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New Ghostwriter Wants to Learn From Your Experience

by Asante
9 replies
Hi Warriors,
My name is Asante, and I'm very new to Warrior Forum. Recently, I launched a ghostwriter/article writer site, and I'd like to learn from your experience. Have you successfully worked as a ghostwriter? Have you hired ghostwriters regularly? I'd love your input. My initial questions are:
  • What is the most effective way to price my articles?
  • How should I market my services?
  • What is the best way to find and keep clients who are willing to invest in value?
I appreciate your shared wisdom, and I look forward to reading your responses.
Many thanks,
#article writer #experience #ghostwriter #learn
  • Profile picture of the author SUPER Louie
    What is the most effective way to price my articles?

    Go to oDesk, search for similar jobs. Look at the prices.

    How should I market my services?

    There are many ways to do it:
    - Warrior Classifieds
    - oDesk, Elance, etc...
    - Salespage

    Here's a nifty trick: offer it to a marketer with a big list for FREE (like a review copy). But in exchange, he has to promote your services to his list.

    What is the best way to find and keep clients who are willing to invest in value?

    If you want to keep clients, you have to underpromise and overdeliver all the time

    Ask yourself this question: would I hire myself if I provide this sort of quality and price to my clients?

    Hope that helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author webwriter
    I got my first gig as a ghostwriter from someone who saw my adult-education professional writing course in the local college catalog. He was writing a health-related book and wanted to market it to publishers. During the initial consultation, he ordered a query letter and a list of ten potential publishers for his book. I gave him my price for those items and then implemented the agreement, delivering the materials to him in person and receiving a check for my work. Altogether, I didn't earn a lot of money.

    If I had to do it all over again, I would opt for ghostwriting for a corporate client rather than individuals. For the most part, individuals mean well, but they often take a l-o-n-g time to pay and unthinkingly present other obstacles, such as not following through and expecting you to do what they should have done for free. Also, too many of them expect discounted prices just because they are cheap and clueless.
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  • Profile picture of the author Asante
    Thank you very much for your responses, Louie and Webwriter. Very helpful indeed.
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    Asante George
    Quality Content that SIZZLES!
    TheArticleAuthor.com
    AsanteGeorge.com

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  • Profile picture of the author WriterWahm
    There is this assumption among new writers that they need to fix their prices at rock bottom then increase them with time. Don't do that. It's a trap that you may find difficult to come out of. What you need to do is write samples of different writing styles (your portfolio) and make them available on your website. If you are good and you know that you are, price your articles accordingly.

    Once you get a job, like Louie has said, overdeliver. This is so so so important. And if for some reason you cannot meet your deadline, COMMUNICATE. You will find that a lot of clients are actually quite reasonable.
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    PM me if you want a romantic fiction ghostwriter.

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    • Profile picture of the author SUPER Louie
      Originally Posted by WriterWahm View Post

      There is this assumption among new writers that they need to fix their prices at rock bottom then increase them with time. Don't do that. It's a trap that you may find difficult to come out of. What you need to do is write samples of different writing styles (your portfolio) and make them available on your website. If you are good and you know that you are, price your articles accordingly.

      Once you get a job, like Louie has said, overdeliver. This is so so so important. And if for some reason you cannot meet your deadline, COMMUNICATE. You will find that a lot of clients are actually quite reasonable.
      True enough.

      Low prices attract Tire Kickers

      I wrote a short guide about a pricing strategy similar to your discussion a while back:
      2 Easy Ways to Increase Your Profits Quick
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      A superhero is someone who knows how to be quiet, shed a tear for a moment, then pick up his sword, and fight again!
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  • Profile picture of the author YasirYar
    Writing is actually not a profession but a passion. If you have i in you you can hit it big time. If you want to market your services your blog is the best place to start. This will bring in real traffic to you.
    Secondly working alone is a BIG MISTAKE. Team up with someone who has been in this business longer than you. Sometimes it seems a bad choice, but the advantages are more than the disadvantages.
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  • Profile picture of the author Asante
    WriterWahm,
    Great information! I've read several posts from other veteran internet writers who say the same thing about pricing. I've written for article mills in the past, and I've found that working for peanuts does not inspire my best work

    My article writer site does include a portfolio of eight articles and a link to another site with lots of samples. Right now I'm reaching out to marketers who own PLR sites. In your opinion, is that a good idea?

    I like your advice to overdeliver (as Louie suggests), adhere to my deadline, and communicate with my client. Great customer service will keep customers coming back.

    Thanks,
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    Asante George
    Quality Content that SIZZLES!
    TheArticleAuthor.com
    AsanteGeorge.com

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  • Profile picture of the author WriterWahm
    Yes Asante, you can reach out to PLR marketers. Most write their articles themselves; I do. But personally it's because my standards are really high and the two writers I tried tanked. So I just write myself. I'm sure there are those who are willing to pay standard prices to get their PLR written.

    Just a note to say that you are starting this writing thing right. Don't get discouraged; you can really make a living from writing.

    All the best.
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    PM me if you want a romantic fiction ghostwriter.

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  • Profile picture of the author Asante
    YasirYar, so true, writing truly is a passion. I can't stop, so it makes sense to make it a career.
    Louie, "Tire Kickers" is such a funny and fitting term!
    WriterWahm, I appreciate your encouragement

    I've just gotten my first ghostwriting client, and I'm so excited to overdeliver on the content I create for him!
    Thanks everyone!
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    Asante George
    Quality Content that SIZZLES!
    TheArticleAuthor.com
    AsanteGeorge.com

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