Don’t worry, you are not alone if you do not know what a Content Strategist does. I asked myself the same question when I was job hunting 5 years ago. The short answer to the question: to create content for branded websites. The longer and more technical answer: to create digital content that resonates with an existing fanbase, all while being engaging and fresh enough to lure new consumers to a specific site, while fulfilling a client’s business objectives.

Content Strategy is the discipline or science behind the art of storytelling. A content strategist will use data analysis, research, and an understanding of how the human psyche works to shape a narrative tailored to target a specific audience. They plot, plan, write, edit, rewrite copy; ensuring it has a clear, concise, and compelling message that can be delivered across all digital platforms… all while being cognizant of a brand’s philosophy and image.

The day-to-day responsibilities of a Content Strategist can vary; however, they may include creating and managing all social media campaigns, managing content marketing and advertising campaigns, implementing best practices for SEO, cultivating relationships and strategic partnerships, analyzing data and monitoring user engagement, producing video content and visual brand campaigns.

Personally, I believe that the best content strategists have a background in professional writing or journalism with a fundamental understanding of how to convey a captivating story. However, a love for writing is not enough. A content strategist should be well versed in linguistics, programming languages, and analytics. They should live for content… all of it, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The content strategist is the gatekeeper, so writing skills including copywriting are imperative to the job.

How can you break into this field? There isn’t necessarily a specific type of degree needed to excel, however having multimedia and multi-platform experience are important to those hiring to fill positions in the digital world for this specific field. If you can learn from both success and failure, all while keeping a positive attitude and outlook… might just make you a prime candidate for this career.