I nonetheless keep in mind the day in 2014 once I wrote my very first consumer electronic mail pitch (after my horrible stint with content material mills).
I didn’t understand it then whereas I used to be taking good care of my twin infants that pitching and touchdown a consumer would find yourself being this profitable freelance writing enterprise.
In the present day, in 2026, we’re listening to in every single place that AI goes to switch jobs, particularly writing and content material jobs.
However, we’ve been on this AI world for a couple of years now and one thing is altering…for the higher.
Firms are realizing that AI ISN’T saving them time and ISN’T making them MORE cash than doing it the “outdated” approach.
In accordance with a latest Enterprise Insider article, one of many hottest jobs in tech proper now isn’t coding, it’s telling a compelling story with actual human nuance.
Uh, that’s referred to as freelance writing and it’s what I’ve been doing for over a decade!
And it’s no surprise we’re coming full circle. That is what Brandon Towl mentioned about this:
So, for those who’ve been pondering, “ehh, I don’t know if freelance writing is worthwhile when AI is in every single place,” then this text is for you!
Let’s take a look at some myths (and bust them), and discuss in regards to the actual alternative for freelance writers proper now.
Content material Writing is the New Shiny Factor
You’d assume in a tech world dominated by synthetic intelligence that technical coding abilities could be the golden ticket to a high-paying profession.
Nicely, that’s what I used to be seeing on-line once I heard AI might code. Even Open AI put out a video exhibiting how straightforward it was to code utilizing AI.
However Enterprise Insider studies that firms like Netflix, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are paying six-figure to high-six-figure salaries for roles centered round communication and storytelling, not coding.
They’re hiring individuals who could make sense of complicated concepts and articulate them in a approach that actual people worth.
Why?
As a result of AI can generate phrases, however these phrases can turn into “slopaganda” — content material that sounds full however lacks actual perception, readability, or technique.
AI is in every single place in 2026, making all the things noisy and troublesome for writers to land a writing job.
I discovered this troublesome final yr when so many firms adopted AI into their workflow and content material technique.
However now, a yr later, those self same firms are determined for specialists who can craft genuine, significant language that resonates with audiences….the human contact.
And that’s the place you – the freelance author – come into play.
How Did All of This AI Slopganda Occur?
When AI first began taking up the web again in 2022, everybody predicted the identical factor: writers would disappear and types would depend on machines.
Content material would successfully turn into automated….and you realize what?
It did for a whilte.
However right here’s what really occurred:
AI made mediocre writing simpler and made nice writing important.
And with the latest Enterprise Insider article proving writing is just not dying and is definitely exploding, the narrative has formally modified.
And right here’s why.
We’re drowning in what the article calls “slopaganda.”
Slopaganda = AI slop + propaganda.
It’s really easy to create content material with AI that the tip result’s sameness or blandness:
- recycled concepts
- generic recommendation
- surface-level evaluation
- content material written with confidence however no readability
Everybody on-line can now “write,” or at the least click on a button and get phrases on a display screen.
And when everybody can publish immediately, the quantity of noise turns into overwhelming.
I imply, on a regular basis on LinkedIn I see put up after put up about AI, most likely written by AI and it will get redundant after some time.
Purchasers really feel it and types really feel it, and customers really feel it too.
So the result isn’t that writers have gotten irrelevant.
The other is going on.
Nice writing has turn into extra priceless as a result of it cuts by way of the noise.
Firms are lastly realizing:
It’s the muse of communication and that’s a GREAT factor for us, the freelance author or copywriter!
That is the kind of content material manufacturers pays prime greenback for and what I train in my program Writeto1k.
Successfully, when a enterprise hires you to jot down a weblog put up they’re paying you not in your stellar writing, however for what the writing WILL end in: leads/prospects.
And that content material builds belief of their model making customers need to affiliate with that model.
That’s what occurred to me with beehiiv.
I saved seeing beehiiv in every single place on YouTube and LinkedIn. I began wanting into the model and realized that they’d a weblog with superb content material.
I needed to jot down for beehiiv and determined to pitch to them (and I landed the gig!).
They employed me as a result of I confirmed them what sort of author I used to be and gave me a content material concept that I researched they usually beloved it and employed me.
That’s why firms are prepared to pay a premium for anybody who can take complicated concepts and switch them into clear, compelling narratives.
What this Shift Means for the Freelance Author
So now that writing is cool once more, how are you going to take this “new” data and apply it in your freelance writing enterprise?
1. Storytelling Is All the things Now
A enterprise isn’t going to rent you to supply content material that appears like all the things else on-line. When beehiiv employed me, they recreation me matters that have been fashionable and that meant they have been written about 1000’s of occasions on-line.
