The Ethics of Ghost Tweeting

In March, the New York Times published an article about celebrities and politicians who ask staff or hire writers to manage their Twitter accounts. The article mentioned that Britney Spears, 50 Cent, and even Alltop.com chief executive Guy Kawasaki rely on hired Twitterers.

The reality is that ghost Tweeting is not new. From the start of Twitter, busy professionals have relied on others to update their streams with novel and inspiring ideas and links.

Yes, Twitter is about building relationships, learning, and entertainment, but let’s be honest here, it’s about marketing too. Where there is marketing there is a copywriter, right?

I don’t agree with creating a Twitter account solely for the purpose of publicity. I also don’t agree with hiring a ghost writer to manage your Twitter account and basically fooling your followers into thinking it’s you. But if your “voice” on Twitter reflects less of you and more of your brand, then what’s the harm?

It’s not fair for someone else to represent you in direct messages or @ responses, but it is fair for someone to write Tweets on topics that represent you fairly. I believe this is especially true if the Twitter account owner reads the Tweets before they are published.

For someone as busy as Britney Spears, it’s probably not that she doesn’t want to Tweet, it’s that she just doesn’t have the time between all that working out and child rearing. But if Britney gives the writer a few guidelines and then reviews the Tweets before they are published, I see no harm.

The No. 2 Pen provides a Twitter ghost writing service, but we never pretend to be anyone. We won’t write direct messages or @ responses, and we won’t publish Tweets. We will write the content using keywords, links, and relevant information.

We’re not trying to be sneaky or be something we’re not. We’re just trying to provide a content creation service that best serves your business. You don’t hire a writer to be you. Writers are hired to write about you.

The No. 2 Pen is a full-service writing and communications company. Contact us to discuss your writing projects and editing needs.