Phrases and Terminology to Use when Communicating with your Ghostwriter

Sometimes it can seem like you and your ghostwriter are on a different page. It’s as if the two of you are speaking two separate languages. Well, I’m here to help with that. Here are some phrases and terms that can be helpful to you when trying to get the very best from your ghostwriters.

Types of Content

Usually your content needs will extend to articles for websites or blog posts for blogs. The basic difference is the length but the concept is the same. but, sometimes, you may need the occasional press release, special report or email templates.

1. Press Release – A press release is a self-promotional tool that highlights a new product you are introducing, a new website or even a new program.
2. Special Report – This is a short report of 5-10 pages that focuses on one subject. There is an introduction, body and conclusion.
3. Email Templates – This is a tool that can be provided to members of your affiliate program to use for email marketing your product. All an affiliate has to do is plug in their name and website.

Terminology for Ghostwriters

1. Voice – This pertains to how you want the article to sound. Some choices are: instructive, relaxed, informational or humorous.
2. Point of View – This is the article’s perspective in relation to the subject matter. It can be written with the audience as the focus by using “you” “we” and “us” as the subject. If the article is to sound as if it was written by the client, you can use “I” and “me.”
3. Sub-headlines – They divide the article into smaller sections. You have your title, or headline, but sub-headlines are used when you talk about a new aspect of your subject.
4. Bullet Points – Instead of listing things with commas in one sentence, use bullets to separate important facts for easier viewing.
5. Transitioning – This is the process of going from one paragraph to another smoothly. The last sentence of one paragraph logically leads to the first sentence of the next. Transitioning words include “next” “secondly” “then” and “also.”
6. Rewrite – This is the process of taking one article and writing it again in a different way to create another unique article. There are a couple of techniques that can be used for rewriting.
7. Target Audience – Who you are writing the article for. Knowing this helps with capturing the voice and choosing point of view for the article.

8. Keyword Articles – Highlighting a specific word or phrase in an article that search engines can use to rank the article among others of its type. Most search engines look for a keyword density of 1-3%.
9. Keyword Density – This refers to how many times a specifically highlighted word appears in an article of known word length.

These are only a few of the terms you can use to communicate your needs to your ghostwriter. Start here and add to your glossary as you move along.

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About the Author

Garnet Miller is a part time freelance writer with a focus on ghostwriting and project management. She has been published in three FaithWriters anthologies, Associated Content, a coffee table book entitled “Letters to My Mother” and a soon to be released anthology entitled, “Delivered” as well as a Christian newspaper. She is managing editor and writes two columns for Extreme Women magazine.