I nonetheless bear in mind the day in 2014 after I wrote my very first shopper e-mail pitch (after my horrible stint with content material mills).
I didn’t realize it then whereas I used to be taking good care of my twin infants that pitching and touchdown a shopper would find yourself being this profitable freelance writing enterprise.
In 2026, we’re listening to in every single place that AI goes to interchange jobs, particularly writing and content material jobs.
However, we’ve been on this AI world for a number of years now and one thing is altering…for the higher.
Corporations are realizing that AI ISN’T saving them time and ISN’T making them MORE cash than doing it the “outdated” method.
In 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 stated about this:
So, when you’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 concerning the actual alternative for freelance writers proper now.
Content material Writing is the New Shiny Factor
You’d suppose in a tech world dominated by synthetic intelligence that technical coding abilities could be the golden ticket to a high-paying profession.
Effectively, that’s what I used to be seeing on-line after 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 advanced concepts and articulate them in a method that actual people worth.
Why?
As a result of AI can generate phrases, however these phrases can turn out to be “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 tough for writers to land a writing job.
I discovered this tough final 12 months when so many firms adopted AI into their workflow and content material technique.
However a 12 months later, those self same firms are determined for consultants 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 out to be automated….and you already know 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 shouldn’t be dying and is definitely exploding, the narrative has formally modified.
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 top 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 a minimum of 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 publish after publish 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 alternative is occurring.
Nice writing has turn out to be extra worthwhile as a result of it cuts via the noise.
Corporations are lastly realizing:
It’s the inspiration of communication and that’s a GREAT factor for us, the freelance author or copywriter!
That is the kind of content material manufacturers can pay high greenback for and what I educate in my program Writeto1k.
Successfully, when a enterprise hires you to put in writing a weblog publish they’re paying you not to 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 that they had a weblog with wonderful content material.
I wished to put in writing 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 cherished it and employed me.
That’s why firms are keen to pay a premium for anybody who can take advanced 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 will you take this “new” info and apply it to your freelance writing enterprise?
1. Storytelling Is Every thing Now
A enterprise isn’t going to rent you to provide content material that appears like all the things else on-line. When beehiiv employed me, they sport me subjects that have been standard and that meant they have been written about hundreds of instances on-line.
For instance, there are about 800 weblog posts about tips on how to write an e-mail topic line. Effectively beehiiv wished me to put in writing about it.
Fortunately, they offered an in depth content material transient with the subtopics and factors to say.
Now, I might’ve simply written the publish and solely point out these speaking factors, however beehiiv didn’t rent me to do this.
They anticipated my experience and craft of storytelling (as a result of that’s how I “offered” them of my writing).
And so, I used to be in a position to make use of my expertise to assist me write this publish. 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 considered one of them.
Now this piece of content material is exclusive and memorable.
Purchasers need story, readability, and lived expertise (what I offered 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 liable for a shopper’s search engine marketing technique, enhancing or general content material plan.
However, with AI in every single place, you do want to face out and a method to do this is by leveling up your abilities.
Purchasers may even see you’re a communicator, strategist, and drawback solver. And you may study these abilities by deep diving into an organization that hires you. Get to know their model, messanging and merchandise.
To announce this modification, 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 Slopaganda
One factor you are able to do to draw shopper is to share your course of on writing a shopper piece.
Share this in a LinkedIn publish and have interaction with the feedback.
This positions you because the professional since you’re sharing the way you flip these concepts into a pointy and clear article to your purchasers.
Share before-and-after samples, clarify your outlining methodology, or discuss the way you elevate AI drafts into publish-ready work on LinkedIn.
4. Construct a Private Model to Strengthen Belief
I discuss 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 purchasers a decade later and that’s because of a model that I’ve constructed.
Your model isn’t solely the colours in your emblem or the web site theme you employ, but it surely’s the way you take care of late invoices, how versatile you’re working with purchasers, what you share on social media, and your general vibe and persona.
You need your “on-line” presence to be memorable to a shopper and that begins together 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. Supply Providers that Align with Communication Roles
The Enterprise Insider article reveals firms are paying high greenback for expert communicators. You possibly can mirror that worth by providing:
- Thought management writing
- Messaging guides
- Model voice improvement
- Government ghostwriting
- Content material technique
- Electronic mail sequences and nurture flows
Decide one or two abilities from this record and study all which you can about it.
You then may apply it to your personal enterprise.
For instance, for e-mail sequences, you’ll be able to arrange your personal e-mail record and create a welcome collection to study extra about sequences.
All of those abilities will align intently with the highest-paid communication jobs in tech and aid you earn more cash writing.
7. It’s Time to Elevate Your Charges
Should you’re studying new abilities, which means you’re including extra worth to your writing, proper?
Effectively, then you must elevate your freelance writing charges.
This shift means you’re not competing with AI.
You’re competing with each model’s want to face out.
And which means you’ll be able to place your self to draw high tier purchasers. I usually change my LinkedIn title to see what forms of purchasers I can appeal to. 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 certified author.
8. Use AI as a Instrument, Not a Competitor
A few of my Writeto1k course scholar don’t need to use AI and even compete with AI.
And a few of them stop freelance writing all collectively. It’s vital (no, essential), that you simply study and adapt AI into your workflow.
Not solely does it improve your effectively, but additionally your productiveness and typing velocity (nicely, a minimum of I sort sooner 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 tips on how to use it to your content material writing enterprise.
This may reassure purchasers that they’re hiring a author who understands trendy 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 when you’re discovering extra shopper work proper now.
