6 Ways to Repurpose Your Skills for Success in an AI Downturn.

When writers say, “That AI thing came out of nowhere,” I think about this:

AI did not come out of nowhere. It’s been disrupting industries for at least a decade. And now, it’s our turn.

But let’s slow down a bit…think about it:

Despite AI’s disruption, the transportation industry still thrives. Healthcare practitioners still have a job. Accountants and bookkeepers still do 9-5.

That tells you one thing– AI doesn’t take people’s jobs. It enhances it.

That’s why I’m surprised that some content writers are looking to switch careers. I’ve seen people who want to learn Javascript and switch to technical writing. Some want to go full-blown Software Engineering. Others are considering learning data analytics.

In honesty, it’s normal to consider these options since securing content writing gigs is becoming increasingly difficult.

Then I asked myself this question– and I want to ask you too!

Have you even explored all of Content Marketing yet? 

Most of us have only been content writers. And we’ve not even practiced it professionally for five years.

There is soooooo muuuuuuchhhh more to content marketing than just content writing.

• What about content recycling

• What about content distribution

• What about search optimization

• What about content strategy

• What about content management

• What about content editing

Think about it, if you make a move now– leaving your progress level in content marketing;

• You must learn a new skill from scratch– Do you have the time?

• You have to start making new connections– Do you have the time?

• You have to start creating a new portfolio of samples– Do you even have the time?

What about the connections you’ve already built?

What if you switched and AI disrupted software engineering, data analytics, and similar industries? No industry is 100% safe because tasks requiring a structured input and output can be automated with AI.

So, where does that leave you, my friend?

What if there is a better way to escape AI’s bleeding dagger in content marketing—and win with AI without compromising your professional experience?

Let me show you six ways to repurpose your existing skills in an AI downturn- Without spreading yourself thin.

Use Your Experience To Write For Magazines

Magazine writing could be the answer to repurposing your skills during an AI downturn! The best part? You don't need to learn a new skill. All you need to do is use your existing research and writing abilities to pitch unique ideas to editors. And it's not as competitive as you might think.

• You don't need to go through a nerve-wracking interview process

• You don’t need to fill out lengthy forms.

• You don’t have to submit samples.

• You don’t have to do keyword research.

All you need to do is come up with a great idea, write with your usual narrative writing style, and pitch it to the editors. This could be your lucky day if you have a knack for finding unique angles.

So, how do you get started?

There are two ways:

• Just Google "Top magazines that pay writers" or "Write for us [Diversity; Tech]" to find magazines and news sites covering topics that interest you.

• Just Do It (lol)

And if you need extra help, subscribe to Kaitlyn Arford’ss newsletter, where many journalist jobs are posted weekly. Then, just do it! Happy writing!

Right, moving on:

Leverage design skills

You and I know that there is more to content writing than TEXT.

Why limit yourself to content writing when you can impress your clients with your design skills?

Whether it's creating stunning visuals to accompany your articles or designing infographics to explain complex topics, there's a lot of value in combining writing and design skills.

So, how can you make the most of your design skills? One great tool to consider is Figjam, which allows you to easily visualize ideas and complex topics while incorporating your brand colors.

This might seem like a long shot to you, and you might even imagine nobody will pay you for this, so I brought proof. Lashay J. Lewis and I discussed how she stands out with her visual design skills. Here is our conversation:

Do you now see that with the right combination of writing and design skills, you can create informative and visually appealing content for your clients?

Content design will be an ongoing discussion in the next issues. We’ll cover how to visualize content ideas with Figma.

Let’s discuss the third way to leverage existing skills:

Create value-adds

There is more to content marketing than content writing. Content writing is just a means to an end.

Once you understand the end, you can help your client move through the content marketing stages faster, cheaper, and more conveniently.

There are three super-power ways to make this happen: Content distribution, Content repurposing, and Collaborative content. Here's how:

1. Content Distribution

If your client doesn't have a dedicated social media manager or content distribution role, take the initiative and submit a snarky newsletter copy alongside your final draft. It may seem like extra work, but it's a great way to add value and make your client's content stand out.

