Vetting a ghostwriting service isn’t just about finding someone who can string sentences together. AI can do this to some level. It’s about finding a partner who can capture your voice, understand your vision, and bring your ideas to life on the page. A good ghostwriter can elevate your thoughts, while a poor choice can lead to wasted time, money, and potentially damage your credibility.
In this blog, we’re taking a deep dive into “Barnes Ghostwriting” services to help you make an informed decision.
Introduction to Barnes Ghostwriting
Barnes Ghostwriting recently caught our attention through their active advertising campaigns, particularly on Google Ads. While not a major player in the ghostwriting industry, their marketing efforts have made them increasingly visible to potential clients.
This ghostwriting service promises to help authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders transform their ideas into polished, publishable books. However, with the ghostwriting market flooded with options, it’s crucial to look beyond the advertisements and promises. Does Barnes Ghostwriting’s service live up to their marketing claims? That’s what we’re here to investigate.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll examine various aspects of Barnes Ghostwriting’s service. We’ll analyze (if available), their client reviews, explore their pricing structure, assess the quality of their work, and scrutinize their ethical practices. Our goal is to provide you with a clear, unbiased picture of what Barnes Ghostwriting offers.
It’s important to note that as a relatively new or less established service, information about Barnes Ghostwriting may be limited. We’ll be transparent about what we know, what we don’t know, and what requires further investigation. This review aims to help you make an informed decision about whether Barnes Ghostwriting is the right choice for your project, or if you should consider more established alternatives in the ghostwriting industry.
About Barnes Ghostwriting
Company Background
Barnes Ghostwriting presents itself as a professional ghostwriting service catering to a wide range of clients. While the company doesn’t provide extensive information about its history or founding, it positions itself as an experienced player in the ghostwriting field. We were unable to locate anything about the team, founders or writers. Whether real or fictional.
Services Offered
According to their website, Barnes Ghostwriting offers a variety of services tailored to different writing needs:
- Book Ghostwriting: Their primary service, covering both fiction and non-fiction books across various genres.
- Book Editing: For authors who have a draft but need professional polishing.
- Book Marketing: Assistance in promoting and selling published works.
- Publishing Consultation: Guidance on navigating the publishing industry.
Online Presence
Barnes Ghostwriting maintains its primary online presence through its official website:
https://www.barnesghostwriting.com
The website showcases information about their services, process, and features what they claim to be “client testimonials.” However, the authenticity of these testimonials requires further verification.
Our investigation into their web presence revealed some interesting findings:
- Domain Age: The domain was initially registered approximately 5 years ago, however the domain name could have transferred ownership during this period.
- Hosting Information:
- The website is currently hosted on the IP address 104.21.93.139.
- This server hosts 705 other websites, which is common for shared hosting but may raise questions about the scale and exclusivity of their operation.
- Hosting Stability:
- Over the past 5 years, the domain has changed name servers 9 times, utilizing 7 unique name servers.
- Frequent changes in hosting could indicate instability or attempts to evade detection, though it’s not conclusive evidence of wrongdoing.
- Domain Privacy:
- The domain ownership is obscured through private domain registration.
- While privacy protection is common, it does limit transparency about the company’s ownership.
- Associated Websites:
- We’ve identified several websites associated with Barnes Ghostwriting.
- These connections will be explored in detail in future blog posts to provide a comprehensive view of their online network.
The combination of frequent hosting changes, shared server space, and hidden ownership, while not definitively problematic, does warrant caution. In our upcoming sections, we’ll delve deeper into how these technical aspects align with the company’s claims and customer experiences.
Barnes Ghostwriting Contact Information
Barnes Ghostwriting provides several contact options on their website. However, our investigation has revealed some concerning aspects about these contact details:
- Phone Numbers:
- Main: (424) 447-3302 or +1 (424) 447 3302
- Mobile: +1 (323) 457 5311 and (323) 544-7760
- Our research indicates that these numbers are not associated with traditional landlines or mobile devices. They appear to be virtual numbers, which can be easily obtained and managed online from anywhere in the world.
- Email:
- Address:
- 1800 Century Park E, Century City, CA 90013
- This location is a virtual office space. It’s important to note that virtual office services can be purchased by anyone globally and do not necessarily indicate a physical presence at the address. There’s no guarantee that Barnes Ghostwriting currently maintains access to or operates from this location.
