Ghost blogging for small businesses is becoming a popular option for freelance writers wanting to generate regular income. Blogging is all the rage for businesses who seek to reach customers in order to promote products and services, or connect with them on a personal level. However, many small businesses lack the time, money or resources to hire a full-time employee to maintain a regular blog.
This is where a ghost blogger comes into the picture. Small business owners will hire a ghostwriter to supply their company blog with content. They offer content ideas for the blog and then the writer brings those ideas to life on screen.
Becoming a successful ghost blogger requires strategic planning just like anything else you do as a writer. How do you make it work?
Train yourself in blogging
The first step to becoming a blogger-for-hire is to actually do some blogging. You need to show the same commitment to quality blogging that you do for writing articles. Learn how to communicate and interact with your audience. Figure out how you can incorporate podcasts, videos and social media into your content. Every writer should create a blog to function as a portfolio they can show to potential ghost blogging clients.
Target local clients
It is every ghost blogger’s dream to land a regular major corporate gig that can net them hundreds of dollars per post. Dreams are good, but you need to start small. A good first step is to target local businesses in your geographic area. There are plenty of reasons why this is a smart approach. The most obvious is that you are already familiar with the area. You know how people live, what they do and what they want in that area. That makes a huge difference in crafting a blog that will fit what a local business needs.
Find blogs that match your professional experience:
Being a jack-of-all-trades isn’t always the best approach in writing. You want to possess a working knowledge on a variety of subjects. To land regular blogging clients, however, it is best to focus in areas where you have career experience. This helps your blog posts feel more credible and authoritative. It also helps you create a demand for your services from businesses that fall within your chosen niche.
Determine what content works best:
Do your homework on what makes a blog successful. What type of content do these blogs offer? What sets them apart from the crowd? Businesses create a blog as a tool for drawing in new customers. You need to create content that will serve that goal. When you pitch your writing services, have a detailed plan on what you can do to build their blog so it reaches its target audience.
John C is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
