You simply landed your first writing gig!
You’re thrilled, however then you definitely understand: there’s no byline on your work.
Whenever you need to land one other freelance shopper, you’re again on the sq. one: no pattern to point out, no approach you possibly can construct a portfolio.
It looks like a contract Catch-22.
You may’t inform this new prospect of your writing job as a result of it’s ghostwritten however you possibly can’t land the work with out a portfolio of your work.
And, can you even discuss your ghostwriting shoppers with different prospects?
So, what are you able to do?
With out violating any guidelines or crossing NDA strains, you possibly can nonetheless construct a ghostwriting portfolio.
I’ll share my greatest tricks to creating that ghost author portfolio and tips on how to market your ghostwriting enterprise.
And you probably have time, make sure that to take a look at my video on constructing a ghostwriting portfolio!
What Does It Imply to Be a Ghostwriter?
Ever questioned what a ghostwriter does?
Nicely, a ghostwriter writes all forms of content material content material similar to:
However, a ghostwriter doesn’t get the credit score for all of that work.
As an alternative, the credit score goes to your shopper or somebody of their firm.
None of your work will get attributed to you, that means you possibly can’t publicly share it except your ghostwriting shopper offers you the inexperienced mild.
So, why would somebody need to be a ghostwriter within the first place?
As a result of it’s extremely worthwhile.
Established ghostwriters – one with a physique of labor with a portfolio – can earn between $60-$111k per 12 months.
For freelance writers, the bulk earn round $60k per 12 months, that means you possibly can considerably earn extra revenue as a ghostwriter.
So, if this looks like a profitable service to supply, let’s have a look at other ways to construct a ghostwriter portfolio after which have a look at how one can share your work to potential shoppers.
3 Simple Methods to Create Samples for Your Ghostwriting Portfolio
If you’re a newbie and haven’t any samples of your writing to point out shoppers, then step one to ghostwriting is to create these samples.
1. Visitor Submit
A well-liked technique is to visitor posst on websites your preferrred shoppers learn.
Visitor postings depends on companies, publications, and web sites to supply this chance.
They are going to have pointers that can assist you determine their viewers and model voice.
For instance, for my area of interest of SaaS content material writing, I’d give attention to SaaS companies.
Zapier affords visitor writing in order that’s one strategy to land a visitor put up.
For this technique, although, I’d give attention to writing about your area of interest matter or specialization.
In your writer bio you possibly can point out you’re a author AND ghostwriter for CEO’s or influencers.
To discover visitor posting alternatives, run a Google search with “write for us” and your area of interest.
Be sure to take a look at every potential visitor posting web site and see if:
- the viewers are made up of your preferrred shopper
- has matters you possibly can fill the hole together with your experience
- you don’t should pay to visitor put up (ie. free to visitor put up)
2. Write on Medium
When you’re taken with rising your private model, take into account writing on Medium.
Medium is a running a blog platform the place you possibly can write freely about any matter of your curiosity.
I began on Medium when it first began and use it as a spot to write down no matter I need.
However, as a brand new ghostwriter with out a portfolio, you should utilize Medium instead of a weblog and write content material that may enchantment to prospects.
For instance, Melany Brita is a ghostwriter and writes on Medium and typically creates ghostwriting articles.
The identical approach you’d visitor put up in your area of interest, you’d write about your area of interest matter on Medium and attempt to point out that you simply additionally ghostwrite whilst you write these posts.
If you wish to “visitor put up” on Medium’s many publications, you do have to enroll to the Medium companion program. It’s fairly low cost and also you get entry to all of the content material on Medium!
3. Write About Ghostwriting
Lastly, you possibly can write about ghostwriting in your visitor posts, on Medium, in your weblog, and on social media.
That is in all probability one of the best ways to market your ghostwriting companies.
For instance, Writeto1k course pupil, Jennifer Locke not solely has “ghostwriter” in her LinkedIn bio, she creates related posts about her ghostwriting service – like having an genuine voice in your content material – to advertise her companies.
