Hire a LinkedIn Ghostwriter: What to Look For

Feb 23, 2026

Hiring a LinkedIn ghostwriter is one of the most effective ways to build your personal brand without spending 10 hours a week on content. But finding the right one can be tricky. There are thousands of freelancers claiming to be LinkedIn experts, and most of them will waste your time and money.

A good LinkedIn ghostwriter captures your voice, understands your audience, and creates content that generates real business results. A bad one will make you sound generic, post content that gets zero engagement, and leave you with nothing to show for your investment.

Here is exactly what to look for when hiring a LinkedIn ghostwriter, including the red flags that should make you run the other way.

Why Founders Hire LinkedIn Ghostwriters

Before diving into what to look for, it helps to understand why ghostwriting works so well for founders and executives.

Most founders know they should be posting on LinkedIn. They see their competitors building audiences, getting inbound leads, and establishing themselves as thought leaders. But they do not have time to write 3 to 5 posts per week while running a company.

A ghostwriter solves this problem. They take your ideas, stories, and expertise and turn them into polished content that sounds like you wrote it. The best ghostwriters can produce content that even your closest colleagues cannot tell you did not write yourself.

The ROI can be significant. Founders working with good ghostwriters often see:

5 to 10x increase in profile views within 90 days
Consistent inbound leads from ideal customers
Speaking invitations and podcast opportunities
A growing network of potential partners and investors

But all of this depends on finding the right ghostwriter.

What to Look For in a LinkedIn Ghostwriter

Experience with Founder Content

Not all ghostwriters understand the B2B founder space. Many come from journalism, copywriting, or general content marketing backgrounds. While those skills transfer, you want someone who has specifically worked with founders and executives.

Ask about their client roster. Have they worked with SaaS founders? Agency owners? B2B service providers? The more familiar they are with your world, the faster they will understand what makes your audience tick.

A ghostwriter who has never worked with founders will struggle to capture the nuances of building a company. They might produce content that sounds too polished, too corporate, or too disconnected from the reality of startup life.

A Clear Process for Capturing Your Voice

The single most important skill a ghostwriter needs is the ability to sound like you. This requires a systematic approach to learning your voice, stories, and perspectives.

During your initial conversations, ask how they plan to capture your voice. Good answers include:

Conducting voice interviews to understand how you naturally speak
Reviewing your past content, emails, and presentations
Creating a voice guide that documents your language patterns
Sending drafts for feedback and iterating based on your input

Red flag: If a ghostwriter says they will just "figure it out" or does not have a clear voice capture process, they are probably going to make you sound generic.

Proof of Results

Anyone can claim to be a LinkedIn expert. You want evidence. Ask for case studies or examples of clients who have grown their presence with their help. Specific numbers matter here:

How many followers did the client gain?
What kind of engagement rates did their posts achieve?
Did the content generate leads, speaking opportunities, or other business outcomes?

Be skeptical of vague claims like "helped clients grow their audience." You want to hear specifics like "took a founder from 2,000 to 15,000 followers in six months while generating 40 inbound demos."

Understanding of LinkedIn's Algorithm

LinkedIn is constantly changing how it distributes content. A ghostwriter who was successful two years ago might be using outdated strategies. Ask about their current approach to LinkedIn content. They should be able to discuss:

What types of posts are performing well right now
How they approach hooks and formatting
Their strategy for timing and frequency
How they think about comments and engagement

Reasonable Turnaround and Communication

Content creation requires ongoing collaboration. You will need to provide input on topics, review drafts, and share feedback. The ghostwriter needs to turn around content quickly enough to maintain a consistent posting schedule.

Red Flags When Hiring a LinkedIn Ghostwriter

They Guarantee Specific Follower Numbers

No legitimate ghostwriter can guarantee you will gain 10,000 followers or go viral. LinkedIn growth depends on too many variables, including your starting audience, your niche, your willingness to engage, and unpredictable algorithm changes.

Their Sample Content Sounds Generic

Ask for samples of content they have written for other clients. Read it carefully. Does it sound like something anyone could have written, or does it have a distinct voice? Generic LinkedIn content is everywhere. If their samples could have been written by any of the thousands of mediocre content creators on Fiverr, keep looking.

They Do Not Ask About Your Business Goals

A ghostwriter who only talks about content is missing the point. LinkedIn content should serve your business objectives, whether that is generating leads, building authority, attracting investors, or recruiting talent.

They Cannot Explain Their Pricing

Ghostwriting pricing varies widely, from a few hundred dollars per month to several thousand. Be cautious of extremely low prices. Quality ghostwriting requires significant time and skill. If someone is offering to write all your content for $500 per month, they are either spreading themselves too thin across too many clients or they are inexperienced.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

When evaluating potential ghostwriters, these questions will help you separate the professionals from the pretenders:

Can you walk me through your process for learning my voice?
What results have you achieved for similar clients?
How do you stay current with LinkedIn best practices?
What does your content calendar and approval process look like?
How do you handle feedback and revisions?
What happens if the content is not performing after 90 days?

Making the Final Decision

Once you have narrowed down your options, consider doing a trial period before committing to a long term engagement. Many ghostwriters offer a one month trial or a small batch of posts to test the relationship. LinkedIn growth takes time, so do not expect dramatic results in the first month. But you should feel confident that you are working with someone who understands your brand and can represent you well.

FAQ

How much does a LinkedIn ghostwriter cost?

LinkedIn ghostwriting typically costs between $1,500 and $5,000 per month for 3 to 4 posts per week. Premium agencies or highly experienced ghostwriters may charge more. Prices below $1,000 per month usually indicate inexperience or low quality.

How long does it take to see results from LinkedIn content?

Most founders see meaningful traction within 60 to 90 days of consistent posting. However, building a significant following and generating consistent leads usually takes 6 to 12 months of sustained effort.

Can a ghostwriter really capture my voice?

Yes, but it requires effort from both sides. The ghostwriter needs a systematic process for learning your voice, and you need to provide feedback on drafts until they get it right. Most ghostwriters nail the voice within the first month of working together.

Should I hire a freelancer or an agency?

Both can work well. Freelancers are often more affordable and offer direct access to the person writing your content. Agencies may offer additional services like strategy, analytics, and engagement support. Choose based on your budget and how much support you need.

How do I know if my ghostwriter is underperforming?

Track engagement rates, follower growth, and profile views over time. If you are posting consistently for 90 days and seeing no improvement in these metrics, it may be time to have a conversation or find a new ghostwriter.

Do I need to be involved in the content creation process?

Some involvement is necessary, especially at the start. You will need to share stories, provide feedback on drafts, and approve content before it goes live. Over time, a good ghostwriter requires less input as they learn your voice and preferences.

The Bottom Line

Hiring a LinkedIn ghostwriter can transform your personal brand without consuming all your time. But the difference between a great ghostwriter and a mediocre one is enormous. Look for someone with founder experience, a clear voice capture process, proven results, and good communication skills. Avoid anyone who makes unrealistic promises, produces generic content, or cannot explain their approach clearly.

Take your time finding the right fit. A great ghostwriter is worth the investment. A bad one will waste your money and potentially damage your reputation.

If you are looking for a LinkedIn ghostwriting partner that specializes in working with founders, Windmill Growth helps B2B founders build pipeline through consistent, high quality content. We focus on capturing your unique voice and creating content that drives real business results.

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