Hello Reader!

First things first, you may have received my welcome series (again) yesterday.

We experienced a minor glitch that triggered the welcome sequence to be sent to active subscribers.

Instead of profusely apologizing for being annoying, I'll just say....

I hope you feel really, really, really, really, reallyX100 welcome here, my friends.

Moving along. In this issue, we have:

• Content Connect assets to help make work easier
• This week's industry trends
• This week's must-read content
• AI updates (ChatGPT-5 is not good, ya'll).
• Expert interview with Erin Balsa
• Writer's DNA guide (upgrade to VIP for this asset)

Upcoming VIP content:​

• A "how to pitch better" report based on qualitative data.
• A deep dive with my earning transparency. I'll break down what I've made, what I did right, what I did wrong, and what else I could do to boost those revenues.

Stay tuned!

​Ashley R. Cummings​

Content Connect Resources

These assets are FREE with a VIP membership. And content professionals love them. See:

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$199.00 Freelance Templates This kit includes: First contact email template Onboarding email template... Read more Get it now!

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$169.00 Customizable Contract for Freelancers Get this fully-customizable contractor agreement template. This contract was written by a lawyer specifically for... Read more Get it now!

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$29.00 Content Writing Brief Have you ever received feedback that you "missed the mark" on a project, and then you had to start over from scratch? If... Read more Get it now!

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Industry Trends

💡 ChatGPT 5 is here, and the reviews are mixed. It's kinda more of the same with a new name. My take:

P.S. Did you know you can revert back to GPT-4o by enabling "legacy models" in settings?!?!

💡 Instagram letting Google index posts is pushing creators to make content built for both platform engagement and long-term search visibility.

💡 Content marketers are adding overlooked BOFU formats like app tutorials and product use case articles, practicing content restraint to publish more intentionally, and optimizing assets for both search engines and AI platforms to drive brand demand.

Must-Read Industry Content

​1/ State of Search Q2 2025: Behaviors, Trends, and Clicks Across the US & Europe​

Search habits are shifting fast, with AI-powered results driving more zero-click experiences across the US and Europe. This report reveals how user intent, platform share, and content engagement are evolving.

​2/ How to land a paid freelance story with Matador ​

Matador Network receives hundreds of pitches each week but accepts only a small fraction. They don’t accept AI-written content, listicles, or personal travel diaries, and prefer first-hand reporting that adds new angles to previously covered topics. Learn more about how to get your pitch accepted.

​3/ 24 Non-Obvious Questions Every Content Creator Must Ask Themselves​

Ann Handley’s latest Total Annarchy serves up the first 12 of 24 sharp, surprising questions every content creator should be asking—plus a side of tomato-hornworm battle stories you won’t forget. It’s witty, practical, and guaranteed to make you rethink your next draft.

AI Updates + Tools To Watch

Expert Interview | Erin Balsa

1. Tell me more about yourself and your journey into content.

I always loved writing and editing. But I never really thought of it as a viable career path. So I spent my 20s working in education. But the urge to write stuck with me after graduation. And when I turned 30, I started a personal blog that was key to starting the next chapter in my professional life.
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I was at the hair salon one day reading a local city magazine when I noticed an ad saying they were hiring an assistant editor. I applied and the rest is history!
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After a few years working as an editor and writer for print magazines, I pivoted into content marketing when I landed a job as a section editor at a content marketing agency.
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Spent the next 7 years getting promoted and leading teams both at the agency and in-house at a B2B SaaS company.
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Then about 3 years ago, I took a leap of faith and went out on my own. These days I run Haus of Bold, my solo consulting firm. I’m currently working part-time and loving it.
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​2. What's one way you've seen content change in the last year, and what do we need to keep in mind for next?

I have seen so many talented content marketers quit their full-time jobs to go out on their own. Freelance B2B content strategy and writing is a highly competitive space now!
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I think writers will need to develop additional skills, or niche down to focus on a specific content type, or develop a strong POV around a certain topic. Clients have so many suitable options right now — beyond likeability, why you?

Writer's DNA Guide | New VIP Resource​

Ever wish you could capture any writer’s style and learn from it/replicate it?

Now you can.

Pick the author, grab their links, and let this custom AI process do the rest. In minutes, you’ll get a custom style guide that nails their exact voice — hooks, flow, phrasing, even the way they format lists.

Doing this manually? Impossible. AI crunches dozens of pieces, spots patterns you’d never see, and hands you a step-by-step playbook you can use right now.

Use it to write for yourself, your clients, or even decode competitors. Blog posts, newsletters, TikTok scripts — it works for them all.

This is the fastest way to master any writing style.

It’s how you keep brand voice consistent, onboard new writers fast, and spot content angles you’d never see otherwise.

I was most interested in my style, so I ran the process for my published articles.

​Upgrade to Content Connect VIP to access the guide (and these other VIP resources for free).

Let's Connect!

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