Do You Need a Freelance Ghostwriter?

As blogs and keyword articles become an important part of many business owners' marketing campaigns, small business owners may face the task of writing about their company, products and services. If you have someone on staff with a way with words, it's likely you're one step ahead of the competition.

 

But before you give that person (who could be anyone from your receptionist to your marketing director) free rein on a Blogger or Wordpress account, ask yourself if that person understands:

• the principles of SEO and using keywords in writing
• how to convey the benefits of your products or services to prospects and clients
• how to write for the Web -- concisely, with bullet points, subheads and lots of white space

Then, ask yourself if the employee:

• has the time and inclination to take on the new duty of blogging as a company representative
• will not see their regular tasks suffering because of their new duties
• will not get “bored” with writing after a few months, leaving the blog neglected (a blog that hasn't been updated in months is worse than not having a blog at all).

If the answers to these questions are yes, no, and no (in that order), you're all set. You may not need a ghostwriter or content writer at all.

 

But if you don't have a staff employee capable of putting together regular, high-quality posts at least weekly (twice a week or more is better), it may be time to hire a freelance writer. You wouldn't leave your bookkeeping to the person who sorts the mail -- doesn't your business blog deserve a dedicated freelance writer?

 

What Can a Freelance Writer Do For You?

 

Freelance writers can provide SEO-optimized keyword articles -- under your name, their own name, or the name of someone else in your company -- that you can use:

• on your blog
• in newsletters distributed to your mailing list
• in article directories
• to be distributed in local-based Web and print media to promote your company

You don't necessarily need to find a writer that specializes in your field of expertise. You may wish to find a writer with a familiarity of your business -- and you might pay more for a writer who specializes in your field.
It's more important to find a writer who can write on diverse topics, since this indicates an ability to research well. A good writer can find out enough about your company with a few hours of research and maybe through a short conversation with you, to provide content for your blog.

 

While it's good to seek a writer who can provide good references, it's even more important to look at work the writer has already done. A professional writer should be able to provide published samples of their work (called “clips”) that showcases their capabilities and styles. If you're hiring a ghostwriter (someone who will write under your name) be sure to hire a writer who can emulate your writing style.

 

Writing -- like Web design, PR and even bookkeeping -- is certainly a task a small business owner can tackle on their own. But (as with these other fields), if you want professional quality results, it's best to hire a professional.

 

Dawn Allcot is the owner of Allcot Media, a full-service writing, ghostwriting and editorial firm with a staff of writers and editors capable of handling diverse writing assignments in a variety of fields. With 15 years experience as a writer, ghost writer and editor, Dawn specializes in niche markets such as parenting, technology, small business marketing, and paintball.