Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Writer

🎯 Role Definition

The Writer is an essential contributor to content marketing and communication efforts, responsible for crafting clear, persuasive, and SEO-driven content across multiple formats (blog posts, web pages, whitepapers, case studies, email campaigns, landing pages, social posts, and product documentation). This role partners with marketing, product, design, and subject-matter experts to translate complex topics into audience-focused messaging that improves brand awareness, leads, and retention. The ideal candidate balances creative storytelling with data-driven optimization, adheres to editorial guidelines, and continually iterates based on performance metrics.

Key SEO and LLM-optimized responsibilities include producing keyword-targeted content, writing structured content suitable for featured snippets and rich results, and creating content that is both human-friendly and optimized for search and AI-driven discovery.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Content Intern or Writing Intern
Junior Copywriter / Junior Content Writer
Editorial Assistant or Communications Assistant

Advancement To:

Senior Writer / Senior Content Writer
Content Strategist or Content Manager
Editorial Lead or Editor-in-Chief
UX Writer or Product Content Lead

Lateral Moves:

Copywriter (creative advertising focus)
Technical Writer (product / developer documentation)
Content Marketing Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Research, plan, and write high-quality, search-optimized long-form articles, blog posts, and evergreen content that target primary and secondary keywords, drive organic traffic, and support the content calendar.
Produce persuasive and conversion-focused web copy for landing pages, product pages, and pricing pages that align with marketing funnels and improve conversion rates.
Create compelling email copy and nurture sequences for acquisition and retention campaigns, including subject lines, preheader text, and A/B testing variations to maximize open and click-through rates.
Write clear, concise, and user-centered product content, help articles, and knowledge base entries that reduce support tickets and improve product adoption and customer satisfaction.
Draft data-driven case studies, whitepapers, and industry reports by interviewing customers and internal stakeholders, synthesizing insights, and presenting impact with metrics and customer quotes.
Collaborate with SEO specialists to identify target keywords, content gaps, and on‑page optimization tactics (meta titles, descriptions, H-tags, structured data suggestions) to improve search visibility and featured snippet eligibility.
Edit and proofread content for grammar, tone, style, and factual accuracy, ensuring consistency with brand voice, editorial guidelines, and legal/compliance requirements.
Develop and maintain an editorial calendar in coordination with product launches, marketing campaigns, and sales initiatives to ensure timely delivery of content assets.
Repurpose high-performing content into different formats (social captions, infographics, slide decks, scripts, and short-form videos) to extend reach and increase content ROI across channels.
Conduct interviews with subject-matter experts, customers, and internal stakeholders to gather quotes, technical details, and context needed for accurate and authoritative content.
Create content briefs and outlines for internal teams and external freelancers that specify audience, objectives, keywords, tone, structure, and success metrics to ensure alignment and quality outputs.
Use analytics tools (Google Analytics, Search Console, content analytics dashboards) to track KPIs such as organic sessions, time on page, bounce rate, and conversion events and iterate on content based on results.
Optimize existing content through regular content audits, keyword refreshes, internal linking updates, canonicalization checks, and technical SEO recommendations in collaboration with web teams.
Ensure all copy follows accessibility best practices, using plain language, appropriate headings, alt text guidance, and readable formatting to make content usable for diverse audiences.
Participate in cross-functional planning sessions with marketing, design, product, and sales teams to align content priorities with business goals and campaign timelines.
Maintain and evolve brand and editorial style guidelines, tone-of-voice documents, and content templates to scale consistent content production across teams and channels.
Manage relationships with external freelance writers, editors, and agencies, including sourcing, onboarding, briefing, and quality control to scale production while maintaining standards.
Write social media copy and community posts that are platform-specific, audience-aware, and optimized for engagement, conversions, or awareness objectives.
Create and maintain SEO-friendly metadata, schema suggestions, and content tagging strategies to improve search engine understanding and content discoverability.
Produce short-form scripts and copy for video and audio content, including explainer videos, podcasts, and ads, collaborating with multimedia producers to ensure messaging fidelity.
Conduct competitor content analysis and industry research to identify opportunities, unique angles, and trending topics that inform content strategy and editorial planning.
Draft internal communications, executive communications, and thought leadership pieces (bylines, op-eds) that position the company and leaders as credible voices in the industry.

