How to become a Content Strategist: Career Guide, Courses, Jobs, Scope, Salary

Quick facts for Content Strategist 

What does Content Strategist do?

The Head of Content's responsibilities includes overseeing the content department's activities, subject generation, and collaborating closely with the content team to provide outstanding day-to-day experiences for consumers and other audiences through content.

There are various responsibilities that a Content Strategist has to do. These are given below:

• Leadership - The development and optimization of the content department are the key responsibilities of the Head of Content. The Head of Content also serves as a mentor to key content department employees, ensuring that their professional abilities continue to improve over time and preparing them for future employment in his role.
• Research - The Head of Content is involved in research and develops questionnaires and surveys, as well as gathering information from key industry leaders, in order to assess the validity of proposed subjects and themes for the company's content. In addition, the Head of Content performs competitive research and obtains market data for the company, then uses the information to develop well-informed subjects and themes for content creation.
• Consultancy - The Head of Content also serves as a consultant to the Public Relations and Product Marketing departments, providing strategic advice on content creation, development, and overall strategies for key events and projects such as large business conferences and other important efforts. Along with the content team, the Head of Content also chairs advisory board meetings in this role.
• Media and Social Media - The Head of Content is in charge of all content sent to the media by the company via direct mail, email, interviews, collateral, speeches, recorded messages, newsletters, and other means. In terms of content, promotion, consumer engagement, customer service, performance management, and listings, the Head of Content also supervises and oversees all of the company's social media channels. He also controls and improves the social media development tools and procedures in order to facilitate actionable insights that help the company make strategic decisions about its social media presence and content.
• Collaboration - In addition, the Head of Content collaborates with the marketing team to assist marketing initiatives such as product branding, content, and messaging. The Head of Material will also collaborate with the sales team to generate sales content as well as identify target consumers and potential markets.

• Other Duties - The Head of Content will also conduct such duties as authorized by the Director of Communications or the Employer in order to carry out his responsibilities effectively.

Steps to become a Content Strategist

To start with the career as supervisor students should follow the steps mentioned below-

Decision Making

After completing the basic education, students should finalize the decision for their career, and should start the search in the direction of the selected trend. Students should remain confirmed with the decisions or if they are confused then all the doubts should be cleared from the seniors or teachers of that field.

Subject Choices

Students should select the correct subject as per their future interest. After deciding in favour of content writing, individuals must become skilled in some soft skills such as SEO, Keyword Research, Keyword Density, and Competitive Analysis.

Entrance Exam Preparation

Students should follow a tight daily study schedule in order to efficiently carry out the preparation and cover the whole curriculum on time.

Selecting Correct Colleges

The finest Certificate courses to choose for content writing and marketing courses are those that educate you how to produce high-quality, error-free articles for various themes while also providing you with the necessary tools to help you develop your writing abilities.

After Qualifying Exam

After qualifying exams students should correctly follow the admission process of colleges.

Courses to become a Content Strategist

In order to become a Content Strategist, an individual might have to take a variety of courses. The following is a list of courses relating to Content Strategist:

BA in Journalism

BA Journalism is a bachelor's degree program in the arts discipline that attracts more than 70 lakh applicants each year in India. It gives a comprehensive view of the news and media sector. For standard BA Journalism courses, the duration is three years. It could take up to 5 years for part-time and dual integrated courses.

Admission Process

The entrance process for a BA Journalism program varies each college, however, some of the more frequent entry options are shown here.

Admission on the basis of entrance exam

• Institutions that admit students based on their entrance exam scores are included in this admission strategy.
• Christ University in Bangalore, Chandigarh University (CU) in Chandigarh, and Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi are among the universities that fall under this category of admission.
• However, depending on the college, there may be further counseling meetings after the entrance exam lists are published.
• The successful candidates will be contacted to verify their documents. Candidates who are judged to be eligible will be admitted to the program.

Admission on the basis of merit followed by an interview

• Institutions that use this admission process admit students based on their 10+2 grades, with additional rounds such as an interview and a Group Discussion.

• Lovely Professional University [LPU], Jalandhar, and St. Xavier's College [SXC], Kolkata, are among the institutes that fall under this category of admission.

Entrance Exam 

Among the admission tests held by Indian institutions at both the national and institutional levels are:

• Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test (CUCET) : CU CET stands for Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test. Chandigarh University holds it every year to accept students to all undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Christ University Entrance Test (CUET): CUET stands for Christ University Entrance Test. Christ University, Bangalore, administers this entrance exam for admission to all undergraduate category programs
• Lovely Professional University National Eligibility and Scholarship Test (LPUNEST): LPUNEST stands for Lovely Professional University National Eligibility and Scholarship Test. Lovely Professional University administers this test every year as part of the professional admissions process.
• Symbiosis Entrance Test : SET which is held all year by the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication in Pune for UG, PG, and Ph.D. degrees in a variety of fields.
• Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET): BHU UET stands for Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, holds the BHU CET for admission to a variety of disciplined programs.