These findings raise several red flags:
- The use of virtual phone numbers and a virtual office address makes it difficult to verify the company’s actual location and operational status.
- The lack of traceable, traditional contact methods could potentially complicate matters if issues arise during a project.
- The ease with which these contact details can be obtained and changed could facilitate disappearing acts or frequent rebranding to evade negative reviews.
It’s crucial for potential clients to exercise extreme caution when considering working with a company that relies solely on virtual contact methods. Before sharing any sensitive information or making payments, we strongly advise:
- Attempting to verify the legitimacy of these contact details independently.
- Seeking additional proof of the company’s physical existence and operational history.
- Considering the potential risks associated with working with a company that lacks transparent, verifiable contact information.
In the following sections, we’ll explore client reviews, pricing structures, and the quality of work claimed by Barnes Ghostwriting. This information, combined with the concerns raised about their contact details, will provide a comprehensive view to help you make an informed decision about their services.
Barnes Ghostwriting Reviews: What Clients Say
When researching Barnes Ghostwriting, we encountered significant challenges in finding verifiable, independent client reviews. This lack of easily accessible feedback is unusual for an established service provider and raises some concerns.
Positive Reviews
The Barnes Ghostwriting website features several positive testimonials. For example:
“Kudos to the ghostwriting team for their exceptional attention to detail. They not only met but anticipated my needs, delivering a manuscript that surpassed all my hopes.”
“Barnes Ghostwriting places a high value on customer happiness and customises services to fit each client’s requirements and preferences. By adopting a client-focused methodology, they guarantee transparent communication, cooperative efforts, and finally, exceptional accomplishments for any project they take on.”
Remember to approach these testimonials with caution. Without independent verification, it’s difficult to confirm the authenticity of these reviews.
Negative Reviews
Our investigation uncovered a disturbing pattern of negative reviews across multiple platforms, including Google, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Facebook. These reviews paint a troubling picture of Barnes Ghostwriting’s services and business practices.
Common themes in these negative reviews include:
- Failure to Honor Guarantees: Many clients report issues with the company’s “100% satisfaction guarantee.” For example: “Do NOT use this company, they claim to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, when we were not satisfied, they wouldn’t refund all the money!”
- Poor Quality of Work: Multiple reviews mention subpar writing quality and factual inaccuracies: “They didn’t get the writing accurate after 3 different writers… they used inaccurate data and fabricated things that weren’t discussed to try and make the story “more interesting” disregarding facts!”
- Ineffective Marketing Services: Some clients who purchased marketing packages report disappointing results: “Here we are 10 months later, and although there’s an author website, and social media pages with postings, there are ZERO FOLLOWERS AND ZERO SALES.”
- Refund Disputes: Many reviewers express frustration with the company’s refund policy and practices: “I have repeatedly asked for a refund, but all I get is lengthy phone calls with upsell attempts.”
- Accusations of Fake Positive Reviews: Several negative reviews suggest that the positive testimonials on the company’s website may not be genuine: “Fake! Fake! Fake! All these good reviews (5 stars) are not real. Please, run for your dear life.”
- Financial Losses: Multiple clients report significant financial losses: “I have already put in a HUGE amount of money into my project (book), to no avail. I lost everything.”
- Poor Communication: Reviewers frequently mention difficulties in communicating with the company, especially when trying to address issues: “Once you talk about a refund, they will stop talking to you.”
The volume and consistency of these negative reviews across different platforms suggest a pattern of serious issues rather than isolated incidents. This prevalence of critical feedback stands in stark contrast to the glowing testimonials featured on Barnes Ghostwriting’s official website. Potential clients should carefully consider these reports before engaging with this company.
Services and Pricing
According to their website, Barnes Ghostwriting offers a range of services including:
- Book Ghostwriting (fiction and non-fiction)
- Editing and Proofreading
- Book Proposal Writing
- Publishing Consultation
Pricing Structure
Barnes Ghostwriting’s official website does not display any pricing information. This lack of transparency is concerning and deviates from industry best practices, where reputable ghostwriting services typically provide at least a range of prices or starting points for their services.
