Author: Christopher Jan Benitez

  • Does Guest Posting Still Work? Why Or Why Not?

    Does Guest Posting Still Work? Why Or Why Not?

    So, you want to submit a guest post to a highly authoritative website that welcomes millions of monthly visitors. And if what you’re hoping for is for your submission to elevate your own blog’s status, you’re on the right track. 

    The catch is, you have to pull your weight.

    So, we’ll get into what you have to do in this article. Here, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about guest posting. This way, you can get your blog or website to rank on search engines and grow your audience in 2023 and beyond.

    Table of Contents
    [Open][Close]

    What is guest posting?

    Guest posting is posting on websites or blogs as a guest author. While more than most blogs write only five guest posts every month, a small percentage hosts over 100 guest posts.

    These webmasters welcome guest posts for traffic generation and other reasons. And most times, their reasons boil down to their need to increase valuable content on their website.

    Notice how they include a backlink or link to a guest author’s bio on a host website? Take the image below, for example. When Backlinko’s Brian Dean submitted a guest post to Entrepreneur, his author bio on the website contained a link to his own blog.

    Does Guest Posting Still Work

    Now, let’s look at guest posting from the perspective of guest authors. 

    One reason guests submit posts to popular websites is to direct traffic from host websites to their own blog. The more established the host website, the better it is for them.

    So, if you plan on submitting a guest post, an effective way to get around to it is to write a post for well-established and popular websites. Doing so lets you tap into their audiences.

    Let’s say millions of visitors view a host’s website every month. So, millions of people can read your post.

    Beyond that, you can also enjoy guest posting as it:

    • Increases search value – Always include backlinks in your guest submissions. They help search engines find your content easier.
    • Builds authority and credibility – Create top-notch quality guest posts and they can see you as a top-notch content creator. The better your content, the higher the respect you earn from a host website’s readers.
    • Connects to people – Reach out to new bloggers and introduce yourself to their network of colleagues. These new acquaintances can open doors for you.

    What are the issues with guest posting?

    Back when he was the former head of web spam, Google’s Matt Cutts, once, said this:

    Does Guest Posting Still Work

    According to his bold claim, guest posting is an unreliable way of building your status. Among other reasons, “it’s just gotten too spammy”.

    Soon enough, though, he retracted his previous statement. And in a new one, he corrected himself by saying guest posting still works to a certain degree. 

    However, it seems he was on to something in his original post. Sadly, if you browse the web, you’ll uncover spammy guest posts. There are spun contents and the rest are of little value. 

    Here are the other poor practices tied to guest posting:

    • Over-optimized content – So, don’t stuff too many keywords into your post. Rather than impressing search engines, always focus on providing value.
    • Too many backlinks – Limit the number of backlinks you include to one or two. And avoid any explicit self-promotion.
    • Poor quality content – Instead, write unique, engaging, and high-quality posts. And don’t submit guest posts for the mere sake of having a guest contribution.  

    How to write a guest post that works

    Webmasters accept guest posts submissions if these posts are rich in value. This is often non-negotiable because they can easily reject submissions.

    Here are common reasons site owners often reject guest posts:

    • No visuals – Include relevant images, charts, and graphs. We know these to increase conversion rates.
    • No sources – Unless you cite the source of every information you present, webmasters will associate you with unreliability.
    • Generic pitch – Pitching your intention to guest post on many websites is fine. Just remember to assure webmasters you’ll be writing an exclusive post.

    Don’t want to get a “no”? Always write a substantial post. All over the internet, you can find many ideal guest post examples. Below is one of them:

    Does Guest Posting Still Work
    Does Guest Posting Still Work
    Does Guest Posting Still Work
    Does Guest Posting Still Work
    Does Guest Posting Still Work
    Does Guest Posting Still Work

    It’s a guest submission published on Deep Green Permaculture, a website about sustainable living. What makes it count as a great example of a guest post? It contains visuals and links to sources. It’s also:

    • Informative – It contains in-depth information about what you need to know about living in a tiny home. So, create informative content because the more information your post has, the more attractive it is.
    • Easy-to-read – It uses simple words that don’t complicate readers’ lives. Because the words are carefully chosen, even children in elementary school can understand.
    • Relevant – It’s centered solely on tiny homes. It doesn’t discuss the drawbacks of apartment living, for instance.

    That, and you need to respect what the host website wants. It’s their website. So being a good guest, observe proper etiquette and play by their rules. Otherwise, don’t submit.                     

    Fortunately, many webmasters’ guidelines for guest post submissions aren’t too strict. Most of their rules include proper formatting.

    If you write posts regularly and you’re familiar with how to format standard posts, you wouldn’t have a hard time coming through.

    Remember to read through every portion of the guidelines, though. While they can be no-brainers, it reflects poorly on you if you receive a rejection notice for not following a basic regulation.

    Here’s an example of a batch of guidelines from a pet website that accepts guest posts:

    Does Guest Posting Still Work

    What to look for in guest blogging sites

    Found a website that appeals to your target audience? 

    Then, it looks like a website worth submitting a guest post to! 

    Don’t submit a guest post on random guest blogging sites. It’s a terrible idea. Remember, even if your guest submission is likely a good enough content by a webmaster, it doesn’t automatically mean that it’s the best place for a guest post. Instead, be mindful of websites where you make your mark. 

    Does Guest Posting Still Work

    For one, make sure that your guest post’s destination website accommodates the readers your post is for. This lets you stay relevant and maximize the effectiveness of your post. Not to mention, it’s a surefire way of avoiding unwanted scenarios in your career as a content creator.

