What is a Content Writing Job? Role Overview, Salary, & Qualifications

“Once a Content Writer, Always a Content Writer”. Is this what you’ve heard all along? 

Then you’re not alone. 

This is a significant misconception rooted somehow to make fellow writers believe there is little room for growth and advancement in this job. 

If you believe so, this blog is exactly what you need. You will find what is a content writing job, how you can become one, scope, types, salary, and much more. 

Let’s spill the facts right in.

What is a Content Writing Job?

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Have you ever wondered who writes all that you see across websites, social media pages, marketing materials, magazines, and so on?

It’s all the work of content writers. 

A content writer is the invisible hand (most often) who creates all the informative and engaging content that you read both digitally and in print. They produce written material for websites, blogs, social media, print, and much more. 

So, if you ask what is a content writing job, then the shortest possible answer is that it is a profession that involves a lot of strategic thinking, research, writing, editing, and publishing. 

Now comes the good part. 

The role of a content writer has only increased, spreading to diverse niches and industries even with a strong surge in AI development. 

Meaning, if you are a passionate writer, considering a career in this field will be fruitful.

Content Writing Job Titles: According To Hierarchy

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Here is an overview of all the “Titles” you can hold as a content writer as you progress in your career:

Junior Content Writer

This is the first position that you’ll hold as a content writer in the writing industry. It’s an entry-level position and your responsibilities will include basic writing tasks like short-form blogs or articles. 

A senior writer, specialist, or lead in your department will review your tasks and will provide you with the necessary guidance. 

Here are the job roles you can find under this title (Experience: mostly less than a year):

• Content Writer
• SEO Content Writer
• Copywriter
• Content Assistant
• Editorial Assistant

Content Specialist

Once you niche down and enhance your writing skills in any particular niche or content format, you can choose the role of a content specialist. This position brings in responsibilities like creating content strategies, conducting intensive research, and crafting content across various platforms. 

As a content specialist, you’ll have to work closely with different teams like marketing, designers, and other writers to implement content strategies intended to meet specific business goals. 

Below are the popular job roles you can find under this title (Experience: 1 or more years of industry experience):

• Content Strategist
• Content Editor
• SEO Writer
• Content Writer
• Social Media Content Writer
• Niche-Specific Writer

Senior Content Writer

A Senior Content Writer handles complex writing projects and guides junior team members. You will be responsible for creating high-quality, engaging content according to the client’s requirements. 

Also, you need to edit and proofread content, collaborate with design and marketing teams, and contribute to content strategy. 

Here are the roles you can explore as a Senior Content Writer (Experience: 3 to 4 years of industry experience):

• Content Lead
• Content Strategist
• Brand Journalist
• Content Developer

Lead Content Writer

With experience, you can progress to becoming a lead content writer. There will be writers in your team, whom you’ll have to manage directly. 

You will have to provide guidance, assign tasks, oversee content creation, and monitor the content quality. 

Some of the major roles under this title are listed below:

• Content Team Lead
• Content Operations Manager
• Content Marketing Manager
• Content Editor

Content Manager

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This is a strategic role that entails responsibilities like building content strategy, developing content plans, managing budgets, and collaborating with different teams. 

As a content manager, you also need to analyze content performance, identify content gaps, and optimize content to attain business goals. 

These are the roles that you can look for as a Content Manager:

• Head of Content
• Content Director
• Content Marketing Manager
• Content Acquisition Manager

Chief Content Officer (CCO)

If you are looking for an executive role as a content writer, then Chief Content Officer is what you should opt for. In this position, you’ll oversee all content-related activities in your organization. 

You should focus on developing and implementing the content strategy, ensuring brand consistency, and driving content revenue while building and leading content teams, collaborating with senior management, and measuring the overall impact of content on business goals. 

Here are the specific roles you can look for under this title:

• Vice President of Content
• Director of Content Strategy
• Head of Content Marketing
• Executive Director of Content

Types of Content Writing Jobs

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Now that you know what is a content writing job, let’s go through the different types of content writing jobs that you can choose:

1. Ghostwriting

This type of content writing involves writing content for someone else and they will be given the author credits. You need strong research skills to identify the tone of voice and adapt your writing likewise.

Eg: ebooks, articles, and blogs for influential people like politicians or business executives.

2. Scriptwriting

As a scriptwriter, you will have to create scripts for films, social media videos, commercials, TV shows, or video games. Apart from being a good writer, you need impeccable storytelling skills to do this. 

Eg: Scripts for Instagram reels, YouTube videos, films, and so on

3. Technical Writing

In this type of content writing, you will be working in the tech industry to break down complicated topics into digestible chunks. Writers with a technical background are preferred in this industry. 

Eg: User manuals, software documentation, or technical reports

4. SEO Writing

SEO writing focuses on creating content that follows SEO best practices to improve visibility and ranking. It is key to have an understanding of SEO principles, keyword research, and content optimization to be an SEO Content Writer. 

