Content Creator: Job Profile and Role

Nowadays, almost every business has an online presence; be it “just” a website or an online shop. It goes without saying that both websites and online shops need to be filled with content. And we do not only mean with products and services, but also with descriptions, blogs and so much more. This is one of the jobs of a content creator. It is his or her responsibility to fill a website or an online shop with content.

The following blog will detail which other responsibilities a content creator has. We will also take a look at a content creator’s annual salary and the possible employers. We will also give you an insight into the required qualifications and skills. Lastly, you will get a first look into the day in the life of a content creator – and important tips for thriving in this profession.

Short Summary

• As a content creator, you are responsible for creating and posting unique content for your clients.
• As a content creator, you are responsible for creating content that meets all of your client’s goals, needs, and expectations.
• As a content creator, you have to have the vision and curiosity to understand your target audience’s needs and expectations. Only this way can you generate bespoke content that will help everyone to thrive.

Job description

The job description of a content creator is to produce and generate content for a company, for example, an online shop or a business offering services. As a content creator, you are responsible for not only generating this content. You are also tasked with optimising and posting it on all relevant platforms. To do this successfully, you will have to know the goals of your company and your target audience. Excellent writing and communication are essential for thriving as a content creator. Being a tech whizz with a curious and visionary mindset should be part of your soft skill set as a content creator.

Responsibilities

• Analytics/Performance Tracking
• SEO/Content Optimisation
• Adherence to Guidelines
• Audience Engagement
• Platform Management
• Content Promotion
• Trend Awareness
• Content Planning
• Content Ideation
• Storytelling

Different types of Content Creators

• Copywriter
• Podcaster
• YouTuber
• Educator
• Blogger

Salary

In the UK, a content creator can expect an annual salary of £25,500 to £29,600. The salary is highly dependent on the content creator’s job and the content creator’s experience in his or her chosen field. Furthermore, employer, company size, form of employment, and location can influence a content creator’s annual salary.

Working hours

Your working hours as a content creator depend on different factors, starting with your employment. If you are an in-house content creator, you will likely have a 9 to 5 job which you do from Mondays to Fridays. If you are a freelance content creator, your working hours will differ. They can be either less or more, depending on your workload and your time management.

Note that weekend work can also be a part of your working hours as a content creator, especially when there are deadlines to meet or new content to launch.

Your working hours can also include remote work from home. In fact, being a content creator is currently one of the most popular remote jobs. Naturally, you should check with your future employer/s if this kind of work is possible and if so, how many hours it entails.

Employers

If you are looking for your first job as a content creator, you can start looking in various sectors. Typically, content creators are employed by in-house marketing departments, digital marketing agencies, e-commerce companies, and media agencies. They often work for start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations which are all in need of unique content.

You also have different ways of employment. You can either be a part- or full-time content creator or you can be employed as a freelancing content creator.

Qualifications

You can become a content creator by doing an apprenticeship or an academic degree in a relevant field. Your education aside, you should have further qualifications. If your education has not covered those already, you should be qualified in communications and IT. It will also help your future career if you have basic/advanced design, video editing, and writing skills. You should also be familiar with commonly used Content Management Systems (CMS).

Skills

Having the necessary hard skills for being a content creator is all well and good. But they are only half of the skills needed to excel in your job. Personal strengths and preferences also play a vital role in your future as a content creator – and they may involve biting the bullet where new technologies are involved that go against all your content creator’s principles. Let’s take a closer look at the soft skills needed to be an excellent content creator.

Adaptability

Adaptability is one skill you should definitely master when being a content creator. We all know that a leopard does not like to change his spots. Unfortunately, this attitude might well lose you your spot as a content creator in the company at which you are working – and if you are self-employed, it may even cost you your business. All it can take is your personal aversion against text- and content-generating AI software. Only by adapting to these new trends and important changes can you ensure a certain level of job security and be a successful content creator.

Communication

Communication is the glue that holds your job as a content creator and your target audience together. Your communication skills are not limited to actually talking to your clients. They extend to every form of communication there is, for example through pictures, videos, reels, and blogs. Mastering these communication skills is mandatory if you want to excel in your chosen job as a content creator.