    For example, you plan to submit a guest post that targets people who are into vegetable gardening. So, submit to a website that entertains readers about vegetable gardening topics — or something similar. 

    Don’t insist on submitting a post to websites that discuss palliative care tips only. Few readers of that website will bother with your post. And if someone stumbles on what you’ve whipped up, you’ll probably appear a joke to them.

    Here are the other points that you should look into, too:

    • High engagement rate – Guest post on popular websites with engaged readers for your post to be the subject of buzz. As long as your post is relevant and thought-provoking, the readers are likely to engage with the author.
    • Strong authority – Be a guest on websites that are highly reputed. The more prominent they are, the more influential your post can be.
    • Social profile – Choose webmasters active on social media. That way, they could share your post to different social media channels and amplify its reach.

    Conclusion

    Does guest posting still work? Yes, it does.

    The best thing about it? It’s a two-way street where both the author and the webmaster can benefit.

    So, if you’ve encountered the ideal website where you can send a pitch for the intention to submit a guest post, go ahead. Reach out to the webmaster.

    Want a handy tip? Check out their website or blog and get a feel of what their posts are like. Then, submit something similar.

  • Why is Grammarly So Expensive? The Real Reasons

    Why is Grammarly So Expensive? The Real Reasons

    For something with a free version, Grammarly sure charges a steep price for its paid version. If you’re wondering why is Grammarly so expensive, we looked closely on what it offers to help you understand why.

    As you can see in the table, the only similarity between the Free and Grammarly Premium versions is the critical grammar and spelling check.

    Why Is Grammarly So Expensive

    Out of 5 major features, you only get one with Free. So what picture does that paint for writers?

    To better appreciate these, let’s first look at the benefits of each one.

    Table of Contents
    [Open][Close]

    Is it worth paying for Grammarly?

    From pinpointing basic errors to identifying context behind the writing errors, Grammarly Premium has a lot to offer writers.

    Let’s do a quick rundown so you can see why is Grammarly so expensive:

    Why Is Grammarly So Expensive

    Advanced checks

    If you’re serious about your writing and trying to go beyond grammatically correct, this feature is for you.

    While the free version gets things done and helps keep your documents error-free, you can’t count on it to help with the tone.

    With the advanced checks, you can maintain or change the tone you want to achieve.

    For example, you want a business proposal to ooze with confidence and you feel there’s something missing with your document to achieve that to close the deal.

    The advanced checks can do a splendid job here by identifying areas for improvement for your desired tone. This is where it’s worth paying for Grammarly Premium.

    Why Is Grammarly So Expensive

    Bear in mind that there’s also a Grammarly Business version that lets you cover the costs of Grammarly Premium for your team members. This is ideal if you’re running a content agency and you want the writers to submit content cleaned up using Grammarly.

    Vocabulary Enhancement

    Whether it’s search engine rankings or overall readability you’re after, you don’t want to keep using the same words throughout your content piece.

    Those adjectives that keep showing up every other paragraph? Grammarly Premium will surely detect those and suggest synonyms.

    More than just using the ‘right’ words, your document will become more readable after implementing suggestions.

    After all, you’d want your readers to never tire of moving from paragraph to paragraph and the premium version ensures just that.

    Genre-Specific Style Recommendations and Goal Setting

    Whatever you’re writing now, there’s always a goal and one that you can achieve with the right tone.

    If it’s fantasy fiction you’re going for or educational content, that’s engaging, there are words, phrases, or sentences that can send a better message.

    Based on the goals you set, Grammarly gives suggestions to a better point you in that direction.

    With the Domain, you can also set it to:

    • Academic
    • Business
    • Casual
    • Creative
    • Technical

    As a result, it synchronizes you and your document so you can better relate to your target audience.

    This is probably the biggest benefit Grammarly can give its users.

    Why Is Grammarly So Expensive

    Plagiarism Checker

    Since the introduction of the internet, too many content pieces get published and plagiarism soon became common.

    Writing professionals now have to avoid plagiarism since facing lawsuits comes with a steep price–thousands of dollars.

    To properly cite references, Grammarly Premium offers a plagiarism checker that not only tells you if the content matches another piece but also pulls from its comprehensive database so you know what sources to cite.

    Even if the content doesn’t match exactly, it helps to know if you’re at risk for plagiarism so you can cite the proper sources to remain safe.

    Where can I use Grammarly?

    Grammarly is probably the biggest writing aid app out there and integrates nicely with the most frequently used tools of today:

    1. On Google Chrome as an extension
    2. In Google Docs with its beta version specifically made for it
    3. On its own website where you can upload content for checking
    4. As a Microsoft Word extension
    5. As an Outlook app for Microsoft Office
    6. As a mobile app for iOS or Android
    7. As a desktop app for Mac

    With this, you can see how the app works for most platforms to serve any kind of need from story writers to students or professionals making a formal document.

    Even if you aren’t a professional writer, Grammarly helps by providing suggestions full of context to help make you a better writer.

    Is Grammarly the best grammar checker?

    ‘Best’ is indeed a powerful word. While there is a good number of checkers out there, let’s run down the features of only the well-known grammar checkers so you can see the position and worth of Grammarly:

    ProWritingAid

    ProWritingAid also works as a great grammar and spell checker. Even for its free version, it helps improve the readability of your work.

