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LinkedIn Ghostwriting for Executives – The Hidden $10K MRR Solo-Service Trend

Step-by-step playbook to launch and scale a profitable LinkedIn ghostwriting service for busy executives in 2025

Unkoa Marketing Team

Unkoa Marketing Team

— 14 min read
LinkedIn Ghostwriting for Executives – The Hidden $10K MRR Solo-Service Trend

If you can extract sharp ideas from busy leaders and turn them into clear, consistent posts, you can build a profitable solo service as a LinkedIn ghostwriter. In one sentence: a LinkedIn ghostwriter plans and writes posts for executives under the executive's name, preserving their voice, point of view, and goals to build audience and drive pipeline.

Executives are buying this service for four reasons: reach, leads, credibility, and time savings. LinkedIn is still the highest-signal B2B platform, where 4 out of 5 members drive business decisions and buyers actively research vendors and leaders before they take meetings. See the platform’s own data on buyer concentration on the official LinkedIn Marketing Solutions pages: https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions.

Rates reflect the value. Top-tier executive ghostwriters command attorney-level consulting fees, and many work on monthly retainers in the low four figures per client. You will see retainers in the $1,000 to $5,000-plus range for ongoing content and strategy, with premium consulting offered hourly for messaging, positioning, and thought leadership architecture.

This guide shows you how to become a LinkedIn ghostwriter in 2025. You will learn the core skills, a clear 8-step start, where to find clients, how to price, proven workflows, essential tools, and the policies that keep you out of revision hell and scope creep.

Key takeaways

  • What a LinkedIn ghostwriter is and why executives hire them
  • Typical earnings and pricing models that scale to $5K–$10K MRR
  • The 8 steps to get started without guesswork
  • Biggest pitfalls and how to avoid them
  • Tools and AI to work faster while protecting client voice and compliance
Table of contents

What is a LinkedIn ghostwriter?

A LinkedIn ghostwriter plans and writes posts for executives under the executive’s name, maintaining voice, strategy, and consistency to build audience and drive leads.

How this differs from a social media manager

  • Ghostwriter: interviews, voice-matching, thought leadership strategy, draft writing, revision, and narrative consistency.
  • Social media manager: scheduling, community ops, engagement, formatting, and distribution across channels.

Why executives hire LinkedIn ghostwriters in 2025

  • Pipeline and recruiting. Buyers and candidates check leaders on LinkedIn to gauge expertise and culture. LinkedIn’s member base is uniquely B2B, and 4 of 5 members influence business decisions, which is detailed on LinkedIn’s official marketing pages: https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions.
  • Time scarcity. Leaders struggle to publish consistently and to turn raw insight into short-form posts that resonate.
  • Credibility and visibility. Consistent, opinionated posts compound reach and trust, which translates into inbound interest, better meetings, and faster recruiting.

Rates and retainers remain strong. Many executive ghostwriters operate on monthly retainers between $1,000 and $5,000 per client for writing and strategy, with premium consulting offered at high hourly rates for positioning and messaging work.

ROI narratives you can share with prospects

  • Visibility narrative: A consistent two to four post cadence builds familiarity with your ICP. Even without viral numbers, a steady stream of useful posts converts into DM inquiries, podcast invites, and easier intros.
  • Recruiting narrative: Story-driven posts about values, culture, and challenges attract right-fit candidates who already understand your mission.
  • Partner narrative: Industry-specific insights surface partner opportunities because people see you talking about their problems clearly.

Pro tip: During sales calls, ask the leader to list 3 recent meetings they would have loved to have more of. Build content pillars that attract those exact meetings.

Is ghostwriting ethical on LinkedIn?

Ghostwriting is common and ethical when handled responsibly:

  • The ideas originate from the executive, and the voice is authentic.
  • You use NDAs, clear approvals, and do not fabricate claims.
  • Whether to disclose a ghostwriter is a business choice. On LinkedIn, most executives prioritize authenticity of ideas and ownership, not the typing.

Pro tip: Keep a “non-negotiables” list for each client that documents banned claims, sensitive topics, and regulatory constraints.

Is ghostwriting still worth it with AI everywhere?

AI accelerates research, ideation, and editing, but it does not replace strategy, perspective, or lived experience. A strong ghostwriter orchestrates AI to move faster without losing judgment, accuracy, or voice. LinkedIn remains a human platform where specific stories and stances win. Platform buyer density continues to make the channel valuable for B2B leaders, as LinkedIn itself highlights for marketers: https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions.