Pricing Information from Customer Report
However, we uncovered a Reddit post from a potential customer who shared their interaction with Barnes Ghostwriting. According to this post, the company offered a “Premium Package” with the following details:
- Original Price: $4,699.99
- Discounted Price: $1,499.99 (advertised as “70% off”)
Services Included in the Package
The Reddit user reported that for $1,500, Barnes Ghostwriting claimed to offer an extensive list of services, including:
- Writing/Re-writing 200-300 pages
- Editing and proofreading
- ISBN acquisition
- Cover design
- Global publication on up to 20 platforms
- Book launch assistance
- Completion in 3-4 months
- “Unconditional 100% Money-Back Guarantee”
Red Flags in Pricing and Offers
Several aspects of this pricing and service offer raise significant concerns:
- Extreme Discount: A 70% discount is unusually high and may be a pressure tactic.
- Unrealistic Promises: The breadth of services offered for $1,500 is far below industry standards and raises questions about the quality and feasibility of delivery.
- Pressure Tactics: The Reddit user reported being asked to make an initial payment of $500 quickly, with the remaining $1,000 due on the same day.
- Lack of Transparency: Pricing information is not publicly available, potentially allowing for inconsistent pricing across clients.
- Unverifiable Claims: The company allegedly claimed to work with bestselling authors like James Patterson and Dan Brown but refused to provide verification, citing NDAs.
Industry Standard Comparison
For context, in the ghostwriting industry:
- Professional ghostwriting for a full-length book typically costs between $30,000 to $80,000.
- Comprehensive publishing and marketing packages from reputable companies often start at $10,000 or more.
The pricing reported for Barnes Ghostwriting is significantly below these norms, which is a cause for concern regarding the quality and reliability of their services.
The combination of non-transparent pricing, extremely low rates, and high-pressure sales tactics suggests that potential clients should approach Barnes Ghostwriting’s offers with extreme caution. We strongly advise thoroughly vetting any claims and carefully reviewing all contracts before making any payments.
Quality of Work
Assessment of Writing Samples
Barnes Ghostwriting does not provide publicly accessible writing samples on their website. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for potential clients to assess the quality of their work before engaging their services.
Client Testimonials about Quality
The company’s website features several positive testimonials. However, the legitimacy of these testimonials has been called into question. According to a BBB (Better Business Bureau) report dated April 6, 2023:
- Barnes Ghostwriting was unable to substantiate claims about their work, including:
- “Copies Sold 23,500”
- “Award Winner 53,246”
- “Copies Released 32,456”
- “Happy Readers 45,522”
- The company also failed to verify endorsements from “notable industry experts” and images of books claimed to be their work.
Consistency Across Projects
Without verifiable samples or legitimate testimonials, it’s impossible to assess the consistency of Barnes Ghostwriting’s work across different projects. The company’s claim to have “over 200 authors working with us, some of them well-known in their fields” remains unsubstantiated.
Red Flags in Quality Claims
Several aspects of Barnes Ghostwriting’s quality claims raise significant concerns:
- Unverified Statistics: The company provides specific numbers for copies sold and awards won but failed to substantiate these claims when challenged by the BBB.
- Questionable Endorsements: Claims of endorsements from major news outlets like The Guardian, The New York Times, and BBC were not verified.
- Lack of Transparency: The absence of verifiable writing samples or case studies makes it difficult for potential clients to assess the quality of work.
Customer Service and Communication
Responsiveness
Based on customer reviews and the BBB report, Barnes Ghostwriting’s responsiveness appears to be inconsistent:
- Some customers report initial quick responses, especially during the sales process.
- However, many negative reviews mention difficulties in communication once projects are underway or when issues arise.
Professionalism
Several red flags have been raised regarding the company’s professionalism:
- Misleading Advertising: The BBB challenged numerous claims on the company’s website, which Barnes Ghostwriting failed to substantiate.
- High-Pressure Sales Tactics: Some customers report being pressured to make quick decisions or payments.
- Unverified Credentials: Claims of working with well-known authors and receiving endorsements from major news outlets remain unverified.
Handling of Client Concerns or Complaints
The company’s handling of client concerns appears to be problematic:
- Refund Issues: Multiple customers report difficulties in obtaining refunds, despite the company’s “100% Money-Back Guarantee.”
