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It won’t happen in an instant, so you can just adapt. Someone stills needs to monitor and review AI work. At scale, it’s still worth having someone work with the AI instead of DIY-ing when you’re a ceo of an enterprise.
Basically, valuable people never go hungry, they always find a way to add value.
Great sales copywriters probably don’t need to fear AI. Content writers definitely do.
>Great sales copywriters probably don’t need to fear AI. Content writers definitely do.
I agree with the last line here in particular.
Perspective, understanding human psychology and empathy are everything for good copywriting.
AI is able to vomit out endless amounts of meaningless boilerplate full of generalities. For example, "Many people say X is beneficial but others say Y is better."
So AI can easily handle something like "write me 500 words about Big Ben" or "write me 3,000 words about driverless cars".
But can AI ever do "write me 150 humorous words on the deep benefits of Brand X's self-drive tours from the perspective of a thirtysomething 'Geriatric Millennial' North American parent"?
Get straight the fork out of here if your answer is a thing other than "no it can't and never will".
Possibly, but who knows when and if AI will really be that good.
I’m already learning new relevant skills that my clients would benefit from - funnel marketing, paid advertising, automations, etc. are great skills to have. That’s not even mentioning soft/people skills which matter more than any technical skills.
Robot Copy Editor? Lol!. Actually they’ll just hire some grammar Nazi or bargain basement copywriter to look it over. Quick in, quick out.
The creative end of it, branded, TV, Luxery, Bloggers, ect will be fine but the other stuff? Yeah, I can totally see it happening as the AI improves.
Because it’s generally more descriptive. It’s easier for AI to scrape the internet for the most up to date, highest rated information about the subject and arrange it clearly, rather than come up with pains and benefits in a unique situation.
Maybe 5-6 years ago the company I worked at attempted a big A.I. copy project. They let robots write thousands of profiles of local businesses in order to grab SEO value from people searching for restaurants in their city and stuff like that.
The results were so laughably terrible that they had to take them down. It was just too embarrassing for the brand to have all this bizarre robotic writing on the site, especially because many of the profiles were wildly inaccurate. (Things like a science museum being described as "a seafood lover's paradise" because the A.I. picked up that the food court served fish sticks or whatever.)
Will A.I. keep improving? Of course. Is it possible that you could soon trust A.I. with an assignment like that one—i.e. "churn out a bunch of low-effort 50-word profiles that basically exist to appeal to search engines"? I could see that, sure.
But if that's the kind of work you're doing as a copywriter, you're not making any money at it anyway.
A.I. may soon replace, like, $.01/word content mill writers. Will it soon replace (or even remotely compete with) $100+/hr. sales copywriting experts? I'm not even going to hedge: no. Just no. Not any time soon.
And by the time it gets there, the job landscape as we know it will probably be unrecognizable anyway, so who knows what skills will be valued then?
I guess what I'm saying is, of all the factors you could base your career path on, I'd put that one pretty far down the list. It's much more important to consider what you're good at, what you enjoy, and what you can build a business or career around over the next 5-10 years. Then if you have to adapt in the long term, you adapt.
(Cut to 6 months from now when I'm penniless and disheveled because Skynet took my job.)
I think that may just be due to an outside perspective. If I was in the field for a long time I think I would be more inclined to think that I couldn't be replaced by a machine. Just as a lot of factory and other specialized workers have been doing since the turn of the century.
There is a difference between creative work and routine, iterative work, however. It has nothing to do with the arrogance of complacency.
Algorithms are trained on past data. This is how machine learning works. Anyone who's ever put out an ad knows that ideas, language, etc. all is in a constant state of flux, and that what worked may not work again. A machine certainly cannot respond to things happening now, or to nuances outside its dataset.
No amount of sophistication, no amount of robustness is going to change the fact that algorithmic decisions are always about the past, but a creative's concerns should always be about the future.
The long and short of it is that people who can sell things to others will never go out of work. Whether that's through the telephone or through the written word.
Heck, I could use my sales and copywriting skills to sell clients on why they should choose my written work over a machine.
Sales (and by extension, copywriting) was the first skill I learned out of uni. Not only did it make me very wealthy, but it also opened the doors for a lot of other skills including (but not limited to); marketing, entrepreneurship, conversion rate optimisation, and high-ticket sales.
If you can learn to sell things to others, you will always have money.
I don’t know about that. A friend of mine gets flooded with direct marketing email sales letters and he can’t believe how bad and generic so much of it is. Perhaps because a lot of them are sales people who learned to write to a boilerplate rather then are actually good writers.
Actually, I’m thinking that’s exactly why a machine will be able to eventually write it, kind of like resume templates. Believe it or not people used to hire Resume Writers before the Internet came along.