    Unlike Grammarly, it keeps most of its correcting powers. However, it compromises on usability instead since you have to use the tool native to its site and only with 500 words at a time.

    You’d have to go for Premium should you have it compatible with your favorite platforms – Chrome, Microsoft Word, etc.

    Another bonus it has versus other editing apps is that it tackles some bigger picture issues like writing style.

    Spelling mistakes, passive voice, and sentence formatting that makes readability weak will all be highlighted.

    Plus, it’s an excellent option as a free plugin for WordPress.

    In a nutshell, it competes nicely with Grammarly but falls short on intuitiveness.

    Other than that, it is a good alternative at a lower price point.

    Ginger

    A tool made by Ginger Software, it rose in popularity through language enhancement technology that’s quite adept at using language processing to get a good grasp of content.

    What this means for users is that you can easily correct spelling and grammar issues and it also has all the tools you need to do this well.

    It works for Windows, iOS, Android as apps and with Chrome and Safari as extensions.

    A downside to Ginger is its usability on certain platforms. With Chrome, it doesn’t work with all text input fields such as the ones in WordPress. At least you have Jetpack for that.

    However, the pop-up editor works fine and you can copy, paste content there, then bring it back to MS Word or wherever it’s supposed to be.

    A word of warning though—links seem to disappear when pasting content back from the editor tool.

    Hemingway

    This tool has noticeable differences compared to other commonly used checkers. For one, it highly encourages a big picture look at your writing.

    What this means for writers is that there is more focus on readability. Specifically, the tool emphasizes words or phrases that compromise the form or flow of your sentences and comes up with suggestions.

    A clear disadvantage with Hemingway is its absence of integration–no extensions, plugins, etc. You just put the content in the tool then edit.

    A great way to use this is by having another tool work in tandem. Maybe install Grammarly Free and then filter the readability further with Hemingway.

    Conclusion

    Like most things, there is no one size fits all solution for writing. That’s because you can’t make creativity something rigid.

    However, you can always go for the tool with most of the functionalities you’re looking for.

    When the flow calls for dramatic, redundant lines, go for it. Tools like Grammarly may give suggestions, but they definitely have their limits.

    Knowing this, it pays to know what’s on the market and what alternatives you have and don’t have access to.

    So is Grammarly the best?

    In many ways, the answer is yes. But the others bring something to the table.

    Hemingway and Ginger are great for editing but don’t integrate with the commonly used platforms. If this is fine with you, you can go for these since they’re free after all.

    This way, we can better understand why Grammarly charges a higher fee for its Premium version. It simply offers great usability and effective writing suggestions.

    Writers who focus on workflow and user experience can benefit and enjoy the features of Grammarly Premium.

    If you’re looking for a solid tool that covers a lot of these while offering great usability, Grammarly Premium is a great bet.

    grammarly premium

    Write Better, Error-Free Website Content

    With Grammarly Premium, you can correct your articles as you write and edit parts that you would probably miss even when reviewing it.

    ELEVATE YOUR WRITING
  • Does Grammarly Work on Google Docs and How to Use it?

    Does Grammarly Work on Google Docs and How to Use it?

    If you’re looking for programs to help you step up your writing game, Grammarly would be a natural first choice.

    Looking back on my Grammarly Premium review, it is probably one of the most powerful extensions for Google Chrome—let alone a stand-alone editing software that can vastly improve your writing!

    As a writing tool, the first thing you will look into is why it fits into your writing workflow. For example, do you have to copy and paste your content on the tool to check grammatical errors?

    Thankfully, Grammarly integrates with various third-party tools to simplify your writing process using it. In particular, it works “well” with Google Docs.

    “Well,” being the operative term.

    Since its Google Docs integration, Grammarly has been in the beta stage for far too long now. This could lead you to think that the integration isn’t working properly or there may be some issues with it.

    This post will look into how good Grammarly for Google Docs is and how much it can improve your writing.

    Table of Contents
    [Open][Close]

    How Good is Grammarly?

    One common first step for writing any content piece is doing a brain dump. You can see Grammarly shine when you put all your key ideas in one play with no regard for how perfect it looks or sounds.

    Some would claim that Grammarly is not one of the most affordable tools in the market. However, when you see the benefits it brings to the content you write and publish, you will understand how its excellent features justify its costs.

    Below are reasons why Grammarly is one of the best grammar checker tools in the market:

    1. Form. It aims to correct grammar mistakes on top of other basic errors in spelling, punctuation, and wordy sentences.

    2. Clarity. When the message of a sentence isn’t precise or if the paragraph drags too long, the tool provides you with writing suggestions, such as breaking it up into more sentences.

    3. Anti-Plagiarism. Grammarly also detects if you’ve copied content from other sources or shows citations for parts of the content you are quoting.

    4. Tone. A neat new feature with Grammarly is how it captures the tone of your content overall, whether it’s Confident, Optimistic, Joyful, Formal, etc.

    Sure, we can probably tell how we come off to our audience or correct minor grammatical errors. Also, Grammarly competes well with other free extensions offering similar features.

    It does well on many standards compared to other free document checkers online.

    Ginger, ProWritingAid, and others all provide grammar and spell checks but don’t do so well with the user interface.

    P.S. ProWritingAid is a very close competitor to Grammarly Premium and should check out.

    Users of the free version will still have their hands full since Grammarly offers more checks in certain situations.

    Does Grammarly Work On Google Docs
    *Grammarly extension on Google Chrome

    How to use Grammarly on Google Docs

    Usually, Grammarly is used for Google Docs since it works through browsers.

