Of course, it may be cliche, but it really rings true…

People are like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike.

While it may seem strange for the owners of a ghostwriting company to say, there is nobody that will write EXACTLY like you do. In fact, it’s pretty much statistically impossible that any two people would write the exact same words given a specific subject area.

So does that mean you shouldn’t bother to hire a ghostwriter? Of course, not, but since I’m part of a ghostwriting business, you knew I’d say that.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind and do to make ghostwritten content really yours…

* Understand that adapting your voice doesn’t mean writing EXACTLY how you would. Sentence structure and wording will vary, but if the voice is there, your audience isn’t going to notice those variations.

It’s easy to look at ghostwritten content with a highly critical eye, but step back and make sure that the style and viewpoints are in line with your own. That is what voice is all about.

* Adapting your voice is a process and providing feedback to your writer is important. If you make edits to the content to suit your voice better, share those with your writer. Where possible, explain why you made those edits. When your writer knows why you made certain edits, it’s much easier to incorporate those learning points into future writing.

Certainly, it’s not all up to you . Your writer has a responsibility in this too. A good ghostwriter will appreciate and respond positively to such feedback, so they can continue to improve with each project.

The main message is to work with your writers, and if you want to work with writers who take and apply constructive feedback, see us here. The more you put into it now, the easier it is to create a satisfying and worry-free relationship that can last for a very long time.

By the way, we’re here to help you with your ghostwriting needs and work hard to ensure you get the results you want.

Here are some things to share with your ghostwriter BEFORE she starts writing…

1. The topic you would like to have covered, with specifics.

If you plan to put your name on the content, make sure the writer is aware of the specific points and overall opinion the content  should have. Because there are many ways to approach most topics, without this information your writer may produce something  that isn’t necessarily wrong, but you may not agree with it.

2. Any information you DON’T want included.

If your topic is likely to lend itself to a certain piece of advice or information, but you don’t want it included, tell your writer ahead of time.

For example, if you don’t agree with a certain potty training method and your writer is writing an article called “12 Surefire Potty Training Approaches”, the writer needs to know this.

3. A detailed description of the target audience.

Don’t assume the target audience is fully understood when a topic is provided. The more your writer knows about your audience, the better results you’ll get.

For example, if your writer is putting together a series of knitting tutorials, knowing your audience’s skill level, age and other details will help ensure the content is spot on.

For some topics, the audience isn’t straightforward at all. As an example, if your content is about educating children, make it clear if your audience is educators, parents or caregivers. Parents will certainly have different approaches and concerns than educators, so assist your writer in getting things just right.

4. A description and a sample of the voice you would like.

Whether your writing needs to be scholarly or lighthearted and fun, ensure your writer is aware of this. Where possible, provide other examples of content you’ve published that has a similar voice.

5. The purpose of your content.

Before you assign a topic, know and share the purpose of that content. You may want to use it purely to educate, to build your list or to sell a product. It’s a personal decision, but one your writer should be aware of.

If you plan to promote a certain product or service, tell your writer what that product or service is. This will help her ensure the content doesn’t actually discourage the purchase of the product or service.

For example, if you sell WordPress custom theme services and your writer is creating an article about custom themes, she probably shouldn’t include information that specifically shows how to customize themes. Instead, the article might include ideas for themes and information about hiring someone to do the customization.

Yeah, it’s work, but it’s worth it

The more information you provide upfront, the better the end result will be. It may be time consuming to start with, but the more your writer writes for you and the better he or she understands your business, the easier the writing process will become over time. Put in the time now for long lasting results.

Well, if you’re ready to stay on top of your content creation in 2012, here are some tips for becoming more efficient…

1. Dedicate Time for Planning:

Contrary to what some might think, taking time to plan actually saves time. When you know what topics you are going to publish and when you’re going to publish it, it’s easier to get everything done. Whether you hire a writer, search for PLR or write it yourself…it’s much simpler to do if you know where you’re going.

If you don’t have them already, do pick up our free content planning tools.

2. Hire Help:

If you constantly find yourself too busy to get the content done, hire someone to do it. Whether you use our service, hire your  mother or find someone else, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that the content is getting done.

3. Recruit Guest Writers:

There are many people out there, ready and willing to write for extra exposure for their business. You can use a service like MyBlogGuest or reach out to people in your online social circles.

4. Use PLR:

PLR is pre-written content that you can add to, edit, chop up or even publish as is. It reduces your workload dramatically and is cost-effective too. By the way, you can save 30% at DIYplr.com until this Friday, if you use the following coupon code.

Coupon Code: 2011HOLIDAY
Discount: 30% off
Expiry: December 30, 2011

5. Reuse and Repurpose:

Here’s a big one. Most of us have a wealth of content right under our noses, but we’re always trying to start from scratch. Over time, your readers SHOW you what they’re interested in, so give them MORE of that.

If you’ve already written content on a popular topic, see how you can expand it or go into more depth on a certain aspect. Turn well-trafficked articles into videos or podcasts. Transcribe that webinar and turn it into articles, a report or even some workbooks. Take some ideas from your information products and make them into short pieces of content.

As long as you have a plan and a little bit of help, content creation in 2012 can be a breeze (well, almost!). If those tasks are taken care of, you can focus on marketing and growing your business for a very prosperous New Year.

One of the options you do have is to use freelance sites like elance.com, odesk.com and others. These are perfectly viable options to find quality writers, but because this is an open marketplace where anyone can bid on your projects, you do have to be careful.

Here are some things to keep in mind…

* Ask for samples, but realize that the samples may not reflect the quality you get back. Unfortunately, some writers use samples that don’t belong to them or rush through low bid work and don’t produce quality consistently.

* Ask for references. Talk to those references before hiring for any large project. Ask about quality, timeliness, communication and other factors that are important to you.

* Give a small project to start. If it works out well, check their references and give them more. By doing a small project you can ensure you get quality content and can see if the writer is a good person to work with.

* Beware of low bidders. You know the saying, “you get what you pay for” and it generally applies when it comes to writers. Low bidders often produce poor quality or if they do provide good quality, they struggle to earn enough to provide that type of quality consistently.

* Don’t pay in full up front. For many contractors, the motivation to get things done goes out the window once they’re paid. It’s acceptable to pay half up front or you might consider using escrow services to hold the funds.

* When you receive a proposal, scrutinize it thoroughly. If the proposal is very generic and doesn’t mention any of the project details, it’s likely from someone who is simply submitting as many proposals as possible to get a job. You can toss those aside.

Those are some starter tips for you. Just remember, whatever you do, do your due diligence to ensure you get the quality you want without the headaches.

Of course, we didn’t expect anyone to sign up without really understanding the true power of transcribed content and what it can do for your business.

Whether you podcast, run webinars, create videos or product any multimedia content, there is plenty transcriptions can do for your business.

We’ve created a free guide that you can download, absolutely free with no strings attached. Not even an opt-in is required…

To get your guide, simply click here to access the download page.

It’s a nice quick read, but with plenty of meaty ideas to get your mind racing with strategies to use transcriptions for your online business.