Hiring a web content strategist in today’s digital landscape is no longer optional for businesses aiming to establish a strong online presence. A skilled strategist ensures your content aligns with your business goals, engages your target audience, and ranks well on search engines. But finding the right talent can be challenging, and it might be even more effective to hire an agency to handle your content needs.
We’ll go over ways to hire the best web content strategist and why outsourcing to an agency may be your best move.
Before starting your search, determine what you need from a web content strategist.
Are you looking to . . .
Having clear objectives helps you evaluate candidates based on their experience in areas like SEO, content marketing, and analytics.
Agency Advantage: Agencies often have specialized teams with experience across multiple industries, ensuring your content strategy aligns with your goals. They understand how to increase website traffic while getting your articles ranked on the SERPs.
When hiring a web content strategist, prioritize candidates with a portfolio that demonstrates measurable success. They should be familiar with Google Analytics, SEO tools, and content management systems (CMS).
Hard skills to consider: proficiency in platforms like WordPress or HubSpot to publish and manage content. Ahrefs or Semrush for data insights.
Soft skills to consider: communication and adaptability
Agency Advantage: Agencies vet and hire the best talent, giving you access to experts with diverse skill sets without needing to sift through dozens of resumes. This process provides a sense of security, knowing that the quality of talent you’re accessing has been thoroughly vetted and proven expertise.
Content that doesn’t rank on search engines won’t drive the traffic you need. Ensure your web content strategist understands keyword research, SEO best practices, and how to create content that both search engines and readers love.
Agency Advantage: Agencies have dedicated SEO teams that work hand-in-hand with content strategists, ensuring every piece of content is optimized for search. They understand keyword relevancy, optimizing meta tags, and structuring content to improve search engine visibility and organic traffic.
A great web content strategist can articulate their ideas and collaborate effectively with designers, developers, and marketers. During interviews, assess their ability to explain complex concepts clearly. How would they break down a topic to avoid frustration or confusion for the readers?
Agency Advantage: With an agency, you’ll work with project managers who act as the communication bridge, ensuring seamless collaboration. At Responsify, we have an app built for our client use that is a testament to our dedication to improving collaboration through effective communication.
A well-rounded web content strategist should excel in creating diverse content types, including blogs, landing pages, email campaigns, and social media posts.
Agency Advantage: Agencies typically have specialists for each content type, ensuring you receive high-quality content across all platforms. They can help you create blog posts, infographics, videos, podcasts, and eBooks—enough content formats to spin any marketer’s head.
A few great examples are . . .
Evergreen blog posts
Pillar page blog post
Tutorials/how-to’s
Content creation is only half the battle. Your strategist should know how to measure content performance and make data-driven adjustments to improve results.
Agency Advantage: Agencies use advanced analytics tools and provide detailed reports, giving you actionable insights without needing to hire an in-house analytics expert or purchase all the extra tools needed to do the job.
While content strategy principles are universal, a strategist familiar with your niche can hit the ground running. Look for candidates with experience in your industry.
Agency Advantage: Agencies often work with various industries and can assign strategists with relevant expertise to your project.
While hiring an in-house web content strategist may appear cost-effective, it’s crucial to consider the significant financial benefits of engaging a marketing agency. This includes avoiding salaries, benefits, tools, and ongoing training costs.
Many businesses allocate a considerable percentage of their marketing budget to paid media over organic search. However, paid media has drawbacks and limitations. For one, ads are expensive and overly competitive. They carry zero equity and lack long-term value. In contrast, organic search can provide a strategic and forward-thinking approach with its long-term value.
B2B businesses generate twice as much revenue from organic search than all other channels. (if they are doing it right.)
Agency Advantage: Agencies operate on a project or retainer basis, allowing you to access top-tier talent without the overhead of full-time employees. Their seasoned professionals in inbound marketing ensure you’re in good hands and that you are paying a fraction of the cost of hiring someone full-time.
A strong web content strategist will have connections with writers, designers, and SEO experts to support your strategy.
Agency Advantage: Agencies already have these resources in-house, saving you the time and effort of building your own network.
Instead of the hassle of hiring a single web content strategist, consider the efficiency of working with an agency. Agencies provide a team of experts, streamline workflows, and adapt to your evolving needs, ensuring your content strategy stays ahead of the competition without the stress of managing it all yourself.
Why Hiring an Agency is Advantageous
While hiring an in-house web content strategist has its merits, partnering with an agency offers unique advantages:
Finding the best web content strategist requires a clear understanding of your goals, thorough vetting, and assessing their expertise. However, if you’re looking for maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness, hiring an agency to handle your content strategy can be the ultimate solution. With a team of experts at your disposal, you’ll achieve results faster while focusing on what you do best—running your business.
Ready to elevate your content strategy? Partnering with a trusted agency today will bring you a team of experts, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency.
Responsify helps B2B organizations grow by creating educational and engaging content for their audience to drive traffic, generate leads faster, and rank higher. With Responsify, you’ll immediately have an entire team of dependable and cost-effective talent at your fingertips. We’d love to understand your challenges and help you explore new opportunities. Get an assessment now.