LinkedIn ghostwriters say they've seen demand for their services surge higher in the months since Insider first reported on the rapidly growing trend this spring.
Tara Horstmeyer, a writer in Atlanta, Georgia who left her job at a payments recovery company to focus on freelance ghostwriting in December 2020, told Insider she had seen about a 50% increase in interest from potential clients since this April.
Horstmeyer partly attributed the increased interest in her services to heightened awareness around LinkedIn ghostwriting as a practice.
"I think that has really exploded on LinkedIn: an understanding of the power of organic social media presence specifically for leaders, founders, and executives," said Horstmeyer, who has raised her rates from $2,500 for a bundle of ghostwritten posts to $3,000. "Now they're like, 'Okay, maybe I don't have the time to do this on my own … But my gosh, I can have a strategist and writer on my side help me with this."
The demand for LinkedIn ghostwriters has grown as the platform has evolved from one that simply served as a digital resume hub to a content platform where users post about a wide range of topics, from management advice to dog photos. Pricing for LinkedIn ghostwriting services varies widely, although generally ranges from $2,500 to $10,000 a month. But the most in-demand LinkedIn ghostwriters can command between $500 to $700 an hour.
LinkedIn, for its part, acknowledged that ghostwriting is a common practice on the platform.
"Not everyone is a great communicator," LinkedIn editor-in-chief Dan Roth told Insider in an emailed statement. "If relying on ghostwriters is what you need as a leader or professional to get the knowledge out of your head and in a place you're more comfortable sharing then, great. But you definitely don't need to hire a ghostwriter. The more authentic you are in sharing professional insights and ideas on LinkedIn the better."
Sam McKenna, who previously served as head of enterprise sales at LinkedIn before leaving in September 2019 to found #samsales Consulting in Washington, DC, has also witnessed a boom in LinkedIn ghostwriting. The firm has raised its prices nearly 40% over the last year, as a result. It now typically charges $7,500 for eight posts, $9,500 for 12 posts, and $12,700 for 16 posts.
"I think the reason we're at the top of the market and we are so in demand for this is because we understand the algorithm and how to maximize exposures so effectively," McKenna said.
Holly Crawshaw, another Atlanta-based writer who splits her time between ghostwriting LinkedIn content and manuscripts, said she has also seen demand for Linkedin ghostwriting soar in 2022. Crawshaw has slightly increased her rates over the last several months, charging up to $1,850 a month for 20 posts, which is $100 more than she charged earlier this year.
Crawshaw said her clients want to meaningfully contribute to the public discourse occurring on LinkedIn, which has evolved significantly, even over the last year or so.
"LinkedIn is definitely a place where people come to not only talk about their work, but their personal lives, too," said Crawshaw, who currently juggles 10 LinkedIn ghostwriting clients. "I've certainly seen more vulnerability, especially over the last year with the war in Ukraine, hurricanes, all these natural disasters. It's really become a place where people connect and help each other versus sort of a static, here's my stuff. I'm going to post and walk away."
Expect LinkedIn's position as a leading platform for thought leadership to grow in the coming months as Twitter continues to find its way under Elon Musk, predicted Kyle Monson, a founder partner at the New York-based integrated marketing agency Codeword. Since Musk took over the social network in late October, his erratic decision making has spooked some advertisers and users, some of whom are either taking a wait-and-see attitude or deactivating their accounts.
"I would expect LinkedIn to keep growing as kind of the home for business thought leadership, especially for these tech and finance executives who have built real followings on Twitter, but are a little bit apprehensive about the future of that platform," said Monson, whose agency also works with clients on content strategy, including LinkedIn ghostwriting. "They know they need to diversify … So it's about like, okay, where can I keep building my brands? LinkedIn is the natural choice for them."
FAQs
Many execs on LinkedIn hire ghostwriters to help them create content and increase their visibility. LinkedIn ghostwriters told Insider they had seen a surge in demand for their services this year. Several ghostwriters said they'd raised their prices as much as 40% because of the demand.
How much do LinkedIn ghostwriters charge? ›
Pricing varies widely, although generally ranges from $2,500 to $10,000 a month. But the most in-demand LinkedIn ghostwriters command between $500 to $700 an hour, which puts these writers squarely in the same pay bracket as some high-powered attorneys.
