Finding the right ghost writer for your LinkedIn articles can be an important decision. LinkedIn is a professional platform that allows you to connect with clients, customers, partners, recruiters, and colleagues around the world. Publishing high-quality articles on your profile and industry pages helps to establish thought leadership and position you as an expert in your field. Many professionals struggle to make time for regular writing or may not feel confident in their own writing abilities. This is where hiring a ghost writer can provide tangible benefits.
So who exactly are the best ghost writers to hire for LinkedIn articles? There are a few key factors to consider when searching for the right match:
Writing Samples and Portfolio
The most important thing to review is a potential ghost writer’s portfolio and past writing samples. Look for samples that are similar in tone, length, and topic to the type of articles you want written. Check that the grammar, spelling, flow, and structure are all of a high standard. Consider if the writing style and voice would be a good fit for your brand. Any ghost writer you hire should be able to provide several relevant samples for your review before agreeing to work with them.
Industry Experience and Expertise
It’s ideal to find a ghost writer who has background knowledge and experience in your specific industry or field. Someone with relevant expertise will have an easier time researching topic ideas, Staying current on industry news and trends, understanding your company’s messaging, and writing in an authentic expert voice. Freelance writers with industry experience command higher rates but may produce better quality articles tailored to your LinkedIn profile.
Writing Process and Turnaround Time
Discuss expectations up front around writing process, revisions, research requirements, and expected turnaround time per article. Experienced ghost writers should be able to clearly outline their process. Consider if their normal turnaround times meet your publishing schedule needs. Also discuss the writer’s availability – can they consistently meet deadlines or do they have other clients that could cause delays? Setting clear expectations is important.
Platform Familiarity and SEO Knowledge
LinkedIn articles have specific optimizations and best practices to rank well in searches and feed. Find a ghost writer familiar with LinkedIn’s algorithms, metrics, formatting, tagging, and ways to incorporate keywords and links strategically. They should understand how to structure articles for skimability and encourage shares/comments too. Their experience optimizing content for LinkedIn specifically is valuable.
Pricing and Service Models
Pricing varies depending on a writer’s experience level, qualifications, turnaround times, revisions policies, and more. Many ghost writers charge per word, article, or monthly retainer. Get quotes from several candidates to compare costs. Also ask about additional services like topic brainstorming, research, reference lists, editing assistance that could impact overall budgets. Understanding service levels and pricing structures is important for budgeting.
Reviews and References
Check online reviews or ask potential writers for 2-3 client references you can contact. References can provide an unbiased perspective on the writer’s work quality, ability to meet deadlines, communication skills during projects, and value provided for the budgets. Finding ghost writers with a history of happy clients delivering as promised is reassuring.
Writing Samples Review and Trial Project
Once you’ve identified 2-3 top candidates based on the above factors, request full writing samples to thoroughly review for quality and fit before committing. You may also want to trial a smaller initial project, like one short article, to test the working relationship before signing any long-term contracts. This allows evaluating real output before fully investing.
With the right diligence up front matching your needs to a ghost writer’s qualifications and process, you can feel confident you’ve found the best partner to help you establish thought leadership on LinkedIn through high-quality, regularly published articles. Consider multiple candidates and get references to find the ideal ghost writing fit. Setting your new collaborator up for success with clear expectations and guidelines also ensures the working relationship gets off to a strong start.
When searching for the best ghost writer for your LinkedIn articles, prioritize candidates with: relevant industry experience, a track record of producing excellent writing samples, strong familiarity with LinkedIn’s algorithms and formats, a process aligned with your publishing schedules, fair pricing, and positive client references. Do initial smaller trial projects to test the collaboration before committing long-term. With the right ghost writer, you’ll be able to publish strategically and focus on other important professional responsibilities while still strengthening your online expertise and exposure.