What Does a Content Marketing Strategist Do? Skills, Role, and Why You Need One
In the fast-paced digital landscape, content marketing is not just a buzzword, it's a fundamental approach to reaching customers, telling brand stories, and achieving business objectives. But behind the scenes of every successful content campaign is a content marketing strategist, a professional whose job is to ensure that all the content produced aligns with the company’s goals and resonates with its target audience.
Understanding the Content Strategist's Role
The content strategist role goes far beyond writing blog posts. It’s about developing a comprehensive content strategy that supports marketing and business goals. A content strategist must evaluate existing content through content audits, plan editorial calendars, and lead the development of new, engaging content creation efforts that attract and retain customers. They must also identify what types of content (e.g., blog posts, videos, whitepapers, infographics) work best for different phases of the customer journey.
Responsibilities of a Content Marketing Strategist
A content strategist bridges creative direction with data-informed planning. They shape how businesses create content that speaks directly to their target audience. Beyond content development, strategists analyze competitor efforts, adjust content performance metrics, and help to define brand tone and voice across different channels.
Content Strategist Job Description
A typical content strategist job description includes:
Creating and maintaining a comprehensive content strategy.
Managing editorial calendars and coordinating with other departments.
Ensuring alignment with brand content guidelines.
Conducting keyword research and leveraging analytics tools.
Leading content audits to determine what's effective.
Collaborating with writers, designers, and marketers.
Using content management systems to publish content.
Developing content models and mapping out information architecture.
Setting KPIs for each piece of content.
Creating user personas and mapping customer journeys.
Key Skills of a Good Content Strategist
A good content strategist must possess a blend of creative and analytical skills. These include:
Strategic thinking: Understanding the big picture and making content decisions that support long-term objectives.
Strong analytical skills: The ability to interpret data, analyze trends, and make data driven decisions.
Editing skills: Refining content to maintain consistency and tone.
Technical writing: Communicating complex ideas clearly.
Research: Staying updated on industry trends and audience behavior.
Ability to manage multiple projects on a daily basis.
Familiarity with content management systems.
Building editorial strategy that encompasses all types of online content.
Adaptability to new tools and content platforms.
The Strategic Value of Content Planning
Proper content planning ensures that all produced assets serve a clear purpose, target the right audience, and reflect the brand’s voice across all touchpoints. It allows companies to better organize campaigns, identify gaps, and consistently provide valuable, timely, and relevant content.
A Day in the Life: What Does a Content Strategist Do?
A typical day in a content strategist position involves balancing multiple responsibilities:
Reviewing content performance using content marketing data.
Updating the content calendar.
Leading a content audit to identify gaps.
Brainstorming with the marketing team to create content ideas.
Meeting with other departments to align on messaging.
Overseeing content creation and editing deliverables.
Planning future content campaigns.
Communicating the value of content to stakeholders to gain buy in.
Mentoring junior writers or editors and facilitating content workshops.
Why Businesses Need a Content Marketing Strategist:
Aligning Content with Business Goals
A content strategist's job is to ensure every piece of content aligns with core business goals. Without this, content can become disjointed, irrelevant, or fail to support conversions. Strategists ensure consistency across all content initiatives, making sure that each piece supports marketing funnels and objectives.
Maximizing ROI
Content strategy enables companies to focus resources on high quality content that works. By identifying what the target audience wants and using analytics tools, content strategists help businesses create great content that performs. Proper content analysis ensures that businesses are not wasting efforts on unproductive content.
Improving the User's Experience
A great content strategist understands how to optimize all the content on a website to enhance the user's experience, ensuring it's structured, relevant, and easily navigable. User flow, search optimization, and content accessibility are all major factors.
Adapting Across Platforms
Content must adapt for social media platforms, email newsletters, blogs, and more. A strategist plans this dissemination while keeping the messaging consistent. They also ensure that the right formats and tones are used across platforms.
Tools of the Trade: What Content Strategists Use
To be effective, content strategists rely on a wide range of tools:
Content management systems like WordPress
SEO tools such as Ahrefs or SEMrush
Analytics tools like Google Analytics
Design collaboration tools like Figma or Canva
AI-powered writing assistants
Heatmaps and user behavior tools like Hotjar
Educational Background and Potential Employers
Most content strategist roles require a bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, English, or a related field. Some may also require experience with tools like Google Analytics, WordPress, and SEO platforms. An understanding of branding, storytelling, and consumer psychology is a significant plus.
