7 lessons from earning $200k as a ghostwriter

It’s been a while I haven’t sent this newsletter. I had many doubts about what I wanted to write about, so I took a break to figure it out, and now we’re back!

Today, I want to talk about my experience ghostwriting for the last 14 months and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. This month, I realized that I had crossed the $200k profit milestone, which prompted a bit of introspection I wanted to share.

Table of Contents

• 1. Copywriting is the best skill to learn

• 2. It’s easier to sell to the wealthy

• 3. You get paid to learn from winners

• 4. You build a network of smart people

• 5. Good vs Bad types of clients

• 6. Good ghostwriters are good writers first

• 7. Testimonials don’t matter. Your profile does

1. Copywriting is the best skill to learn

If you’re on the web, you spend most of your time reading information. It’s everywhere. From X threads to ads, articles, cookie recipes or newsletters like this one, it’s all about copywriting.

That’s why it’s the most useful skill to learn. And I’m not talking about mixing adjectives, subjects and verbs together. I’m talking about writing compelling copy that attracts eyes. Copy so good you keep reading, all the way to the last dot of the last sentence, desiring more from whatever it is you produced.

I write social media content, newsletters and articles. That’s what I’m good at, but there’s so much more to it. Email courses, ad copy, job descriptions. Whatever you prefer, the landscape is wide.

2. It’s easier to sell to the wealthy

I sold my first ghostwriting package for $1,500. My current highest package is anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000/mo. The best clients are busy building some cool sh*t, and their time is more valuable than what they’re paying you.

If the hours saved by hiring you don’t equate to more money generated on their end, they’ll be questioning your prices. You need to find clients worth working with.

The worst clients will negotiate your prices down not because you’re too expensive but because their value doesn’t equal their investment in you.

3. You get paid to learn from winners

Ghostwriting is your ticket to learn people who’ve accomplished a lot, and they’re paying you for it.

It's like getting free mentorship, as you learn and ask questions from clients who are successful enough to pay thousands per month for personal brand building.

4. You build a network of smart people

Over the last 12 months, I’ve worked with some of the most interesting and connected people in my industry. As a small content creator, I normally wouldn’t have access to them. Period.

If I were to look for a job tomorrow or seek advice from an established entrepreneur in web3, I’d only need to look at my list of past clients to find multiple suitable people to call.

Once you deliver good work for your clients, they’ll become your gateway to another referral or a friendship beyond the job.

5. Good vs Bad types of clients

One thing I learned early on, at my own expense, is that there are 2 types of clients.

The ones who had ideas and things to share, and your duty is to extract those from them so you can become an extension of their own thoughts.

The other one doesn’t share much with you, and you create content on their behalf, thinking it will resonate with them and their audience.

The latter is soul-draining and will require your ideas, which means you’re selling your ideas rather than writing skills. That’s not the business I want to be in.

6. Good ghostwriters are good writers first

I became a ghostwriter after a few viral threads attracted the eyes of people who ended up sending me a DM asking if I was ghostwriting.

Your best publicity is your content. If you can go viral on your own, clients will believe you can do it for them. It’s that simple.

You must also be able to go viral to sell it. You can’t become a chef if you haven’t cooked before.

Hone your own craft before trying to sell it for premium prices.

7. Testimonials don’t matter. Your profile does

I’ve never collected a testimonial in $200,000 worth of revenue. Why? Because testimonials will be anonymous. I’m not interested in a screenshot with a blacked-out name.

If someone asks me for a testimonial to work with them, I haven’t done my job of selling myself.

My own content is my proof of work. My X profile shows that I know how to write, go viral, and understand my industry.