Your professional network from 2023 isn’t the one you need for 2024.

I remember when I made my big shift from offline copywriting to online copywriting… way back in 1997.

One of the things that changed – had to change – was my network of contacts.

For the most part, the people I knew in the offline world weren’t following me online. At least, not right away.

That meant I needed to develop a new network of contacts and potential clients.

Plus, I needed to update my bookmarks and subscriptions too. Which newsletters should I subscribe to? Which websites should I visit regularly?

And what else did I need to learn in order to flourish in this new world?

Well… We’re at a similar juncture now, with the rise of AI.

Here are three things you need to do…

First, you need to start finding and connecting with other professionals who are leaning into AI.

Most of the people I’m already connected with aren’t as into AI as I am. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop talking with them, but I do want to add more people who share my interest in AI.

In other words. I want to expand or refresh my network with some new connections.

How can you do that? A simple way to start is to join groups on LinkedIn or Facebook. Or find people on Twitter who are engaged in conversations about AI.

Maybe start following a few of the major educators in this space, like Nathaniel Whittemore, Rachel Woods, Paul Roetzer and others.

Second, subscribe to some new AI newsletters and podcasts.

As well as following experts and thought leaders on Twitter, you can also learn a great deal by signing up for their newsletters, podcasts, and courses.

Nathaniel and Paul have excellence podcasts and Discord communities. Rachael has a newsletter, and leads an advanced course on prompt engineering. Follow the links in their Twitter profiles and you’ll find your way to the good stuff.

Third, get the education you need to take part in smart conversations.

There are plenty of courses out there for people wanting to learn more about shifting their professional focus to include AI.

For digital writers and copywriters, there is my own course, Futureproof Copywriting.

One way or another, you need to acquire the knowledge to sound knowledgeable when asked about AI by your clients and prospects.

Finally, you’re not in Kansas anymore.

If you want to keep up with the rise of AI, you need to make some changes.

Grow your network to include AI leaders. The easiest places to start are LinkedIn and X… formerly Twitter.

Next, subscribe to some of their newsletters and podcasts if they have them.

And take some of the courses that will put you ahead of the crowd as AI grows and evolves.

There’s no such thing as standing still in the world of AI marketing. You’re either forging ahead, or you’re falling behind.