• IPU CET: Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test is an abbreviation for Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, conducts and administers this for the purpose of admitting applicants to both UG and PG category programs under a variety of aegides.

Eligibility for the Entrance Exam 

• In any stream of study, the aspirant should get about 50% in the 10+2 test.
• The applicant must have finished his or her higher secondary education in India from a recognized institution.
• If the admitting institution requires it, he or she must pass the entrance exam.

BA in Mass Communication 

A bachelor's degree in mass communication is a three-year undergraduate program that teaches students about the field. It is intended to assist students to gain a thorough understanding of each component of the mass media, such as newspapers, radio, and television.

Admission Process 

Students are admitted to universities either through an entrance exam or through direct admission. From college to college, the entrance process for courses through tests differs.

• Most colleges have an online application system where you can apply using the prescribed URL once it is opened.
• In the event of merit-based admission, the result is usually based on the grades obtained in the qualifying exams after the application has been processed.
• Reduce the number of colleges to which you want to apply.
• Go to the college's website if you're interested in enrolling.
• Check to see whether they have their own exam and if you qualify for it.
• Create an account or complete the admissions form as directed.
• Fill out the form, pay the costs, and, if necessary, send the relevant papers.
• As soon as your application is finalized, you will receive your admit card. Please keep note of the examination dates.
• It is a combination of the aggregate marks obtained in the qualifying examinations and the marks scored in the entrance exams in the case of entrance exams. This is based on how well you did on the entrance exam.
• Finally, keep an eye on the college's website for any current updates or notices on the subject.

Entrance Exam

The majority of colleges have their own set of entry exams, as well as a round of personal interviews. The exam format is usually Grammar, Writing Skills, Current Affairs Knowledge, and Critical Writing Ability, however it can/will vary from college to college.

• CUET: The Christ University Entrance Test is held for admission in the months of February, March, April, and May. It is the conventional Christ University admissions procedure, which is followed by a round of personal interviews or a round of mini-presentation.
• Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET): The Symbiosis Entrance Test is held for admission to various undergraduate programs at all Symbiosis universities. The exam is a written examination that is normally held in the month of May.
• TANCET: It is a common entrance exam for admission to colleges connected with the University of Madras that are located throughout Tamil Nadu.

• IPU CET: It is a common entrance exam for admission to Guru Gobind Indraprastha University's undergraduate programs.

Eligibility for the Entrance Exam

Students must have finished their 10+2 in any subject from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% in aggregate.

BA in English

The Bachelor of Arts in English is a three-year undergraduate program that explores the many facets of English as a language, both written and spoken. It's a great way to get ready for a job in education, media, and advertising, as well as writing and publishing.

Admission Process 

Admission to most BA English-providing colleges is based on merit. Students are admitted based on their grades from the 12th grade. To accept students, several institutes conduct entrance exams. During the entrance season, which runs from May to July each year, each institute publishes its admission dates and procedures. The following are the steps to getting into a BA English college:

The cut-offs for each college will be used to evaluate the applications. If a student meets the cut-off, they will be invited to participate in the rest of the admissions process, which may include an entrance exam or an interview round. The candidate will be offered a seat at the college if seats are available and all due diligence has been completed.

Entrance Exam

As part of their admissions procedure, some institutes have their own entrance examinations each year. The following are the most essential or popular admission exams for BA English.

• DUET: The Delhi University Entrance Test, often known as the DUET, is an entrance exam required for admission to some of the University of Delhi's associated institutes. The exam is computer-based and takes place each year in May. The exam lasts more than two hours.
• The BHU UET (Banaras Hindu University Entrance Examination) is required for admission to undergraduate programs at Banaras Hindu University. The exam is conducted online and lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes. A multiple-choice question structure is used on the paper. The themes and parts will vary depending on the course for which you are applying.
• Jamia Millia Islamia University Entrance Exam: Every year in May, Jamia Millia Islamia holds an entrance exam for admission to the BA English Literature program. Candidates may be asked to attend a counseling session after the admission exams, depending on the program they have applied to.

Eligibility for the Entrance Exam 

• A student must have finished and passed the senior secondary test (10+2) from a good school to be eligible to pursue this degree.
• The school must be linked with a recognized board such as the ICSE, CBSE, or any other State board or board equivalent.

• There is a 5% aggregate relaxation for all SC/ST candidates.

MA in English

MA in English, also known as Master of Arts in English, is a two-year postgraduate program for students who have completed a three-year bachelor's degree in English or a BA in English with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or an equivalent CGPA from a recognized university. Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Hindu College, and more prestigious colleges provide MA in English. Admission to MA in English programs is determined by both entrance tests and merit.

Admission Process 

Students seeking admission to MA programs in English must take a variety of entrance exams administered by universities and colleges across India. Students are admitted to colleges such as Hindu College and Annamalai University on the basis of merit.

