Getting Out Of Ghostwriter Mode And Getting Bylines As A Freelance Writer

Do you remember the show Ghostwriter? I used to love that show as a kid, but I don’t like ghostwriting as an adult. Ghostwriting is fun until you have a huge client that wants to see writing samples. What will you send them? You don’t have anything with your name on it!

Listen On Your Platform Of Choice: Apple | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher

In today’s episode, we’ll be chatting about getting out of ghostwriter mode and getting bylines as a freelance writer.

Fake It Until You Make It

You may not have a ton of bylines when you are getting started, so you need to fake it until you make it.

What do I mean by this? Do a guest post.

Send a pitch to exciting companies in your niche and ask to write for them. Before you pitch a company, make sure your ideal audience would find you there. Does this site have a great search engine ranking? Will you be allowed to add a bio and link to your freelance website? Don’t guest post for the first site you find. Dig deeper to make sure it will move your business forward.

You Get Out Of Ghostwriter Mode When Your Name Makes More Sense Than A Random Employee’s Name

Here’s the thing, authority gets you out of ghostwriter mode every time. If you’ve built a name for yourself in your industry, you begin to get more opportunities to share your name. Sometimes your authority doesn’t even come from name recognition. It comes from formal requirements like your educational history. For example, if you are a medical website, having a writer who is a doctor makes sense. Use your credentials to your advantage when getting bylined pieces.

If A Client Doesn’t Say It Has To Be Ghostwritten, Ask Them

If your clients aren’t adamant about work being ghostwritten, they may not have a preference. Ask your clients if they can put your name on your work. You can also ask them to put your name on some of your work. For example, if you have an in-depth piece you’ve poured your soul into, ask for it to be bylined.

Create Your Own Website

Last but not least, create your own website and start a blog there. Your name has to be on that content. Starting your own website can be a great way to bulk up your portfolio and share that you can write content. Alternatively, you can use sites like LinkedIn and Medium to publish articles as well.