Are ghost writers in demand? ›
People are often amazed when I tell them that more than 50% of the non fiction books on the bestseller lists have been written with the help of a ghostwriter service. I've actually been quoted various figures from 50% to as much as 90%. These numbers come from book industry people who should know too.
What is a LinkedIn ghostwriter? ›
TL;DR: LinkedIn ghostwriting involves hiring a writer to create LinkedIn content, helping busy professionals maintain an engaging online presence. While it can boost visibility and leads, it has costs and requires a good match with the ghostwriter.
Why do people hire ghostwriters? ›
A ghostwriter writes content for another person or company without being credited. Businesses and authors often use a ghostwriter to help them create high-quality content that meets their needs or to help them save time and energy.
Do ghost writers get paid? ›
Being a ghost writer can be lucrative.
Businesses are willing and able to pay well for high-quality content. Aside from these extraordinary deals, on average, a ghostwriter can make between $10,000 – $50,000+ for a nonfiction book or memoir. For blog posts or articles, ghostwriters can easily earn between $150 – $500+.
Who pays for a ghostwriter? ›
Instead, nearly every ghost is paid upfront directly by their client (or, more often, the client's company) on a work-for-hire agreement. As the author client, then, you retain all rights and all future profits from your book.
How do ghost writers get paid? ›
Some ghostwriters charge by the hour, typically between $25-$100 per hour. However, per hour fees are less common than per word rates, since the client cannot accurately judge that you are using your time wisely. Hourly engagements are better suited for editing existing material vs.
Do ghost writers get royalties? ›
They can, yes, if the author offers it as part of their compensation package and the ghostwriter accepts it. But most ghostwriters don't want royalties to be the biggest component. It's too big a risk for them. Offering a royalty percentage as a bonus for strong sales, however, is more common.
Are ghost writers worth it? ›
There is a reason many high-level individuals hire ghostwriters. They save time and make the process of writing a book fun. A skilled and experienced ghostwriter brings talent and empathy to the table. They are on your side and have the same goal you do: to create a high-quality high impact book.
In these cases, a ghostwriter writes papers and presentations that are then published with the name of a person who didn't actually do the work. This isn't just misleading: it constitutes a form of plagiarism, misconduct, and cheating.
Do you get paid to write on LinkedIn? ›
Once you build an audience on LinkedIn, you can start making money through sponsored posts. That's right – brands will pay you to talk about their product or service to your LinkedIn audience. I've done several sponsored posts recently, for my current audience of over 20,000.
Are ghost writers anonymous? ›
Usually, there is a confidentiality clause in the contract between the ghostwriter and the credited author (or publisher) that obligates the former to remain anonymous, or obligates the latter to not reveal the ghostwriter.
Who hires a ghostwriter? ›
To hire a ghostwriter is not uncommon. From celebrities to politicians, from speakers to life coaches, from professionals to small businessmen. Everyone today goes for hires a professional ghostwriter to write a book, which is the best option to establish oneself as an expert of her/his subject.
What is a typical ghostwriting fee? ›
While ghostwriting rates depend on the writer's skill level, you should expect to pay about $50 to $75 for a 1,000-word blog post written by an entry-level professional. In comparison, expect to pay up to $250 for a blog of this length if you engage the services of more experienced ghostwriters.
How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter? ›
Ghostwriting fees for a book could be charged hourly ($30 to $200), per word ($1 to $3) or per project ($5,000 to $100,000 and even more, depending on the writer's accomplishments and genre). More experienced ghostwriters tend to charge per project, with additional hourly fees if the project scope expands.
How much should you pay a ghost writer? ›
Ghostwriting fees for a book could be charged hourly ($30 to $200), per word ($1 to $3) or per project ($5,000 to $100,000 and even more, depending on the writer's accomplishments and genre). More experienced ghostwriters tend to charge per project, with additional hourly fees if the project scope expands.
How much should a ghost writer cost? ›
Most fiction ghostwriting is priced per word. Typical rates range from: $0.01 – $0.05 per word: Entry-level rate for an inexperienced ghostwriter. $0.05 – $0.15 per word: Average rate for ghostwriters with a solid portfolio.
Are LinkedIn profile writers worth it? ›
Having a professionally written profile ensures that it's seen by more recruiters and employers who might be interested in hiring someone with your qualifications. That's especially if it's optimized using keywords, skills, and phrases that are highly relevant to your target job or industry.