Admissions to MA in English programs are made on the basis of both admission tests and merit, as previously mentioned. For your convenience, some of the entrance tests for MA in English programs are JNUEE, DUET, IPU CET, BHU PET, CUCET, AUCET.

Entrance Exam 

All schools and institutions have nearly identical eligibility requirements for MA in English courses. A few of the most important eligibility criteria to follow are listed below.

• Students should earn a Bachelor's degree in English with a 45 percent to 50 percent aggregate grade point average or an equivalent CGPA.

• They must hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

After meeting the qualifying requirements, students must take an admission test or be chosen on merit, depending on the institution or university.

How to become a Content Strategist Abroad?

The job of a Content Strategist is quite flourishing abroad. Many aspiring Content Strategists move abroad to complete higher studies in the field and to settle for good job opportunities in content management.

USA

International students can pursue a full-time undergraduate and master's degree in journalism, English, communication, etc. in the United States.

• International students must be able to communicate in English and must submit a score on an English proficiency test.
• A bachelor's degree takes around three years to complete, while a master's degree takes two years.

• The cost of the course ranges from INR 12 lakhs to INR 60 lakhs.

Top Colleges 

UK

There are various courses offered by colleges in the United Kingdom.

• B.A. in English, B.A. in Communication, B.A. in Journalism, etc.
• The majority of the programs last between one and three years.
• The website will be used to submit applications.
• The cost of a course ranges from INR 10 to INR 25 lakhs.

Top Colleges

Canada

Full-time programs are available in Canada, ranging from Certificate to Postgraduate level.

• One English proficiency exam score is required of international students. IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, OET, and other examinations are recognized.
• Some programs demand that students have worked in a related field before enrolling. In this situation, the application must include all necessary documentation.

• The average course fee is INR 10 to 25lakhs.

Top Colleges

Australia

Full-time programs are available in Australia, ranging from Certificate to Postgraduate level.

• One English proficiency exam score is required of international students. IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, OET, and other examinations are recognized.
• Some programs demand that students have worked in a related field before enrolling. In this situation, the application must include all necessary documentation.

• The average course fee is INR 10 to 35 lakhs. (Fees may be higher for some programs like MBA)

Top Colleges 

Skill Required for Content Strategist

Below are the skills that a candidate must possess in order to become a Content Strategist:

• Leadership Skills - If the Head of Content is to lead the content team to the effective accomplishment of its objectives, he must also have good leadership qualities. The Head of Content will be able to organize internal and external meetings, chair advisory board meetings, display a solid understanding of management and communications competencies, drive a company's culture through a department, and have employees work toward a common goal.
• Analytical Skills - A good candidate would have strong analytical abilities and a keen interest in researching and analyzing business topics. The Head of Content will be able to quantify the return on investment for every piece of content produced by the company. He'll also be able to analyze data from the company's website, blog, and social media accounts in order to assess the success of the company's content and campaigns, as well as communicate meaningful outcomes to communications executives. He'll be able to turn raw data and information into intelligence, and that intelligence into action.
• Interpersonal Skills - Outstanding collaboration skills, time consciousness and the ability to complete projects within given timeframes, exceptional organization and multitasking skills, the ability to prioritize tasks, and being commercially driven with a desire to grow the consumer base through great content output are among the interpersonal skills that a candidate for this position must possess.
• People Skills - Because the position is so interactive, the Head of Content must be a highly relatable individual who can easily engage with others and form strong, long-lasting relationships, particularly with key individuals such as media personnel, senior executives and stakeholders, research partners, and consumers.
• MS Office and some other software skills - The Head of Material applicant must be proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, which he will utilize to develop vocally and visually appealing content, reports, and presentations for executives and shareholders. He'll also need to know how to use software like InDesign, Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut, Avid, and Photoshop, which will help him create high-quality and compelling material.
• Communication Skills - The ideal applicant for this position will be able to communicate well in both written and oral forms. His department's effectiveness will be determined by how well he communicates and conveys critical information from the top down in his leadership role. Even on technical subjects, the Head of Content must be able to engage and persuade a wide range of people. 

Benefits of a career as Content Strategist

You will become a Content Strategist after gaining some years of experience. There are a lot of benefits of a Content Strategist. These are given below:

• Job security: The Content Strategist job is secured if he is determined and hardworking. The Content Strategist has the major work of checking the content provided by the writers. If the Content Strategist is managing the content of the company then the chance of getting promotions and salary hikes are also increased.
• Salary: The Content Strategists are paid a good amount as a salary as they are responsible for the supervision of companies documents, publications and even copyright. Hence it is such sensitive work, Content Strategists are paid higher, so that they won't make any laziness in the work.
• Unique experience: Content Strategists are meant to supervise the things happening in the office under the documentation or content management section. This experience in field of literature can be experienced only by Content Strategist