How To Vet a Ghostwriter For Your Business

Maybe writing your own content feels like a slog. Maybe you don't have time, or you just ... aren't a strong writer. That's okay. But if sharing your expertise could help your product or brand, you gotta do it — or get a ghostwriter!

First off, let's say that you're talking to a ghostwriter and they say they can't share copies of what they've written for others. Not all ghostwriters have a public portfolio of client work to share with you. They aren't being shady, though! Many ghostwriting projects involve a contract clause that the writer won't reveal the content they ghostwrote. Their refusal to share this with you shows respect for their clients. 

But you CAN expect to see their non-ghost work, and even a client list.

Next, look at what the writer's areas of expertise are. These areas don't have to be exactly aligned with yours—in fact, I'd be surprised if they were. They're a writer after all, not doing the same job as you! But look at their portfolio and professional experience. Are there common threads running between projects and clients?

Look at the format of their other content, too. If you want quick and snappy LinkedIn posts, don't hire someone who only does deeply researched long-form blogs. And if you need SEO content, look for someone who knows how to do both—not someone who exclusively handles social media posts.

Talking and looking at portfolios can only go so far, though. One of the best ways to vet a ghostwriter is to do a test project! This is a super valuable way to figure out if you work together well and if the writer delivers the type of content that you want. You'll also be able to see what their process and requests of you are like.