Vision

Having the vision to spot new trends and marketing ideas is important for being a successful content creator. You need to be able to see what content will work for current and future content projects. Your vision is imperative to ensure that the company you work for stays ahead of the competition, regardless of your content creation role in said company. Ideally, your vision should be accompanied by excellent storytelling skills – and this is where your communication skills come in once more.

Career Path

You may start your career path as a content creator from a place that has nothing to do with content creation. Maybe you have trained to be a writer or a photographer? Both are definitely jobs that can set you up for becoming a content creator. After having gained experience in your first job as a content creator, you can advance your career by choosing the right niche for you. If you are successful in your job, there is no reason why you should not get promoted or even start your own content creation business.

Educational Background

Becoming a content creator can be approached from various educational backgrounds. Depending on your chosen area of expertise, you will not have to have an academic degree. Note, however, that this kind of degree can further your future career.

You can also become a content creator by doing an apprenticeship. Since content creation is such a wide field, these apprenticeships can include anything from marketing to finance, IT, and fashion, to name but a few. The same is true for an academic approach. You can do a Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, design, or communication.

One of the most important things is that you define which area you want to be working in eventually.

Gaining Experience

Your first job as a content creator is your entry ticket to gaining important experience. This can include everything from writing your first blogs to editing your first photographs or videos, including posting all the respective content online. The more content you create, the more experience you will gain. This will take you important steps up your career ladder as a content creator.

Continuous Learning

Your career path is also defined by continuous learning. Every working day should involve familiarising yourself with the latest software, trends, and editing techniques. Continuous learning also involves researching your competition and what is currently trending on various social media platforms. By doing this, you will not only broaden your horizon – you will also further your career as a content creator.

A Day in the Life of a Content Creator

A great part of a day in the life of a content creator takes place online since the digital world is where most of the relevant action takes place. In this section, we will take a very close look at what this action entails and how it shapes a day in the life of a content creator.

Research and Brainstorming

Doing your research is one of the most important parts of your working day as a content creator. No matter if you are working as a solo content creator or in a team: brainstorming your research results is just as important.

Content Creation and Optimisation

Creating content is quite obviously one of your main tasks as a content creator. How else can you guarantee that your company’s website/online shop stays afloat and ahead of the competition? Be it copywriting or vlogging – after you have created your content, you need to optimise it. This way, you make sure that every available search engine lists you at the top.

Promotions

Creating and optimising are all well and good but will be pretty much superfluous if you do not post your content on every available and relevant platform. For instance: it is not sufficient anymore to upload a blog on your website. You also need to post it on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. This way, you reach a wider target audience your company will inevitably profit from.

Tips for Thriving as a Content Creator

The job of a content creator is currently probably one of the fastest-changing jobs in the world. Hardly a day goes by without new developments, new search engine algorithms, or content creation tools. In order to stay ahead of the game and your competition, you will therefore have to continually thrive as a content creator. And this is actually quite easy by applying our following three tips for thriving as a content creator:

• Be curious
• Identify your niche                                                                    
• Network with other content creators

Be Curious

Being curious is our first tip for you to thrive as a content creator. This trait has to do with the fact that content creation is a fast-changing field. It also has to do with the fact that you will always have to come up with unique content. If you are not curious about what is out there content-wise, you may as well start looking for a different job. Because being curious about research, new trends, your competition’s approach and the latest developments in content creation is the only way for you to survive in your chosen niche as a content creator.

Identify your Niche

Content creation is far more than writing blogs or posting content for an online shop. It also extends to blogging and vlogging on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. However, not every one of those important platforms is automatically your content creation cup of tea. You may be a brilliant copywriter – but being an influencer on Instagram gives you negative goosebumps. Identifying your niche and knowing where your strengths are is one of the most important tips we can give you for thriving as a content creator. You will only be successful in the niche you feel most comfortable in.

Network with other Content Creators

Networking has always been one key to being successful in a job. This naturally also goes for the job of a content creator. Getting in touch with fellow bloggers, vloggers, podcasters and copywriters will help you improve your own skills. How so? First of all, each one of them will have an individual approach to content creation you can learn and profit from. Secondly, each one of your contacts has further contacts. These will help you to thrive as a content creator.

Be Unique as a Content Creator

And all it takes is to define your personal brand. It represents everything about your content creator personality – from your identity, your characteristics, and the content you create. It is also a great encouragement for people to get in touch with you and employ you as their content creator.

Frequently Asked Questions