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Like most writers I have a lot of reservations around generative AI. It’s already stolen part of my job, and I’m concerned it’s coming for the rest of it. But burying your head in the sand is probably not the way to go right now if you’re a freelancer.
AI is here to stay. Like most intelligent people, I’m hoping we’re going to be able to find ways to make it ethical and useful, while still retaining and valuing human creativity.
I’m also aware that there are many ways that freelancers like me can use AI tools to increase efficiency, find more clients, and therefore boost profits. Here are some of the ways AI can help you as a freelancer.
Content Creation
Many people are using ChatGPT or similar tools to give them ideas for products, services, blog posts, YouTube videos and social media posts. Some are also using them to write blog posts or video scripts.
I’m not an advocate for getting AI to write these things for you, but it can be used to give you an outline of what people want to know about a particular topic, or what the key points are that you should include.
It’s also great for helping with headlines. AI tools like The Coschedule Headline Analyser and the Capitalize My Title tool, can be used to rewrite your headline, in a specific style and for a specific type of content. This can be really useful given that the headline is always one of the most important elements of any piece of content you put out.
AI can also help with producing visual content. Tools like Canva AI, Napkin, and Kittl can help you design and produce eye-catching visuals and graphics for social media, your website, or your sales pages.
Project Management
I’m a fan of Notion for general, AI-powered project management. It lets me automate repetitive tasks, create deadlines, and set reminders so I can manage the small but complex set of projects that are always on my to-do list as a busy freelancer.
I like that it lets me create a reading/research list for each project I’m working on, letting me switch back and forth between my book, the digital product I’m working on, and day-to-day work like essays, articles and newsletters.
It also lets me manage personal stuff too, from exercise goals to my reading-for-pleasure list, effectively letting me plan out most aspects of my life — from one dashboard.
Finding Freelance Clients
Apob AI is a new tool I’m still finding my way around, but it was recommended to me after something I mentioned in one of my online freelancing forums.
Basically, I lack the video filming and editing skills to make the short videos that are needed to help freelancers stand out on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer.com, and Fiverr.
This one allows you to create professional looking videos in minutes, including ‘talking avatar’ videos, image-to-video, and text-to-video: useful if actually filming and editing videos is outside of your wheelhouse.
It also allows you to find new clients, by offering a broader range of services. Apob AI allows you to easily make things like explainer videos, which are really popular with some clients, or convert written content to video, allowing a broader reach online, across a larger number of platforms, for you and your clients.
These types of videos don’t aim to replace authentic, real-life vloggers, who will likely always be popular on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. They fill a totally different gap in the market for brands and professionals who need quick video content for very specific purposes.
As I say, I’m brand new to this one so can’t delve into any details right now, but I’ll be playing with it a lot in the coming weeks to see if it’s something that can be incorporated into my business.
Extra Tip: Don’t Hide Your AI Skills
One of the reasons AI already has a bad reputation among creatives is that people are using AI to create stuff that they then claim as their own and sell to clients. I can’t stress enough that this is not the way to do it.
Instead, make your ability to use specific AI tools to achieve desirable metrics part of your sales pitch. Many of these tools are simple to use once you’ve learned how, but most freelancers simply don’t know how to use them.
It’s fine to be the freelancer that offers to make “simple, high-quality, explainer videos using cutting edge AI tools”.
It’s fine to be the virtual assistant that can “manage multiple projects via one simple Notion AI dashboard, where I’ll track and organise every task and every deadline, for up to 20 projects at a time.”
Learn how to use a specific AI tool efficiently, creatively and ethically. Then make your AI knowledge and expertise your freelancing superpower, not your dirty secret.
About the Author
Karen Banes is a freelance writer specializing in entrepreneurship, parenting and lifestyle. She writes articles, website content, ebooks and the occasional award winning short story. Her work has appeared in a range of publications both online and off, including The Washington Post, Life Info Magazine, Transitions Abroad, Brave New Traveler, Natural Parenting Group, and Copia Magazine. Learn More About Karen
To make Wealthtender free for readers, we earn money from advertisers, including financial professionals and firms that pay to be featured. This creates a conflict of interest when we favor their promotion over others. Read our editorial policy and terms of service to learn more. Wealthtender is not a client of these financial services providers.
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