👻 Ghostwriting tweets for venture capitalists is the side hustle of the founder of a tech startup (who asked to remain anonymous).

Last year he made about $200,000. Here's how he did it, as told to Insider's @Schwartzesque. 👇

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw…
@Schwartzesque A single tweet the ghost writer writes can generate as many as 4 million impressions for his clients.

Oddly, the smaller the number, the more they're often willing to pay. He says those are the clients who need the distribution more.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw…
@Schwartzesque The ghost writer has clients he loves writing for, but sometimes will fire clients — he doesn’t want this second job to take up too much space.

He says he doesn’t want to feel pressure to produce, or for it to interfere with his own company.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw…
@Schwartzesque Some VCs will pay the ghost writer per tweet.

He has also done:
✍️$100,000 threads to announce a big funding round.
✍️$100 tweets.
businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw…
@Schwartzesque So why are these VCs willing to pay so much? To understand that, the ghost writer says you have to understand the evolution of Silicon Valley and how startups get funded.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw… A black graphic with text overlaid that reads: “Why it’sA black graphic with text overlaid that reads: “Why it’s
@Schwartzesque Ghostwriting wasn't something this ghost writer knew anything about. He was just building relationships and using those relationships in his day job.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw… A quote from the anonymous tech startup ghost writer that re
@Schwartzesque As a ghostwriter, he never logs in to a client's Twitter account. The ghost writer uses a software tool where he drafts tweets, the client sees them, and the client can then choose to send them if and when they want.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw… A black graphic with text overlaid that reads: “There isn'
@Schwartzesque The ghost writer prides himself on not sticking his foot in his mouth.

There is a set of topics that no matter what is said about them, it leads to people being angry in the replies. And VCs will often choose to engage in those third-rail topics.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw… A black graphic with text overlaid that reads: “VCs will o
@Schwartzesque The ghost writer says taking risks can lead to greater attentional rewards, but the precise level of risk he will take depends on the client.

It's a question of what brand they're trying to build.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw…
@Schwartzesque Most VCs who are playing the content game employ a bunch of writers. The ghost writer says he knows people who make almost seven figures doing this.

He also says he’s not there yet. But he definitely makes more at this than at his day job.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw… A quote from the anonymous tech startup ghost writer that re
@Schwartzesque The ghost writer says it's important to him that he does all of the ghostwriting work himself, as a side hustle. Otherwise it would feel as if he were stealing from his day job.

He has dozens of employees, and owes them his full attention.

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw…
@Schwartzesque Subscribe to @thisisinsider to read the full story, as told to Insider’s @Schwartzesque. ⬇️

businessinsider.com/twitter-ghostw…

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