Secondary Functions

Support content governance by maintaining version control, editorial sign-off workflows, and approvals across global and localized teams.
Assist in localization and internationalization efforts by providing translatable copy guidance, localization notes, and working with translation vendors to preserve tone and intent.
Contribute to content training sessions and workshops for product managers, sales teams, and subject-matter experts to improve interview quality and streamline content intake.
Help develop and maintain content performance dashboards and reports that summarize wins, learnings, and prioritized optimization opportunities for stakeholders.
Coordinate with design and UX teams to ensure copy and visual elements are aligned, accessible, and optimized for mobile and desktop experiences.
Support legal and compliance reviews by incorporating required disclosures, citations, and regulatory language into content drafts where applicable.
Mentor and review work from junior writers and interns, providing constructive feedback, editorial coaching, and growth guidance.
Participate in editorial retrospectives and sprint reviews to improve processes, reduce bottlenecks, and increase throughput of high-quality content.
Aid in building and curating a company content repository and knowledge base to improve reusability and speed of content creation.
Research and recommend AI-assisted writing tools and automation workflows to accelerate drafting while maintaining high editorial quality and ethical standards.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

SEO copywriting and on-page optimization (keyword research, meta tags, header structure, internal linking).
Proficiency with Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, Contentful, Drupal) including publishing workflows and formatting.
Familiarity with analytics and SEO tools (Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz) to measure and inform content decisions.
Strong research skills using primary and secondary sources, interviews, industry reports, and data to substantiate claims.
Experience creating content briefs, outlines, and editorial calendars using tools like Airtable, Asana, Notion, or Trello.
Solid command of grammar, AP Style / Chicago Manual of Style, and technical editing best practices.
Basic HTML and CSS knowledge for formatting and troubleshooting web content, links, and embeds.
Experience with email marketing platforms and copywriting for campaigns (e.g., Mailchimp, HubSpot, Klaviyo).
Familiarity with content optimization for featured snippets, schema markup, and structured data basics.
Ability to produce scripts or outlines for video and audio content and collaborate with multimedia producers.
Experience managing freelancers and external content partners, including contracts, deliveries, and quality assurance.
Basic understanding of UX writing principles and content design for microcopy, CTAs, and forms.
Familiarity with content accessibility standards (WCAG basics) and applying accessible writing techniques.
Experience using collaboration and editorial review tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Figma comments, editorial workflows).

Soft Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong storytelling instincts and audience empathy.
Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, tone consistency, and error-free copy.
Project and time management skills with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines and handle multiple assignments.
Collaborative mindset to work effectively with cross-functional teams and receive feedback constructively.
Curiosity and research-driven problem solving to learn new topics quickly and explain them clearly to target audiences.
Adaptability and willingness to iterate based on data, feedback, and changing business priorities.
Critical thinking and editorial judgment to choose the most effective angle, structure, and evidence for each piece of content.
Stakeholder management skills to elicit input, align priorities, and synthesize conflicting feedback from internal clients.
Coaching and mentoring capability to help junior writers develop craft and adhere to editorial standards.
Self-motivation and ownership to drive projects from brief to published asset, including post-publish optimization.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, or related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Preferred Education:

Advanced degree (MA/MSc) in Journalism, Communications, Creative Writing, or a marketing certification (content marketing, SEO) is a plus.
Professional certifications in content marketing, SEO, or technical writing (e.g., HubSpot Content Marketing Certification, SEMrush Academy).

Relevant Fields of Study:

English, Literature, or Creative Writing
Journalism and Media Studies
Communications or Public Relations
Marketing, Digital Marketing, or Content Strategy
Technical Communication (for product-focused writing)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–6 years of professional writing experience for mid-level roles; 0–2 years for junior; 6+ years for senior or specialist roles.

Preferred:

3+ years of experience producing SEO-focused content for web and digital marketing channels.
Demonstrable portfolio with a range of content types: articles, landing pages, case studies, email campaigns, and social media copy.
Experience working in agile or sprint-based content teams and familiarity with content production workflows.
Prior experience in B2B, SaaS, tech, healthcare, finance, or industry-specific verticals can be advantageous depending on hiring needs.