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Do You Know The Tricks To Bidding On Ghostwriting Jobs?

By admin | September 11, 2007

Bidding on ghostwriting jobs is normally necessary if you want to stay busy but for many it can be a daunting task especially if you are just starting out. For anyone interested in learning a few tricks I’ve picked up, here’s an article I posted in my September Issue of The Successful Ghostwriter’s Newsletter.

Bidding On Ghostwriting Jobs

When bidding on any ghostwriting job always ensure that you inject a bit of your own personality into your bid. Show potential clients that you fully understand the project they are proposing and that you are the right person to complete it. You can do this in a number of ways. The easiest way is to be polite and reiterate what they have said in their project description. If the project calls for 10 articles on weight loss, you could mention that you have been trying to loose weight or have successfully lost weight and that you are confident you can reach their target audience.

If the project owner has given their name in their proposal you can also include this at the beginning of your bid. Other information you can include is your payment terms if you have any, and be sure to mention if you don’t accept paypal.

Including Samples In Your Bid

Whenever I place a bid for a ghostwriting job I always make sure to state that samples are available on request. I never attach samples to my bid and if they are specifically asked for and even then I submit them via the PMB (private message board). The reason for this is that there have been reports of people steeling articles that have been attached to bids and using the content for themselves. In order to avoid this happening I always provide samples via the PMB and you should do the same.

Getting Your First Ghostwriting Job

Getting the first job is the hardest part of all when it comes to ghostwriting. Remember you won’t have any feedback or rating so potential clients won’t have anything to go by.

For many beginners the only way to actually get that first job especially on Elance is to do the job for practically nothing. Make your bid the lowest. Once you get this first job and get your positive feedback it gets easier and you won’t have to bid so low.

Getting my first ghostwriting job meant bidding $3 per 300 word article. It worked; I got the job and the positive feedback. I also gained a repeat client who now pays $10 for the same articles.

So remember bid low, do a good job, get the positive rating and your business will take off much faster. You can start to increase your rates as your feedback and client rating grows.

Like all things, bidding on ghostwriting jobs gets easier with experience.

If you would like more information on bidding on ghostwriting jobs, jobs to avoid, and when to bid, you will find it all in the Ghostwriting Uncovered Handbook.