Ghostwriter: To Hire or Not?
As it becomes more and more important to connect with our audience, entrepreneurs face the challenge of adding to an already jam-packed schedule in order to meet a need which could keep their pipeline flowing, or risk having the flow of work and clients dry up completely. Yet, taking the time to write, format, and publish articles which are informative, useful, and most of all, relatable often means letting another equally important aspect of the business slide for a little while.
Like almost any other task, it’s always possible to delegate the job to a ghostwriter, but that, too comes with challenges and concerns. Some of the most common I’ve heard are:
- Cost
- Coming up with topics
- Ensuring the posts or articles are in your own voice
- Trusting someone else to write as you
While each person has their own concerns to add to this list, these are the ones I encounter most consistently.
Finding the Right Ghostwriter
Probably the most common complaint is finding the ghostwriter they’ve hired in the past failed to capture the unique essence of their personality. Their concern is valid, but I have learned it requires an investment of time both on the part of the entrepreneur and the ghostwriter.
You may have to talk to a few before you find someone with whom you connect on a deep enough level that you feel comfortable sharing openly of yourself so they’ll have a clear enough view into several things:
- What fuels your passion
- Issues unrelated to your business which light you up, or fuel your ire
- How you use the language, e.g. what words you use, your sentence structure, and grammar
- Culturally defined intonation
- Common expressions based on age, experience, and the places you’ve lived
While these are just a few of the areas I consider when meeting with a potential client for the first time (typically via Zoom or telephone), they only give me a taste of whether or not I will be a good fit for them, and they for me.
A Relationship as Personal as A Therapist
Hiring a ghostwriter, or being hired to ghostwrite has a lot in common with hiring a therapist or an editor. For the relationship to be successful, there has to be a fair amount of empathy between client and writer. Let’s face it, if you can’t understand or relate to someone’s values and outlook, how can you possibly write as if you were them?
We all have a powerful story to tell, and will find telling it to be the most effective way to attract the people we’ll love working with, no matter what service or product we offer. I do tend to see relating as more important to service providers, more because I bring a piece of myself to every contract or transaction. When you’re selling a product, especially if you represent someone else, you might bring your conviction and trust in the product to every transaction, but not necessarily your own essence.
There are, of course, exceptions, so I don’t want to tell you those who sell products aren’t also looking to build relationships. It’s simply a different set of parameters. In fact, one of the areas of relatability for me is that my ideal clients provide some kind of a service which benefits others. Other ghostwriters are extraordinarily talented in relating to those who sell a tangible product. I leave the field to those who excel there, as my own niche is abundant with opportunities where I not only excel, but thrive.
Life Experiences Impact Your Voice
Your own experiences play a huge part in who you relate to as well. For me, the traumas I’ve experienced, combined with a legacy of withholding feelings and living an isolated existence play a key role in who I attract as well as who I write most effectively for. I have a particular affinity for women who have had their own traumas and challenges, and learned to depend only on themselves to navigate the perils and pitfalls of their lives.
These women may have, at some point learned that trusting is dangerous, and instead of becoming selective of who they trusted, they gave their trust to no one. But they also learned as time went on that they could be selective and able to find those who wouldn’t let them down—who wouldn’t kick them in the teeth yet again.
Know Yourself First
We’ve learned our lessons in different ways and times, so it’s not so much the lessons we’ve 
learned, but the fact that we had to start from a place of pain to learn them.
It’s important to get in touch with yourself before considering hiring a ghostwriter. If you want the relationship to be successful, you’re going to have to let her see some of your dark, twisty side. Otherwise, what they write for you will be one-dimensional and contrived, and the ultimate goal of attracting and relating to your ideal clients won’t happen. But if you let your ghostwriter see enough of what makes you, you, she will capture you so well, clients will believe what they read is coming straight from your heart—because it is.
Ready to Consider Outsourcing?
Are you struggling to keep all of your entrepreneurial balls in the air? Would you like to take a task or two off your plate? Maybe it’s content creation, or perhaps it’s getting your books in order and creating a budget. If this sounds familiar and you’re ready to streamline your life and give your business space to grow and thrive, CONTACT ME and let’s talk!
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a writer, blogger, ghostwriter, and advocate for cats. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income. If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author. And check out her new group, Putting Your Whole Heart Forward.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming release of “Life Torn Asunder: Rebuilding After Suicide”.