Potential Employers Looking for Content Strategists
Industries hiring content strategists include:
Tech companies
Publishing (e.g., Cambridge University Press)
E-commerce businesses
Digital marketing agencies
Healthcare organizations
Education and EdTech companies
With the high demand for content marketers, content strategist jobs are on the rise.
How to Become a Content Strategist
Step-by-Step Guide
Develop strong writing and editing skills.
Learn about SEO and keyword research.
Understand content management systems like WordPress.
Build a portfolio showcasing your content creation abilities.
Gain experience in a content manager or marketing role.
Study analytics and how to interpret data.
Learn how to manage an editorial calendar.
Network with professionals and attend content strategy events.
Certification and Training
Consider training in:
SEO & SEM
Google Analytics
UX writing
Information architecture
Content Design
Social media strategy
Benefits of Hiring a Content Strategist
A content strategist brings immense benefits to your business:
Clear alignment of content with business objectives.
Efficient planning through content calendars.
Professional editing for high quality content.
Optimized online content distribution.
Improved team collaboration across other roles.
Enhanced ROI through data-informed decision-making.
Streamlined internal processes and workflows.
Examples of Strategic Content in Action
Example 1: SaaS Company
A software company used a content strategist to streamline product blogs. Through content planning, they improved SEO rankings and engagement by 40%. The strategist implemented a tagging and categorization system that made content more searchable and valuable for users.
Example 2: Retail Brand
An e-commerce brand conducted a comparative audit, restructured its blog using information architecture, and saw a 25% increase in conversions. The strategist also initiated an influencer partnership series that led to significant brand awareness and organic traffic.
The Importance of Editorial Calendars
An editorial calendar serves as a visual workflow for content production and distribution. It’s crucial for keeping teams aligned and on schedule. Additionally, it helps identify content clusters, prevents redundancy, and ensures a steady publishing cadence.
Why Strategic Thinking Matters
Strategic thinking enables content strategists to align their efforts with the long-term business objectives, identify new content opportunities, and stay ahead of market trends. It also fosters innovation in storytelling, distribution methods, and audience engagement.
Working Across Teams: The Cross-Functional Nature of the Role
Content strategists often coordinate with designers, SEO experts, developers, and sales teams. This collaboration ensures a unified brand voice and cohesive messaging. By acting as a central hub, they keep projects focused and stakeholders informed.
Long-Term Impact: Future-Proofing with Content Strategy
By focusing on future content needs, content strategists help businesses remain relevant and competitive over time. Their ability to forecast industry shifts and pivot quickly is crucial in today’s evolving digital landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Content Marketing Strategist
What is a content marketing strategist?
A professional who plans, executes, and evaluates content to ensure alignment with marketing content goals and business objectives.
How is a content strategist different from a content manager?
A content strategist focuses on planning and strategy, while a content manager typically oversees execution and team workflows.
What tools does a content strategist use?
CMS (WordPress, Drupal)
SEO tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush)
Analytics tools (Google Analytics, Hotjar)
Project management tools (Asana, Trello)
Do all companies need a content strategist?
While not everyone may have a full-time strategist, having someone who understands strategic thinking and content alignment is crucial for success.
What’s the future for content strategists?
With evolving digital needs, the demand for content professionals who can determine effective strategies for future content is only growing.
In Summary
In summary, the content strategist's job is multifaceted and essential. From developing an impactful editorial strategy to interpreting performance metrics, they are central to modern marketing success. If your business aims to build authority, grow its reach, and connect with the right content for your audience, hiring a content marketing strategist might be your best investment.
How Ysobelle Edwards Can Help
At Ysobelle Edwards Ltd, we specialize in helping businesses unlock the true potential of their content through strategic planning, expert execution, and data-driven insights. Whether you're just beginning to build your brand narrative or looking to refine and scale existing efforts, our team of seasoned professionals is here to support your journey.
Ready to elevate your content strategy? Take a look at our Marketing Services and contact us today to discover how we can work together to build your content future.