Skills you need to be an effective LinkedIn ghostwriter

Core skills

  • Voice-matching and interviewing to extract stories and positions
  • B2B research and synthesis to summarize complex ideas simply
  • Short-form copy to craft hooks, structure, and calls to action
  • Editorial strategy to set content pillars and cadence
  • Client management to run revisions, scope, and approvals smoothly
  • Analytics literacy to track engagement signals and inbound outcomes

Nice to have

  • Industry specialization in SaaS, fintech, health, or climate
  • Basic carousel design and formatting for document posts
  • Understanding of LinkedIn’s algorithm basics and user behavior

What the job involves day-to-day

A typical weekly workflow

  • Voice capture and topic mining from interviews, Slack, and meeting notes
  • Drafting 2 to 6 posts per week, plus any comment prompts or document posts
  • Approvals and revisions with a defined revision policy
  • Scheduling and performance review
  • A monthly strategy sync to refine pillars and address business goals

How to become a LinkedIn ghostwriter in 8 steps

  1. Choose a niche and define your offer. Specify posts per week, whether strategy and analytics are included, and your revision policy.
  2. Build your own LinkedIn presence with 10 to 20 strong posts. Demonstrate your frameworks and voice-matching skills.
  3. Create 3 portfolio samples in your target industry. Use hypothetical executives if needed and label them as samples.
  4. Set pricing and packages. Write a clear scope, turnaround time, and revision limits.
  5. Prepare onboarding assets. Create an intake questionnaire, a Voice of Executive (VoE) template, and a content pillars worksheet.
  6. Line up your tech stack. Drafting, approvals, scheduling, analytics, and AI helpers.
  7. Start outreach. Use warm DMs, thoughtful cold email, and public teardowns to start conversations.
  8. Close a paid test month before proposing a long-term retainer.

Pro tip: Aim for a paid test one-third the cost of your full package. It reduces risk for the client and gives you a clean off-ramp if fit is poor.

Where to find LinkedIn ghostwriting clients

  • LinkedIn itself. Post consistently, DM warm prospects, and leave insight-rich comments on executive posts in your niche.
  • Referrals. Ask past clients, operators, and agency partners for intros to leaders who value thought leadership.
  • Communities. Niche Slack, Discord, and small founder groups are fertile. Participate with useful insights, not pitches.
  • Thoughtful cold email. Target founder-led companies and B2B SaaS where a leader’s brand impacts sales cycles.
  • Cross-pollination on Twitter/X. If your niche lives there, network and invite interested leaders over to LinkedIn.

Positioning that resonates

“I help [role] at [company type] publish [number] authority posts per month that drive [outcome, such as pipeline or recruiting].”

The first client plan

(14–30 days)

  • Publish 12 to 20 posts on your profile. Show your frameworks, voice work, and results thinking.
  • Post 2 to 3 short teardowns of executive profiles in your niche. Tag them if appropriate and be respectful, or DM privately first.
  • DM 30 to 50 targeted prospects with one specific suggestion and a two-post idea sample tailored to them.
  • Offer a 2 to 4 week paid test to de-risk the engagement for both sides.

Outreach scripts that get replies

Short DM for founder-CEOs

Subject: Idea for your next 4 posts

Hi [First name] — I enjoyed your post about [topic]. You have a strong point of view on [area]. If you open your next post with a hook like “[specific hook]” and then walk through [2 punchy bullets], I believe it would drive replies from [ICP].

If helpful, I can turn this into 4 posts this month and handle drafting and edits. I offer a 2-week paid test so you can see if the process fits. Want a quick call?

Short email for VP/Head of Sales or Marketing

Subject: 4-post sequence to attract [ICP]

Hi [First name], I help [role] at [company type] publish 8 to 12 authority posts per month that drive warm meetings.

I drafted two sample hooks based on your site and recent press:

  • “[Hook idea 1]”
  • “[Hook idea 2]”

Would you like me to turn these into 4 finished posts in a 2-week paid test? Light lift for you, high signal on whether this channel can support [goal].

LinkedIn vs Twitter/X for client hunting

  • LinkedIn: better alignment with B2B buyers and easy access to decision-makers and operators.
  • Twitter/X: faster networking in some tech, founder, and creator niches.

Recommendation: lead with LinkedIn. If your target vertical is active on X, cross-post proof and network there too.

Discovery call framework

20 to 30 minutes is enough if you guide it.

  • Goals. What business goals should content support this quarter. Pipeline, recruiting, partnerships, hiring.
  • ICP. Buyer or talent profiles they care about.
  • Topics. What they really want to talk about. What is off limits.
  • Voice and boundaries. Phrases they love or hate. Lines they will not cross.
  • Cadence and success metrics. Posts per week and what signals matter to them.
  • Close. Suggest a paid test month with a clear scope and revision policy.

