Hiring A Ghostwriter?

Talia Whyte Global Wire Associates

Ghostwriting is a unique way to get your voice out there to your customers without actually using your voice, per se. With that being said, it is important to make sure you make the right hire. Here are some tips we have learned from our own ghostwriting projects over the years.

1. Type of work: It is a great idea to specify what type of ghostwriting you are looking to do. Most ghostwriters specialize in one or more types of writing. If you are looking for someone to write blog posts, e-newsletters, or social media, you need to hire a ghostwriter who specializes in online content writing, with an emphasis on search engine optimization (SEO). The same is true if you want to hire ghostwriters to work on books, reports, technical manuals, white papers, articles, and other written content.

2. The length of time: Make sure you and your hired ghostwriter understand and agree upon the length of time it will take to complete a project. If it is a finite project, make sure to set a deadline, requirements, and expectations in the contract.

3. Budget: Be upfront about what you can afford so you can find the best possible match in a ghostwriter that fits your budget.

4. Samples and References: Of course, you should read samples of the potential hire’s work and get references. Because of the confidential nature of the ghostwriting business, you might have to sign a non-disclosure agreement before seeing the samples or talking to references.

5. Voice, Style, and Tone: It is important to find a ghostwriter you have a good working relationship with, especially regarding the style and tone of the writing. When reviewing samples from potential hires, make sure their writing style and voice match yours.

Make Your Website A Marketing Machine in 2023!

Talia Whyte Global Wire Associates

Many clients ask us all the time if it is still worth it to have a business website.  Having free marketing options today like social media, email communications, and e-newsletters has a lot of business owners thinking they can do their company advertising without the expense of building and maintaining a website.

Here are our reasons to get a website:

1.  Credibility: Anybody can start a Facebook page or Twitter account, including scammers.  Taking the extra steps to build a site that has a domain name and unique, quality content makes your business more credible and trustworthy to potential customers.

2. Control the appearance: Everybody’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages look the same in terms of colors and format.  A website allows you to control the look and feel you want your users to experience.  Digital spaces work the same way as physical real estate.  Websites are houses you buy, and social media tools rent apartments.  When you get a website, you can use whatever colors you want or install or remove any features because you own the website.  Whereas with social media, you can only “move in” your content, and if you are lucky, you might get small permissions to make some changes, but that’s it.

3. Control your content and brand: As with having a house, you can control how and who sees your content on your website.  Many social media tools use algorithms to determine who sees your content.  For example, on Facebook, there is no guarantee your followers will see all of your posts unless you pay for Facebook advertising.  Sometimes there are so many ads for other stuff in social feeds that your content gets lost in the shuffle, and your followers miss out.

4. Home-base: Websites are the center of your online marketing efforts. When people want to learn more about a business, they visit a website before going to social media to find out about its services and products. Websites also allow you to collect analytics information about users, like what pages they view while visiting and get their contact information. Social media is suitable for driving traffic to your website, but social analytics can be more limited.

5. Social media is fickle: Just because Twitter and Facebook are hot right now doesn’t mean they will remain so a year from now. Social media tools are always coming and going in popularity and use. These trends can be hard to keep up with, especially if you are a small business owner with limited marketing time. While the way a website looks and is used by visitors may evolve, websites are not going away anytime soon and will continue to be a central part of your marketing plan.

A solid marketing plan is vital to your business’s growth, including a business website.  A website is a long-term investment in your business.  There are many ways to get a professional-looking website that still works for your budget and marketing plan, either by building one yourself or hiring a professional web designer.

Need a business website? Contact us at info(at)globalwireonline(dot)org.

New GWA Workshops for 2023!

Talia Whyte Global Wire Associates

We recently increased the types of workshops we offer, and they will all be reintroduced in the new year!

Our workshops are the cornerstone of Global Wire Associates.  We work with anyone who is seriously interested in empowering themselves through professional or personal growth.

Current Courses Offered:

• Introduction to Blogging
• Introduction to Electronic Waste Recycling
• Upcycling Your Technology
• Creating Digital Strategies for Your Brand
• Principles of Media Literacy
• Introduction to Web Accessibility and Diversity
• Principles of Media Development
• Principles of Media for Development (ICT4D focus)
• Basic Web Design Principles for ICT4D
• Basic Wordpress Maintenance
• Introduction to Ebook Publishing
• Collateral Strategy for Small Businesses & Nonprofits
• Strategic Content Development for Small Businesses
• Strategic Content Development for Nonprofits/Activism
• Strategic Content Development for Government Agencies/Employees

Please contact us for more information about these workshops and contracting with us!