Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Blog Writer

🎯 Role Definition

A Blog Writer creates clear, compelling, and research-backed long-form and short-form blog content that aligns with SEO best practices, brand voice, and business goals. This role owns topic ideation, content briefs, draft production, on-page optimization, CMS publishing, and ongoing content maintenance to increase organic visibility, user engagement, and conversion rates. The ideal candidate combines editorial excellence, data-driven decision-making, and practical SEO skills to deliver measurable content marketing outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Content Intern or Writing Intern
Junior Copywriter / Junior Content Writer
Marketing Assistant with a writing focus

Advancement To:

Senior Content Writer / Senior Blog Writer
Content Strategist or Content Marketing Manager
Editorial Lead / Managing Editor
SEO Content Lead or Content Director

Lateral Moves:

Social Media Manager
Email Marketing Specialist
UX Writer / Product Content Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Own end-to-end blog content production: conduct topic ideation, create prioritized editorial calendars, write detailed outlines, and deliver polished drafts that match brand tone and target audience intent.
Perform comprehensive keyword research and competitive analysis using tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, SurferSEO, and Google Keyword Planner to identify high-opportunity topics and long-tail keywords for organic growth.
Write long-form, SEO-optimized blog posts (1,000–3,000+ words when appropriate) that include clear structure, headings, internal links, optimized meta titles and descriptions, and schema where applicable to target featured snippets and rich results.
Produce concise, high-conversion short-form blog content and thought leadership pieces that align with campaign goals, product launches, and seasonal marketing initiatives.
Create detailed content briefs for internal stakeholders and freelance writers that include target keywords, searcher intent, suggested structure, linked resources, CTA recommendations, tone of voice, and on-page SEO instructions.
Optimize existing blog content through content audits, pruning low-performing pages, updating facts and links, improving internal linking, and running topic cluster consolidations to reduce keyword cannibalization.
Publish and format content in a CMS (primarily WordPress, but may include HubSpot CMS, Contentful, or Ghost), ensuring clean HTML, proper heading hierarchy, image optimization, ALT text, and mobile-first formatting.
Collaborate closely with SEO specialists to implement on-page and technical recommendations, prioritize remediation tasks (e.g., page speed, canonical tags), and monitor SERP volatility after content publication.
Conduct interviews with subject-matter experts, product managers, and customer success teams to gather primary insights, quotes, and data points for high-authority articles and case studies.
Edit and proofread all content for grammar, clarity, brand consistency, and factual accuracy; enforce style guides (AP, Chicago, or brand-specific) and ensure content meets legal, compliance, and trademark standards.
Use analytics platforms (Google Analytics / GA4, Search Console) and content performance dashboards to track KPIs—organic sessions, time on page, bounce rate, scroll depth, rankings, and conversion events—and iterate on content based on insights.
A/B test headlines, meta descriptions, and content formats to improve organic click-through rate (CTR) and user engagement; implement data-backed changes and document outcomes for continuous improvement.
Develop topic cluster strategies and pillar pages to build topical authority; map content to buyer journey stages and create internal linking plans that support conversion paths and lead-generation funnels.
Coordinate with design, multimedia, and video teams to produce supportive assets (infographics, featured images, embedded video) and ensure visual elements follow brand guidelines and SEO best practices.
Repurpose high-performing blog posts into other formats—email sequences, social media posts, whitepapers, and slide decks—to maximize content ROI and distribution reach.
Manage relationships with freelance writers, editors, and external agencies: issue briefs, provide feedback, enforce deadlines, and integrate outsourced work into the editorial calendar.
Write compelling CTAs, in-post lead magnets, and gated content hooks that move readers toward subscriber lists, demos, trials, or other conversion goals.
Ensure accessibility and inclusive language in content; add descriptive alt text, use clear language, and follow readability best practices to serve diverse audiences.
Maintain a backlog of content ideas prioritized by business impact, search opportunity, and production effort; shepherd high-priority topics through production sprints.
Stay current with content marketing trends, algorithm updates, and competitive content strategies; share insights and recommendations in regular editorial and marketing meetings.
Monitor and respond to content-related feedback from community managers, sales teams, and customers; update content to reflect new product features, customer pain points, and evolving market conditions.
Support link-building and outreach efforts by creating link-worthy content, partnering on guest-post strategies, and providing content assets for PR and partnerships.

Secondary Functions

Assist in building and maintaining content templates, editorial guidelines, and SOPs for rapid content production and quality control.
Help maintain the company's blog taxonomy, tagging strategy, and category structure to improve site navigation and SEO.
Participate in weekly editorial planning meetings, sprint reviews, and content retrospective sessions to improve workflow and reduce cycle time.
Contribute to cross-channel promotional plans by drafting social captions, newsletter snippets, and brief copy for paid content promotions.
Support competitive benchmarking and market research to identify content gaps, topical opportunities, and audience interest shifts.
Provide occasional support for product copy, help center articles, and FAQ pages to ensure consistent brand messaging across touchpoints.
Assist in tracking content production budgets, freelance invoices, and project timelines when required.
Maintain an archive of past content performance tests, learnings, and playbooks for reuse by the content team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

SEO content optimization: keyword research, on-page optimization, meta tags, internal linking, and schema awareness.
Proficient use of CMS platforms, especially WordPress (Gutenberg), HubSpot CMS, or Contentful.
Familiarity with SEO and research tools: Google Analytics / GA4, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, SurferSEO, or MarketMuse.
Strong long-form blogging and copywriting skills; ability to produce clear, persuasive, and scannable content for web readers.
Headline and meta description writing optimized for CTR and keyword relevance.
Basic HTML/CSS knowledge for formatting, embedding, and troubleshooting in CMS environments.
Experience conducting content audits, pruning, and evergreen content maintenance.
Ability to create and follow detailed content briefs and editorial workflows.
Competence with content collaboration and project tools: Asana, Trello, Jira, Notion, or Monday.com.
Familiarity with accessibility (WCAG) and inclusive language best practices.
Understanding of on-page analytics and A/B testing approaches for content experimentation.
Experience with image optimization, basic photo editing (canva, Photoshop), and adding descriptive alt text.
Knowledge of link-building outreach practices and content promotion strategies.
Experience repurposing blog content into social posts, email campaigns, and downloadable assets.

Soft Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
Strong research and critical thinking skills; ability to synthesize complex topics into clear, actionable posts.
Time management and deadline orientation; ability to manage multiple pieces at different production stages.
Collaboration and stakeholder management; comfortable working with SEO, product, design, and PR teams.
Curiosity and continuous learning mindset; proactive about staying up-to-date on SEO and content marketing trends.
Editorial judgment and the ability to accept and integrate feedback.
Empathy for the target audience and ability to write in a customer-centric voice.
Problem solving and data-driven decision making; uses analytics to justify content choices.
Creativity and ideation skills for generating fresh topics and formats.
Resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced marketing environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Digital Media, or related field; equivalent professional experience accepted.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree with additional certificates in SEO, content marketing, or digital marketing (e.g., HubSpot Content Marketing, Coursera SEO specialization).
Master’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related discipline is a plus for senior roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

English, Journalism, or Creative Writing
Marketing, Communications, or Advertising
Digital Media, Information Science, or Public Relations
Technical fields when writing for specialized industries (e.g., SaaS, Finance, Healthcare)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years of professional blog writing or content marketing experience for mid-level roles; 0–2 years for junior roles; 5+ years for senior or strategic roles.

Preferred:

3–5 years creating SEO-driven blog content with demonstrable results in organic traffic growth and content KPIs.
Experience in B2B SaaS, e-commerce, finance, healthcare, or technology content is preferred depending on the employer.