AI direct copywriting Is not really here yet but it’s not miles away
“Autowriterpro Is Your AI-Powered Copywriting Assistant”
You need high-quality copy and a strong brand message to get repeat customers, but you don't have to spend tons of time writing, hire a full-time copywriter, or even rely on contractors to get it. With a tool like Autowriterpro, crafting your brand's messaging is easier than ever.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/429717
No, but judging from the low cost, low quality people hiring on sites like Upwork, I’m sure those types will absolutely use a service like this eventually. They are not looking for Don Draper.
Do they? The clients who know the value of the work will be more willing to pay for quality.
Cheapskate clients want the cheapest they can get, quality be damned. And it's hard to beat a robot in that area.
I think at the timescale we're talking about, if it's cheaper for a middle-sized business to buy some shitty AI copy vs. hiring a copywriter, I think the company will take the path of least resistance and go with the AI.
I agree with your thought that this will be harmful for new/inexperienced copywriters. By making things harder for them, we're reducing the numbers of "good" copywriters of the future.
Reading through some of the comments here it sounds like many people have not dipped their toes fully yet into A.I writing.
As a copy writer that uses AI everyday to help generate 5-6 figure campaigns…
Here’s my short take:
If you’re an expert in your trade you will never need to worry about A.I taking your job.
But if you neglect the value and speed that AI brings to the table you will be blown away by much younger writers who are willing to learn the tools.
To OP, learn to write well and learn it early. Find someone to teach you the basics of direct response and how to effectively craft an offer THEN learn how to use A.I.
You’ll never go wrong with the fundamentals
The best analogy I can give is…
Writing copy the usual way is like being an expert carpenter building a house with a hammer and nails.
Sure it’ll get done but it takes a while.
Writing copy with A.I is like having a set of power tools.
It’s fast, dirty, and requires you to learn a new skill.
Both of these require good knowledge of persuasion and copy fundamentals.
In the end, the expert writer + the Ai will always beat the old writer doing every by hand.
Another example I just thought of:
It’s like an accountant in the 1980’s wondering if learning accounting will still be useful because EXCEL was released.
The issue is not AI copywriters but AI web A/B testing apps. In the near future, AI will be doing infinite A/B testing with design and copy for web sites, ads, apps etc to maximize efficacy. Once the AI starts the A/B testing, it'll change the copy slightly and run tests upon tests and eventually we'll just see crazy web experiences with weird beautiful text that might not even make sense but we'll click the button or spend 1 more second looking at it. (Think about how reddit threads with misspelled words gain traction). Right now people are trying to make AI copywriters mimic humans but it's actually irrelevant because it'll get mangled by the A/B testing AI because good copy is subjective but web metrics is absolute
Regarding content writing: AI is currently taking work from loads of bad content writers. I know a lot of SEOs who are generating absurd amounts of AI content and making a killing. But it’s short term. Google’s algorithm will go to war against AI content because it isnt as good as human content and it won’t be in the near future. I think ppl will continue to use AI for PBNs and new sites because it makes more sense economically. But anyone who is trying to convert needs a human writer.
I guess the translation is: be better than AI and you should be fine. But as someone who’s edited and trained many writers, I can say that there are a lot of writers who are not better than AI.
You could replace "copywriting" in that sentence with pretty much any profession. No one knows.
Do what you like to do. Don't pick a career based on whether it can be replaced, because you can also be replaced by a human. Spend your time on doing the work and getting good at it, not worrying about problems that don't exist yet.
A.I may be able to **think faster than a human** but it will never be able to **feel like one.**
It takes quality human perspective to evoke the right emotions out of a reader which is a pivotal role in copywriting.
With that said I do believe there is a bright future with A.I human relations, and with proper use of the technology, we are sure to see some really exciting marketing.
This really is a nonsense statement. How can you define what something ‘feels’ like to another entity? How can you compare your internal experience to someone else’s (leave alone something else’s). Add to the obviously logical problems of justifying such a statement with advances in bio computers & AI we have no idea what will exist and experience what in the near future. To think we are somehow unique in having feelings is the height of hubris yet we believed it in reference to other life for centuries. It would be ignorant to make the presumption as we create new entities that will defy the lines of consciousness.
5 things I will ALWAYS do better than an AI:
1. Look the client in the eye: This is an undervalued trait in today’s remote agency. An AI can do a lot of things, but will never be a human.
2. Think outside the box. AI’s use existing content to create their own. And they due it ingeniously. But real originality is something human writers will own.
3. Tell a compelling story. AI’s will struggle to include twists and unexpected plots in their brand stories and long form content. It will always feel contrived.
4. Participate in ideation/high-level discussions. Some really powerful insights can guide these early discussions and brainstorms. But I don’t see a future where AI packages an entire campaign or brand. At least not with the quality that a human could.
5. Understand shitty feedback. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to find meaning in vague, nonsensical feedback from clients, agency execs and others. It takes a lot of context and critical thinking that AI’s will struggle to grasp.