You can also write a social media copy to accompany the blog. Simply feed ChatGPT the suitable prompts to generate a 50-word social media copy with the best hooks to grab your audience's attention. Edit the final copy and submit it along with your article. Now they can generate more social share of voice faster and build a standard process for consistent engagement.

2. Content Repurposing

Content repurposing is essentially turning big things into small things and combining small things into big things.

• Use tools like Infogram or Venngage to convert data into visually appealing infographics.

• Turn bullet lists into a faceless listicle video.

• Turn data and insights from an ebook into a 10-page LinkedIn carousel.

Take an existing marketing asset and create something new and exciting.

3. Collaborative Content

Lastly, don't forget about the power of collaboration.

• Help your client generate backlinks by pitching infographics to relevant blogs in your industry.

• Contact influencers and ask if you can quote them in your article. Reshare something they've already shared on their social media platforms and give them a shoutout on the final piece so they can repost it for you. Remember, a partner in creation is a partner in distribution, which can help you and your client achieve great results.

See how I pitched Steven MacDonald:

Offer Ghostwriting Service

Consider offering ghostwriting services to B2B marketing and sales brands! With search increasingly competitive, B2B brands are turning to social media to generate demand and stay on top of their ICPs’ minds. That’s why many brands are looking for talented writers to create engaging content for their platforms.

But what exactly does ghostwriting entail?

Essentially, you'll transform the brand's existing blog content into exciting social media posts that increase likes, shares, and brand affinity. You'll increase their share of voice and attract leads by helping them stand out on social media.

So if you're up for the challenge, start exploring opportunities to become a LinkedIn ghostwriter or social media content creator for B2B brands. With your writing expertise, you can create compelling content that gets noticed and drives results.

Think about content strategy

Offer content strategy as a service.

Look, content strategy is not for experts alone. Neither is it a testing ground for amateurs. But it’s something you can learn, practice and sell as a service. Let’s break it down.

• A strategy is your plan to achieve a goal– a business goal.

• A content strategy is your plan to achieve a business goal with content.

There are lots of brands out there whose content strategy is just to publish and share articles and wait for customers to pour in. They have no real strategy for lead generation with content.

That is your cue to leverage existing skills.

What’s more interesting is that content strategy is the core of content marketing. It is the future. AI cannot do it. And 95% of content marketers are not doing it, too (they are writers). So how can you start investing today and make the power move?

• Start with CXL’s technical content marketing course. It’s $100 if you reside in Africa or the Latin America.

• Go straight to Andy Crestodina’s 6 hours course on SEO for lead generation. It’s 6 hours, and you’d learn how to build a super-efficient content strategy from scratch.

But no one will hire you based on certificates and blueprints alone. So what should you do?

• Start a site and sell products.

You don’t have a product to sell?

• Market affiliate products that align with your goals.

Your mission is to demonstrate how you can develop and execute a content strategy that gets results from the ground up. 

You can do this in 6 months.

Lastly, use AI to do the job faster and more efficiently

Run from it. Hide from it. Hate it. Fight it. AI IS HERE.

And smart marketers can now do your job and that of 5 others with AI.

AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper are best for “generating” content, not developing content. A wise man once said content writing is content assembly (it’s me, I’m the wise man. LOL), and it’s true. Aside from the text:

• What about stats, data, and insights?

• What about visuals, videos, and images?

• What about contributor quotes?

• What about editing the cadence, the flow, the tone?

• What about making it convincing enough for the reader to click that link?

• What about interlinking?

• What about distribution?

Content generation is like 10% of content writing. Savvy marketers know this, and they are already using it that way. I asked Lashay how content writers/marketers can maximize their skills during an AI disruption. The solution? Embrace it.

So, what are you going to do? Will you wait until your back is against the wall before fighting back? Don’t bounce back; fight now.

When AI zigs, You Zag…Get it?

I hope you enjoyed this one…See you next week.

I’ll leave you with this!

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