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 those who say utilizing AI is ok (not nice sufficient to interchange writers) and also you’re simply utilizing it fallacious. <—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 suppose so. I do know that final yr in 2025 I struggled to search out shoppers or ones that stayed (i.e. dropped me for AI). Shoppers had been checking writers’ content material for AI technology and plenty of writers had been giving up.
So, I made a decision to give attention to my different enterprise – the creator content material aspect. Nevertheless it’s a brand new yr, 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 similar to every other software on the market.
Companies both went all in with AI or realized 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 Wanting within the Incorrect Place for Writing Gigs
Look –
I train new writers to verify job boards to search out their first writing job. And I nonetheless suppose job boards do have good paying gigs (for those I like to recommend), however after I go to those websites, I’m not seeing a ton of choices.
The place are the freelance writing jobs? For instance, I like Superpath.
Once I began recommending this job board just a few 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 soo stunned by this as a result of this isn’t what I’m SEEING. I really feel there’s a silent shift of firms avoiding common job boards and both utilizing LinkedIn or their profession pages to put up 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 answer is to suppose freelance writing is useless.
However, should you’re studying this put up, then you understand that LinkedIn is the PLACE proper now. That is the place you will discover globs of freelance writing jobs.
What I’m Seeing on LinkedIn Proper Now
A number of 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 principally content material managers and writers complain about AI or utilizing AI in a “newish” manner.
However each time I did see a job advert, I would really like the put up.
I might then go on with my day. And some hours later, I might 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 informed LinkedIn, “That is what I like. Give me extra posts like this.” And you understand what? LinkedIn listened.
I’m not the one freelance author noticing this shift both. Chris Bibey sources freelance writing jobs and this put up exhibits simply how straightforward it’s to discover a gig proper now.
In the event 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?
Effectively, I might first observe me and Chris Bibey. Once you do that, you’ll get what we Favored 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 a degree to love high quality freelance writing jobs. I wouldn’t like jobs that pay little or jobs that weren’t freelance. Follow freelance writing jobs and copywriting jobs and take the time to learn by means of the put up to see if it’s a high quality job.
Even should you aren’t going to use, nonetheless Just like the put up so LinkedIn can ship you associated or comparable posts.
Why Manufacturers Are Nonetheless Hiring Writers
Many manufacturers are in search of skilled freelance writers as a result of they had been most likely burned by AI. AI can solely take a enterprise thus far, 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 the usage of 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 appliance, 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 might’ve gotten a response, however I did anyhow.
So, you will note a mixture however I’m seeing extra of a stance in opposition to the usage of 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 a very good factor, particularly if you’re a brand new freelance author.
And I’m not the one one noticing this. Digitaloft’s newest advertising and marketing analysis discovered firms with energetic blogs generate 67% extra leads than firms that don’t weblog constantly.
If blogs are nonetheless producing leads in 2026, which means freelance writers will likely be wanted and that’s a very good factor!
It’s a Good Factor to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
I do know this “technique” solely includes taking a look at your feed and liking job postings.
You would possibly suppose, “that’s nice! I don’t even must construct out my LinkedIn profile for this to work.”
Incorrect!
You HAVE to optimize your LinkedIn profile as a result of whenever 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 providers or else no gig.
Listed below are some ideas that can assist you optimize your profile.
1. Use Extra Than One Title
I didn’t study this “hack” till just a few years in the past when one among 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 kind.
So, that’s precisely what I did. I used completely different phrases to explain what I do.
2. Give attention to Who You Assist
An vital 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 might not know this as a newbie. I didn’t for a few years.
For the longest time, I stated I helped B2B firms 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 might identify the kinds of shoppers I helped.
3. Fill Out the About
Be certain that to fill out your about part and use quite a lot of sentences. In my About part I share how I write a put up 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 Fame Slowly
It would 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 identify on the market.
What you need is folks to say you, speak about you and study extra about you. A straightforward first put up is sharing that you simply’re a brand new freelance author and also you need to join with different freelance writers. LinkedIn will put this put up out to the best folks, serving to you develop authentically.
5. Schedule Your Posts
You’re going to get busy with writing, pitching and constructing your model. You gained’t have any time to put up on LinkedIn on daily basis. What I do is I take a hour every week to create seven LinkedIn posts to schedule.
Blocking time will change into extra vital as you construct up what you are promoting. You might need an e-mail record, Instagram and podcast.
You’ll be able to take a block of time to create content material for all of these platforms (or repurpose it). All of that can maintain you organized and liberate time so that you can pitch.
It’s Time to Give attention to 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 firms are utilizing to search out high quality freelance writers.
Let me know within the feedback should you’re on LinkedIn! I’d like to know!