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The Trials and Tribulations of Hiring a Ghost Writer - A Guide
Copyright (c) 2005-2023 Bill Platt
You have heard that one of the very best ways to get exposure for your online business is to write and distribute your own articles. Another exceptional method to get exposure for your business is to create and develop your own ezine/newsletter.
CROSSING THE BRIDGE OF THE DECISION
For a lot of people, knowing that these two methods are as effective as they are leads to the decision to get started. Once the decision to get started has been made, the only decision left to make is to decide on a topic that will gain the webmaster the best results for his or her time. Once this marketing decision has been made, the webmaster will sit down and get to work creating articles or their newsletter.
For other people, deciding on the topic is only the beginning of the agony in the process.
DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO WRITE YOUR OWN MATERIALS?
I have heard the arguments many times before... "I am not a writer. I cannot do that. It is not an option for me."
My brother used to tell me that he could not be a writer... That was many years ago when I first started my own online business.
I always told him what I had always told everyone else. I told him that if he can have a conversation with another human being, then he could write. I told him that he should write as he speaks. And, when he was finished with his story, he should use Microsoft Word to spellcheck his work. MS Word can serve as a steady crutch for most people who don't have good grammar or spelling skills.
I have always said that most people do not lack the skills to become a decent writer. What they lack is the confidence in their own ability to communicate well with others.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
Three years down the road, I was talking to my mom on the phone and she mentioned that my brother was ghost writing for other people. Imagine my shock in learning that I could not talk him into writing for profit, and then he came to do it on his own. In fact, it turns out that he used ghost writing to pay for his living expenses while he went back to college to finish his master's degree.
DECIDING ON A GHOST WRITER
For those people who just cannot believe in their own skills, or those who simply do not have the time to write for themselves, many look to a ghost writer to help produce materials for the promotion of their businesses.
Many challenges face those who make the decision to pursue employing a ghost writer.
* Price of Service
Too many clients lose the battle of selecting a good ghost writer by putting too much emphasis on the cost of the service being provided.
Let's face it, different writer's demand different prices. More often than not, the price of the service is a strong indicator of the value of the work being provided.
* Writing Skills and Commitment of Writer
Just because they tell you they are a professional writer, does not mean that they will do professional work when you pay for them to do so.
Even I have hired other writers to help me to fill client orders. And from personal experience, I can share with you that getting "writing samples" from writers is not always a good indicator of the skills or commitment of the writer who wants your job.
When I hire a writer to do a job because I don't have the time to do it myself, and then I spend more time editing the work than I would have spent creating the work, there is a problem. I have taken losses on several jobs because the writers I had hired to help me had done such crappy work.
* Ability of Writer to Match Client Needs
A skilled ghost writer can match the needs of any client, on any topic. A skilled ghost writer is also a skilled researcher. When they do not know the topic that they have been employed to write about, they will do the necessary research to learn the topic and to turn out a good product.
* Good Communication Between Client and Writer
The ability of both the client and writer to communicate with one another is vital. The client must clearly communicate to the writer their needs and desires for the finished product.
A skilled ghost writer is not necessarily a mind reader, and he or she should not be expected to be one.
If you want to hire a ghost writer who does not want to speak with you about what you actually want in your ghost written work, then move on to a writer who will take the time to communicate with you. The writer should know in advance what message you want to communicate with your readers and any quirks or considerations you want to use in those communications.
Your ghost writer is your mouthpiece, so your ghost writer should know as much about you as possible, and they should know how you would like to see your information communicated.
* Editing Process
Since the ghost writer you hire is your "paid mouthpiece", they should be able to communicate your message in a way that you believe they should. If you have communicated with your writer well, editing will be a quick and painless process. Your writer will send you the final edit, and you will sign off on it or ask for a couple of minor fixes.
If you have not communicated your ideas with the writer well, or you have simply selected the wrong ghost writer to handle your job, then the editing process can become very painful.
The writer's commitment to task is determined sometimes by the level of pay that you are offering to the writer, and more often, it is indicative of the writer's integrity. Keep in mind that if you have forced the writer to accept a pay level inconsistent with what they believe their skills are worth, you will pay for that decision in the quality of work you receive from them and in the process of bringing the final product to the level of professionalism you wish to convey to your readers.
If you find that you have to hire someone else to edit the final product to taste, then either you will have failed to pay your writer well, you will have failed to communicate with your writer well, or you will have done a terrible job in selecting the most appropriate writer for your job.
When all is said and done, there are literally thousands of people out there who try to pass themselves off as professional writers, and then there are thousands more who are exceptional writers who will be good for your tasks.
PRE-WRITTEN ARTICLES ARE ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
If you shop around, you can find companies that offer pre-written articles that you can purchase full- or partial- rights to use for your purposes. Some companies will sell the same pre-written article to dozens of people, and some companies will sell one article to only one person.
The primary advantage in buying a pre-written article is that you will not have to suffer the process of selecting and employing the right ghost writer for your task. With a pre-written article catalog, you can go in and look at articles that have already been written, and if you like it, you can buy it on the spot.
Most often, pre-written articles are a lower cost option than having articles custom written for you.