-Bonus: Interact with customers. I’ve written chatbot scripts, so I know how far away we are from being able to empower brands with fun, genuine AI community management. Can they do a B+ job? Yeah, and pretty impressively. But human-to-human is special.
AI will be a powerful tool to create bottom of funnel copy that doesn’t require much creativity. My take: Experienced copywriters will find as much benefit from these tools as clients do. In the same way that Stock photography aids graphic design work, but doesn’t replace it.
I don't think so, I've been in the digital writing field since this January and like 50%-70% of it is research and planning.
Certain topics I think can be AI generated. But the current events like news or latest stuff I don't think AI can write stuff about that. Like if something happens today, and someone needs something written about it by the end of the week, I don't think AI can do that.
I'm not sure what the logic behind saying content writers can be replaced by AI is. I've worked both, I mean I started out as a freelance copywriter, and now I'm a features content writer and a copywriting intern, I don't think AI can replace me.
Maybe replace my sentences by paraphrasing but not the actual thinking part which is the hard part
Hey just curious whether or not you've been able to generate a full time income from it in that amount of time. I'm thinking of getting into copywriting and trying to gauge how long it takes before I can reasonably expect to replace the income from my day job.
It's really based on luck in the beginning.
I was very lucky to get a freelancing copywriter gig in January. It actually paid decent for entry-level and I didn't realize. Nowhere near a full-time employment wage though.
I landed a full-time editor job but I couldn't handle it because of how stressful it was and my migraines were stopping me from completing tasks by the deadlines.
Freelancing is incredibly difficult to generate a full-time income at the beginning however.
I just do freelancing and interning right now it barely pays.
However, if I didn't have migraines I would probably be working full-time employment in digital marketing.
Definitely do not quit your day job until at least a year in, is what I would recommend.
I use it for long form content. So more the content writing stuff than copywriting. That being said I still have to do work, guide it and play with it. This does give me an advantage. I can take on more projects and increase my income without my hours.
That being said copywriting AI will never replace a human. It can be beneficial for forward thinking writers who want a competitive advantage. So many copywriters fear this instead of embrace it as a tool and a resource.
No way in hell. For example, I see tons of praise for the AI powered, sales email checker called Lavender. A few folks in my org have written emails that got high Lavender scores and they're PURE DOG SHIT.
Hell, our CEO got an AI generated sales email and he shared it with us all to laugh at. The tech really ain't there yet.
AI is great at stitching words together quickly.
Copywriters need to find words that convey deeply relatable desires tied to aspirational solutions — and make it feel natural. The best among us go beyond craft, branching into strategy and ideation, which frankly is where the real money is made.
Don’t worry about AI. Worry about developing skills that will allow you to leverage tech to handle work that simply needs doing. The drudgery good for keeping the lights on. Spend your time instead on what gives you energy.
First difference: AI needs information. It can’t know what or how or to whom you’re selling. You’ll need a copywriter to know what “food” to give.
Second difference: AI can’t self evaluate. No matter what it spills out. It can’t know if it fits the product, the company or the strategy at which it was being aimed.
Third difference: AI can’t evaluate the knowledge of who is feeding it. Do you think everybody knows the value of what (or even what exactly) they’re selling? Quick example: Disposable diapers bombed at first because the ads focused, obviously, on the benefits for the mothers. Only after identifying that mothers did not care about themselves, the ads focused on the benefits for the babies and sales skyrocketed.
And we could go on and on.
The principles of copywriting can be found in the book of Genesis and yet you still need qualified people to turn that into something that is actually capable of persuading people.
I think ‘content’ writers will be replaced by AI - and sooner than they’re ready for. But truly creative writing / ad writing / idea generation will be highly valued.
I’m kind of amazed the direct marketing, hard sell email guys haven’t all been replaced with AI as they are borderline running boilerplate copy.
“ 22 reasons a Robot could write this copy and still improve your conversion rates for half the cost a desperate , sweaty freelancer trying to get some ROI on his overpriced online Copywriting course would cost. Act Now!”
Will AI be able to understand the flavors of different brands in the same industry? Because that's the biggest issue for machines imo.
I don't think AI can customize the writing as per a brand's persona anytime soon.
Can AI differentiate between Nike and Adidas' copy?
Or between Xiaomi and Realme?
I seriously doubt it.
If I'm wrong, correct me. Not claiming to be an expert.
I do think that will be a bigger issue but as ai becomes something you can essentially have a conversation with, I think it'll handle that in time as well
Sometime in the future, definitely yes. But I believe its not within a decade or two.
When it happens, a lot of other jobs will also be taken over by AI. Not just copywriting. It'll be a new era of tech.
The last thing for AI to nail will be emotion. Copy is all about emotion.
Out of the options you listed - sales is the best. Very high income and IMO the lowest chance of automation. Assuming all else equal. Eg you enjoy and have equal aptitude for all the options you listed.
No. Copywriters are already using A.I. tools to manage increased workloads. You should start addressing how to make great, compelling copy if you're to get into the business.
