LinkedIn Ghostwriter Pricing: Human vs AI Cost Breakdown for Founders
Signal Team
Editor
Every founder eventually faces this decision: how do I build a personal brand without spending all my time writing?
You've probably considered three options: doing it yourself (and failing), hiring a ghostwriter (expensive), or using ChatGPT (sounds fake). This guide breaks down the real costs and ROI of each approach.
The Core Problem
Your competitors are posting. You're not. Every week of silence is a week they're building trust with your future customers, hires, and investors.
Option 1: Hire a Human Ghostwriter ($3,000-$10,000/month)
The traditional route. You hire a writer or agency to interview you and create posts on your behalf.
The Pros
- High Quality: A skilled writer adds structure and strategy.
- Done For You: They handle everything after the interview.
The Hidden Costs
The sticker price is high, but the time cost is higher. You still need 60-90 minute interviews every week. Plus the "Ramp Up Tax"—it takes 2-3 months for a stranger to learn your voice.
Verdict: Great quality, but poor ROI for founders below Series B.
Option 2: Generic AI Like ChatGPT ($20/month)
The "free" route. You prompt ChatGPT: "Write me a LinkedIn post about leadership."
The Pros
- Instant: Zero wait time.
- Cheap: Low upfront cost.
The Fatal Flaw
Here's the problem: everyone else is doing it.
When you post generic AI content, your audience can smell it immediately. It uses phrases like "In today's fast-paced world" and "Let me delve into." It has no soul. It has no you.
Verdict: Negative ROI. You save money but lose reputation.
Option 3: Voice-Based AI Ghostwriting ($29-$99/month)
This is what we built Signal to do. It uses AI not to generate ideas, but to transcribe and structure your existing ideas from voice notes.
It combines the speed of AI with the authenticity of your actual voice.
The ROI Math
Let's compare producing 12 posts per month:
| Factor | Human Agency | Generic AI | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $3,000+ | $20 | $49 |
| Your Time Input | 6 hours | 1 hour | 20 min |
| Authenticity | High | Low | High |
| Outputs Per Recording | 1 | 1 | 3 (LinkedIn + X + Newsletter) |
Key Takeaway
Don't compare AI to human on quality alone. Compare on ROI. Authenticity can be cheap if you use the right tool.
The "Reputation Moat" Advantage
In a world flooded with AI content, readers stop trusting generic text. They crave originality.
Generic AI can't build a reputation moat because it's trained on average data. It creates average content.
Only YOU can build a reputation moat.
When you share a specific story about a deal you closed last Tuesday, you're sharing something no competitor—and no AI—can copy. That's what builds trust. That's what closes deals.
The Bottom Line
The ROI of personal branding is infinite, but only if the brand is actually yours.
Don't outsource your voice to a robot. Don't bankrupt yourself hiring an agency. Use technology to scale the most valuable asset you have: your own perspective.
Try Signal free and see the difference voice-based AI makes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a LinkedIn ghostwriter cost?
Quality human ghostwriters charge $3,000-$10,000 per month for LinkedIn content. AI tools like Signal cost $29-$99/month.
Is AI ghostwriting effective for executives?
Generic AI (ChatGPT) is not effective for thought leadership. Voice-based AI ghostwriting is highly effective because it uses your actual words and ideas.
What's the cheapest way to build a LinkedIn presence?
The cheapest option is generic AI ($20/mo), but it damages your reputation. The best ROI is voice-based AI ghostwriting (~$49/mo) which maintains authenticity at scale.