    That’s because a lot of collaboration happens there, knowing that Grammarly has released a beta version specifically for Google Docs.

    Seeing this trend, the people behind the app made a beta version to work better with everyone’s favorite Google tool.

    Before releasing this to the public, Premium users could test it with their writing.

    This should mean a lot of the kinks are okay before you hear about the integration to Google Docs.

    Just be sure to install Grammarly Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store, and you’re good to go.

    It’s pretty straightforward—just open Google Docs, open a document, and it should run as long as you already have Grammarly for Chrome.

    Note: To make this work, you need to sign up for a Grammarly account (even a free one) and a Google Docs account.

    Does Grammarly Work On Google Docs

    Let the Grammarly extension suggest changes to your content for longer pieces, and you’re all set.

    Does Grammarly Work On Google Docs

    When activated, see the green Grammarly icon in the upper right portion of the browser. Click on it to enable Grammarly on your Google Docs.

    Whenever you type something, you can see underlined potential errors to quickly check it out as soon as they come and accept the correction as needed.

    If this is not what you see, you may have the default check by Google Docs. Try turning Grammarly on.

    Does Grammarly Work On Google Docs

    After turning it on, you should see the Grammarly icon on the lower right side of the screen. Click on it to open the Grammarly sidebar. From there, you’ll be able to access the suggestions you can implement to your content.

    grammarly google docs

    Why is Grammarly not working in Google Docs?

    As mentioned, the Google Chrome extension of Grammarly remains in the Beta version. So it’s normal for you to experience difficulties from time to time.

    With that, it gives ‘corrections’ that are not necessary. You can always ignore these words to remove the red line.

    These are general expectations that Grammarly may fall short on.

    Now that that’s out of the way let’s see what the errors in Google Docs may look like.

    Here’s a sample snippet of a wrong suggestion.

    Does Grammarly Work On Google Docs

    Non-Standard English

    In Grammarly’s defense, there’s a reason why these are referred to as “suggestions.”

    As great as Grammarly is, it won’t be able to provide you with the correct suggestions all the time.

    There’s always a margin of error when it comes to tools like Grammarly that predict the right suggestion based on collected information regarding good writing through the years.

    More often than not, the tool proves helpful and shows corrections you may miss.

    Plus, it works for English only. Though it accommodates non-standard English, it doesn’t do too well with standard terms for the tech industry, slang, and acronyms.

    Turning it On and Off

    Grammarly is not a native tool of Google, so it must be installed and added to the list of extensions Chrome should run.

    Clicking “add extension” the moment it’s downloaded and installed should do the trick.

    You can also toggle it on and off, so be sure it stays on while you’re editing your documents. You can try to turn it off and then on again or refresh the page.

    Does Grammarly Work On Google Docs

    When everything doesn’t seem to work anymore, check if your document is getting long. It turns off after a specific word count, and you’d need to let it perform a check at that point.

    You should be able to find a prompt in the form of the Grammarly icon in the lower-right portion of the document.

    Is Grammarly Premium worth it?

    If you’re enjoying Grammarly’s free version and using it for your business, imagine what Premium can do.

    As with most things, investing in something means putting a little skin in the game–paying fees, and Grammarly is no different.

    When your writing is the bread and butter of your business and not a drop of wrong grammar should ever make it to your document, this is definitely for you.

    On top of the basic features, Premium can help you improve your writing from many angles by giving suggestions to improve your writing style and analyzing where your errors are coming from to provide deep context.

    Does Grammarly Work On Google Docs

    *Premium suggestion prompts by Grammarly

    Grammarly versus Humans

    You may ask yourself–why not hire an in-house editor?

    That is a good point since artificial intelligence can’t entirely replace creative minds like journalists and editors.

    Knowing this, Grammarly will still surely miss a few errors. For example, you can spell a word correctly, and it can be technically the correct one to use, but not the best. Machines can’t detect that yet.

    Also, if you’re paying attention to the flow and how it’s supposed to be longer or more dramatic, you’ll need a human mind.

    So the answer is that a human editor will still be the better option. However, even when said that way, the tool is only an indirect competitor.

    It excels with casual writing and pays off even more when done in volume.

    This way, you can use your time on the essential things, while the extension can significantly reduce your load by correcting the more common errors.

    Knowing this, your $139.95 annual fee can be worth the investment.

    Conclusion

    Hopefully, this post answered the question “does Grammarly work on Google Docs?“

    Even if it has its flaws, the tool is invaluable for writing work, especially when paired with Google Docs.

    Whether you use the free or paid version, Grammarly in Google Docs gives serious spelling and grammar power when focusing on other parts of written output, such as flow and tone.

    Its paid version is invaluable with professional documents because it’s intuitive and makes for a smooth user experience.

    Just be sure to have a good eye that can differentiate the good suggestions from the bad. Do not take all corrections at face value.

    After all, Premium gives a good context for corrections it makes and the overall momentum you can make if English is not your primary language. You can then take it from there.

    The work hours you can save can determine how good this editing software is for you.

    So if you’re looking to streamline your writing process beyond just hiring a writer, getting Grammarly Premium helps. It’s simply the wiser investment for making the workflow more efficient.

    Write Better, Error-Free Website Content

    With Grammarly Premium, you can correct your articles as you write and edit parts that you would probably miss even when reviewing them.

    ELEVATE YOUR WRITING
  • Do Ghostwriters Get Royalties from their Precious Work?