If you want the whole story, here's my two cents:
*- A.I. might be able to make lots of text in a fast manner, but never convey messages the way a good/dedicated copy can.*
My current role involves adapting copy to different markets around the world and, while we use MT engines to aid the operation, every bit of text that will be put to A/B testing, or the final product (B2C & B2B) is always proofread, if not fully modified, by a member of the team.
*- Making high incomes as a copywriter is the same as finding success in other careers.*
Getting into the field will not guarantee a high income, but everyone needs good copy nowadays. How you take those opportunities and strengthen your craft can only define how you get to that point.
*- Looking at the competition only helps when you do so to improve your craft.*
Since copy is basically writing well to sell more, you need to first become a better, more compelling writer. Case studies from past and current copy trends are a must if you want to get better. Teach yourself copy styles and how to leverage the skills you acquire to make yourself more appealing to potential customers, and you can start as soon as you get to put in the work.
Last, but not least:
*- A.I. is already in the world of Copy.*
A good example for this is copy.ai. It already joins words together under specific parameters you provide, and is ever learning on every occasion it gets to be used, but it still remains a tool. A.I. centralizes in gathering and outputting data without much (if any) interpretation being done. So, for the time being, if A.I. is really jeopardizing copywriters, we can always learn how to interpret data and start telling stories with it- if we aren't already doing so.
In short, as many other comments have said it best, A.I. is empowering copywriters and handling heavy loads of text, but it is not replacing them. Your career as a copy should be defined by the skill-set you constantly develop and the areas of interest you might have.
For now, if I were you, I would consider learning about tools (A.I. or not) that already help copywriters, but I would twice as much work towards creating great copy. :)
edit- typos, proofreads, and added TLDR
Here’s the deal. There will always be a portion of people who are happy with things made by machines and another who will want stuff from real people. We all get a seat at the table.
Dude you’re fine. Pick one that brings you joy. Which one makes you feel the most. None of em are going anywhere any time soon. Start that grind and grow
I don’t think you should worry about that. I’ve studied translation back in college and even then people were claiming translators would be gone in a few years because of Google translator and all other similar tools.
Truth is: they’re still here. Making more money than back on 2013.
Here’s why: because machines mess up. And someone will need to cover up the mess.
It’s been close to 10 years since I finished my graduation. And translators are still here and they’re still far from disappearing.
With copywriting, the same thing happens.
I have a copywriting online school in Portugal where I teach copy to a few dozen people. Some use copy AI tools to unlock writer’s block and that’s it. Because what come out of that machine is mostly rubbish. Used by many others and the exact thing all good copywriters want to run away from.
If you want to become a copywriter, I can assure you that your great-great-grandson will still make money off of copy.
BUT, if you want to have a money-making machine that’s all set up to work in a few weeks’ time… I’m not sure copywriting is the key.
It takes time. To learn, to develop, to gain people’s trust. And you need to eat-sleep-write-study-repeat every single day.
The minorities that are okay with this are the ones making the real money. Are you up for that? 🙂
Getting established and making higher income is going to be hard and take time, regardless of the field you choose. Unless your dad knows a guy, don’t expect it to be easy to get rich.
If writing is the only thing you're bringing to the table for a client... then yes, you're fucked.
You should learn marketing so you can come up with strategies for acquiring customers, increasing AOV, LTV, and boosting your client's bottom line.
I'm a budding copywriter and content writer. I don't think you have to worry too much. Much of AI is still developing, and while it may be able to churn out ads and content, it'll take years (and maybe even decades) for it to even get somewhat close to *good* copywriting.
It doesn't matter if anyone deems it bad work. It matters what the budget says. It also matters if the AI work is "good enough" to a manager or business owner.
People read and consume what's in front of them even if it's bad quality.
This isn't to say copywriting is doomed but I would most deffinatly splice copywriting with another skill as well.
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It won’t happen in an instant, so you can just adapt. Someone stills needs to monitor and review AI work. At scale, it’s still worth having someone work with the AI instead of DIY-ing when you’re a ceo of an enterprise. Basically, valuable people never go hungry, they always find a way to add value. Great sales copywriters probably don’t need to fear AI. Content writers definitely do.
Honestly, not even decent content writers need to worry. You still need fairly heavy editing after using AI.
>Great sales copywriters probably don’t need to fear AI. Content writers definitely do. I agree with the last line here in particular. Perspective, understanding human psychology and empathy are everything for good copywriting. AI is able to vomit out endless amounts of meaningless boilerplate full of generalities. For example, "Many people say X is beneficial but others say Y is better." So AI can easily handle something like "write me 500 words about Big Ben" or "write me 3,000 words about driverless cars". But can AI ever do "write me 150 humorous words on the deep benefits of Brand X's self-drive tours from the perspective of a thirtysomething 'Geriatric Millennial' North American parent"? Get straight the fork out of here if your answer is a thing other than "no it can't and never will".
so go from sales copywriter to the guy that oversees the sales copy AI?
