AI Didn't Kill Copywriting - What Happened Instead (An Interview with Sean Ferres)

AI was supposed to kill copywriting. Sean Ferres thinks it's helped create the biggest opportunity for marketers and copywriters he’s seen in nine years: creative strategy. He joined me over Zoom to talk about what businesses are paying writers for now, why some freelancers are getting approached by clients, and what it takes to move beyond delivering copy in a Google Doc. Sean has spent years helping copywriters get clients. Now, he’s seeing unprecedented demand for people who can research, develop, test, and improve top of funnel ads—and he shares what that means for writers figuring out their next move. In this conversation, we get into: What a creative strategist actually does, and how much of the job a good copywriter already knows. Why Meta’s Andromeda update is changing what brands need from their advertising. How one of Sean’s students went from charging $300 per advertorial to earning $50K months through a revenue-share deal. Sean’s “anti-resume” approach to standing out when you don’t have years of experience or an impressive portfolio. How to use Claude more effectively by teaching it your standards, critiquing its work, and keeping your own judgment sharp. Why direct mail and other old-school approaches can still help you get clients’ attention. We also talk about the limits of AI, the problems with generic outreach, and why businesses still need someone who understands how to turn attention into sales. (Plus, we settle a little beef over my truly terrible Australian accent.)

Why is there a massive shortage of high-paid financial copywriters when there's both 1) high demand for more, and 2) thousands of freelancers looking for work? In this conversation, Sean sits down with Glenn Fisher from The Fix to break down the disconnect between copywriter supply and publisher demand. They explore what financial publishers like MarketWise are actually looking for, why AI hasn't been taking top-tier direct response jobs (yet), and the specific mindset shift required to turn basic writing into multi-million dollar promotions. Whether you're looking to apply to The Fix's Financial Copy University (FCU) or want to elevate your persuasion skills, this video breaks down the reality of writing copy for one of the hardest and most competitive niches.

In this episode, we’re joined by Matthew Volkwyn to help us strip away the "get rich quick" veneers of the copywriting world to look at what actually builds a sustainable, high-income career. If you’ve been hunting for a magic outreach "hack" or a shortcut to six figures, this is your reality check: true success is a three-to-five-year game of skill mastery, and the real money is in cultivating long-term relationships with the clients you work with.  In this discussion, we talk about why most copywriters struggle with client acquisition. We explore the prioritization of skills over tactics, arguing that when you become undeniably good, the industry’s top 1% starts doing the heavy lifting for you through referrals and high-level networking. Whether you’re just starting your clock on the "3-to-5-year rule" or you’re a seasoned pro looking to tighten your client retention, this episode offers a roadmap for evolving from a freelancer into a high-value partner.  

We marked the beginning of 2026 with a free panel discussion between people from different backgrounds, nationalities, and career paths to discuss the questions we get most about launching and building copywriting career: What are the mistakes beginners make when they go looking for their first job or client? Should you go to portfolio school? Should you get a degree in mass communications? How do I build a portfolio as a newbie? Has AI killed this opportunity?

Is brand advertising dying? Is AI taking over direct response copy? In this podcast interview, Sean and Rod discuss and then debate what the future of advertising looks like, as well as many of the common problems facing brand agencies today. From atomization and AI to Liquid Death and an automated discount email sequence selling Gucci, we unpack what’s working and what’s broken in modern copywriting.

Known for his sharp wit, controversial takes, and unmatched expertise, Nabeel Azeez sat down to talk with Sean and share his journey from volunteering to becoming one of the most expensive copywriters in Dubai. We discussed his approach to branding, his TROLL framework for attracting and polarizing an audience, and the lessons he’s learned from years spent cold emailing clients and handling B2B sales.

Sean recently sat down with Kim Krause Schwalm to discuss her journey to become a 9-figure copywriter and how she used her early success to have clients BEGGING to work with her when she went freelance.

Sean sits down with the one and only Mark Ford (more widely known as Michael Masterson) to talk about Mark’s experiences as one of the trailblazers of direct-response copywriting into the digital space. Hear what Mark Ford has to say about: -What traits tell him a new copywriter is going to succeed -Why so many people learn the “wrong” lessons from studying classic copy -Which commonly forgotten emotions you NEED to be able to work into your copy -How “H.A.T.” is going to be the key to writing breakthrough copy in the Internet Age -And so much more!

Sean recently sat down with Aaron Gentzler - CMO of Mauldin Economics and with 20 years of experience in the financial publishing niche - to talk shop. But this is more than conversation about how Aaron climbed the financial copywriting ladder. It's a conversation about one simple truth that new copywriters should WANT to hear: The financial niche is desperate for new talent. So how do you break into the financial niche? What are publishers looking for when they hire junior copywriters? How should you pitch your copywriter skills when you're cold emailing?

Pauline Longdon has an amazing story. She's a former Australian Army Major and former Nurse who reached a dramatic fork in the road of her life. And the choices she made turned her into one of the most sought after and respected copywriters working today. Hers is a story of triumph, overcoming obstacle after obstacle, and leveraging the power of copy into incredible results for her clients. Her path will inspire you and give you an idea of what it takes to succeed.