Content Management Team Structure

A good content management team structure is an integral part of any business.  From content marketing to content strategy and creation, content teams handle all aspects of the content life cycle.

In today’s digital marketing landscape, having team members assigned to different content creation roles is critical. It can help you develop content that generates more traffic, leads, and conversions.

Having a content team can also help you scale and optimize your content strategy. By rolling out more content across different social channels, you can expand your online reach and increase your brand awareness. Read on to learn about the different roles within a content management team. Then you can start building your own content team structure!

Elements of a successful content team structure

Successful content teams have an organized structure that ensures communication among team members. Establishing different content creation positions can help you scale content marketing efforts and improve results.

Who leads a content team?

In most cases, a chief content officer, also known as a director of content, leads a content team. This person oversees all content marketing efforts, from idea pitches to social strategies to marketing campaigns.

In addition, the chief content officer is in charge of establishing the editorial guidelines for content writers and the marketing objectives for content markers. Thus, they decide the tone and style guide for all blog articles, website copy, and social media posts. They also establish the purpose of different content pieces, whether it’s to generate leads or increase sales.

Finally, the leader of the content team makes sure all day-to-day operations run smoothly. This person checks in with content creators and marketers to ensure everyone stays on task.

What roles need to be filled in a successful content team?

A successful content team has positions that cover both the creative, development, and marketing side of content production. Below are key positions for a successful content team.

• The content manager is essentially the project manager for a content team. This person should be highly organized because they’re in charge of assigning tasks to other team members. They also monitor the content production process to ensure everyone completes their tasks on time.
• A content strategist develops the monthly or weekly content plan for the content team. This person gathers performance metrics to generate content ideas for writers and information for sales enablement. Content strategists will usually develop a social strategy plan for writers to follow each time they create a new set of content.
• Content writers develop and create content for different online platforms. For example, content writers can be assigned to write long-form blog posts for a company’s website or short social media posts for different social channels. Researching content ideas is also an important aspect of the content writing position. Content writers should also have a basic understanding of search engine optimization (SEO).
• A content editor reviews content pieces submitted by writers. They ensure writers adhere to the content writing process and follow SEO best practices. Content editors also complete the formatting for content pieces when it’s time to upload posts to websites or social media accounts.
• The content marketer uses data science and analytics to review performance metrics and identify the company’s target audience. Content marketers are also in charge of outlining the company’s goals and marketing plan. After these objectives have been identified, they can develop marketing campaigns to promote content.

What are content strategist skills?

Content strategists need to be both analytical and creative. And content strategists need to be able to analyze data and trends. As a result, they’ll be able to create an original and engaging social strategy.

Content strategists also need to be organized so that they can handle creating multiple social strategy templates for different marketing objectives.

Furthermore, content strategists are proficient in using different social media platforms. From Instagram to Facebook to LinkedIn, content strategists tend to have an extensive background using these platforms. They understand the distinct layouts and types of posts for different social channels. Content strategists understand which types of content best fit each site.

Tips for hiring roles in the content management process

The recruitment process can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to hire multiple people for your content management team. Understanding what skill sets to look for and which interview questions to ask can help you find the right candidates for each role.

What skills do you need to be a content manager?

First, you need to have great communication skills. As a content manager, you must discuss aspects of the content creation process with different team members. Thus, communicating clear directions and deadlines is important for ensuring everyone stays on task.

It’s also important for content managers to see the big picture. Content writers and creators focus on generating single blog articles or social media posts. On the other hand, content managers need to zoom out and understand how each individual project fits into the overall content marketing strategy.

From the early stages of content development to the final stages of content publishing, content managers oversee every step of the content creation process. Thus, it’s crucial for content managers to also have an understanding of the content writing and the content marketing processes.

How big should a content management team be?

The size of a content management team varies with the size of the company. A large company that has numerous departments and social channels will need a content management team that has multiple team members.

On the other hand, some smaller companies often have one person in charge of all stages of content creation. When this is the case, the content writer wears multiple hats, working on content strategy, production, and marketing campaigns.

As a result, if your business is growing, you should consider expanding your content management team. This will help your content creators and marketers keep up with how much content you need to match your business growth rate.

What experiences should the people on your content management team have?

Content writers should have experience writing for SEO. Ideally, they should also have experience writing content within your business’s industry.