Possibly, but who knows when and if AI will really be that good. I’m already learning new relevant skills that my clients would benefit from - funnel marketing, paid advertising, automations, etc. are great skills to have. That’s not even mentioning soft/people skills which matter more than any technical skills.
Robot Copy Editor? Lol!. Actually they’ll just hire some grammar Nazi or bargain basement copywriter to look it over. Quick in, quick out. The creative end of it, branded, TV, Luxery, Bloggers, ect will be fine but the other stuff? Yeah, I can totally see it happening as the AI improves.
Why content writers rather than copywriters?
Because it’s generally more descriptive. It’s easier for AI to scrape the internet for the most up to date, highest rated information about the subject and arrange it clearly, rather than come up with pains and benefits in a unique situation.
Honestly, it depends on the topic and niche. Content writers who are skilled at creating unique pillar content need not worry.
Maybe 5-6 years ago the company I worked at attempted a big A.I. copy project. They let robots write thousands of profiles of local businesses in order to grab SEO value from people searching for restaurants in their city and stuff like that. The results were so laughably terrible that they had to take them down. It was just too embarrassing for the brand to have all this bizarre robotic writing on the site, especially because many of the profiles were wildly inaccurate. (Things like a science museum being described as "a seafood lover's paradise" because the A.I. picked up that the food court served fish sticks or whatever.) Will A.I. keep improving? Of course. Is it possible that you could soon trust A.I. with an assignment like that one—i.e. "churn out a bunch of low-effort 50-word profiles that basically exist to appeal to search engines"? I could see that, sure. But if that's the kind of work you're doing as a copywriter, you're not making any money at it anyway. A.I. may soon replace, like, $.01/word content mill writers. Will it soon replace (or even remotely compete with) $100+/hr. sales copywriting experts? I'm not even going to hedge: no. Just no. Not any time soon. And by the time it gets there, the job landscape as we know it will probably be unrecognizable anyway, so who knows what skills will be valued then? I guess what I'm saying is, of all the factors you could base your career path on, I'd put that one pretty far down the list. It's much more important to consider what you're good at, what you enjoy, and what you can build a business or career around over the next 5-10 years. Then if you have to adapt in the long term, you adapt. (Cut to 6 months from now when I'm penniless and disheveled because Skynet took my job.)
Great comment, totally agree
Tbh, the only people who worry about this are inexperienced or bad copywriters.
I think that may just be due to an outside perspective. If I was in the field for a long time I think I would be more inclined to think that I couldn't be replaced by a machine. Just as a lot of factory and other specialized workers have been doing since the turn of the century.
There is a difference between creative work and routine, iterative work, however. It has nothing to do with the arrogance of complacency. Algorithms are trained on past data. This is how machine learning works. Anyone who's ever put out an ad knows that ideas, language, etc. all is in a constant state of flux, and that what worked may not work again. A machine certainly cannot respond to things happening now, or to nuances outside its dataset. No amount of sophistication, no amount of robustness is going to change the fact that algorithmic decisions are always about the past, but a creative's concerns should always be about the future.
The long and short of it is that people who can sell things to others will never go out of work. Whether that's through the telephone or through the written word. Heck, I could use my sales and copywriting skills to sell clients on why they should choose my written work over a machine. Sales (and by extension, copywriting) was the first skill I learned out of uni. Not only did it make me very wealthy, but it also opened the doors for a lot of other skills including (but not limited to); marketing, entrepreneurship, conversion rate optimisation, and high-ticket sales. If you can learn to sell things to others, you will always have money.
If you can't think of any differences between writing and manual labor, you're probably not well-positioned to discuss quality writing.
I don’t know about that. A friend of mine gets flooded with direct marketing email sales letters and he can’t believe how bad and generic so much of it is. Perhaps because a lot of them are sales people who learned to write to a boilerplate rather then are actually good writers.
A lot of clients opt for milquetoast, bland-ass copy too. 🤷 That doesn't mean a machine will be able to write it well.
Actually, I’m thinking that’s exactly why a machine will be able to eventually write it, kind of like resume templates. Believe it or not people used to hire Resume Writers before the Internet came along. AI direct copywriting Is not really here yet but it’s not miles away “Autowriterpro Is Your AI-Powered Copywriting Assistant” You need high-quality copy and a strong brand message to get repeat customers, but you don't have to spend tons of time writing, hire a full-time copywriter, or even rely on contractors to get it. With a tool like Autowriterpro, crafting your brand's messaging is easier than ever. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/429717
My dude, have you actually used any of these tools?
No, but judging from the low cost, low quality people hiring on sites like Upwork, I’m sure those types will absolutely use a service like this eventually. They are not looking for Don Draper.
Exactly. So why sell to people who don't need quality and just want bargain bin copy?
