Comments on: No Respect: The Freelance Writer and Social Media http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78 The business of writing for business Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:13:06 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Five Benefits Your Ghost-Blogger Can Never Deliver @ ProStylus: The Blog http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-66 Five Benefits Your Ghost-Blogger Can Never Deliver @ ProStylus: The Blog Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:55:18 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-66 [...] Social media advocates have spent a lot of pixels to call ghost-blogging inauthentic, and even unethical. These charges seem a bit dramatic to me. It’s enough to call ghost-blogging ineffective. [...] [...] Social media advocates have spent a lot of pixels to call ghost-blogging inauthentic, and even unethical. These charges seem a bit dramatic to me. It’s enough to call ghost-blogging ineffective. [...]

]]> By: Legitimizing the Corporate Blog (and Ghost-Blogger) @ ProStylus: The Blog http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-36 Legitimizing the Corporate Blog (and Ghost-Blogger) @ ProStylus: The Blog Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:30:52 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-36 [...] Earlier, I defined corporate blogging as a new marketing medium that invites direct, authentic and personal interaction with the corporate authority. That definition places access as the central value of the corporate blog. If it was just about the posted content, then there’s nothing to distinguish a corporate blog from a press release. [...] [...] Earlier, I defined corporate blogging as a new marketing medium that invites direct, authentic and personal interaction with the corporate authority. That definition places access as the central value of the corporate blog. If it was just about the posted content, then there’s nothing to distinguish a corporate blog from a press release. [...]

]]> By: Eric Peterson http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-33 Eric Peterson Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:38:57 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-33 Daniel,<br>This is a topic that I first came across in April, in a great post by Michelle Tripp (<a href="http://trippmichelle.blogspot.com/2009/03/ghost-tweeting-is-milli-vanilli-of-web.html" rel="nofollow">http://trippmichelle.blogspot.com/2009/03/ghost...</a>). Beth Harte herself even gets in on the commentary. In my humble opinion, thee is no place for ghost writing, as we've known it, in social media circles. I don't think participants within social sites are looking for yet another means by which to be fed the marketing line. We want to "get to know," on a deeper level, people to which we never had access. Flaws and all. Daniel,
This is a topic that I first came across in April, in a great post by Michelle Tripp (http://trippmichelle.blogspot.com/2009/03/ghost...). Beth Harte herself even gets in on the commentary. In my humble opinion, thee is no place for ghost writing, as we've known it, in social media circles. I don't think participants within social sites are looking for yet another means by which to be fed the marketing line. We want to “get to know,” on a deeper level, people to which we never had access. Flaws and all.

]]> By: SaraLancaster http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-32 SaraLancaster Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:33:22 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-32 I'm thinking in terms of both traditional media and in blogging/social media, and I agree it can disingenuous. I guess it's my hope that regardless of who writes the content that it will still accurately reflect the blog owners interests. I'm thinking in terms of both traditional media and in blogging/social media, and I agree it can disingenuous. I guess it's my hope that regardless of who writes the content that it will still accurately reflect the blog owners interests.

]]> By: prostylus http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-31 prostylus Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:59:59 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-31 Sara, you're comment applies in the context of traditional media.<br><br>But I'm specifically talking about ghostwriters who represent clients in interactive forums, like blogs. <br><br>When you comment on someone's blog or you Tweet them, you'd like to assume that the same person you're addressing is the one who is reading and responding to you. The underlying point of social media is to build a relationship. No matter how well you coach your ghostblogger, he or she is still an invisible middleman between you and the people who think they're investing in a relationship with you.<br><br>So, my point is simply that hiring a ghostblogger is intrinsically more disingenuous than hiring a ghostwriter. Sara, you're comment applies in the context of traditional media.

But I'm specifically talking about ghostwriters who represent clients in interactive forums, like blogs.

When you comment on someone's blog or you Tweet them, you'd like to assume that the same person you're addressing is the one who is reading and responding to you. The underlying point of social media is to build a relationship. No matter how well you coach your ghostblogger, he or she is still an invisible middleman between you and the people who think they're investing in a relationship with you.

So, my point is simply that hiring a ghostblogger is intrinsically more disingenuous than hiring a ghostwriter.

]]> By: SaraLancaster http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-30 SaraLancaster Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:43:06 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-30 I think it's safe to say that most ghost writers don't just run off and write willy nilly about whatever they want. Usually, my clients will give me a general idea of what they are looking for and maybe even offer up resources and facts to jump from. On top of that, they certainly read everything and make necessary changes to the writing before it's published. I think it's safe to say that most ghost writers don't just run off and write willy nilly about whatever they want. Usually, my clients will give me a general idea of what they are looking for and maybe even offer up resources and facts to jump from. On top of that, they certainly read everything and make necessary changes to the writing before it's published.

