Content Managers integrate dynamic management and accurate text with state-of-the-art technology to produce engaging content that enhances user experience in every respect. Continue Reading
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What are the typical responsibilities of a Content Manager?
A Content Manager would typically need to:
Content Managers may generally work at computers in comfortable offices. Remote work is possible and dependent on organisational policies.
Coordination and collaboration are crucial to success in this role which involves regular interaction with colleagues and clients. You may travel to attend professional seminars, training sessions, and workshops.
In larger companies, you can delegate tasks and manage others to ensure set goals are met, whereas smaller companies may expect you to produce most of the content independently.
Most Content Managers work 9-5, putting in around 40 hours weekly. Those who typically work alone may have a more flexible work schedule. Project deadlines and product launches may determine the need to work overtime, evenings, and weekends.
Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees a chance to adjust their schedules per the work pressure.
Finding a new job might seem challenging. Content Managers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, attending job fairs, leveraging social media and inquiring at staffing agencies. Part-time work and job sharing are valid options.
Content Managers are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA), are crucial for Content Managers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.
Professional associations provide members with continuing education, networking opportunities and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
Most Content Managers begin their careers as interns, content writers, or freelance writers at newspapers, magazines, web development companies, or publishing firms to demonstrate their passion for producing original content while becoming knowledgeable about the field.
Aspirants with four to six years of on-the-job experience in web writing and editing that facilitates categorising and dividing engaging content into clear, easily navigable sections have an advantage over their peers, especially in the freelancing domain.
In addition, most employers lean towards applicants proficient in a popular CMS, such as WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Magento, Squarespace, Wix, and TYPO3.
Of equal value is a comprehensive documentation of personal or professional experiences that reflect your ability to manage a project, work with others, think strategically, analyse issues, negotiate terms, solve problems, influence decisions, conduct user and market research, and communicate skillfully.
Even if it has no financial benefits, the successful building and management of a website or blog (one’s own or that of family/friends/an on-campus society) with real stakeholders and users will help you gain experience in applying Google Analytics as well as content audits, schedules, and policies.
The experiences may also help determine whether the public, private or voluntary sector is best suited to realise one’s ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable work placements, internships and voluntary work opportunities in diverse sectors.
Even while in high school, prospective Content Managers can check with a teacher or counsellor about relevant work-based learning opportunities available in their school or community that can help connect their school experiences with real-life work.
Join some groups, try some hobbies or volunteer with an organisation that is of interest, so you can have fun while learning about yourself and be directed toward a future career.
If your school has a writing or media club, engaging with them may help you acquire the necessary skills from a young age. Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts in content management to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.
Content Managers must demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills, which one can typically begin cultivating with the pursuit of relevant academic qualifications.
Aspiring Content Managers often have bachelor’s degrees in writing, creative writing, English, journalism, communication and media studies, marketing, or advertising. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree in content strategy or a related field.
Students would benefit from courses on web writing, editing, mass communications, management, journalism, HTML, and SEO (search engine optimisation). Appropriate educational qualifications in subjects relevant to future job responsibilities may help.
Individuals with a flair for writing and developing content may opt to work directly after earning a high school diploma or GED; relevant skills and experience aligned with the employer’s hiring mandates can help applicants get content-centric roles.
Recommended college preparatory courses in high school include media studies and communications. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.
Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.
Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.
Certification demonstrates a Content Manager’s competency in a skill set, typically through work experience, training and passing an examination. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.
Accredited certifications in writing, proofreading, content management systems (CMS), marketing, data analytics, project management, and social media communications from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market.
Content Managers may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media and drug screening.
Exemplary performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of competent Content Managers, who may work as content creators/curators before being promoted to Senior Content Managers or Directors of Content.
Although a lateral move to a copywriting, editing, or publishing role will be in keeping with your stellar writing and editing skills, you may consider moving into a project or product management position if they seem more appealing.
However, a penchant for marketing may induce an irresistible pivot toward marketing, brand management or business development. Alternate avenues for professional growth include moving to a better organisation or switching to freelance work.
The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.
Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and exciting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable and transferable skills along the way.
