Freelance FAQ #8: Can You Use Ghostwritten Work In Your Portfolio?


If you’re interested in ghostwriting, you may have wondered whether it’s possible to use ghostwritten work in your portfolio. It seems like the answer is obviously no, but this isn’t always the case.

In this FAQ episode, I talk about using ghostwriting in your portfolio and answer some tough questions on the topic. Check it out here:

As a thank you for visiting our blog and supporting us, I’ll let you in on a secret.

There’s another big consideration when it comes to using ghostwriting work in your portfolio, and it’s often a deal breaker.

If you’ve watched some of our other videos, you may have heard me talk about social proof. As a writer, you need social proof, and that usually comes in the form of being published on reputable, trustworthy sites. Just like a restaurant wants lots of good reviews, you want lots of good bylines.

When you ghostwrite, your work isn’t published under your own name, which means you don’t get explicit credit for the work. And even if you can use it in your portfolio, ghostwritten work can often have far less social proof than a bylined article.

Also, if no name is on a piece of writing, then anyone could have written it. On the other hand, if your name is credited, then it’s undoubtedly your work.

This doesn’t mean that ghostwriting is worthless––it can be extremely lucrative. However, if you want to build a portfolio, you’ll need to think critically before including any ghostwritten work.

Your turn: Do you have any ghostwritten work in your portfolio? Why or why not?

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