- Lack of Resolution: The BBB report indicates that Barnes Ghostwriting failed to respond to requests for substantiation of their advertising claims.
- Communication Breakdown: Several reviews mention that communication becomes difficult or ceases entirely when clients raise concerns or request refunds.
BBB Rating and Response
As of the April 27, 2023 BBB report, Barnes Ghostwriting had failed to respond to the BBB’s request for substantiation, modification, or discontinuation of their advertised claims. This lack of response to a reputable business watchdog raises serious concerns about the company’s commitment to ethical business practices and customer service.
Ethical Considerations
A. Transparency in Business Practices
Barnes Ghostwriting’s business practices raise significant ethical concerns:
- Misleading Advertising: The company has failed to substantiate numerous claims on their website when challenged by the BBB.
- Lack of Pricing Transparency: No clear pricing information is available on their website, potentially allowing for inconsistent pricing across clients.
- Questionable Testimonials: The authenticity of client testimonials and endorsements from major news outlets remains unverified.
B. Copyright and Ownership of Work
While Barnes Ghostwriting claims to offer full rights to the authored works, the lack of transparency in their operations raises questions about the legitimacy of these claims. Potential clients should carefully review any contracts to ensure their rights are protected.
C. Confidentiality Measures
The company claims to maintain client confidentiality, even citing this as a reason for not providing contact with their alleged high-profile clients. However, given the other ethical concerns, clients should be cautious about sharing sensitive information with this company.
Comparison with Other Ghostwriting Services
When compared to reputable ghostwriting services, Barnes Ghostwriting falls short in several key areas:
- Transparency: Established services typically provide clear pricing information and verifiable testimonials.
- Quality Assurance: Reputable companies often offer writing samples or detailed case studies.
- Industry Recognition: Legitimate high-end services usually have verifiable connections within the publishing industry.
- Ethical Standards: Respected ghostwriting services adhere to advertising standards and respond promptly to inquiries from bodies like the BBB.
Red Flags and Warnings
Based on our investigation, potential clients should be aware of the following red flags:
- Unsubstantiated Claims: Numerous unverified claims about sales, awards, and endorsements.
- Pricing Inconsistencies: Extremely low prices that don’t align with industry standards for the services offered.
- Pressure Tactics: Reports of high-pressure sales techniques to secure quick payments.
- Communication Issues: Multiple reports of poor communication, especially when issues arise.
- Refund Disputes: Difficulties reported in obtaining refunds despite a “100% Money-Back Guarantee.”
- Lack of Verifiable Information: No concrete evidence of high-profile clients or quality of work.
- BBB Concerns: Failure to respond to BBB’s request for substantiation of advertising claims.
Conclusion
Our review of Barnes Ghostwriting has uncovered several points that potential clients should carefully consider:
- The company’s claims of expertise and high-profile clients remain unsubstantiated.
- Their pricing and service offerings are significantly below industry standards.
- Ethical concerns have been raised, including questions about advertising practices.
- Customer reviews indicate mixed experiences with service quality and communication.
- The company has not addressed concerns raised by the Better Business Bureau.
These factors underscore the importance of thorough research when choosing a ghostwriting service. Every author’s needs are unique, and what works for one may not work for another.
Alternative Option: Chapters.io
For those exploring ghostwriting services, Chapters.io offers an alternative approach that addresses many of the concerns raised in this review. Here’s how Chapters differentiates itself:
- Transparent Process: Chapters.io provides a clear, step-by-step explanation of their process on their website (https://www.chapters.io/how-it-works/).
- AI-Enhanced, Human-Driven Approach: Chapters combines AI efficiency with human expertise, offering a unique hybrid model.
- Customized Team: Each project is assigned a dedicated team including a managing editor, ghostwriter, and developmental editor.
- Collaborative Platform: Authors have access to a user-friendly platform for real-time collaboration and progress tracking.
- Flexible Packages: Chapters offers various service levels to accommodate different needs and budgets.
- Quality Assurance: The multi-step process includes several rounds of editing and author review to ensure quality and alignment with the author’s vision.
- Clear Communication: Regular check-ins and progress updates are built into the process.
To explore how Chapters.io can assist with your book project, you can set up a free consultation through their website: https://www.chapters.io/how-it-works/