Content Managers with the relevant experience, education, creativity, leadership skills, and ability to produce and publish good content have the best job prospects in this rapidly evolving market.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Content Manager build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity,
formal education or self-directed learning. It enables the regular renewal of requisite certifications.
All Content Managers undergo comprehensive on-the-job training that familiarises them with the maintenance and updating of the employer’s CMS, the mechanics of their style guide, and the organisational goal to ensure their online messages are in sync with the style guide.
Take the time and continuously hone your research, copywriting, editing, and proofreading skills so any content created on your watch remains refreshingly appealing to the reader.
Dedicated Content Managers make time to learn about the ins and outs of search engine optimisation, project management frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban, some basic front-end programming with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and the latest industry-favourite CMS.
Keeping up with the latest trends in marketing, project management, web accessibility, data analytics, information classification, user experience, and user interface design could also give you an edge in a competitive job market.
Professional skills, such as communication, decision-making, negotiation, influencing, persuasion, strategic thinking, creativity, and time management, continue to benefit managerial roles and require careful attention.
Attend seminars and workshops and network with industry professionals and Content Managers from other organisations to engage in peer-learning activities that provide unparalleled opportunities for professional growth.
Current Scenario
The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by diverse factors, such as the time of year, location, employment turnover, occupational growth, occupation size, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.
A worldwide increase in digitised and mobile-friendly content translates into a consequential growth in demand for accomplished Content Managers.
As companies realise the critical role of a robust online presence in their marketing strategies, they seek professionals who can consistently create, curate, and disseminate customer-centric content.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Content Managers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, full-time Content Managers have company-sponsored health benefits, insurance and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
The Rise of Content Marketing
The dawning awareness that content marketing is a cost-effective tool to reach target audiences is driving the need for Content Managers who can create superior consumer-oriented content and monitor the success of related content campaigns.
Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Content
The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is impacting all industries, especially content production.
Content Managers who are comfortable with the use of technology have a fighting chance of producing unique content while organising and managing vast chunks of information.
In an increasingly competitive economy, Content Managers must learn how to work with these technologies to remain competitive and succeed in the future economy so they can produce quality content quickly while organising and managing a large amount of data efficiently.
UX Rules the Roost
Companies increasingly focus on user experience (UX) as users judge a product based on its interface rather than features or functionality.
Content Managers must be able to zero in on the essential aspects of UX that promote a positive user experience, such as writing clear and concise copy, designing easy-to-navigate pages, and creating user-friendly products.
Types of Content Management Systems (CMS)
Content management systems (CMS) are different kinds of software that help companies create, organise, and manage large amounts of digital content. They support multiple users and promote collaboration, leading to efficiency, cost savings, and total control over the content. There are five types of CMS for companies to choose from.
A component content management system (CCMS) organises content at a granular level. Instead of creating a page-by-page repository, it develops a central repository for words, phrases, paragraphs, or photographs (components). CCMS is designed for content reuse and can publish across multiple platforms.
A document management system (DMS) is a paperless alternative for managing, storing, and tracking documents in the cloud. This automated solution for uploading, processing, and sharing business documents eliminates printing, scanning or copying.
An enterprise content management system (ECM) collects, organises, and delivers company-wide paperwork, ensuring that all critical information reaches the right audience, be it employees, business stakeholders, or customers.
A Web content management system (WCMS) allows users the flexibility to manage the digital components of a website without prior knowledge of markup languages or web programming. A WCMS is especially helpful for an organisation when collaborating, authoring, and administering content.
Finally, a digital asset management system (DAM) lets users store, organise, and share digital content. It is a simple, centralised library that is cloud-based where employees, clients, and even contractors can access the company’s digital assets (including audio, creative files, documents, and presentations).
Successful Content Managers marry well-formulated literary strategies and exemplary management skills with contemporary digital technologies to make content the king of lucrative marketing campaigns.
Read books and articles, meet people, share knowledge, and learn as much as possible about the industry and subject matter on which you produce content. Practice makes perfect.
Industry analysts claim up to 30 per cent of all content has to be recreated because it is lost or mismanaged. Return on investment may be improved by avoiding such costs and other unnecessary expenses.
What do Content Managers do?
A Content Manager would typically need to:
Accredited
$74,918
