What it takes to be a Content Strategist…

Are you considering becoming a content strategist? The reasons for looking into it could range from a career change to hearing about it and thinking it might be for you. No matter why you want to enter this role, it’s essential to first understand what exactly a content strategist does and what skills you’ll need to be successful in it.

That’s what this article is about, so if you’re interested in becoming a content strategist, keep reading.

What is content strategy?

A content strategy involves planning, creating, structuring, delivering, promoting, and managing relevant and valuable content for a defined target audience, which will then take the desired action (buy, subscribe, etc).

A content strategy requires you to understand your:

• Goals
• Target Audience
• Type of Content to Create
• Brainstorm Content Ideas
• Type of Content Management System (CMS) You Should Use
• How to Audit Your Content
• Finally, How to Create, Publish and Organize Your Content.

Making an effective content strategy is impossible without someone to guide the content team, make final decisions about the strategy, and be responsible for its execution. That someone is the content strategist.

What is the Role of a Content Strategist?

The content strategy professional’s main responsibility is to ensure that the company’s content is effective in bringing expected results to its audience. A content strategist’s duties will vary from one organization to another, but in general, they include:

1. Creates content for a defined audience
2. Defines how content will be delivered to the audience and enhances the delivery
3. Promotes content keeps it current and finds new ways to promote it
4. Establishes a content editorial calendar to ensure consistency
5. Establishes guidelines for tone, voice, and style
6. Researches the content that has been created by the brand and analyzes what works and what does not

However, the most important task a content strategist must perform is to defend the content strategy to the company’s higher-ups.

What Skills Does a Content Strategist Need to be Successful?

Having learned what a content strategist’s responsibilities are, let’s discuss the skills you should possess.

1. Team skills

There is no doubt that a content strategist is an integral part of a content team, but they aren’t the only ones. A great Content strategist must collaborate with other members of the team in order to produce outstanding results. It is crucial that you work with graphic designers, web developers, social media experts, UX experts, marketing and sales teams, and together with them to create the message that will communicate best with the target audience. Teamwork is key, where everyone knows their roles and is competent in them.

2. Project Management and Organizational Skills

Most content strategists have to manage multiple projects at once. You need to, communicate with other departments and communicate with stakeholders. It’s all part of making sure a project runs smoothly. Thanks to the Internet, there are many tools that can help you not get overwhelmed, such as Trello, Miro, Hootsuite, etc.

3. Copywriting and Editing Skills

Even if you don’t look at the content too often, it’s imperative that you know if it’s good or not. In addition, you will need a solid understanding of editing and know which parts should be cut or added based on tone, style, voice guidelines, audience, and previous performance of your content.

4. Presentation skills

Taking on the role of the presenter may not always be easy, but that’s what a Content Strategist typically does. Experience will play a major role in knowing what type of content works best for what part of the buyer’s journey and how to preset it in the most effective way.

5. Delivery skills

Your role as a content strategist is to ensure your content is delivered appropriately to your consumers. Ideally, that means finding the right distribution channel for your content. Such as your website and blog, advertising such as PPC, social media ads, retargeting, or social sharing like shares and mentions of your content. All of them serve a purpose and you can’t neglect any of them.

6. Analytical skills

With so many apps and software at our disposal, gathering data and information is much easier these days. However, what counts is what you do with it. Content strategists must understand which metrics to assess and draw conclusions from them.

Conclusion

By now, you know what a content strategist does and what skills you will need in order to become one. Is it something that still catches your interest?

You can learn if you are a good fit for it by enrolling in the part-time Master's Program at FH Joanneum in Graz, Austria.

The application deadline is March 21, 2022