LinkedIn ghostwriting rates in 2025: what to charge

Benchmarks and models

  • Entry tier: $800 to $1,500 per month for 4 to 8 posts with limited strategy.
  • Mid-tier: $1,500 to $3,500 per month for 8 to 12 posts plus basic strategy and analytics.
  • Senior tier: $3,500 to $6,000-plus per month for 12 to 16 posts plus strategy, monthly call, analytics, and repurposing.
  • Monthly retainers are common for ongoing work. Hourly consulting is best reserved for audits, messaging, or positioning sprints.

Pricing models

  • Retainer. Predictable for both sides and easy to scope. Recommended for most ghostwriting.
  • Per post. Simple, but invites nickel-and-diming and constant renegotiation.
  • Hourly. Use for consulting, audits, and emergencies. Avoid for drafting retainers.

Pro tip: Anchor your retainer price on outcomes and process quality, not on word count. Short form rewards clarity and resonance, not volume.

Packages that sell and protect your time

Use packages to set expectations and guardrails.

Simple package grid

Package What is included
Starter 8 posts per month, 1 revision per post, async comms, monthly performance snapshot
Growth 12 posts per month, 1–2 revisions per post, 30-minute strategy call, analytics report, light repurposing
Executive 12–16 posts per month, up to 2 revisions, monthly strategy deep-dive, content pillar updates, analytics, limited ghost comments

Spell out:

  • Revision limits and what counts as a revision
  • Turnaround times
  • What is out of scope, such as PR, community management, employee advocacy, or paid media

Path to $5K–$10K MRR

  • 3 clients at $2,000 per month equals $6,000 MRR
  • 2 clients at $3,000 plus 1 client at $2,000 equals $8,000 MRR
  • 2 clients at $4,000 plus 1 client at $2,000 equals $10,000 MRR

Most solo ghostwriters cap at 2 to 5 clients to maintain quality, protect thinking time, and avoid burnout.

How to justify premium rates with ROI

Track and report leading indicators and real outcomes:

  • Impressions, engagement rate, and follower growth
  • Profile views, inbound DMs, and meeting requests
  • Content-assisted pipeline. Work with sales ops to tag inbound that references posts or that came through LinkedIn

ROI narratives that resonate

  • Cost vs in-house. One high-performing hire or client can cover months of fees compared to the fully loaded cost of a senior marketer.
  • Time-to-impact. A post can create conversations this week. That immediacy is worth a premium in early-stage markets.

LinkedIn ghostwriting tips for high-engagement posts

Frameworks to structure ideas

  • Hook + context + value + CTA. Start specific, deliver a point, and invite engagement.
  • Before-After-Bridge. Describe the current state, the desired state, and the path between.
  • Problem-Agitate-Solve. Name the pain, why it persists, and what actually fixes it.
  • Story-Lesson-Action. Share a short anecdote, extract a lesson, and give a next step.

Tactics that reliably work

  • Make hooks specific. Avoid vague “how to” openers. Use numbers, names, or choices.
  • One idea per post. Trim tangents. Short paragraphs and generous white space.
  • Name real problems. If possible, add an example or a number that your client can stand behind.
  • Choose a CTA type. Ask for experiences, invite DMs, or point to a resource.

Pro tip: Build a 50-hook swipe file organized by pillar. Rewriting past hooks into new angles saves time and boosts output quality.

Maintain the client's voice and authenticity

Create a Voice of Executive (VoE) document

  • Phrases they use and avoid. Tone slider preferences such as direct vs diplomatic and witty vs formal.
  • 10 non-negotiables. Topics, claims, and boundaries they will not cross.
  • Story library. Pivotal moments, contrarian stances, and repeated lessons.

Run short interviews

  • Schedule a 30 to 45 minute interview monthly to gather stories, stances, and fresh topics.
  • Record and summarize. Pull 10 to 20 usable post seeds each time.

Pro tip: Ask for real screenshots or artifacts to reference, even if you do not publish them. It tightens claims and voice.

Content strategy and calendar

  • Create 3 to 5 content pillars aligned to the ICP and the executive’s goals.
  • Cadence: 3 to 5 posts per week is common. Pick a realistic rhythm you can sustain.
  • Audit monthly. Retire weak angles and deepen what earns replies and DMs.
  • Keep a running prompt library tied to pillars.

AI tools for LinkedIn content

Use AI to accelerate, not to replace voice or facts.

Ideation and research

Draft assistance and editing

  • Use GPT-class models to iterate headlines and tighten prose. Apply your custom style guide and VoE notes every time.

