A Guide to Finding the Right Ghostwriter for Your Business Book

If you’re thinking of outsourcing your business book to a professional ghostwriter, you might be wondering how to find the right one to represent you and your company. You can’t just hire any ghostwriter and expect them to produce a bestseller for you—there’s a whole world of ghostwriters out there, and you have to wade through it to find the right professional to pen your book. 

You want someone who understands your industry, your audience, and your brand’s voice and message, not to mention someone whose writing you like and who you click with. However, finding the right match can seem impossible when there appears to be an endless number of freelance ghostwriters promoting their services online. So, how do you discover the right one for your project? The easiest way is to check out our ghostwriting services for CEOs and let us match you with the most suitable ghostwriter on our team. 

Whether you’re working with a professional service or a freelancer, here are some things you should keep in mind. 

Make sure your ghostwriter has the right background and expertise

There are all kinds of ghostwriters out there, and it can be challenging to find one who has the experience and background your project needs. Are you looking to publish a business book on leadership, management, or finance or, even trickier, one that dives into the intricacies of your industry? Before you choose your ghost, you must have a clear idea of what you want to get out of your book. 

Then, you need to pare your list of potential ghostwriters down to those who best fit your needs. Ask yourself whether you need someone with experience in a niche area or someone with broader knowledge. Determining who your target audience is can help you answer this question. In addition, consider where a prospective ghostwriter’s expertise lies—do they have experience writing business books, or do they specialize in another area, such as online content, white papers, or memoirs? Given the many different types of ghostwriting out there, only a subset of professionals specializes in business books.

Find a ghostwriter you get along with

One of the main reasons busy CEOs and business owners hire ghostwriters is to have a book ready in a timely manner, but your ghost can’t read your mind. They need to know and understand the ideas you want to include in your book, which means you must clearly communicate those ideas to them. To make sure you’re both on the same page regarding the voice, style, and message of your book, it’s imperative that you have a solid, respectful relationship with your ghostwriter, and getting along is key to building that foundation. Getting to know them will also help you understand their strengths and weaknesses, which is a plus in any business partnership. 

Another advantage of hiring a ghost who you click with is that you’ll feel more comfortable sharing your thoughts, feelings, stories, and everything else you want to include in the book. If you don’t like your ghostwriter on a personal level, you may subconsciously hold back, even if you’re trying to be open. A ghost you get along with will put you at ease, allowing your conversations to flow more smoothly.

Find a ghostwriter who asks the right questions

Communication is key when working with a ghostwriter, which is why it’s crucial that both parties ask the right questions from the beginning. As the author, you want to know what the ghost’s area of expertise is, how much experience they have writing business books, what their process is, and what their delivery timeframes are. You’ll also want to know what books they’ve ghostwritten previously (if they’re allowed to divulge that information) or at least see a sample of a work published under their own name. 

Equally important is paying attention to the kinds of questions your ghostwriter asks you. They need to get to know you and clarify how much work you expect them to do, how many revisions you want, when you expect to receive the final manuscript, and what your goals and expectations for the book are. Therefore, think about these questions before your initial conversation with a prospective ghost. You want someone who is curious, attentive to detail, and capable of asking deeper follow-up questions to extract the best ideas from you. Most importantly, they should ask you to clarify anything they’re not entirely sure about. Don’t get annoyed at questions that seem obvious to you—the last thing you want is for your ghost to make assumptions and take your manuscript in an entirely different direction.

A successful relationship between a ghostwriter and a client is one where the parties work together as efficiently and seamlessly as possible. You want to be clear on the process, the expectations, and the purpose before you start on your project so there’s no misunderstanding later on. Make sure you leave the initial conversations with all questions answered and all bases covered.

If you’re ready to start working with a dedicated team of experts, check out our ghostwriting services for CEOs and get a free consultation today.