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What are your thoughts about this service...?

by John J M
18 replies
(Please see my follow up comment a couple posts down.)

I'm thinking of offering non-fiction Kindle ghostwriting on my own site and maybe even on the services section on this forum.

I'm an experienced writer...graduated with an English degree, worked as a writing teacher and tutor for several years, have been blogging for a few years, and have self-published my own short e-book.

Currently, I work full time and am looking to make some extra money on the side. Long term, I plan to make money self-publishing more of my own books, but I'm after some faster income. I know offering services is the way to go.

So here are my questions to you all:
  • Do you think this service would be in enough demand to get at least some traction (i.e. selling the service for at least a few books)?
  • Assuming this would be an in-demand service, what would be a pricing strategy that would make sense? I've seen this kind of service offered at all kinds of rates. What are your thoughts about good rates and a good payment option (such as pay half upfront, or don't pay until you see the 1st chapter, etc.)?
  • As a separate option, what do you think about editing services? Would Kindle authors/outsourcers on this forum be interested in an editing service? In some ways, I'd rather provide editing, but getting decent pay for that seems to require a lot of established authority.
Please see my follow up comment below.
#ghostwriting #kindle #service #thoughts
  • Profile picture of the author honestim
    Hi John,

    I personally feel this would be a success. Kindle is hot and with upcoming holiday season the kindle sales will only go north. That essentially means lot more people getting on the platform, more visibility for books hence more downloads. Savvy marketers who understand the benefit of outsourcing will take you up on such a service and I believe there is good enough a market for it. As far as the payment is concerned it's best to start with something you feel is good and test various price points. Just make sure you provide amazing quality and get good feedback.

    Thanks
    Niranjan
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    • Profile picture of the author John J M
      Thanks for the response. I agree that it would be successful. I think I'm going a different direction with this and further feedback would be great.

      I tried to post on the joint venture section here, but it hasn't been approved yet. I read the rules, and my post didn't seem to break any of them so I'm waiting.

      The basic offer is something like this:

      I will do the writing/cover design - you do the sales. The outsourcer would come up with the topic and needs to be able to bring in some volume in terms of sales. I would do the writing and require an upfront payment of some kind (though discounted from a normal ghostwriting fee). Because of the upfront payment, I would only require 10%-20% of the ongoing sales from the books (in Kindle and/or CreateSpace). I would also be willing to put up a site for each book if the person could explain how that would up our sales.

      Obviously, the benefit for the partner (or multiple partners) would be that they get the writing and cover design done for them and still get 80%-90% of the ongoing sales. I would be interested in some ongoing, long term partnerships so that I could write around 1 book per week or every other week.

      I mainly want to know where I can post this kind of offer. It still might be approved on the JV section here. I don't know. Can you suggest any other places around the internet?
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  • Profile picture of the author m5smiley
    I have definitely seen people looking for this service. It's hard to say about the price. I think it really needs to depend on how long the book is and how difficult the research. I have seen so many different prices for this service. I think if you are a high quality writer you shoud charge more. People get what they pay for and I think they know this. I'd include writing samples so they can see your quality. Personally, I would figure out how long it will probably take you and how much you want to earn per hour and price it that way.
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  • Profile picture of the author Danielle Murphyx
    Banned
    You might find a lot of people interested in ghostwriting.
    There are many people searching for something new to read in tram/subway etc.
    In what concerns the pricing, you are the one who knows best the quality of the books. It is very subjective, but real.
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  • Profile picture of the author John J M
    Thanks for the positive response. Does anybody else a good answer for where I can post this kind of offer (see my 3rd post)? It seems that the JV section won't allow it. I don't know if it would work as a service here either, since it's more like a JV than a straight-up service. Any ideas?
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    You can offer your services at websites like Elance, Odesk, Guru, etc, but these websites are disorganized, and you are not safe.

    There are many dishonest service providers there who make a horrible work, and many dishonest customers who disappear when they have to pay for the work already done.
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    • Profile picture of the author John J M
      Thanks, but I'm specifically referring the idea I mention in the 3rd post down. It's a little more complex than just offering a service.

      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      You can offer your services at websites like Elance, Odesk, Guru, etc, but these websites are disorganized, and you are not safe.

      There are many dishonest service providers there who make a horrible work, and many dishonest customers who disappear when they have to pay for the work already done.
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      • Profile picture of the author clever7
        Originally Posted by John J Rivers View Post

        Thanks, but I'm specifically referring the idea I mention in the 3rd post down. It's a little more complex than just offering a service.
        How much do you charge to write an ebook without having to make a research?

        I was thinking about writing a novel with scientific lessons. I would write the scientific lessons and the writer would have to transform my lessons into a story. I would also give to the writer the biographical details of the personages and what should be presented in this story.