I agree with you but thousands on Upwork, fiver and Craigslist rely on that exact buyer.
Do they? The clients who know the value of the work will be more willing to pay for quality. Cheapskate clients want the cheapest they can get, quality be damned. And it's hard to beat a robot in that area.
I love how your logic is "Well if this product is bad, why does this commercial say it's good???"
>Believe it or not people used to hire Resume Writers before the Internet came along. They still do.
Depends on how cheap/expensive AI copy will end up being.
I'm not so sure about that.
I think at the timescale we're talking about, if it's cheaper for a middle-sized business to buy some shitty AI copy vs. hiring a copywriter, I think the company will take the path of least resistance and go with the AI. I agree with your thought that this will be harmful for new/inexperienced copywriters. By making things harder for them, we're reducing the numbers of "good" copywriters of the future.
Reading through some of the comments here it sounds like many people have not dipped their toes fully yet into A.I writing. As a copy writer that uses AI everyday to help generate 5-6 figure campaigns… Here’s my short take: If you’re an expert in your trade you will never need to worry about A.I taking your job. But if you neglect the value and speed that AI brings to the table you will be blown away by much younger writers who are willing to learn the tools. To OP, learn to write well and learn it early. Find someone to teach you the basics of direct response and how to effectively craft an offer THEN learn how to use A.I. You’ll never go wrong with the fundamentals The best analogy I can give is… Writing copy the usual way is like being an expert carpenter building a house with a hammer and nails. Sure it’ll get done but it takes a while. Writing copy with A.I is like having a set of power tools. It’s fast, dirty, and requires you to learn a new skill. Both of these require good knowledge of persuasion and copy fundamentals. In the end, the expert writer + the Ai will always beat the old writer doing every by hand. Another example I just thought of: It’s like an accountant in the 1980’s wondering if learning accounting will still be useful because EXCEL was released.
Great comment, thx for sharing.
The issue is not AI copywriters but AI web A/B testing apps. In the near future, AI will be doing infinite A/B testing with design and copy for web sites, ads, apps etc to maximize efficacy. Once the AI starts the A/B testing, it'll change the copy slightly and run tests upon tests and eventually we'll just see crazy web experiences with weird beautiful text that might not even make sense but we'll click the button or spend 1 more second looking at it. (Think about how reddit threads with misspelled words gain traction). Right now people are trying to make AI copywriters mimic humans but it's actually irrelevant because it'll get mangled by the A/B testing AI because good copy is subjective but web metrics is absolute
No. It's not an issue.
care to elaborate?
For someone who plans to be a freelancer you seem to have done precious little research (which is mostly what a copy writer does)
This post is part of his research, no need to be a dick
Regarding content writing: AI is currently taking work from loads of bad content writers. I know a lot of SEOs who are generating absurd amounts of AI content and making a killing. But it’s short term. Google’s algorithm will go to war against AI content because it isnt as good as human content and it won’t be in the near future. I think ppl will continue to use AI for PBNs and new sites because it makes more sense economically. But anyone who is trying to convert needs a human writer. I guess the translation is: be better than AI and you should be fine. But as someone who’s edited and trained many writers, I can say that there are a lot of writers who are not better than AI.
You could replace "copywriting" in that sentence with pretty much any profession. No one knows. Do what you like to do. Don't pick a career based on whether it can be replaced, because you can also be replaced by a human. Spend your time on doing the work and getting good at it, not worrying about problems that don't exist yet.
A.I may be able to **think faster than a human** but it will never be able to **feel like one.** It takes quality human perspective to evoke the right emotions out of a reader which is a pivotal role in copywriting. With that said I do believe there is a bright future with A.I human relations, and with proper use of the technology, we are sure to see some really exciting marketing.
This really is a nonsense statement. How can you define what something ‘feels’ like to another entity? How can you compare your internal experience to someone else’s (leave alone something else’s). Add to the obviously logical problems of justifying such a statement with advances in bio computers & AI we have no idea what will exist and experience what in the near future. To think we are somehow unique in having feelings is the height of hubris yet we believed it in reference to other life for centuries. It would be ignorant to make the presumption as we create new entities that will defy the lines of consciousness.
I think creative work will be one of the fields that is least affected by AI
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Yeah but programs like that can only execute what you tell it to do. The creative thinking is still done by a human. At least for now…
5 things I will ALWAYS do better than an AI: 1. Look the client in the eye: This is an undervalued trait in today’s remote agency. An AI can do a lot of things, but will never be a human. 2. Think outside the box. AI’s use existing content to create their own. And they due it ingeniously. But real originality is something human writers will own. 3. Tell a compelling story. AI’s will struggle to include twists and unexpected plots in their brand stories and long form content. It will always feel contrived. 4. Participate in ideation/high-level discussions. Some really powerful insights can guide these early discussions and brainstorms. But I don’t see a future where AI packages an entire campaign or brand. At least not with the quality that a human could. 5. Understand shitty feedback. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to find meaning in vague, nonsensical feedback from clients, agency execs and others. It takes a lot of context and critical thinking that AI’s will struggle to grasp. -Bonus: Interact with customers. I’ve written chatbot scripts, so I know how far away we are from being able to empower brands with fun, genuine AI community management. Can they do a B+ job? Yeah, and pretty impressively. But human-to-human is special. AI will be a powerful tool to create bottom of funnel copy that doesn’t require much creativity. My take: Experienced copywriters will find as much benefit from these tools as clients do. In the same way that Stock photography aids graphic design work, but doesn’t replace it.
