10 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Ghostwriting Agency
In today’s content-driven world, where a gazillion pieces of content are produced daily, and content is considered king for market, ghostwriting agencies have become an anchor resource for businesses, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders alike, whether they seek to establish their brand voice, share their expertise, and build their reputation.
As there are so many options available today due to demand, selecting a ghostwriting agency can be an overwhelming task. To ensure that your content meets the highest standards and resonates with your target audience, it is extremely important to vet the options available thoroughly and make an informed decision based on a questionnaire.
In this insightful blog, though there are so many questions you should ask to clear your skeptics and hire the right professional ghostwriting agency, we have mentioned the top 10 questions you must ask to put your journey with them on the right course from the very beginning. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
The 10 Questions to Ask
What kind of content have you created in the past?
Ask for specific examples of content they’ve created, such as blog posts, articles, eBooks, or any manuscript in the past or until today they have been creating because it is very important to hand over your work to an agency that has relevant experience and also you will have peace of mind that you have hired an agency that has done similar in the past.
This question will help you understand their experience and expertise in your niche or industry or evaluate them for your project. Ask for samples that help you gauge their writing style, tone, and talent to engage audiences.
Who will be writing my content?
The whole ghostwriting agency would not be working on your project but rather a dedicated writer, so try getting to know the writer who’ll be working on your project. Ask about their background, experience, and expertise.
Find out if they have any specialized knowledge or certifications in your industry. This will help you determine if they’re a good fit for your project. After evaluation, if left unsatisfied, you can tell the agency about reservations or ask for someone with better relevance for your project.
What’s your process for understanding my brand’s voice and tone?
The brand or book idea is yours, and you know everything about it; thus, you also have to make sure the agency can grasp different nuances masterfully and capture your brand’s unique voice and tone.
Ask how they plan to do this, whether through researching your brand’s existing content, conducting comprehensive interviews with you or with your team analyzing your brand’s value and mission, or creating a style guide to help them with consistency. If you are seeking help with your book, you may have to just narrate the story or help them understand your choice of characters and story.
How will we communicate throughout the project?
Because it would be professional work, you can’t talk over WhatsApp or messages, so you would need to establish how you’ll communicate with the best ghostwriting agency that you’ve hired. You have a few solid options at your disposal, as you can communicate through email, phone calls, project management tools like Trello or Asana, and regular meetings or check-ins which seems unlikely as agencies are usually located afar.
What’s the typical turnaround time for content delivery?
Obviously, when you place an order, you have some expectations from them to deliver in a certain timeframe so you can pursue the next steps. Ask them for the deadline for the delivery and potential deadlocks or bottlenecks.
How many revisions are included in the cost?
Find out how many revisions are included in the initial cost and what the process is for requesting changes because it is inevitable that you will like the very first version, and you may not ask for a change.
That’s why it’s important to set revision-related nuances and complications. You can ask about the number of revisions included in the package, and if you have any reservations, you can ask for a custom-tailored offer, the process for requesting changes, and any additional fees for excessive revisions.
Do you offer any additional services, like editing or proofreading?
Some agencies offer extra services to polish your content, so ask if they include editing for structure, coherence, and clarity, proofreading spree for grammar, punctuation, and spelling fixation, and if the content includes something related to stats and facts, ask if they offer factchecking for accuracy and credibility.
How do you ensure the content is original and plagiarism-free?
The agency should have a process in place that deviates the whole effort toward creating unique content that does not infringe on copyrights. It is very important to set crystal clear expectations for them about their plagiarism policy, how they check for originality, and any tools or software they use to detect plagiarism.
What rights do I have to the content once it’s delivered?
Though it is very obvious that if you ask for something and the service provider does it for you, you totally own but, clarifying who owns the content once it is delivered is a prudent decision. You have to make sure you have the right to use the content for your intended purpose, edit or modify the content as per your liking, or distribute it across different channels for your business purposes.
What’s your pricing structure, and are there any additional fees?
Pricing is often what determines the credibility and caliber of an agency. Work with an agency that is crystal transparent about pricing and open about additional costs.
Conclusion
Hiring a ghostwriting agency can be a daunting task, but by asking these 10 essential questions, you’ll be able to find the perfect professional ghostwriting agency for your book or content creation needs. Strive to hire an agency that meticulously understands your demands and vision and delivers high-quality content that has substance to be worthy of some time.