    Do Ghostwriters Get Royalties from their Precious Work?

    Are you thinking of paying royalties to ghostwriters?

    If they accept royalties as a payment option, then go ahead. If you’re being fair or not, offering them royalties for ghostwriting services is another story.

    So let’s discuss what you need to know. By the end of this post, you’ll find out the answer to the question “do ghostwriters get royalties” and what the best course of action is. This way, you’ll get to the bottom of things if you’re considering using royalty payments.

    This also targets beginner ghostwriters trying to break into the publishing industry but don’t know where to begin regarding payment schedules, upfront costs, and others.

    Do ghostwriters get paid in royalties or not?

    Ghostwriters don’t get paid royalties for their services. That’s how the general traditional publishing process goes, anyway. 

    And paying a ghostwriter for their services is both simple and practical. So why would you want to complicate matters and propose to pay royalties?

    To elaborate on this concern, let’s check out what dictionaries say about royalty. Encyclopedia Britannica, for one, explains that royalty is a payment option in law. 

    do ghostwriters get royalties

    Wondering how royalty payments work, though? Then here are some points to ponder:

    • The basis of product performance – How is the product doing? Royalty payments will depend on how much the book sells over time.
    • The basis on royalty percentage agreement – For example, the average starting royalty percentage is 5% 
    • The need for a royalty contract – A detailed description of the ghostwriting arrangement prevents feud. This includes the coverage and limitations involved in the work.

    However, this was back in the day. Nowadays, if you insist on paying royalties for the services of a professional writer, you’re somewhat asking that person to work for free. And don’t you think it’s unreasonable?

    Remember, a ghostwriter can’t pay their urgent bills with the promise of royalty payments. That, and they wouldn’t be able to support their daily lifestyle.

    If you want to offer royalties to a ghostwriter, here is some practical advice:

    • Supplementary royalty payments – Offer royalty only after providing monetary rewards. Let royalty payments serve as extra compensation or bonuses.
    • Guarantee of success – Is the success of your publishing content set in stone? Then there’s a guarantee of recurring income, which you can give to a ghostwriter.
    • Passion project – Does a ghostwriter love working on a project? Are they 100% willing to accept royalty as a payment option?

    Related post: Do Ghostwriters Get Credit or Not? The Real Answer

    And do ghostwriters get credit too?

    do ghostwriters get royalties

    In most cases, no. Ghostwriters don’t get to claim a published work is theirs without their client’s consent. Even if every word is theirs, they can’t “own” it.

    Most ghostwriters are aware of this. So if you’re working with a professional ghostwriter, there’s nothing to worry about. 

    Besides, regardless of getting credit for their work, other rewards await them. Here’s a look at some of these:

    Freedom to work

    Ghost writers, like most freelance writers, can work anytime and anywhere they want — if their client is good with the setup. They’re free to hustle however they wish as long as they meet their client’s expectations about a project. 

    And beyond the benefits of a highly autonomous work setup, here’s how awesome their freedom to work extends:

    • Unlimited earning potential – No fixed income. Ghostwriters can earn more if they take on more work.
    • Stable work – Written content isn’t losing value, and so the work for ghostwriters is always going to be present. 
    • Ability to choose projects – Don’t like a project? Without a boss to force them to work on it, they can choose to decline an offer.

    Ability to network

    With every client ghostwriters work with, they meet people. And to those acquaintances, they can shake hands with potential clients. The more clients they score, the bigger their network becomes.

    Here are some tips on how to help them get more out of networking:

    • Commit to leveling up – Adopt the right mindset, be sociable, and be engaging. You can also devote an hour per day to growing your network.
    • Attend events – For example, your town is hosting a small party for businesses relevant to your niche. So be there!
    • Seek exemplars – Connect with successful individuals and praise-worthy

    Opportunity for advancement

    Ghostwriters can apply their experience in working on writing projects to real-life situations. And in turn, these newfound skills can help further their career and improve their lives.

    Let’s shed light on the matter above – the ability to network – to cite an example. Building a network of social connections is a lot like writing content that you want audiences to vibe with. And that isn’t easy. 

    For one, it takes having a pleasant attitude to give other people reasons to associate with another. 

    Beyond that, here are some valuable non-writing skills that they can learn with every work opportunity:

    • Time management – They learn to manage their time better and set priorities. For example, they understand it’s best to allow 3 hours per day for a project.
    • Organizational skills – Dumping loads of work and expecting them to attend to everything isn’t an effortless task. Experienced ghostwriters can handle it, though 
    • Listening and comprehension skills – Over time, ghostwriters better understand clients.

    Ghostwriter prices

    do ghostwriters get royalties

    One of the main reasons ghostwriters get into ghostwriting is high monetary compensation. However, they can live comfortably if they can write and use it to embody another person’s writing style.

    However, while ghostwriters are tied to good pay, it doesn’t mean there’s a cookie-cutter approach to this. Remember, each ghostwriter sets prices differently. This can depend on the category of ghostwriters they belong to. 

    Some ghostwriters charge a flat fee. This benefits you if you have a lengthy project for a professional ghostwriter like 20,000-word e-books. This way, you can just give them a project, expect them to deliver high-quality output, and pay them a set price.

    They might not charge much if they’re novice ghostwriters who could still use writing advice. However, if they’re high-end ghostwriters with years of experience up their sleeves, they can charge high ghostwriting fees. 

