Blog post updated 17/07/21.
Most people prefer writers with experience, and ghostwriting is no exception, because of this many ghostwriting jobs may not be openly advertised.
Experience is the key to ghostwriting, and you're going to need it to break-in to this particular writing field. Once you become established people will start to seek you out, and approach you to do work for them. From then on it will be mostly through word-of-mouth.
So how do you get established as a ghostwriter?
Businesses
There are thousands of companies all over the world looking for ghostwriters to write copy that can be anything from websites to slide shows and articles. People know this today as "content marketing". If you own your own website you're already familiar with this particular format of writing. Content marketing has many different forms such as infographics, text or video.
Positives
There's always an abundance of this kind of work for writers, and with an ever increasing market it's sure to continue.
Negatives
Particular markets that pay well are usually flooded with offers from freelance writers wanting work, and the turnaround times can be really tight.
Marketing Your Expertise
LinkedIn is a great platform to find potential clients because it contains so much information. This data can be easily found by simply putting in keywords such as "content," or "content strategist".
Blogs and Websites
If you're trying to get your foot in the door of ghostwriting, and already have experience as a blogger under your belt. The internet is full of large and small businesses looking for writers that can create a steady flow of blog posts.
Start looking for blogs and websites in your own field. Guest blogging is another way of getting a real feel for what it's like to write for someone else.
Positives
Blogs need to have a steady run of content to survive on the internet, and most bloggers prefer writers with stability they can rely on. All you need to do is prove yourself and you'll have ongoing work assignments.
Negatives
This kind of writing requires a knowledge of SEO keyword terms, as well as images for each blog post you write. Which is why experience of blog post writing is so important.
Marketing Your Expertise
You may already have a list of favourite bloggers you might want to try calling on for work. You can't go wrong with a Google blog search if you're stuck on new companies to write for.
A useful tactic to try is sending in a mock up blog post covering a topic you know well, using the knowledge you have of that subject to get work. This will show the blog owner how knowledgeable you are and how well you write.
Custom Magazines
Custom magazines or custom content producers create articles for a particular audience. They can produce content for magazines, websites, as well as corporations and nonprofits, not to mention the clients who want to fortify their brand and improve customer loyalty.
Most of these articles are made for experts or executives in the field, making this kind of writing easy to overlook.
Positives
Many of these companies like to pay per word which puts them in line with consumer magazines.
Negatives
Competition can be high because this kind of writing is so well paid.
Marketing Your Expertise
You might want to ask friends and family to collect custom guides and magazines, while you keep an eye out for similar websites and directories online that will point you to the right kind of companies.
Public Relations Agencies
PR Agencies are basically companies that help to promote products, services or people, and require writing that motivates their audience.
Positives
These kinds of agencies need hungry writers that can turn around quickly.
Negatives
Some agencies may have lower pay rates.
Marketing Your Expertise
Make a list of agencies you think might be needing fresh talented writers. A lot of agencies are looking for writers that are reporters and can be flipped into PR marketers in the end.
Book Writing
This kind of client is looking for an already published author, with an understanding of the book publishing industry. Your insight of the industry will carry you far when finding new clients.
Who you'll end up working with all depends upon your level of expertise and experience, and how you connect with them.
Positives
People are often on the lookout for someone new they can use to get their stories written.
Negatives
Experience is often what's required so don't be surprised if you're turned down by a lot of people.
Marketing Your Expertise
Hunt high and low, use the internet for all it's worth, and tap into your connections.
Everyday People
The person who wants to have a book published, who's not a celebrity or sports personality, and who doesn't have a publishing contract, but for whatever reason wants to become an author. Maybe it's lack of time or patience, but either way this person doesn't have any writing know-how and needs someone who does.
On the other hand this person could have their book written and don't know the steps to take next.
Positives
Along with all of the people that don't have the money to pay you, there are plenty of other people who do have money to spend and get their book published. Those are the people you want to write for.
Negatives
This kind of client may have less knowledge than the rest and may require a lot of hand-holding before they get their book into print. They may lose interest after a few months and start changing the terms of your contract to suit themselves. These are important things to think about before you sign up with any client.
Marketing Your Expertise
Use personal referrals, your own blog, and social media to seek out clients.
The Professional
The pro is looking for a writer to create a book that will boost their CV or authority in some way. Often already very knowledgeable in their own field. With the expertise already there, all that is needed is the writer to do the job.
Positives
Often willing to pay higher rates, this kind of client values their writer, and will make sure they have a steady flow of work from other like-minded professionals.
Negatives
You may be required to work odd hours, along with challenging egos that may take a bit of getting used to, but the benefits outweigh the cons in the case.
Marketing Your Expertise
Use your experience and speciality to get new clients. Networking will help you find new work.
Book Publishers
You'll often be called upon to write books for already named authors when working for book publishers. Sometimes editors will ask ghostwriters to work on books that their own authors can't do alone because they need an extra pair of hands.
Positives
With your foot already in the door you're more likely to get a steady stream of work from publishers that you know your writing and like what they see. You'll also be well paid, often up to five figures, which is definitely a plus.
Negatives
This market is a difficult one to crack, but not impossible. Usually this kind of work requires a tight deadline.
Marketing Your Expertise
Use social media to market your writing expertise, and find out if any book publishers are looking for new writers.
Agencies
Look for freelance writing agencies who are looking for fresh blood to add to their books.
Positives
You're better off starting with general freelance agencies to get your foot in the door and gain experience.
Negatives
The best ghostwriting agencies are unlikely to take you on because you lack experience.
Marketing Your Expertise
Do website searches to find out if any agencies are looking for new writers.
Use Your Writing Expertise
Being knowledgeable on a particular subject will carry you far if you have a specific writing speciality.
If someone is looking for a writer with knowledge of baseball they're more likely to go for the writer who is already experienced in the subject than someone who has never written about it before.
Positives
Agencies and publishing houses look over thousands of applications for work, but someone who already has the expertise will go straight on their short list.
Negatives
If you don't have the experience already, you'll be put with the other applicants who don't have the knowledge and are stuck at the bottom of the pile.
Marketing Your Expertise
Knowledge is a useful tool to have especially if you've been writing for a long time.
Urgent Jobs
Your record of experience will fade away when someone has an assignment that needs to be done quickly.
Positives
Start looking for agency job boards for work that needs to be done within the next day or so. Then apply for the job.
Negatives
You'll need to jump-in fast so don't delay if you see a job like this.
Marketing Your Expertise
Agency boards are a good place to start, then you can look into other platforms such as social media to see what's on offer.
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