What does a content development specialist do?

1 Content development process

Content development is a complex and collaborative process that goes beyond just writing or editing text. It requires researching and analyzing the content needs, goals, and preferences of the target audience and stakeholders. A content strategy must be developed to define the purpose, scope, tone, style, format, and distribution channels of the content. Additionally, a content plan should be created that outlines the topics, keywords, sources, deadlines, and responsibilities of the content team. Content is produced and edited with various tools and techniques such as CMSs, graphic design software, video editing software, etc., then reviewed and tested for quality, accuracy, relevance, and usability. After publishing and promoting the content on appropriate platforms and channels such as websites, blogs, social media, newsletters etc., it is important to monitor and evaluate the content performance and impact using metrics like traffic, engagement, conversion, retention etc., then update and optimize the content based on results and feedback using best practices like SEO or accessibility.

3 Content development qualifications

To become a content development specialist, you usually need a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as journalism, communication, marketing, English, media studies, or information science. That said, some employers may accept candidates with other degrees or backgrounds if they have the right experience and skills. Furthermore, you may need to present a portfolio of your previous content work and certifications or training in areas like SEO, web design, or content strategy.

4 Content development challenges

Content development is not without its difficulties. One of the key challenges is keeping up with changing audience needs and the market, as well as the trends and technologies in the content industry. It is also important to balance the quality and quantity of content, as well as the speed and cost of production and delivery. Collaborating with different teams and stakeholders, such as writers, editors, designers, developers, marketers, and managers, can be a challenge. Additionally, it can be difficult to measure and prove the value and ROI of content and the content development process. Finally, there may be issues with plagiarism, copyright, privacy, security or compliance that must be addressed.

5 Content development benefits

Content development can be a rewarding and fulfilling career, despite the challenges. You can express creativity and showcase your expertise through your content, as well as have the satisfaction of creating and delivering content that informs, educates, entertains, or persuades your audience. Additionally, you can benefit from the flexibility and variety of working on different types of content, platforms, and projects. Furthermore, you have the potential and growth to advance your career and increase your income as content development is a high-demand and high-value skill in the digital age.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?