Web Content Strategy Job Descriptions Analyzed

I’ve seen a lot of activity online about “What is Web Content Strategy” and “What Does a Content Strategist Do.” So I thought that rather than write about this again, I’d let the job market speak for itself.

I did a quick Google search for “content strategist job” and looked at the job duties and requirements listed for four, very senior-level, ads seeking a content strategist. I was surprised to see that all four job descriptions were very similar.

All four ads listed these duties:

• Act as a key member of creative team
• Help with CMS selection, design input and use
• Develop a content strategy document for the client/project
• Assess, catalogue, and organize web site content (content inventory)
• Assign and track new content development (content matrix)
• Develop a competitive site analysis/Gap analysis
• Create taxonomy/nomenclature lists and definitions
• Work closely with information architect
• Write content
  Edit content written by others
• Develop, maintain, and enforce editorial style guidelines
• Define the editorial workflow for client projects

At least two ads also mentioned these duties:

• Create a search optimization plan for content
• Conduct content workshops
• Speak and present to clients on Content Strategy
• Mentor other content strategists

The Work History Requirements for All Four Ads:

• 2 + years work experience in developing interactive content
• 3-5 years experience in online content strategy, preferably in an agency setting
• 5-7 years experience in creating/writing content for Web or other
  digital media
• 5-7 years experience in an interactive design agency; marketing agency; and/or PR agency

Other Common Experience Preferences:

• Experience with content management systems and databases preferred
• Expert level attention to detail
• Fluency in Microsoft Windows-based desktop applications: Word, PowerPoint, Excel

Conclusions
Although people outside of the Web design agency world continue to be confused about Web content strategy and the role of a content strategist, the companies who generally hire content strategists are in surprising agreement. Each job ad could have been swapped for the other with very few changes.

These were all very senior-level jobs and two of the jobs had salaries listed over $100,000. Even though two ads wanted someone with five years experience, I’m betting that they will probably hire someone with three years experience. There are just not enough content strategists with five or more years experience to go around.

While this may sound daunting to a newcomer, look at it this way. You could go from entry-level to a senior-level, 100K content strategist job in two or three years! That’s pretty fast-track career path!

Visit the Content Strategy Job Board.