Eg: Blog posts, articles, and website copy with relevant keywords

5. Blog Writing

Writers who solely focus on producing blogs for a website to engage an audience fall in this category. You need to have an engaging writing style, research skills, and ample knowledge of your target audience to be a good blog writer. 

Eg: Lifestyle blogs, tech blogs, etc

Read More : What Is Blogging In Digital Marketing and How to Get Started

6. Editor

Reviewing and improving written content for clarity, style, and accuracy is the job of an editor. If you have a strong attention to detail, and an understanding of different style guides, becoming an editor is a no-brainer.

Eg: Editing blogs, books, or marketing materials

7. News Writing

News writing involves writing about the current happenings for newspapers, magazines, or online news outlets. 

Eg: Writing feature stories, or conducting interviews

8. Social Media Writing 

Creating content for social media platforms is a whole other game. The task is to make it engaging enough to grab the attention of your audience right from the start.

A strong understanding of different social media platforms, an ability to write in a conversational style, and a knowledge of the target audience are crucial to becoming a social media writer. 

Eg: Social media captions, stories, writing posts, and so on

9. Niche-Specific Writing

For subject-matter experts, becoming a niche-specific writer is a great choice. To do so, you need in-depth knowledge of the niche, and the qualification to write authoritatively. 

Eg: Finance writers, healthcare writers, fashion writers, etc

10. Copywriting 

Copywriting is for bringing in conversions or sales. It is the art of persuading people to take any desired action. You need strong persuasive skills, an awareness of consumer psychology, and an ability to write compelling content that converts.

Eg: Sales copy, ad copy sets, and website landing pages

Promising Content Writing Niches You Can Explore

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With an understanding of what is a content writing job, you can explore the following niches due to their ever-growing demand. 

• AI
• Finance
• SaaS
• B2B
• Healthcare 
• Travel
• E-commerce
• Legal 
• Real-estate
• Tech

How You Can Become a Content Writer

Here’s a roadmap you can follow to become a content writer:

Step 1: Develop Your Writing Skills

Build your skills every day with ample practice. It is best to explore different writing styles and genres initially to identify where you excel and what you need to improve. 

Also, learn grammar and punctuation as it is essential to become a content writer. 

Step 2: Create and Publish Content

After you’ve acquired enough knowledge, it’s time to get into some action. Start writing blogs, social media content, or articles- anything you like. Post or publish them on the respective platforms to get noticed.

Step 3: Build Your Portfolio

With the published content, you can build a strong portfolio showcasing your writing skills. If you were able to create a conversion or get an appreciation from your writing, include that as well. 

Step 4: Choose Your Career Path

Content writing is a flexible career offering extensive job roles that are remote, hybrid, freelance, or company-based. Pick where you want to work, and how you want to work to fix your career path.

Step 5: Apply for Jobs or Gigs

Once you’ve sorted where you want to work, identify your potential recruiters/clients. Start applying for jobs that resonate with you and in the meantime build industry-relevant connections.

Step 6: Practice and Upskill

It is key to follow industry trends and get an idea of the current happenings to better navigate your career. Furthermore, you can explore different areas in writing like SEO or social media to get more exposure. 

Skills Required

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Becoming a content writer is no easy feat. However, you can develop and enhance certain skills to grow and nurture your writing. 

These are the top skills recruiters look for in a content writer:

• Writing 
• Research and Analysis
• Storytelling
• Copywriting
• SEO
• Communication
• Proofreading and Editing 
• Collaboration

Read More : 35+ Careers in Digital Marketing In 2024: Job Overview, Opportunities, Salary, and Much More!

Qualification

There are no particular qualifications you need to become a content writer. All you need is the necessary skill set and a strong portfolio

That said, if you are planning to get into the field, considering a degree in English literature, journalism, or marketing will help you grow and advance in the industry easily.  

Platforms You Can Use

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To become a sought-after content writer, you need a strong portfolio of published works, a place to showcase your works, and most importantly; clients and professional connections. 

 Here are some of the best platforms you can use to meet this end. 

– To Publish Your Content

• Personal Blog/ Website
• Medium
• LinkedIn
• Content Platforms like Substack 
• Social Media Platforms like Instagram, Meta, and X

– To Find Clients or Opportunities

• Freelance Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer
• Job Boards like LinkedIn and Indeed
• Content Marketplaces
• Social Media Platforms like LinkedIn, X, Instagram, etc

Average Salary For Content Writers in India: 2024

Different factors affect the salary of content writers. Your experience, expertise, portfolio strength, job location, company size, and specific role are some of them. 

Here is an overview of the average salary for content writers in India to help newbies get a better idea. 

Let’s see what is a content writing job salary is in India. 

Key Takeaways

Understanding what is a content writing job is integral to finding the best opportunities in the industry. You could grab an opportunity if only you knew where to look. 

This is why we’ve curated all the job roles in content writing, its types, niches, and much more throughout the blog. Although writing is a promising industry, little do people know about how to grow their careers. 

If you are interested in learning about content writing and digital marketing, check out our comprehensive digital marketing course here. 

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