Ghostwriting for entrepreneurs is a hot topic in the brand journalism and content marketing industry. This podcast episode with writer, Laura Vrcek, explores the value and takes away the taboo.

Laura Vrcek is a PR-privy copy strategist and brand journalist based in the Bay Area. She has an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked for a range of e-commerce brands looking to tell their stories in innovative ways through owned media and content that solves customer problems. In addition to a full-time role, she ghostwrites for entrepreneurs.

Think Like A Journalist Quote

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader – not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.  –E. L. Doctorow, American Novelist

Success Tip

Write multiple headlines for a story.
Ask your client what problem are they trying to solve. Write a story that solves that problem.

Career Highlight

Hear how Laura had an opportunity to interview her favorite poet, Ada Limon, for the ModCloth blog. Find out what this meant to her and what it helped her understand about her own career.

When It Didn’t Work

When Laura first started freelance writing, she didn’t charge enough and then she charged too much. Find out what she learned from a trusted mentor about pricing and creating value for your services.  “There’s a balance between what you think your work is worth and what others are charging–you have to find that perfect sweet spot that makes the time spent worth it,” says Laura Vrcek.

Ghostwriting For Entrepreneurs: Taking Away The Taboo

1. Write at least 5 headlines every time you write a piece.
2. Aim to solve customer problems with your content.
3. Get reactions immediately via social. Ask them what they’re struggling with. Write content about how to solve it and then share it with them.
4. Don’t assume what the problems are; instead of going straight to the source.
5. Always simplify. “I heard recently that Jerry Seinfeld would work for hours trying to slim down a 10-word joke to a seven-word joke because it would be funnier and have more impact,” says Vrcek.
6. Continually work to cut the junk and extra words in your content.

Multimedia Resource

Wordnik
Freshbooks
iPhone voice memos for recording interviews

Podcast and Documentary

New Rainmaker Podcast with Brian Clark of Copyblogger Media

Art & Copy  Documentary:  Chronicles some of advertising’s kings’ greatest accomplishments and struggles

Contact

Laura Vrcek Website

Twitter @LVstruck

Thanks For Listening

I know that you have many choices when it comes to listening to podcasts. So, I want to say THANK YOU for choosing The Brand Journalism Advantage.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page.

Also, I would love a review…it just takes a minute to share your opinion and rating for the The Brand Journalism Advantage podcast on iTunes. Your review means a lot to me and helps others find my show. The reviews also help with ranking of this show and they reviews are always read by me. 

Please remember to subscribe to The Brand Journalism Advantage on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!