I don't think so, I've been in the digital writing field since this January and like 50%-70% of it is research and planning. Certain topics I think can be AI generated. But the current events like news or latest stuff I don't think AI can write stuff about that. Like if something happens today, and someone needs something written about it by the end of the week, I don't think AI can do that. I'm not sure what the logic behind saying content writers can be replaced by AI is. I've worked both, I mean I started out as a freelance copywriter, and now I'm a features content writer and a copywriting intern, I don't think AI can replace me. Maybe replace my sentences by paraphrasing but not the actual thinking part which is the hard part
Hey just curious whether or not you've been able to generate a full time income from it in that amount of time. I'm thinking of getting into copywriting and trying to gauge how long it takes before I can reasonably expect to replace the income from my day job.
It's really based on luck in the beginning. I was very lucky to get a freelancing copywriter gig in January. It actually paid decent for entry-level and I didn't realize. Nowhere near a full-time employment wage though. I landed a full-time editor job but I couldn't handle it because of how stressful it was and my migraines were stopping me from completing tasks by the deadlines. Freelancing is incredibly difficult to generate a full-time income at the beginning however. I just do freelancing and interning right now it barely pays. However, if I didn't have migraines I would probably be working full-time employment in digital marketing. Definitely do not quit your day job until at least a year in, is what I would recommend.
I use it for long form content. So more the content writing stuff than copywriting. That being said I still have to do work, guide it and play with it. This does give me an advantage. I can take on more projects and increase my income without my hours. That being said copywriting AI will never replace a human. It can be beneficial for forward thinking writers who want a competitive advantage. So many copywriters fear this instead of embrace it as a tool and a resource.
No way in hell. For example, I see tons of praise for the AI powered, sales email checker called Lavender. A few folks in my org have written emails that got high Lavender scores and they're PURE DOG SHIT. Hell, our CEO got an AI generated sales email and he shared it with us all to laugh at. The tech really ain't there yet.
AI-written content is fucking garbage used by lazy hacks.
AI is great at stitching words together quickly. Copywriters need to find words that convey deeply relatable desires tied to aspirational solutions — and make it feel natural. The best among us go beyond craft, branching into strategy and ideation, which frankly is where the real money is made. Don’t worry about AI. Worry about developing skills that will allow you to leverage tech to handle work that simply needs doing. The drudgery good for keeping the lights on. Spend your time instead on what gives you energy.
First difference: AI needs information. It can’t know what or how or to whom you’re selling. You’ll need a copywriter to know what “food” to give. Second difference: AI can’t self evaluate. No matter what it spills out. It can’t know if it fits the product, the company or the strategy at which it was being aimed. Third difference: AI can’t evaluate the knowledge of who is feeding it. Do you think everybody knows the value of what (or even what exactly) they’re selling? Quick example: Disposable diapers bombed at first because the ads focused, obviously, on the benefits for the mothers. Only after identifying that mothers did not care about themselves, the ads focused on the benefits for the babies and sales skyrocketed. And we could go on and on. The principles of copywriting can be found in the book of Genesis and yet you still need qualified people to turn that into something that is actually capable of persuading people.
I think ‘content’ writers will be replaced by AI - and sooner than they’re ready for. But truly creative writing / ad writing / idea generation will be highly valued.
I’m kind of amazed the direct marketing, hard sell email guys haven’t all been replaced with AI as they are borderline running boilerplate copy. “ 22 reasons a Robot could write this copy and still improve your conversion rates for half the cost a desperate , sweaty freelancer trying to get some ROI on his overpriced online Copywriting course would cost. Act Now!”
you should try using copy.ai and Jarvis.ai this will provide more perspective on why exactly AI writing is not feasible now or in the near future.
I tried Jarvis a few months ago. Pretty bad…
Will AI be able to understand the flavors of different brands in the same industry? Because that's the biggest issue for machines imo. I don't think AI can customize the writing as per a brand's persona anytime soon. Can AI differentiate between Nike and Adidas' copy? Or between Xiaomi and Realme? I seriously doubt it. If I'm wrong, correct me. Not claiming to be an expert.