For instance, there are about 800 weblog posts about how you can write an electronic mail topic line. Nicely beehiiv needed me to jot down about it.
Fortunately, they supplied an in depth content material temporary with the subtopics and factors to say.
Now, I might’ve simply written the put up and solely point out these speaking factors, however beehiiv didn’t rent me to try this.
They anticipated my experience and craft of storytelling (as a result of that’s how I “bought” them of my writing).
And so, I used to be in a position to make use of my expertise to assist me write this put up. I shared a narrative about how I obtain as much as 100 emails a day and I don’t have the time to learn each single one among them.
Now this piece of content material is exclusive and memorable.
Purchasers need story, readability, and lived expertise (what I supplied for beehiiv).
Begin weaving brief anecdotes, examples, or observations into your writing. It’s okay to be private as many companies worth first hand accounts and tales.
That is what separates human writers from AI output.
2. You’re Extra Than a Author (And Let Purchasers Know This)
For me, I’m nonetheless toying with this concept. I WANT to be seen as ONLY a author as a result of I don’t need to be accountable for a consumer’s website positioning technique, enhancing or total content material plan.
However, with AI in every single place, you do want to face out and a technique to try this is by leveling up your abilities.
Purchasers may even see you’re a communicator, strategist, and drawback solver. And you’ll be taught these abilities by deep diving into an organization that hires you. Get to know their model, messanging and merchandise.
To announce this variation, replace your web site, your LinkedIn headline, and your pitches.
Purchasers pay extra for writers who perceive messaging and model voice.
3. Present Your Course of and How You Minimize By way of Slopaganda
One factor you are able to do to draw consumer is to share your course of on writing a consumer piece.
Share this in a LinkedIn put up and have interaction with the feedback.
This positions you because the skilled since you’re sharing the way you flip these concepts into a pointy and clear article in your shoppers.
Share before-and-after samples, clarify your outlining technique, or speak about the way you elevate AI drafts into publish-ready work on LinkedIn.
4. Construct a Private Model to Strengthen Belief
I speak about branding in my Writeto1k course as a result of it’s an vital half to constructing a thriving and profitable freelance writing enterprise.
I imply, I’m nonetheless writing for shoppers a decade later and that’s because of a model that I’ve constructed.
Your model isn’t solely the colours in your brand or the web site theme you employ, however it’s the way you cope with late invoices, how versatile you’re working with shoppers, what you share on social media, and your total vibe and persona.
You need your “on-line” presence to be memorable to a consumer and that begins along with your model. In fact, your fashion of writing performs into your model however you want extra to help it.
You want proof, presence, and persona throughout each platform you present up on.
All of this makes you memorable in a crowded business.
6. Provide Providers that Align with Communication Roles
The Enterprise Insider article exhibits firms are paying prime greenback for expert communicators. You may mirror that worth by providing:
- Thought management writing
- Messaging guides
- Model voice growth
- Government ghostwriting
- Content material technique
- E-mail sequences and nurture flows
Decide one or two abilities from this record and be taught all which you could about it.
Then you definitely would possibly apply it to your personal enterprise.
For instance, for electronic mail sequences, you’ll be able to arrange your personal electronic mail record and create a welcome sequence to be taught extra about sequences.
All of those abilities will align intently with the highest-paid communication jobs in tech and aid you earn extra money writing.
7. It’s Time to Increase Your Charges
In the event you’re studying new abilities, meaning you’re including extra worth to your writing, proper?
Nicely, then you could elevate your freelance writing charges.
This shift means you’re not competing with AI.
You might be competing with each model’s want to face out.
And meaning you’ll be able to place your self to draw prime tier shoppers. I usually change my LinkedIn title to see what forms of shoppers I can entice. Typically I add:
- AEO/GEO
- Copywriting
- B2B
- Content material author
These phrases can hit in another way relying on what sort of enterprise wants a professional author.
8. Use AI as a Instrument, Not a Competitor
A few of my Writeto1k course pupil don’t need to use AI and even compete with AI.
And a few of them give up freelance writing all collectively. It’s vital (no, essential), that you simply be taught and adapt AI into your workflow.
Not solely does it improve your effectively, but additionally your productiveness and typing pace (properly, at the least I sort quicker as a result of AI provides me a route or concepts).
Be proud that you simply say in your author web site copy or LinkedIn profile you employ AI and perceive how you can use it in your content material writing enterprise.
This can reassure shoppers that they’re hiring a author who understands fashionable instruments, however nonetheless leads with judgment and creativity.
The New Freelance Author in 2026 and Past
I hope that Enterprise Insider article has given you hope on this AI-filled world. I do know it has for me!
Let me know within the feedback how your freelance writing enterprise is doing and for those who’re discovering extra consumer work proper now.