]]> By: prostylus http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-29 prostylus Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:15:19 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-29 Chad, your point about disclosure intuits one tack I've considered taking for the second post on this topic. Plus, I liked how you illustrated your point with the idea of love letters. You could say the same thing about posting Comments on someone's blog. Nobody - at least no one I know - hires a ghostwriter to do that.<br><br>It's interesting how often I've seen speechwriting come up when the topic of authenticity is discussed. I don't have an issue with speechwriters, or with ghostwriters (like me) who create static materials like white papers. I don't think it's inauthentic to hire someone to ensure your message is as clear and compelling as possible - so long as you own it. Chad, your point about disclosure intuits one tack I've considered taking for the second post on this topic. Plus, I liked how you illustrated your point with the idea of love letters. You could say the same thing about posting Comments on someone's blog. Nobody – at least no one I know – hires a ghostwriter to do that.

It's interesting how often I've seen speechwriting come up when the topic of authenticity is discussed. I don't have an issue with speechwriters, or with ghostwriters (like me) who create static materials like white papers. I don't think it's inauthentic to hire someone to ensure your message is as clear and compelling as possible – so long as you own it.

]]> By: prostylus http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-28 prostylus Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:06:34 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-28 Nadine, thanks for commenting. I acknowledge that a skillful ghostblogger can help solve the immediate logistical issues of generating content. He/she can also make the bylined author appear more articulate. But blogging is, by nature, an interactive medium, and its ultimate goal is about building relationships - starting right here in the Comments section. I would argue that a ghostblogger, by definition, contradicts that purpose. Nadine, thanks for commenting. I acknowledge that a skillful ghostblogger can help solve the immediate logistical issues of generating content. He/she can also make the bylined author appear more articulate. But blogging is, by nature, an interactive medium, and its ultimate goal is about building relationships – starting right here in the Comments section. I would argue that a ghostblogger, by definition, contradicts that purpose.

]]> By: chadrothschild http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-27 chadrothschild Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:43:49 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-27 Dan,<br><br>I have several thoughts about this. First, it is up to each and every company there stance and policy. The person writing needs to disclose who it is if it is any way misleading. If you think you are reading the CEO's personal thoughts and it is someone writing it on his behalf and he feels it is genuine, then he is absolutely mistaken. It needs to be disclosed. <br><br>If you are a genuine blogger and you get paid by someone you are "endorsing" you need to disclose that. Its OK to get paid, but to act like you are endorsing someone genuinely but you have alterior motive it will look fake.<br><br>So I agree with Beth, that it is about being genuine, authentic, and TRANSPARENT. It is about creating relationships. I would almost, think if I was dating a girl and because I am not a good writer, and had someone write my letters to her and poems and she thinks it is me writing it. Would that really be right if I didnt disclose it?<br><br>We know the President's do not write their own speeches, and just prepare to "deliver it". I think that is crap. That is why zero stock is put into politicians. Nobody believes them. Writers write what they think people want to hear. The President usually has charisma and has the ability to make the speech sounds like his own to most sheep.<br><br>So with all that said, just disclose even it is how you feel, if someone else writes it that it is disclosed. (not the ghost writer, but the person who needs the ghost writing).<br><br>Chad Rothschild Dan,

I have several thoughts about this. First, it is up to each and every company there stance and policy. The person writing needs to disclose who it is if it is any way misleading. If you think you are reading the CEO's personal thoughts and it is someone writing it on his behalf and he feels it is genuine, then he is absolutely mistaken. It needs to be disclosed.

If you are a genuine blogger and you get paid by someone you are “endorsing” you need to disclose that. Its OK to get paid, but to act like you are endorsing someone genuinely but you have alterior motive it will look fake.

So I agree with Beth, that it is about being genuine, authentic, and TRANSPARENT. It is about creating relationships. I would almost, think if I was dating a girl and because I am not a good writer, and had someone write my letters to her and poems and she thinks it is me writing it. Would that really be right if I didnt disclose it?

We know the President's do not write their own speeches, and just prepare to “deliver it”. I think that is crap. That is why zero stock is put into politicians. Nobody believes them. Writers write what they think people want to hear. The President usually has charisma and has the ability to make the speech sounds like his own to most sheep.

So with all that said, just disclose even it is how you feel, if someone else writes it that it is disclosed. (not the ghost writer, but the person who needs the ghost writing).

Chad Rothschild

]]> By: Nadine Bonner http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78&cpage=1#comment-26 Nadine Bonner Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:19:31 +0000 http://www.prostylus.com/Blog/?p=78#comment-26 This was one time that I also disagreed with Beth. I think if the message is authentic, ghost blogging can be effective. It depends upon the skill of the writer. This was one time that I also disagreed with Beth. I think if the message is authentic, ghost blogging can be effective. It depends upon the skill of the writer.

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