    Here’s a lowdown on the average annual salary of ghostwriters based on experience:

    • $5,000 to $9,000 range – This is the average rate of ghostwriters with about 3-5 years of experience
    • $9,000 to $20,000 range – If they have about five years up to a decade of experience in ghostwriting, expect to pay this
    • At least $20,000 – If you’re looking for professionalism and experience, go for ghostwriters with over ten years of experience. Then expect to pay them compensation in this range.

    However, ghostwriters can base their fees on a per-word or per-page rate, especially if they prefer to work as freelancers, they’ll charge you differently. 

    What makes this pricing system a suitable fit for you? Well, if you have a quick project that can be completed in less than a week, this ghostwriting work is what you should aim for. Examples are a 1,000-word blog post and a brief two-page case study.

    In this case, here are the factors that also come into play:

    • Level of difficulty – If your project requires the need to delve into complex subjects, be ready to pay a ghostwriter high for it
    • Word count – You’ll have to pay based on the length of your project
    • Urgency – Want ghostwriters to work on a time-sensitive project? Then expect to be charged a higher amount.

    Summing it up

    What matters the most is that you and the ghostwriter you’re looking to hire come to an understanding with your publishing house. In the ghostwriting business, paying royalties isn’t standard practice in the publishing industry.

    However, it’s not wrong to consider proposing it during your talks with publishers. If they refuse to accept it as a primary payment option, the discussions above should help you see their point. Now, if you want to know how to proceed with offering royalties, the discussions above also have your back.

    Still have questions about royalty payments? Then you’re welcome to contact me!

    Let Me Create Great Content Under Your Name!

    Increase your authority and influence online through my ghostwriting services. Click on the button below to learn more.

    LET’S DO THIS!
  • Do Ghostwriters Get Credit or Not? The Real Answer

    Do Ghostwriters Get Credit or Not? The Real Answer

    Let’s not beat around the bush:

    Do ghostwriters get credits for their work?

    If you’re looking for blog ghostwriting services, it’s common to ask this question. Especially if it will be your first rodeo, it’s understandable to want to get the details straight. 

    So, should you really give them credit?

    In this post, we’ll find out the actual answer. This way, you’ll know what to do once you work with a ghostwriter.

    Table Of Contents

    Do ghostwriters get credit, really?

    do ghostwriters get credit

    No, they don’t. As their title points out, they’re “ghosts”. They’re not supposed to claim that they’re the ones who whipped up online content for the person they represent.

    As their client, it’s not your obligation to give them credit. Because the deal is you pay money for their services. And as far as the same deal goes, you’re off the hook once you hand over what is due — and is rightfully theirs.

    Now for some real talk. If they’re not getting credit for their work, it’s only fair to wonder what’s in “it” for them. 

    The answer? Well, one is the huge paycheck waiting for them! 

    A ghostwriter in New York, for instance, can enjoy an annual salary of about $45,000.

    Remember, ghostwriters are usually skilled writers. For other people, they can write a book, get them featured in magazine articles, and more. They can mirror their clients’ writing style, take charge of these people’s personas, and more. 

    For this reason, they make their clients’ lives a lot easier. And also for the same reason, they’re usually highly compensated.

    Beyond the high pay, here are the other reasons a ghostwriter works this way:

    • High demand and steady work – The need to create written content will always be there. So, it’s no surprise that the need for ghostwritten works is high.
    • Variety of work – Ghostwriters explore different topics
    • Thirst to be better – Writing is an ever-evolving skill. And it gives these ghostwriters an opportunity to always do well.

    Should I use a ghostwriter?

    Ghostwriters don’t really leave empty-handed.

    So, focus on what they can do for you. Because they work anonymously, you get to reap all the benefits of their work.

    Ready to use a ghostwriter now?

    Reach out to them. However, before anything else, think about these things, first:

    Length of the project

    Will the ghostwriter be working on a short-term project? Or is it a project that will run for months or even years?

    Either way, using a ghostwriter is an excellent idea. They will speed things up and help you meet your deadline.

    A perk of offering short-term writing projects to ghostwriters? You usually won’t need to invest resources other than the ones for a quick project. Give them instructions and inform them of your expectations, then let them work. If they do a brilliant job, that’s awesome. 

    And if they performed terribly, a simple course to take is to carry on with your business. Next time, just hire someone better.

    If you want to work with a ghostwriter for the long haul, you’re walking in an unfamiliar territory. You may also need to invest in them and help them write well for you for as long as it takes.

    Here are some tips that you can share with a ghostwriter to help them handle a long-term project:

    • Schedule and start – Jot down what you need to do, create a plan, then start the work.
    • Stick to a to-do list – Commit to your plan. Using productivity tools like the Pomodoro Technique can help.
    • Rest adequately – Get eight hours of sleep if you must. Willpower is an exhaustible resource.

    Ideal ghostwriter

    do ghostwriters get credit

    The first person who offers you their ghostwriting services may tell you that hiring them will save you time. It makes sense for them to bring that up because it means you don’t have to spend more time searching for ghostwriters.

    Based on that perspective alone, you could nod your head in agreement.. However, if you factor in a ghostwriter’s qualifications, you will start walking in the opposite direction. So only use a ghostwriter if you’ve found someone qualified.

    Here are some questions you need to ask before using a ghostwriter for hire:

    • Are their organizational skills good enough? If you have plenty of work mapped out for them, they should be able to organize all of them. Then allow them to prioritize the more urgent tasks as they deliver high-quality work for you.
    • Are they resourceful? They should always know what to do with what you give them. Rather than keep bugging you with concerns, they should know how to handle things independently, too.
    • Are they out-of-the-box thinkers? They should be creative and propose brilliant ideas.

