I’ve been quietly watching the freelance writers proudly refute utilizing AI whereas others spit out doomsday opinions on AI taking up all jobs.
Then there are people who say utilizing AI is okay (not nice sufficient to switch writers) and also you’re simply utilizing it improper. <—that’s me…I’m in that final camp.
It’s been a number of years since AI disrupted the freelance writing world. So, what does that imply for freelance writing? Is it dying a gradual demise?
Hmm…in the mean time, I actually don’t assume so. I do know that final 12 months in 2025 I struggled to search out purchasers or ones that stayed. Shoppers have been checking writers’ content material for AI technology and plenty of writers have been giving up.
So, I made a decision to deal with my different enterprise – the creator content material aspect. But it surely’s a brand new 12 months, and I’m all in with freelance writing and I’m glad I selected 2026 to do it.
Why? I feel the AI bubble has or is bursting. The primary couple years, AI was the “new child” on the block however now it’s identical to some other device on the market.
Companies both went all in with AI or discovered that AI is nice for working within the background and never appropriate for writing content material that’s for the general public.
So, let’s take a look at why some freelance writers keep busy whereas others battle.
You’re Trying within the Fallacious Place for Writing Gigs
Look –
I educate new writers to examine job boards to search out their first writing job. And I nonetheless assume job boards do have good paying gigs (for those I like to recommend), however after I go to those websites, I’m not see a ton of choices.
The place are the freelance writing jobs? For instance, I like Superpath.
After I began recommending this job board a number of years in the past, there have been a loads of writing gigs and copywriting roles…and now? There are NO writing jobs in any respect.
I’m so stunned by this as a result of this isn’t what I’m SEEING. I really feel there’s a silent shift of corporations avoiding normal job boards and both utilizing LinkedIn or their profession pages to submit writing jobs.
And due to this, new freelance writers could also be discouraged once they do go to job boards and there’s…nothing. The following logical resolution is to assume freelance writing is lifeless.
However, when you’re studying this submit, then that LinkedIn is the PLACE proper now. That is the place you could find globs of freelance writing jobs.
What I’m Seeing on LinkedIn Proper Now
Just a few weeks in the past, I made a decision I needed to select up a consumer or two. I additionally needed to supply these alternatives on LinkedIn.
I have already got a profile, followers/connections, and I’m engaged on publishing constantly. At first, after I checked out my feed, I didn”t see many job advertisements. I noticed largely content material managers and writers complain about AI or utilizing AI in a “newish” method.
However every time I did see a job advert, I would really like the submit.
I’d then go on with my day. And some hours later, I’d begin seeing freelance writing jobs in my feed. Over time, after liking or commenting on these posts, LinkedIn began exhibiting me an increasing number of and extra writing jobs!
What I did was advised LinkedIn, “That is what I like. Give me extra posts like this.” And what? LinkedIn listened.
I’m not the one freelance author noticing this shift both. Chris Bibey sources freelance writing jobs and this submit exhibits simply how straightforward it’s to discover a gig proper now.
In case you can’t inform, LinkedIn is THE place proper now. Each hour there are new content material writing jobs (freelance, distant, or neither) flooding my feed.
However what in case your LinkedIn feed doesn’t have all of those job advertisements? What do you do?
Properly, I’d first comply with me and Chris Bibey. Whenever you do that, you’re going to get what we Appreciated in your feed.
So, for me, I used to be getting Ashley Cumming’s Likes in my feed and she or he was solely liking freelance and copywriting jobs for her publication.
Then, make it some extent to love high quality freelance writing jobs. I wouldn’t like jobs that pay little or jobs that weren’t freelance. Persist with freelance writing jobs and copywriting jobs and take the time to learn by way of the submit to see if it’s a high quality job.
Even when you aren’t going to use, nonetheless Just like the submit so LinkedIn can ship you associated or related posts.
Why Manufacturers Are Nonetheless Hiring Writers
Many manufacturers are looking for skilled freelance writers as a result of they have been most likely burned by AI. AI can solely take a enterprise to this point, particularly with content material.
So for 2026, many of those advertisements specify, “no AI sourcing” or “no AI generated content material for use.” These manufacturers are taking a tough stance AGAINST using AI.
Not all manufacturers are like this. I utilized to a DTC e-mail copywriter job advert and in a single a part of the applying, I had to offer two e-mail topic strains and e-mail previews for a made up yoga model.
If I used AI, I had so as to add the phrase “linen” in my copy.
Now, if I had used AI and put linen in my content material, I’m unsure I’d’ve gotten a response, however I did in any case.
So, you will notice a mixture however I’m seeing extra of a stance in opposition to using AI than I did prior years.
What this tells you is that the pendulum swung again in the direction of us – the human author – and that’s an excellent factor, particularly when you’re a brand new freelance author.
And I’m not the one one noticing this. Digitaloft’s newest advertising and marketing analysis discovered corporations with energetic blogs generate 67% extra leads than corporations that don’t weblog constantly.
If blogs are nonetheless producing leads in 2026, meaning freelance writers can be wanted and that’s an excellent factor!
It’s a Good Factor to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
I do know this “technique” solely entails your feed and liking job postings.
You would possibly assume, “that’s nice! I don’t even need to construct out my LinkedIn profile for this to work.”
Fallacious!
You HAVE to optimize your LinkedIn profile as a result of once you apply to those writing gigs, more often than not it’s a must to drop a hyperlink to your profile. And your LinkedIn profile must “promote” your companies or else no gig.
Listed below are some ideas that will help you optimize your profile.
1. Use Extra Than One Title
I didn’t study this “hack” till a number of years in the past when considered one of my college students talked about it. I used to be shocked and stunned that I by no means seen that you may label your self multiple sort.
So, that’s precisely what I did. I used completely different phrases to explain what I do.
2. Deal with Who You Assist
An essential a part of this equation is after you title your self, it’s a good suggestion to state who you assist. Now I do know you could not know this as a newbie. I didn’t for a few years.
For the longest time, I stated I helped B2B corporations or digital native manufacturers. I didn’t have the phrases for SaaS freelance author. That took a while later to determine that out. As soon as I did, I may title the sorts of purchasers I helped.
3. Fill Out the About
Be sure that to fill out your about part and use quite a lot of sentences. In my About part I share how I write a submit for a consumer. Do no matter works to assist somebody who’s new to your profile know precisely what you do and who you assist.
4. Construct Your Repute Slowly
It is going to take time to develop your followers and connections on LinkedIn.
One of the simplest ways to get began is by creating participating posts and writing an article on LinkedIn. Some freelance writers additionally begin a publication on LinkedIn and that may work to get your title on the market.
What you need is individuals to say you, speak about you and study extra about you. A simple first submit is sharing that you just’re a brand new freelance author and also you wish to join with different freelance writers. LinkedIn will put this submit out to the best individuals, serving to you develop authentically.
5. Schedule Your Posts
You’re going to get busy with writing, pitching and constructing your model. You received’t have any time to submit on LinkedIn each day. What I do is I take a hour per week to create seven LinkedIn posts to schedule.
Blocking time will turn out to be extra essential as you construct up your online business. You may need an e-mail checklist, Instagram and podcast.
You possibly can take a block of time to create content material for all of these platforms (or repurpose it). All of that can hold you organized and unencumber time so that you can pitch.
It’s Time to Deal with LinkedIn
Did I persuade you to place all of your eggs into LinkedIn? I hope so as a result of RIGHT NOW, I see LinkedIn because the place corporations are utilizing to search out high quality freelance writers.
Let me know within the feedback when you’re on LinkedIn! I’d like to know!