Hopefully these strategies will help you begin creating samples that can assist you land some ghostwriting shoppers.
Now, the following half in constructing a ghostwriting portfolio is the query about tips on how to share your samples when there’s no attribution. What’s a brand new ghostwriter to do?
Share Your Work Internally
Wish to land extra ghostwriting gigs?
Right here’s a tip: inform your ghostwriting shopper that with out samples, it’s powerful to show your expertise and construct your portfolio.
Typically, the shopper you’re negotiating with would possibly have to signal an NDA.
This implies they’ll’t distribute your work or reveal it was ghostwritten. Your ghostwriting shopper could be good with this and provide the go-ahead to share your work.
One factor many ghostwriting shoppers gained’t thoughts is in case you share their work internally, ie. in your e-mail pitches.
Whenever you safe a ghostwriter shopper, ask them in case you can share your future work in your pitches that can assist you develop your shopper base.
Most shoppers ought to be wonderful with this technique, however some gained’t.
Share Externally
In case your shopper doesn’t thoughts you share your work (with out an writer bio) on LinkedIn or in your portfolio web page, then go forward and market the heck outta it!
I’ve picked up a couple of ghostwriting shoppers and typically they don’t thoughts sharing it on LinkedIn.
Ask the shopper earlier than you add them to your portfolio or on LinkedIn.
As easy template to make use of,
“I’m glad you loved the article.
Questioning if I may add it on LinkedIn as a ghostwriting mission?
Let me know.
Thanks, Elna”
As Descriptions on Your Portfolio
When you aren’t allowed to incorporate a hyperlink or the enterprise title in your portfolio, what you are able to do as a substitute is share particulars in regards to the mission and describe what you probably did.
Hannah Sandoval is a fiction ghostwriter and he or she usually shares descriptions of her work.
Hannah expertly particulars her ghostwriting initiatives as a approach to assist her market your ghostwriting service.
A possible shopper who wants a e book written can have a look at this and see the worth Hannah offers and rent her on the spot.
Safe Testimonials
By far one of the best ways to land extra ghostwriting shoppers is to get previous shoppers to vouch for you.
If doable, with each visitor put up you write or do free work for family and friends, safe a testimonial of the work you supplied.
Once I began, I had different freelancers give me testimonials after I did some weblog writing of graphic design work.
Over time, I secured testimonials from my shoppers just by asking them!
When you really feel they’re too busy, supply to write down the testimonial for them and so they can approve it.
Get a Reference
In case your ghostwriting shopper doesn’t need to create a testimonial on your service as a result of it would hinder their fame, you possibly can ask if they could be a reference for you.
This manner, if somebody is taken with your writing, you possibly can allow them to know you’d be pleased to supply them with a previous/present shopper’s contact data upon request.
Typically that is higher if the earlier work you’ve finished doesn’t jive effectively with what the brand new prospect needs.
Market Your Service
I do know I casually talked about this but it surely’s essential to repeatedly market your ghostwriting service as a result of chances are you’ll not have an in depth portfolio to talk for you.
You are able to do as Hannah has finished on her portfolio web page by sharing an outline of your work.
On the backside or prime of that web page you possibly can point out that you would be able to give them extra work and details about your ghostwriting upon request.
I’d additionally create a title with ghostwriter in it and get on some podcasts and write on Medium about ghostwriting to let the web know what you supply!
These are methods to get your title on the market and present folks that you’re additionally a ghostwriter that would doubtlessly assist them.
Able to Create a Ghostwriter Portfolio?
I hope the following tips make it easier to turn into a worthwhile ghostwriter.
I do know it’s difficult to get on the market and with being a ghostwriter, it’s much more troublesome!
So, these methods will help you get extra eyes to your portfolio and hopefully extra jobs!
Let me know within the feedback if these helped you!
Have enjoyable!