11 Essential Questions To Ask When Hiring a Ghostwriter
- Shruti Bhatt
- May 22
- 3 min read
Thinking about hiring a ghostwriter for your LinkedIn posts, newsletter, or business content?
You’re not alone.
But chances are, you’ve got more questions than answers.
How do you find the right ghostwriter?
What should you ask during the first call?
And how do you know if they can write in your voice?
It can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never outsourced writing before.
But here’s the truth: you’re in control.
You choose who gets to write in your tone and shape your online presence.
To help you get it right, here are 11 must-ask questions before hiring a ghostwriter for business or personal brand content:
1. What types of content do you specialize in?
Not every ghostwriter fits every project. Some focus on LinkedIn posts. Others are great with newsletters, landing pages, or website content. Some are best at founder-led storytelling or B2B thought leadership.
Look for someone who specializes in your format and has clear expertise, not a generalist who says “I do everything”.
2. Do you have experience in my industry or niche?
They don’t need to be an expert. But they should understand your field or be quick to learn.
If you’re in tech, SaaS, or marketing, hire a ghostwriter who’s worked in those areas before.
They should speak your audience’s language and avoid basic mistakes or wrong terminology.
3. Can you match my tone & voice?
A good ghostwriter doesn’t just write well, they write like you.
Ask:
Have you done voice-matching before?
How do you study someone’s tone and style?
Review their samples. If everything sounds the same, they might struggle to adapt.
4. Can I see writing samples or testimonials?
Ghostwriters often work under NDAs, so samples might be limited. Still, they should show anonymous clips or share testimonials.
If they have no proof of past work, that’s a red flag.
5. What’s your writing and collaboration process?
Every writer works differently. Some prefer voice notes, others ask you to answer questions, or hop on live Zoom calls.
Ask:
How do you collect inputs?
How are drafts delivered?
What tools do you use?
A clear and repeatable process = a professional ghostwriter.
6. What if I don’t like the draft?
Revisions are normal. Your ghostwriter should offer a defined number of edits and welcome your feedback.
Avoid anyone who seems defensive about changes or vague about how revisions work.
7. How do you protect my privacy?
You’ll likely share personal thoughts, stories, or business info.
Ask if they:
Offer NDAs
Include confidentiality in their contract
Ask them to send the contract through DocuSign
If they don’t mention this, or hesitate about signing, walk away.
8. Who owns the final content?
You should.
Once you pay for it, the content should belong to you 100%. Check the contract: it should state that you retain full ownership and will be credited as the author.
9. What’s your timeline and availability?
Great writing takes time.
Ask:
When can you start?
How long will this take?
How many clients are you handling now?
If they’re vague or too busy, your project might get delayed.
10. What do you charge and what’s included?
Rates vary based on experience and project type.
Ask:
What’s included (strategy, revisions, formatting)?
Do you offer packages or payment plans?
Be wary of writers charging unrealistically low rates. Good ghostwriting is a high-skill service, expect to invest accordingly.
11. Do you sign a contract/NDA?
Every ghostwriting deal should come with a clear contract or NDA.
It should cover:
Deliverables
Timelines
Payment terms
Confidentiality
Rights
Before I wrap up, remember that hiring a ghostwriter is a big decision. You're trusting someone with your message, your voice, and your reputation.
So ask the right questions.
A good ghostwriter should understand your vision, communicate clearly and deliver high-quality, on-brand content. Use these 11 questions in your next discovery call and find the right ghostwriter who brings your words to life.
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