Last updated on 13th June 2023 at 21:22 by Alex Nicholas
The concept of a content strategy is one of the most perplexing for companies today to grasp and execute. Someone to take charge of the process is beneficial to businesses that choose to invest in content strategists. In this guide, you'll discover what particular talents are required to become a great content marketing strategist.
What Do Content Strategists Do?
If you've ever wondered what a content strategist does then you're in luck. This guide will help define not only what content strategists do but also how they can help your business.
To begin, let's define what a content strategist does so there's no misunderstanding. Even though the content strategist position varies from one business to the next, certain responsibilities are always seen across all jobs.
The goal of a content strategist is to plan, write, and edit information; ensure that it is clear, compelling, and distributed appropriately across web, mobile, and social media platforms; and adhere to a consistent corporate perspective.
Content strategists need to have an outside-the-box view of the entire customer experience and how content impacts it. Like any good SEO consultant, they should also be skilled in copywriting, SEO in general, information architecture, and user experience design.
What a content strategist does may seem like a daunting task, but if you have the five years of experience and skills necessary to be successful in this field, it can be a very rewarding career.
How Much Does A Content Strategist Earn?
The rate of pay for content strategists varies significantly depending on experience. PayScale claims that entry-level content strategists with less than five years of expertise can earn around $52,000 a year, whereas mid-career content strategists (5 to 10 years) may expect an average total compensation of $73,000.
A digital content strategist is a relatively new position that many companies are seeking to fill. The job title conjures up visions of someone who creates content, organises and manages the content and oversees content marketing. While it's true that a digital content strategist can do all of these things, the position is more complex than most people realise. The pay reflects this complexity, with salaries for this position ranging from $52,000 all the way up to $121,000.
Content Strategist Fundamental Expertise
The following abilities are useful for content strategists to have, regardless of the particular field they work in:
1. Analytical skills
To create a content strategy that meets business goals, you need to be able to analyse data and understand what it means. You must also be able to measure the success of your content marketing strategy and make changes when necessary. This means being able to understand analytics data and use it to improve content.
It's important to note that being analytical doesn't just mean crunching numbers. You must also be able to read and understand research, surveys, and customer feedback. This is vital to creating content that appeals to your target audience.
2. Communication skills
Your strategy will be worthless if you can't communicate it effectively to your team. Excellent communication skills are essential for content strategists so that everyone understands the goals of the strategy and knows their role in achieving them. You must also be able to listen to feedback from team members and customers to make sure your content is on the right track.
3. Copywriting Skills
It doesn't matter how well you plan it or distribute it if you can't produce terrific material. The writing process is the most crucial aspect of any content strategy, so you must be a skilled copywriter. Your writing must be clear, concise, and on-brand. Brand strategists often help with this, but it's up to the content strategist to make sure all the company's writing is on-brand.
Developing a solid blog content strategy takes a lot of hard work, but it's worth it if you're able to create content that engages customers and drives conversions.
4. Presentation Skills
You must choose how you will package your content for prospects and clients to consume after it has been created and authorised. Your clients will want to know what you can do for them, so a great way to show off your skills is by giving a presentation on content strategy.
When you are pitching your services, you will also need to be able to articulate the value of a content strategy. This means being able to talk about the benefits of good content and how it can help a business meet its goals.
5. Delivery Skills
After your material is ready for distribution, you'll need the ability to get it in front of your audience. Determining the greatest distribution channels, collaborating with other teams, and ensuring content is placed correctly takes skill. You must also be able to track the success of your distribution strategy and make changes when necessary.
It's also important to have the ability to work with different teams, such as design, engineering, and marketing. This enables you to develop a content strategy that meets all of the organisation's needs.
6. Campaign Experience
It's tough to plan a campaign if you don't have much of a track record. To earn a position as a content strategist, you'll need to have experience planning and executing campaigns so they can be promoted via other related websites to gain backlinks. This experience will help you develop a content strategy that is tailored to your target audience.
Executing a successful campaign takes a lot of hard work and dedication, so having experience in this area will show that you're capable of delivering results. This will prove that you're a valuable asset to any organisation.
7. Multitasking and Organisational Skills
It's possible to feel isolated as a content strategist. The brand's material marketing success is typically based on your efforts, and company leaders will expect you to be the expert on all things content. As a result, it's essential to have superb multitasking and organisational skills.
Being able to juggle multiple projects at once and keeping track of all the moving pieces is a must. Additionally, you'll need to be able to stay organised so that you can track the progress of your content marketing strategy and make any necessary changes.
What Qualities are Needed for the Content Strategist Role?
Personal qualities may be more difficult to develop, but great skills can be acquired. The following abilities are typical content strategist job descriptions sought out by hiring managers:
1. Values the Company's Objectives
As a content strategist, you need to understand the company's strategist job description goals and target market. Long-term and short-term objectives such as website visits, leads, and conversion rates should be top of mind when creating content. If you do not understand the company's objectives, it will be difficult to create effective problem solving solutions in your content.
2. Understands How to Research the Audience
The content strategist must have the correct methodology for researching and understanding the target audience. This will help to create content that is relevant and engaging. Additionally, knowing the target audience will help to identify the best distribution channels for content.
3. Knows How to Write for Different Channels
The content strategist must be able to write for different channels, such as blog posts, website content, social media posts, and email marketing. This requires a knowledge of the tone, style, and format that is best for each channel. Additionally, the content strategist must be able to write headlines that are catchy and draw attention to the content.
Summing up
Content strategists are responsible for developing and executing content marketing strategies. A strong content strategist must be able to work on multiple projects simultaneously, have superb multitasking and organisational skills, and understand the company's objectives.
Additionally, it is important to be able to write for different channels, have experience planning and executing campaigns, and understand the target audience. If you have these skills, then you are a great fit for the content strategist role.