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What does a content specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D.
What does a content specialist do

A content specialist's role is to create strategies in developing captivating and engaging content to boost brand awareness and interest in a company. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting research and analysis of marketing conditions to identify new opportunities, keeping abreast of the latest trends, producing presentations and progress reports, and creating content through various mediums such as social media and print materials. Furthermore, it is essential to coordinate with managers and other content creators, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.

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Content specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real content specialist resumes:

  • Manage premium partner's Youtube channels (e.g.
  • Manage the manual migration of content from the previous site to the new Drupal CMS.
  • Lead the implementation of a web solution providing easy, fast data search and data visualization capabilities to users.
  • supply original content, manage instagram account, and work promotional events for this e-magazine focuse on health and fitness motivation.
  • Synthesize render documents using HTML, CSS, and XML in the proprietary web base application.
  • Optimize blog posts for SEO in the WordPress platform by adding images, captions, meta descriptions and more.
  • Update website content in Dreamweaver.
  • Train faculty and staff on Dreamweaver.
  • Create and update CSS for Drupal websites.
  • Work with primary stake holders and SMES.
  • Develop video games in Unity3d with JavaScript programming.
  • Create JavaScript for UI and for client side validations.
  • Publish content on the websites of medical practices using WordPress template.
  • Use Photoshop to resize and edit images to a cohesive standard.
  • Enrich, edit and proofread marketing copy for all SHC website assets.

Content specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 6% of Content Specialists are proficient in Customer Service, Digital Marketing, and WordPress. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Content Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 6%

    Played key role in developing insurance client relationships through personalized attention and quality customer service.

  • Digital Marketing, 6%

    Subject matter expert in the area of digital marketing: Social Media, Email Marketing, Online advertising and online promotions.

  • WordPress, 5%

    Optimized blog posts for SEO in the WordPress platform by adding images, captions, meta descriptions and more.

  • Web Content, 4%

    Created initial web content based on Boston-area restaurant tastings

  • Content Strategy, 4%

    Assessed and cultivated long-term content goals in conjunction with the Digital content strategy team, key business stakeholders and end users.

  • Content Development, 4%

    Trained contractors for content development.

Common skills that a content specialist uses to do their job include "customer service," "digital marketing," and "wordpress." You can find details on the most important content specialist responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a content specialist to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "market research analysts must evaluate large amounts of data and information related to market conditions." Additionally, a content specialist resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "developed and supported databases to analyze and filter product content data using ms excel macros and ms access. "

Communication skills. Many content specialist duties rely on communication skills. "market research analysts must be able to clearly convey information when gathering material, interpreting data, and presenting results to clients.," so a content specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways content specialist responsibilities rely on communication skills: "supported dealer communications on product support and regional product availability through the creation and distribution of web content. "

Detail oriented. This is an important skill for content specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how content specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "market research analysts must pay attention to minutiae to evaluate data." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a content specialist: "responded to customer service oriented comments and corrected site errors as appropriate. ".

See the full list of content specialist skills

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Compare different content specialists

Content specialist vs. Freelancer

A freelancer is a self-employed individual that provides services for multiple clients at one time and usually earns money on a per-job basis. Often known as independent contractors, freelancers usually set their schedules while running their own business and have a flexible lifestyle. They have the liberty to choose their clients that may be less confined to specific markets or sectors. Freelancers usually find work within the creative industries such as graphic design, copywriting, or photography.

We looked at the average content specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a freelancer. Generally speaking, freelancers are paid $6,651 lower than content specialists per year.Even though content specialists and freelancers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, web content, and content creation in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between content specialists and freelancer. For instance, content specialist responsibilities require skills such as "digital marketing," "wordpress," "content strategy," and "content development." Whereas a freelancer is skilled in "video production," "photography," "graphic design," and "website design." This is part of what separates the two careers.

The education levels that freelancers earn slightly differ from content specialists. In particular, freelancers are 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a content specialist. Additionally, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Content specialist vs. Marketing coordinator

A marketing coordinator supports the marketing department on deciding strategies and business efforts to develop the brand image and boost customer satisfaction. Marketing coordinators' duties include assisting in advertising campaigns, scheduling promotional events, monitoring sales status, researching current market trends, maintaining a record of existing and potential clients, and contributing ideas to improve the brand's profitability. A marketing coordinator must have excellent critical thinking and writing skills to help with the creation of social media advertisements and marketing content. It also requires impressive time-management and multi-tasking skills, especially on meeting deadlines and making adjustments on the initial plans as needed.

A career as a marketing coordinator brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a content specialist. In fact, marketing coordinators salary is $17,692 lower than the salary of content specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Content specialists and marketing coordinators both require similar skills like "customer service," "digital marketing," and "web content" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real content specialist resumes. While content specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "wordpress," "content strategy," "content development," and "html css," marketing coordinators use skills like "marketing campaigns," "crm," "graphic design," and "data entry."

On average, marketing coordinators earn a lower salary than content specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, marketing coordinators earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $53,831. Whereas content specialists have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $69,943.marketing coordinators earn lower levels of education than content specialists in general. They're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for content specialists in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D.Dr. Gail Hudson Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director, College of Business Internship Program, Arkansas State University

As I mentioned above, technology and social media will continue to be necessary. As marketers, students will need to be able to use the technology and have the analytics to support their decisions. This may require working outside the structure of software as well. Google Analytics, Social Media Management, Excel, and Coding are all essential skills.

Content specialist vs. Marketing internship

Marketing interns are usually marketing students or fresh graduates who are interested in getting actual work experiences before taking on a full-time job. They usually have an interest or academic background related to marketing. They assist marketing teams in most of their daily activities, sit in their meetings, record minutes of these meetings, take note of action plans, and attend other events related to marketing. They also assist in preparing collateral and other marketing materials, join brainstorming sessions, or any other activity that will help enrich their experience.

On average scale, marketing interns bring in lower salaries than content specialists. In fact, they earn a $35,758 lower salary per year.content specialists and marketing interns both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "digital marketing," "web content," and "content creation," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from content specialist resumes include skills like "customer service," "wordpress," "content strategy," and "content development," whereas a marketing internship is more likely to list skills in "marketing campaigns," "market research," "graphic design," and "event planning. "

Marketing interns earn the highest salary when working in the technology industry, where they receive an average salary of $33,333. Comparatively, content specialists have the highest earning potential in the health care industry, with an average salary of $69,943.marketing interns typically earn lower educational levels compared to content specialists. Specifically, they're 6.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Content specialist vs. Marketing assistant

A marketing assistant's general responsibility is to support the marketing programs and campaigns by sharing recommendations and useful insights to improve the brand's image. Marketing assistants' duties also include reaching out to other personnel for necessary files needed on promotional advertisements, assist the team in creating designs and developing content, publishing brochures for potential clients, analyzing sales reports, and researching the current market trends. A marketing assistant should have excellent organizational and time-management skills to meet deadlines and perform various tasks as required.

Marketing assistants tend to earn a lower pay than content specialists by an average of $26,576 per year.While both content specialists and marketing assistants complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, web content, and powerpoint, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A content specialist uses "digital marketing," "wordpress," "content strategy," and "content development." Marketing assistants are more likely to have duties that require skills in "marketing campaigns," "trade shows," "market research," and "customer database. "The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for marketing assistants, with average annual pay of $43,819. Comparatively, the highest content specialist annual salary comes from the health care industry.In general, marketing assistants hold lower degree levels compared to content specialists. Marketing assistants are 7.0% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of content specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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