Credit Where Credit is Due: Bylines or Ghostwriting?
Unless you let AI create your written content, somebody has to take credit for it. If you hire a writer, you have two choices: let the writer take credit, or take the credit for their work.
Some writers are okay with letting their clients take the credit; they usually offer their services as ghostwriters. Some want the credit they deserve and will request a byline.
Which way is best? Let’s take a look at the implications of both.
Every Word Has an Author
All written words came from somebody; even AI generators sourced their knowledge from someone’s content (according to Castos). There are two ways to handle writing credit when you hire someone for their work: ghostwriting or a byline.
What Is Ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting is when the author doesn’t get the credit and someone else puts their name on the work. It sounds mean-spirited, but ghostwriters often charge more for this type of work and don’t take it personally.
When a celebrity or YouTuber publishes a book, they likely hired a ghostwriter to write it for them. Many blogs hire ghostwriters to pump out content quickly.
What Is a Byline?
A byline tells you who the content’s author is. It may have their name and photo along with a short bio and social media information. The amount of information given will depend on the publisher.
Look at an article on your favorite blog or news source. Bylines are either located at the top of the page near the title or at the bottom after the content.
Letting the Writer Take the Credit
Providing your hired writer with a byline might seem like the right thing to do, but it has pros and cons you should consider for your website.
Why Bylines Work Well
Bylines may be great for your website because:
It shows integrity: You gave credit where credit is due, and your readers might think highly of you for it.
You’ll look credible: If your writer is a well-known expert, having their name on your site will make you look like you know your stuff.
It looks personable: AI content is rampant these days, so seeing a real person behind the work could be a breath of fresh air for anybody feeling weary of robots.
It builds a strong relationship: If you intend to work with a writer long-term, displaying their name will improve your working relationship with them. The familiar name and face will encourage site visitors to keep reading.
The Drawbacks of Bylines
Unfortunately, bylines do have some downsides to consider, such as:
Distracting links: If you allow your writer to have their social media or personal websites linked in their byline, readers might get distracted and click off your website.
Questionable credibility: If your hired writer doesn’t have a PhD in their profession, and that matters on your website, people might assume the entire site lacks credibility.
Keeping the Writer Under Wraps
Some writers may give you the option to pay for ghostwritten content, where you can take all the credit or leave names off of it completely.
The Benefits of Ghostwriting
There are many reasons to consider ghostwriting, such as:
Looking professional: Your name on a pristine blog post about your site’s niche will make you look like you know what you’re talking about and give people a reason to trust you.
Uniformity: If you hire multiple ghostwriters, you don’t have to fret about creating author pages and bios and ensuring you use the correct ones. Every blog post will have the same byline and look uniform on your site.
Why Ghostwriting Might Be the Wrong Choice
Choosing a ghostwriter does have its drawbacks you should consider before taking the credit, like:
Risk of credibility: Someone might question if you’re really the writer of all the content. That could lead them to wonder if you’re reliable at all with your information.
Inability to back up your facts: If you get into a conversation with someone and they ask you about your article, you might not be that familiar with it and struggle to pull out the facts you need.
A question of ethics: Is it okay to hire a ghostwriter and claim you wrote it? Some people say yes, but others say no. (Forbes has an old yet insightful article about it.)
Potential awkwardness: A writer you’ve had on your team for a year may start to wonder why you don’t trust them enough to put their name on your website. They may not want to work with you if they feel you’re not on the same page with them.
Either Way, Choose KB Freelance Writing
I’m happy to work with anyone, whether you want to credit me or not. I care about providing my clients with high-quality content they can feel good about displaying on their website.
If you need a writer, don’t hesitate to email me at kaleigh@kbfreelancewriting.com or text me at (806) 341-9220.
