I never thought LinkedIn would pay my bills. Honestly, when people talked about writing online, my mind went straight to freelancing platforms and the painful experiences I’ve had in the past.

The endless pitching, lowball offers, and clients who wanted 1,000 words for the price of a sandwich.

Let’s just say that path didn’t excite me much. But somehow, I ended up making money writing LinkedIn posts, and the wild part is this: I wasn’t “freelancing” at all.

I've spent a big chunk of my life trying freelance platforms. From Fiverr, to peopleperhour, to so many I can't keep count of.

A screenshot of the PeoplePerHour freelance platform design, showing job listings and categories.

I've been a designer, coder, affiliate marketer, digital marketer, and more. I've written ebooks and promoted weight-loss products.

Most of the popular freelance platforms you know of, I was probably among the first people that get to know about them. But unfortunately, my story never had a happily ever after (financially)

Up until a day, I thought to myself:

"What if the CEOs and founders posting on LinkedIn aren’t actually writing their own stuff?"

That thought alone changed everything for me.

The Accidental Discovery

Back in 2023, I was scrolling through LinkedIn like any other teen “wannabe writer.” That’s when I noticed Justin Welsh’s posts. It had this no-fluff, crisp energy, like every word was placed with intention.

Later, I found out he teaches people how to systemize content. Then there’s Sahil Bloom, whose posts read like mini TED Talks, blending stories with lessons. Their content had one thing in common: it was consistent, strategic, and engaging.

That’s when it clicked. These posts didn’t just happen. Someone had to structure them, batch them, and polish them. And if thought leaders were investing in posting daily, surely they’d pay someone to manage it.

So instead of chasing freelance gigs on marketplaces, I stepped into what I now call the underground goldmine of 2026: Ghostwriting LinkedIn content.

The First Step: The Cold DM

I had no fancy website at the time. No portfolio... Just guts.

My first move? Sending cold DMs that didn’t sound like cold DMs. Here’s one I used:

“Hey [Name], I noticed you’ve been sharing some great thoughts on leadership. I recently discussed this with a Founder friend of mine. (Then I’d share what I would do for him/her on the pretext of my supposed Founder friend.”

No pitching. Just building conversations and staying relevant. This works a lot better than pitching and blasting meaningless Cold DMs. This way, you’re portrayed as a peer and not another individual cold DMing.

Step Two: Batching Content Like a Machine

When I had two clients, chaos began. Writing every post on the fly was draining until I discovered batching, and here’s how I systematized it:

Weekly interviews – I’d hop on a 20-minute call with the founder, ask them questions, and pull stories out of them. The goal here is to listen as much as possible.

I have a client who, from taking a look at the content calendar prepared for him, was truly surprised by how much detail there was to it.

All he felt relevant and irrelevant, I was able to bring together in a structured manner that pleased him.

Content themes – Leadership, culture, personal growth, business lessons. I built a content calendar around these.

Batch writing – Instead of writing daily, I wrote 12–16 posts in one sitting. Then scheduled them out.

Batching turned writing from a stressful daily chore into a smooth weekly workflow. Clients loved it because it made them look consistent without lifting a finger. I loved it because it freed up my time to pitch new clients.

Step Three: Pricing Tiers That Didn’t Scare People Away

Here’s where many writers mess up: they underprice themselves. I started cheap, sure, but I quickly realized the value.

LinkedIn content isn’t “just writing” but is about reputation building. So, I created three tiers:

Entry ($500/month): 6 posts per month, light editing.

Gold $1200 per month: 12/month plus strategy calls.

Premium $2500 per month: Full content calendar, engagement support & daily posts.

Though some clients started out small, but upgraded the moment they saw results. That’s how I scaled without burning out.

A clear Fiverr interface screenshot displaying writing gigs with low prices and overwhelming competition.

Why This Beats Freelancing?

Freelancing felt like fishing in a crowded pond. Too many people chasing the same fish. LinkedIn ghostwriting, on the other hand, was like discovering a secret river where nobody else was casting lines.

Think about it: the freelancing world glorifies copywriting gigs, blogs, and sales pages. While LinkedIn Content writing was quietly but quickly. Getting attention like never before.

More founders are realizing their online presence is a business asset, but they don’t have time to manage it. That’s where ghostwriters step in.

Plus, the work feels more impactful. Instead of ghosting an article no one reads, I’m helping leaders shape their voice, grow their network, and close real deals.

The Underground Secret Goldmine

The craziest part? Most writers still don’t know this opportunity exists. LinkedIn ghostwriting is still “underground” compared to traditional freelancing. But it’s growing fast.

Founders talk. Referrals spread. And once you prove you can handle one person’s voice, you’re in demand. Today, I manage content for multiple CEOs. I don’t pitch on freelance platforms, I don’t chase tiny gigs, and I don’t argue about cents per word.

Instead, I get paid to think, write, and strategize, all while staying behind the scenes.

A Nudge for You

If you’re reading this and wondering how to make money writing LinkedIn posts, here’s my advice: don’t wait for the perfect portfolio or years of “experience” like I did.

Start with one cold DM. Offer real value. Batch your process. Set clear pricing.

Ghostwriting LinkedIn content might not have the spotlight yet, but in 2025/2026, it’s the smartest move I’ve ever made. And if a teenager like me can figure this out, so can you.

The transformation from struggling freelancer to someone building authority and income through LinkedIn content writing in 2025.

Stop watching how to cold DM the right way. Offer value first, but just know that you'll still get ignored either way. But it gets better going forward.

So send that first DM today. Who knows? It might be the start of your own “non-freelance” writing career.