    Related: Ghostwriters Get Royalties: True or False?

    Typical ghostwriting collaboration

    A ghostwriting collaboration differs for every ghostwriter and their client. And it could be easier if you set rules on how to work prior to starting. 

    Each ghostwriter works uniquely, and so does each client.

    To help you work with a ghostwriter effectively, here are some tips you should note:

    • Don’t micromanage – No second-guessing or pointing out errors before they polish a project. Remain in the background and let a ghostwriter work how they want to.
    • Communicate clearly – Don’t use analogies, for instance. Be direct when delivering your message and ask them if they completely understand you.
    • Provide guidance – Offer suggestions if they need them. For example, you can provide research materials.

    How much does ghostwriting cost?

    do ghostwriters get credit

    As mentioned, ghostwriters can make a lot of money for their writing skills. So if you can provide them with fair compensation, hire one.

    Know little you need to shell out for their services? Then, take the factors below into consideration:

    Skills  

    The more skills a ghostwriter has, the higher you should think of paying them. If they can do the work that you originally thought of hiring someone else to do, then let that payment go to the ghostwriter instead.

    For example, they can help you manage your social media accounts. They can keep these accounts updated, engage with your followers, and more.

    What other skills do ghostwriters need to have for higher pay, you ask? Here’s a few of them:

    • SEO knowledge – Can they create and edit meta and title tags, for example? If they know their way around search engine optimization, they’re worth a lot.
    • Editing skills – Proofreading and editing can be time-consuming. If you don’t need to hire an editor anymore, take it as a cue that you should compensate higher.
    • Familiarity with graphic design – Can they take care of all visual-related elements for you?

    Experience and credibility

    Hiring a credible and experienced ghostwriter doesn’t come cheap. That’s because it takes time – and effort – to build experience and credibility. 

    You can’t go from being an undecorated ghostwriter to an experienced and credible ghostwriter overnight, can you?

    Here are signs that tell you a ghostwriter is credible and has relevant experience.

    • Knowledge about a subject – If possible, they’re willing to show you that they’re experts. If they’re niche-specific ghostwriters, they should be willing to talk extensively about a relevant subject.
    • Social proof – It’s easy for anyone to claim that they’re experienced and credible. However, is there anyone else that can honestly support their claim?
    • Professionalism – Working with an inexperienced ghostwriter can open the door to unprofessionalism. So hire a ghostwriter who’s reliable, hardworking, and respectful.

    Your project’s word count 

    Let’s be realistic. 

    Ghostwriters usually charge clients based on the number of words they should write. They can give you a quote for a flat fee. However, this fee would still depend on the number of words that they need to write.

    So if you want them to write a relatively lengthy article, be ready to pay them a higher amount. For a 5,000-word article, for example, they will charge you something like this:

    5,000-word article = 5,000 x $0.15

    If their per-word rate is $0.15, then it’s fair to compensate them $750 for their work.

    Related: how much does it typically cost to hire a ghostwriter?

    Related: How Much Does It Typically Cost to Hire a Ghostwriter?

    Final thoughts

    Still asking the question, “Do ghostwriters get credits?”? 

    And still worried about who gets the credit for their written work once you bring a ghostwriter into the picture? Well, don’t because as the discussion above goes, it’s you -you get all the credit. 

    And don’t feel bad about the whole setup, either. Ghostwriters are “ghosts”, remember? If they wrote an excellent piece on your behalf, the praise goes to you!

    So go ahead and hire a ghostwriter to do magic for your online business.

  • How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Ghostwriter

    How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Ghostwriter

    Here’s how I can ease off your load:

    I can be your ghostwriter!

    I provide professional ghostwriting services. And I can elevate your brand and help grow your online business.

    If you’re wondering how much you need to pay me, that’s what we’ll discuss here.

    In this article, let’s explore all the costs involved in hiring a ghostwriter. This way, you can justify the cost of hiring ghostwriters and start hiring one right away.

    Let’s begin.

    Table Of Contents

    So, how much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter?

    Hiring a ghostwriter comes with a price. And you’ll realize this price is reasonable once you consider the resources that ghostwriters need to invest to complete a project.

    Plus, not all ghostwriters charge the same price for their services. The sooner you come to terms with this, the faster you’ll get the answer you need.

    For instance, ghostwriters that work through New York charge about $200,000. However, it is entirely possible to bump into a ghostwriter that might charge less-way less-for the same work.

    You can get articles ghostwritten for you for $5, for example.

    This is because each ghostwriter is unique. The price for their services also depends on the quality of the work they’re willing to put in.

    Here are the different categories of ghostwriters:

    • Cheap writers – They have little experience and still need your help in writing. You can find them on Upwork, Fiverr, and other freelancing websites.
    • Mid-range ghostwriting professionals – They’re great writers — excellent even. Gaining enjoyment and experience from a project is what they’re all about.
    • High-end superstar writers – They’re well-established writers. Politicians, actors, musicians, and TV personalities are their clients.

    Related: Do Ghostwriters Get Any Credit?

    Want a ghostwriter to charge less? 

    how much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter

    The good news is, they can — at least, I can. However, for that to happen, you need to do your end of the bargain.

