How to become a content strategist

Is becoming a content strategist right for me?

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Overview
What do content strategists do?

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How to become a Content Strategist

Becoming a content strategist involves a combination of education, experience, and skills development. Here are steps you can take to pursue a career as a content strategist:

  • Gain Relevant Education: A bachelor's degree in fields such as marketing, communications, journalism, writing, English, or a related field can provide a solid foundation. Coursework in areas such as writing, editing, digital marketing, and content strategy can be particularly beneficial.
  • Develop Writing and Communication Skills: Content strategists need strong writing and communication skills to effectively convey ideas, craft compelling narratives, and engage audiences. Practice writing in various formats, such as blogs, articles, social media posts, and website copy, and seek feedback to improve your writing skills.
  • Build a Portfolio: Create a portfolio showcasing your writing samples, content strategy projects, and any relevant experience or achievements. This can include content plans, editorial calendars, content audits, and examples of content you've created or managed.
  • Gain Experience: Seek opportunities to gain relevant experience in content creation, digital marketing, copywriting, or related fields. This could involve internships, freelance work, or entry-level positions in marketing agencies, media companies, or corporate marketing departments.
  • Specialize and Hone Your Skills: Consider specializing in specific areas of content strategy, such as SEO, UX/UI, social media, or email marketing. Hone your skills in these areas through continued learning, hands-on experience, and professional development opportunities.

Certifications
While there is no specific certification required to become a content strategist, obtaining relevant certifications can help you demonstrate your expertise and enhance your credibility in the field. Here are some certifications that content strategists may consider pursuing:

  • HubSpot Content Marketing Certification: Offered by HubSpot Academy, this certification covers topics such as content strategy, creation, promotion, and analytics. It can help you learn best practices for developing and executing content marketing strategies.
  • Content Strategy Certificate: Several institutions and organizations offer content strategy certificates, including the Content Strategy Alliance and universities such as Northwestern University. These programs typically cover content strategy principles, user experience (UX) design, information architecture, and content governance.
  • Google Analytics Individual Qualification (IQ): While not specific to content strategy, the Google Analytics IQ certification demonstrates proficiency in using Google Analytics to track and analyze website traffic and user behavior. Understanding analytics is essential for measuring the effectiveness of content strategies.
  • Content Marketing Institute (CMI) Certification: CMI offers various content marketing certifications, including the Content Marketing University and the Content Marketing Master Class. These programs cover content strategy, creation, distribution, and measurement, providing comprehensive training in content marketing.
  • Copyblogger Certified Content Marketer: This certification program focuses on content marketing strategy, copywriting, and conversion optimization. It can help you develop skills in crafting persuasive content that drives engagement and conversions.
  • Project Management Institute (PMI) Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): While not specific to content strategy, obtaining an Agile certification can be valuable for content strategists working in agile environments. It demonstrates your understanding of agile methodologies and project management practices.
  • LinkedIn Learning Certificates: LinkedIn Learning offers numerous courses and certificate programs related to content strategy, content marketing, SEO, UX/UI design, and digital marketing. Completing relevant courses and obtaining certificates can help you build expertise in specific areas of content strategy.