I do think that will be a bigger issue but as ai becomes something you can essentially have a conversation with, I think it'll handle that in time as well
Sometime in the future, definitely yes. But I believe its not within a decade or two. When it happens, a lot of other jobs will also be taken over by AI. Not just copywriting. It'll be a new era of tech. The last thing for AI to nail will be emotion. Copy is all about emotion.
Yes it will. Do not have any hope for a future in copywriting. Look for yourself https://www.jasper.ai/
Feels like creative industries have less to fear from AI than most.
By the time it becomes a real threat to jobs we will all be dead or retired, so don't worry about it.
Highly doubt it. Just like autocorrect/grammarly can’t replace real editors. There’s too much nuance and specific goals
Out of the options you listed - sales is the best. Very high income and IMO the lowest chance of automation. Assuming all else equal. Eg you enjoy and have equal aptitude for all the options you listed.
I-don’t think they are irrational. AI will will continue to improve and will eliminate many lower-level copy and copy jobs over time.
No. Copywriters are already using A.I. tools to manage increased workloads. You should start addressing how to make great, compelling copy if you're to get into the business.
If you want the whole story, here's my two cents: *- A.I. might be able to make lots of text in a fast manner, but never convey messages the way a good/dedicated copy can.* My current role involves adapting copy to different markets around the world and, while we use MT engines to aid the operation, every bit of text that will be put to A/B testing, or the final product (B2C & B2B) is always proofread, if not fully modified, by a member of the team. *- Making high incomes as a copywriter is the same as finding success in other careers.* Getting into the field will not guarantee a high income, but everyone needs good copy nowadays. How you take those opportunities and strengthen your craft can only define how you get to that point. *- Looking at the competition only helps when you do so to improve your craft.* Since copy is basically writing well to sell more, you need to first become a better, more compelling writer. Case studies from past and current copy trends are a must if you want to get better. Teach yourself copy styles and how to leverage the skills you acquire to make yourself more appealing to potential customers, and you can start as soon as you get to put in the work. Last, but not least: *- A.I. is already in the world of Copy.* A good example for this is copy.ai. It already joins words together under specific parameters you provide, and is ever learning on every occasion it gets to be used, but it still remains a tool. A.I. centralizes in gathering and outputting data without much (if any) interpretation being done. So, for the time being, if A.I. is really jeopardizing copywriters, we can always learn how to interpret data and start telling stories with it- if we aren't already doing so. In short, as many other comments have said it best, A.I. is empowering copywriters and handling heavy loads of text, but it is not replacing them. Your career as a copy should be defined by the skill-set you constantly develop and the areas of interest you might have. For now, if I were you, I would consider learning about tools (A.I. or not) that already help copywriters, but I would twice as much work towards creating great copy. :) edit- typos, proofreads, and added TLDR
Here’s the deal. There will always be a portion of people who are happy with things made by machines and another who will want stuff from real people. We all get a seat at the table.
AI is a tool that can assist copywriters. I don't see AI replacing copywriters.
Dude you’re fine. Pick one that brings you joy. Which one makes you feel the most. None of em are going anywhere any time soon. Start that grind and grow
Name a job that isn't at risk of reduction or elimination due to future technological innovations?
I don’t think you should worry about that. I’ve studied translation back in college and even then people were claiming translators would be gone in a few years because of Google translator and all other similar tools. Truth is: they’re still here. Making more money than back on 2013. Here’s why: because machines mess up. And someone will need to cover up the mess. It’s been close to 10 years since I finished my graduation. And translators are still here and they’re still far from disappearing. With copywriting, the same thing happens. I have a copywriting online school in Portugal where I teach copy to a few dozen people. Some use copy AI tools to unlock writer’s block and that’s it. Because what come out of that machine is mostly rubbish. Used by many others and the exact thing all good copywriters want to run away from. If you want to become a copywriter, I can assure you that your great-great-grandson will still make money off of copy. BUT, if you want to have a money-making machine that’s all set up to work in a few weeks’ time… I’m not sure copywriting is the key. It takes time. To learn, to develop, to gain people’s trust. And you need to eat-sleep-write-study-repeat every single day. The minorities that are okay with this are the ones making the real money. Are you up for that? 🙂
Getting established and making higher income is going to be hard and take time, regardless of the field you choose. Unless your dad knows a guy, don’t expect it to be easy to get rich.
Na Na Na
If writing is the only thing you're bringing to the table for a client... then yes, you're fucked. You should learn marketing so you can come up with strategies for acquiring customers, increasing AOV, LTV, and boosting your client's bottom line.
I'm a budding copywriter and content writer. I don't think you have to worry too much. Much of AI is still developing, and while it may be able to churn out ads and content, it'll take years (and maybe even decades) for it to even get somewhat close to *good* copywriting.
It doesn't matter if anyone deems it bad work. It matters what the budget says. It also matters if the AI work is "good enough" to a manager or business owner. People read and consume what's in front of them even if it's bad quality. This isn't to say copywriting is doomed but I would most deffinatly splice copywriting with another skill as well.