    For one, a ghostwriter might charge less if you reduce your word count. Considering the fact that they charge you on a per-word rate, you can lower your original proposal’s word count.

    Say, you can reduce a blog post containing 1,000 words to a 500-word post. So if you want the ghostwriter to reduce their fees by 50%, this is one workaround. 

    Here are more tips on how to help convince ghostwriters to lower their fees:

    • Offer a flexible deadline – You can give them a week’s worth of allowance, for example. Ghostwriters have other priorities other than your project so you need to show them you respect their time 
    • Communicate well – Chat, call, or e-mail them. The easier they find you to work with, the higher the chances of them lowering the price.
    • Pitch a relatable topic – Ask them to incorporate something meaningful and relatable for your project. It could be about a personal passion.

    Another way to get around this? Approach them and ask them what you can do for them to lower their price.

    Ghostwriter contract and fees

    As you negotiate with a ghostwriter regarding the cost of their services, be direct about conveying your project. A common reason why disputes occur between ghostwriters and their clients is a misunderstanding.

    Want to avoid a misunderstanding? Then, draft a ghostwriting contract and let it spell out the essential details of your project.

    Here are other factors that you need to take into account:

    • Rights – Are original ideas written for your project solely yours even after the project is completed? In any case, inform your ghostwriter.
    • Out clause – Don’t like a ghostwriter’s work along the way? You should specify that you can end the project when you see fit.
    • Duration of project – Six months or 1 year? You should also specify how long you want the project to last.

    Related: What Exactly Does a Ghostwriter Do?

    How to hire a ghostwriter

    how much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter

    True, asking “How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter?” can shed light on the costs of hiring a ghostwriter. It can help you understand why ghostwriters set the prices for their services the way they do.

    So, if you want to jump into the hiring stage, go ahead. Keep these things in mind, though:

    1. Pick out a deserving and qualified ghostwriter

    Millions of ghostwriters exist. This means, there’s plenty of fish out there. However, hiring the first ghostwriter you come across is not a good idea-it’s a terrible one!

    Why exactly, you ask?

    • Bad personality – You don’t want to work with someone who doesn’t respond to constructive criticism and is unreliable, do you? 
    • Lack of enthusiasm – Ghostwriters that are lazy and unwilling to get the job done would only give you a headache and slow you down.
    • Incompetence – Hiring a ghostwriter who can’t write well defeats the purpose of having someone else handle your work.

    If you rush into the process of getting a ghostwriter, you’ll probably end up wasting resources – time, money, and energy. Instead, go through all your options first. And once you allocated a budget, decide which category of ghostwriters you want to access.

    Then, select a professional ghostwriter based on his unique qualifications and winning credentials. If the ghostwriter you choose makes you feel confident that they can deliver the work you require, hire them.

    2. Discuss your project thoroughly

    Before a ghostwriter works, it’s important to iron out all the details of the work. The purpose of this is to eliminate any wrong impressions. Otherwise, minor confusions could arise along the way – and could be too difficult to correct later on.

    So, tell them what kind of work you expect. In turn, encourage them to tell you what they expect from you.

    To get into the specifics, here’s what you should do during this phase:

    • Answer questions – Leave no room for doubts and address even the simplest concerns about your project.
    • Offer suggestions – Provide actionable tips on how they can work on your project better.
    • Provide communication channels – Inform them of your phone and messenger accounts, for example. Assure them that they can get in touch with you anytime.

    3. Provide your contract or an NDA

    Fact: An NDA (or a Non-Disclosure Agreement) goes by different names. This includes Proprietary Information Agreement, Confidential Disclosure Agreement, and Secrecy Agreement.

    Whatever you decide to call an NDA, the idea remains the same. Providing an NDA for another party to sign is standard business practice. And it’s useful in cases involving a ghostwriter because it addresses confidentiality. 

    After walking your ghostwriter through your project, they should be good to go. However, it’s advisable to play it safe.

    Don’t forget, ghostwriters work behind the scenes. If you want them to keep your business relationship confidential, let them sign an NDA.

    Here are the benefits of letting ghostwriters sign an NDA:

    • Clear understanding of rules – Stating all your rules in an NDA makes it easy for the other party to follow them.
    • Show of respect – If a ghostwriter is more than willing to sign an NDA, it shows they want to start a professional relationship with you on the right foot.
    • Legal protection – Ghostwriters can claim you used their intellectual property. However, if an NDA states you’re free to use their property, you can avoid a lawsuit.

    Conclusion

    So, that’s it! Regarding the costs of a ghostwriter’s services, I hope I’ve addressed your concerns. 

    If you still have questions, you are always welcome to contact me. Also, feel free to discuss your project with me if you like me to provide professional ghostwriting services for you.

    Let’s get one thing straight, though. I can only be your online content ghostwriter. 

    Looking for ghostwriters to help you write a book, polish musical scores, or anything else? I’m afraid that’s not my department. 

    However, if you need help with blog posts, SEO-friendly articles, case studies, and any online content, I’m your guy!

/* ============================================================================= WebMCP tool registration for christopherjanb.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deploy: WPCode -> + Add Snippet -> Add Your Custom Code (HTML Snippet) Insert Location: Site Wide Footer Conditional Logic: NONE (this script self-gates on the URL path) Prereq: upload webmcp.js to the site root first, so it loads at https://christopherjanb.com/webmcp.js (download from https://github.com/jasonjmcghee/WebMCP) The blue widget only appears on https://christopherjanb.com/mcp/ ============================================================================= */