonials, build your client list. Charge what works for you. Charge appropriately, or you'll burn out.

Build a contact list of past and present clients, and stay in touch with them.

Other tips:

* Blog -- a never-ending source of clients, once your blog has been online for six months and is ranking in the SERPs;

* Use Twitter -- a great way to both get known, and get clients. I did a podcast on using Twitter to get writing jobs; PM me and I'll send you the link;

* Build your ghostwriting business. After a few months, move to ghosting ebooks, it's more profitable than articles;

* After a year, move to ghosting print books -- you can charge what the traffic will bear here. Estimate at least $25,000 for 75,000 words, even as a beginner.

Hope this helps.

A final tip: don't get stuck in ghosting Web articles; it's just a stepping stone to more profitable writing.

Cheers

Angela

[tess47]

Originally Posted by Abigail Beal

Hi Tess

I've done some ghostwriting (though I don't think I have the "street cred" of Bev....even though I am new to WF). I thought I would offer some suggestions that might help.

Some of my clients have really wanted articles for Ezine Articles. Getting an account with them and publishing a variety of articles -- even a small number of articles -- can be very helpful. That will prove you know how to write for Ezine Articles and that your articles get "approved."

Look for other opportunities to write. You could publish some articles at Associated Content. They don't pay a great amount, but again what you are seeking are quality samples you can show a potential client. This will also show your passion for a subject.

Consider starting a blog. You can talk about topics that interest you and a potential client can get a sense of your writing style.

I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck!

Abby

I have over 600 articles at Ezine (some under pen names), and have rarely had any trouble with approval. Thanks for the tips, I'm starting to get some good feedback now

[tess47]

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful information! Now I have a good list of methods to use and places to start.

The Warrior Forum is TOPS - thanks again to all of you who replied

[Bev Clement]

Yesterday I did a radio show with Willie Crawford about ghostwriting, you can download the MP3 of the show free at Free Online Radio - Internet Talk Radio | BlogTalkRadio

[Charles E. White]

I listened to Bev's interview with Willie, it was well worth the time. If I wanted to learn how to Ghostwrite, Bev is who I would turn to...she knows her stuff!

[Bev Clement]

Charles nice to know you were there listening. Tell the truth it's my cute Welsh accent

[JOhnny Depth]

Advertise on dofollow forums.

[Mike McBride]

Originally Posted by ShayRockhold

Hey, Tess!

Bev Clement is full of good advice about ghostwriting!

I highly recommend her!

Originally Posted by Charles Harper

I second that on Bev.

Jenn Dize is a good resource too.

Charles

Let's not forget Tiffany Dow and Dee Power either. (Was going to mention Angela Booth, but she chimed in ahead of me - I like your stuff, Angela.)

[Vince Runza Online]

Originally Posted by Bev Clement

Tell the truth it's my cute Welsh accent

I had become a fast friend of Bev's before I even heard that cute Welsh accent!

Tess, you might want to try doing what I did to get ghostwriting clients -- post here. By that, I don't mean put up blatantly self-promotional posts about your wonderful abilities as a budding ghostwriter. Instead, put up some content-rich posts that are generally helpful in the niches you want to develop as a writer. That's how I did it.

You will also need a solid business plan. Bev helped me with that before she even saw my Blogger blog, and suggested I give ghostwriting a try...

[Charles E. White]

Originally Posted by Bev Clement

Charles nice to know you were there listening. Tell the truth it's my cute Welsh accent

Yeah, I like your accent!