        This is only an idea... but it seems to be quite interesting.



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        • Profile picture of the author John J M
          Thanks for the feedback from everyone. Clever7, I'll send you a PM.

          Anybody else have suggestions for what I mention on the 3rd post above?
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  • Profile picture of the author douneedit2
    Hi John
    I 'm a layman at all this internet stuff, Been buying products, and posting web site for yrs.
    Absolutely have never made back what i have invested. You could say that i am a 15 yr. newbie. That being said, please let me give you my absolute NON_GURU opinion.
    Let me ask you this John,is what you have for sale, something you would buy at the same price, you want to sell it at, be truthful.
    I know this, if your product, or service, has "VALUE", and is priced right, People will buy it.
    I've been away from this for some time,
    And I'm a little saddened to perceive most marketers are more interested in their bottom line than their customer, and their needs.
    My simple advice, don't sell something you wouldn't buy.
    And proudly promote, and push, what you feel is valuable.
    Wishing the best for you and your family, Howard
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  • Profile picture of the author JanePlaten
    Banned
    I think it is a good idea and I would read it. Unfortunately, I cannot help you with the price information because I am having the exact type of problems myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author ParkerFar
    I would look into service sites such as elance.com, fiverr.com, etc. That is where I have found my ghostwriters. There is a lot of competition but with some good samples and some positive reviews under your belt, you will get hired. Best of luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Place your offer in the Classified Ads section of the Warrior Forum. You should find out, over time, if there is a demand for your offer.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author MagneticKopy
    What are you waiting for? Honestly, I think this would make some nice cake.
    Here's why: take a look at all the WSO's that are running right now... Take a look at the WSO's that are listed right now.

    Just over 19K.

    Everyone needs a ghostwriter.

    But not just for Kindle books.... But also ebooks.

    Don't limit yourself, buddy.

    Best Regards,
    Magnetic Kopy
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Ghostwriting for Kindle would work but the last place I'd ever think of offering it would be here. Obviously, with some exceptions, people here have little or no idea what good writing is. If you don't believe me do a search on articles or writing articles or getting paid for writing. You'll see people in droves shouting about the great content they buy for a penny or two a word.

    You can make money selling writing here but I doubt you'll ever come close to earning what you're worth. Do yourself a favor, put up a site with an extensive portfolio of good material and promote it FAR AWAY from the MMO/IM crowd.

    Shoot for clients that are more inclined to pay writers what they're worth. There are thousands, if not millions of aspiring Kindle prospects hanging out on Twitter. If I were a freelance ghostwriter I'd make my presence known there first. Good luck.
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    • Profile picture of the author John J M
      Thanks for your honesty here. Yes, the pricing is certainly something that concerns me a little. People here are generally not willing to pay much. That being said, I know that this is a place where I COULD get some interest right away. Plus, with an ongoing split model and less paid upfront, it might be a decent deal for me long term (and of course for the client).

      I have attempted putting up a writing site, but I never got much traction. Twitter is an interesting idea. I'm not sure exactly how that would work, but thanks for the idea nonetheless.

      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Ghostwriting for Kindle would work but the last place I'd ever think of offering it would be here. Obviously, with some exceptions, people here have little or no idea what good writing is. If you don't believe me do a search on articles or writing articles or getting paid for writing. You'll see people in droves shouting about the great content they buy for a penny or two a word.

      You can make money selling writing here but I doubt you'll ever come close to earning what you're worth. Do yourself a favor, put up a site with an extensive portfolio of good material and promote it FAR AWAY from the MMO/IM crowd.

      Shoot for clients that are more inclined to pay writers what they're worth. There are thousands, if not millions of aspiring Kindle prospects hanging out on Twitter. If I were a freelance ghostwriter I'd make my presence known there first. Good luck.
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by John J Rivers View Post

        Thanks for your honesty here. Yes, the pricing is certainly something that concerns me a little. People here are generally not willing to pay much. That being said, I know that this is a place where I COULD get some interest right away. Plus, with an ongoing split model and less paid upfront, it might be a decent deal for me long term (and of course for the client).

        I have attempted putting up a writing site, but I never got much traction. Twitter is an interesting idea. I'm not sure exactly how that would work, but thanks for the idea nonetheless.
        I see this all the time here. Rather than doing the smart thing: doing whatever it takes to earn good money. People instead do the expedient thing because it puts a little, very little money in their pocket. There are thousands of people on fiverr and other low rent sites working for peanuts when they could be getting much more.

        Over time they wake up and realize they're worth more but can't seem to break out of the prison they've created for themselves. It's demoralizing as it eats away at your self esteem. Here's the key. You are worth what you think you're worth.
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