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You can become a better writer, with the right training. If you are looking to improve your writing skills or learn how to better market your writing projects, visit Bill Platt's website to see how he can help you: http://PlattPublishing.com/ If you are looking to buy or sell writing services, check out Bill's Freelance Writer Marketplace at: http://FreelanceWritersReview.com/
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Top-Level Category: Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Bill Platt
Four Tips For Creating An Effective Authors' Resource Box
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-08-27 |
Word Count: 1669 |
Page Views: 8024
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 2.50
In article marketing, there are many factors that will
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Some people still believe that all they have to do is build
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Word Count: 1399 |
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Visit several marketing blogs or marketing forums, and you
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Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-31 |
Word Count: 1025 |
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If you've been marketing products online for any length of
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Distributed: 2013-07-30 |
Word Count: 1229 |
Page Views: 5996
| Votes: 10 |
Rating: 1.40
The basic premise of article marketing is to present people
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Distributed: 2013-07-30 |
Word Count: 991 |
Page Views: 8420
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Rating: 2.43
The theory behind the Six Degrees of Separation is that all
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Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-29 |
Word Count: 1191 |
Page Views: 5937
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.55
Freelance writers fill a very important role in today's
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The Death and Resurrection of Quality Content
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Distributed: 2013-07-25 |
Word Count: 769 |
Page Views: 7578
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 1.85
No matter where you go online, you are bound to find someone
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When we want to find information that answers our questions
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(Made For Adsense) website with questionable content. And
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Successful Article Marketers Help Readers Solve Problems
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2013-07-24 |
Word Count: 816 |
Page Views: 26030
| Votes: 34 |
Rating: 2.79
Every week, I have the opportunity to speak with people about the
benefits and challenges of using article marketing to promote an
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Word Count: 595 |
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| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.25
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the home of the University of Michigan, a
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Distributed: 2008-02-20 |
Word Count: 486 |
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| Votes: 17 |
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Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting
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Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 718 |
Page Views: 4395
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.64
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Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5304
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about
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simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your
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Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
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Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 5360
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are
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worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.
1569 Unique Ways To Get A Free Lunch
Written by: Steve Robichaud |
Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 3622
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
Everywhere you turn - T.V., Radio, magazines, or the Internet,
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Don't Wait to Start Your Marketing Strategy
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Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 3906
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
Your novel is finished, you’ve had it edited by a professional Editor, and you’ve done the rewrites. What? You haven’t had an editor edit your work yet? This is a must. There are many editors advertising in Writer’s Digest.
NEVER Reply to an eGroup Post!
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Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 5157
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
eGroups are collections of people subscribed to a
common (discussion list) address. When one member
sends an eMail message to the eGroup address, it
is automatically sent to everyone else on the
list. As subscribers open and read their eMail,
discussion threads take shape with additional
posts and replies. The attraction of eGroups is
the ability to join in at your convenience as
opposed to the confinement of live chat rooms.
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| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
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start with the most serious conditions first:
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Word Count: 0 |
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| Votes: 4 |
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Word Count: 0 |
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When did Americans stop taking responsibility for their own
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Women since time immemorial have always looked for ways to
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Word Count: 0 |
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You are very excited!! You have finally created your own
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Word Count: 0 |
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Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF |
Distributed: 2008-02-20 |
Word Count: 486 |
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| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting
Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane,
Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of
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of her mother.
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Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2004-05-03 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 5646
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 0.50
Sell yourself, not your products or services. The point we
need to make is that your products and services will change
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marketplace.
Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 5360
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are
not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There
are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is
worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.
7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5304
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about
for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and
light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these
simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your
party.
Highest Ranked "" Articles
Finding the Adventure in Travel Again
Written by: Helen Bergstein |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 718 |
Page Views: 4395
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.64
If you want to experience adventure at every level of your next
trip, you need to go beyond the usual resorts and places to stay.
If you're like most travelers, personal safety remains a priority,
especially in today's world. A growing number of savvy travelers
have found the perfect balance between adventure and comfort.
Freedom- or Burden of Choice?
Written by: Patsi Krakoff |
Distributed: 2004-09-30 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 1099
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 2.57
Everyday decisions have become increasingly complex due to the
overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented.
A trip to a typical supermarket reveals enormous choices such
as 85 different crackers, 285 types of cookies, 230 varieties
of canned soup, 80 different pain relievers, and 360 kinds of
shampoo. Does this improve the quality of our lives?
Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 5360
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are
not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There
are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is
worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.
Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF |
Distributed: 2008-02-20 |
Word Count: 486 |
Page Views: 5926
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting
Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane,
Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of
motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special
her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death
of her mother.
Testimonials and Reviews Increase Your Real Sales Potential
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2006-02-10 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 2930
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.00
The one essential ingredient for online success in
any endeavor is gaining your prospect's trust.
7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5304
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about
for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and
light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these
simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your
party.
Ann Arbor, MI Offers A Lot Of Year-Around Family Fun
Written by: Jeb Maxwell |
Distributed: 2010-01-20 |
Word Count: 595 |
Page Views: 4757
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.25
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the home of the University of Michigan, a
leading institution of higher education. Ann Arbor is a wonderful
place to visit. The University is co-mingled with the city and
greatly expands the cultural places and events available in the
area.
How to Decorate Your Home on EBay
Written by: Pamela Cole Harris |
Distributed: 2005-09-14 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 2159
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
If you are on a budget (and who isn’t?), a wonderful place for
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before you go a’baying, here is some advice...
The "Proprietary Blend" Nutritional Supplement
Written by: Will Brink |
Distributed: 2006-02-10 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 3511
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.60
In a nut shell, I went onto cover each of these common marketing
terms that are used to sell supplements to unwitting consumers
and explained each in detail as to what I view as their common
misuse within the market place.
Brink's Unified Theory of Nutrition
Written by: Will Brink |
Distributed: 2006-02-24 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 2323
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.60
Regardless of the topic, a unified theory, seeks to explain
seemingly incompatible aspects of various theories. In this
article I attempt to unify seemingly incompatible or opposing
views regarding nutrition, namely, what is probably the longest
running debate in the nutritional sciences: calories vs. macro
nutrients.
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