Hire a content strategist

A content strategist decides what a company publishes, for whom and why, then builds the editorial plans and governance that make it happen. The role links content to audience research, search demand and business goals rather than treating it as isolated writing. Typical responsibilities include: audit existing content and identify gaps, overlaps and outdated pages; build editorial calendars aligned to audience needs and business goals; create content briefs and style guidelines for writers and agencies.

Look for content audits, editorial planning, audience research, information architecture, content governance and performance analysis. Experience with Google Analytics, Semrush, Airtable, Contentful and WordPress is common in this role.

Yes. A content strategist is one of the roles employers most often hire on contract, for projects, busy periods, leave cover and vacancies. Contract-to-hire is also an option if you want to work together before making a permanent offer.

If you have no plan for what to publish or who it is for, start with a content strategist. If priorities are clear and you need volume or quality in the writing itself, hire a content writer. Many small teams find a strategist who also writes the best first hire.

Expect a content audit, an audience and keyword summary, an editorial calendar and a set of briefing templates. A good strategist also proposes a few measurable goals so the team can judge the plan. Results from published content usually take longer to appear than the planning work.