Organization

Analytics and scheduling

Safeguards and compliance

Pro tip: Build a private “prompt pack” per client inside Notion. Include their tone rules and reusable prompts for hooks, lists, and story posts.

A repeatable weekly workflow

  • Monday: Mine topics, update pillars, and outline 6 to 8 posts across clients.
  • Tuesday: Draft 3 to 4 posts and self-edit.
  • Wednesday: Draft the rest and send for review.
  • Thursday: Apply revisions, schedule posts, and prepare comment prompts for the executive.
  • Friday: Review analytics, log wins and lessons, and prep briefs for next week.

Common pitfalls and how to handle them

  • Endless revisions. Set a 1 to 2 revision limit per post. Require consolidated feedback. After approval, the copy freezes unless there is new information.
  • Client ghosting. Take a deposit, define kill fees, and time-box proposal validity.
  • Scope creep. Use a clear change request policy and a simple rate card for extras like carousels, comment management, or video scripts.
  • Daily calendar changes. Set a cutoff time and create a freeze window before publishing.
  • Heavy industry research. Price deep research as an add-on. Partner with subject matter experts if needed, and define research depth per post.
  • Burnout. Cap your client count, batch creation, and protect deep-work blocks. Reuse templates and frameworks.

Pro tip: Use a standing weekly async update. One Loom or summary email can prevent meetings from eating your calendar.

Onboarding checklist

  • Intake questionnaire with ICP, goals, and banned topics
  • VoE interview and a signed VoE document
  • Content pillars and 10 sample hooks for approval
  • SOW covering scope, timelines, revision terms, approvals, and kill-fee
  • Access to tools and a baseline analytics snapshot

Red flags and when to part ways

  • Non-stop urgent edits, boundary violations, or nonpayment
  • Vague ownership rules or attempts to publish unverified claims

The offboarding process: deliver a final handover, send a final invoice, revoke tool access, and leave on good terms

  • NDAs and confidentiality. Use a secure e-sign tool and keep agreements organized. For fast signatures and templates, try SignNow: https://partnerstack.signnow.com/l46ntltw56yl
  • IP ownership and usage rights. Clarify who owns drafts, posts, and ideas after payment.
  • Compliance. Understand the client’s employer and industry rules, especially in regulated sectors.
  • Avoid deceptive claims. Secure executive approval for all posts.

Tools you will likely use in your solo stack

FAQ

What is a LinkedIn ghostwriter?
A professional who plans and writes LinkedIn posts for an executive under the executive’s name, aligning to their voice and business goals.

How do I become a LinkedIn ghostwriter?
Pick a niche, post 10 to 20 strong samples on your own profile, assemble a small portfolio, define packages and pricing with a clear scope and revision policy, prepare onboarding assets, and pitch executives with a paid test month.

How much do LinkedIn ghostwriters charge in 2025?
Common monthly retainers range from $1,000 to $5,000-plus per client for writing and strategy. Senior consultants often offer additional hourly strategy or audit work. Your experience, niche, and breadth of services drive where you land in that range.

How do I find LinkedIn ghostwriting clients?
Post consistently on LinkedIn, DM targeted founders or executives with a tailored teardown idea, ask for referrals, participate in niche communities, and run thoughtful cold email campaigns.

Is it ethical to ghostwrite LinkedIn posts?
Yes, if the executive’s ideas drive the content, claims are accurate, and the client reviews and approves. Use NDAs, document voice and boundaries, and avoid deceptive claims.

Is this your $10K MRR path?

This service is simple by design and valuable because it saves leaders time while increasing their visibility and deal flow. The path is clear: sharpen the core skills, follow the 8 steps to start, publish proof on your own profile, run a disciplined outreach plan, price with confidence, and protect your time with clear policies. Start with a paid test for 1 to 2 clients to validate fit and bandwidth. If you enjoy the work and your clients see results, expand to 3 or 4 clients and you are on a straightforward track to $5,000 to $10,000 MRR.

If you want a head start, assemble your outreach scripts, onboarding kit, SOW and revision policy, a monthly report template, and a 30-day first-client action plan. Then start your 14-day push to close your first paid test.

Methodology and update notes

  • Methodology: This guide compiles practical playbooks and rate ranges from public freelancer pages, agency offerings, buyer conversations, and platform documentation available through 2024. Where possible, platform claims are supported with official pages, such as LinkedIn’s Marketing Solutions resources: https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions and LinkedIn’s User Agreement for compliance: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/user-agreement.
  • Update: Reviewed for 2025 platform changes on September 4, 2025.

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