Social media managers should have an extensive background working across different social platforms as well as an understanding of how to measure and track performance metrics. Like social media managers, content strategists should also have experience working on social campaigns that relate to your company.

During the recruitment process, be sure to ask candidates about their content marketing experience. You can also ask to see a portfolio of their work. If you’re considering hiring a ghostwriter for your social media, reviewing their prior work is a great way to determine if the writer is a good fit for your business’s tone and style.

How to organize a content team

Boosting performance starts with organizing your content team and outlining your marketing strategy. While there are different ways to organize your content team, the most common way is by organizing your team around content delivery. This team structure is an effective way to highlight the buyer’s journey. That way, everyone has a clear understanding of the marketing plan.

Why is it important to organize your content team?

Organizing your content team is important because it can increase your team’s productivity. Delegating roles can help team members understand their assignments and make their deadlines. When everyone is on the same page, it’s easier to roll out high-quality content on a consistent basis.

Disorganized content teams can mix up marketing objectives and generate content that doesn’t align with the company’s goals.

Who does a content manager report to?

The content manager reports to the chief content officer with updates on the status of different projects. However, because content managers oversee multiple stages of the content production line, they can also report to the head of the marketing team and the lead social strategist for project updates.

How do you set goals for your content team?

First, start by categorizing your marketing objectives. For example, you can organize your objectives into three separate categories of brand awareness, traffic, and sales. This will help your team better understand the purpose of different content marketing campaigns.

After categorizing your goals, create different benchmarks for your teams. Consider structuring your benchmarks around weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. This will help content team members understand the different short-term and long-term goals.

Finally, create a content calendar that outlines all team members’ deadlines and goals. Team members can use this visual as a reminder to stay on track. Thus, it will help ensure everyone achieves their marketing goal, whether it is to generate content ideas or write weekly blog posts.

Examples of successful content management team structures

Having the wrong team structure can limit your content creation efforts.

A successful content management team structure utilizes team members’ strengths to ensure all stages of the content life cycle. From product marketing to generating high-quality content, successful teams understand how to stay organized, creative, and on task.

Where can you see examples of a successful content management team structures?

Reach out to other companies within your industry. Consider discussing how they structure their content teams. Receiving advice on how other businesses implement their marketing operations can serve as a success model for your content team to follow.

Also, research successful websites, blogs, and social media accounts. Many successful content creators explain their content strategy on their sites. This is another simple and easy way to learn about different content initiatives and gain inspiration for your content team structure.

What businesses are known for having successful content management team structures?

Marketing companies are often known for having successful content management team structures because these organizations tend to have elaborate content departments. These companies also have an extensive background in developing content for different clients.

Additionally, companies that implement agile marketing have successful content teams. Agile marketing is a business model in which teams collaborate and focus on a common goal to complete projects on spec and on time.

At the end of the day, the more organized a company is, the more successful their content management team structure will be.

What are different types of successful content management teams?

In general, there are three main types of content management teams.

• In-house content team: When all team members work directly for your business, then your content team is considered in house. One of the benefits of having an in-house content team is that writers and marketers are familiar with your company’s brand and style.
• Outsourced content team: Hiring outside writers, such as freelancer content creators or ghostwriters, is considered outsourcing content. When your content team is made up of contract workers who complete assignments on a project basis, then your content team is outsourced. Outsourcing work can be intimidating at first. However, outsourcing content is a cost-effective way to generate professional content that improves your marketing.
• Hybrid content team: Many companies utilize both in-house content creators and freelance writers to generate their content strategy. This is considered a hybrid model, and it’s a great way to scale your content production. Oftentimes, in-house content teams struggle to keep up with the amount of content needed to keep up with a growing business. Hiring freelance writers can help spread the workload so your content team can continue to generate high-quality content.

Overall takeaways and additional resources

Creating content that generates results takes an extensive set of resources and a whole lot of time. Even with a solid content management team, it can be challenging to generate consistent content.

Outsourcing some of your content creation to a writing and editing company is a great way to roll out more content and enhance your content marketing strategy.

At Elite Editing, we have professional content creators who can generate high-quality content for your business. Our writers research the tone and style of your company to create content that aligns with your brand. Learn more about our writing and editing services today!