Comments on: What should you study to become a content strategist? http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:14:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: dhutson http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/comment-page-1/#comment-723 dhutson Sat, 09 May 2009 21:54:22 +0000 http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/#comment-723 Lots of great advice here, but I'm a little surprised no one mentions journalism training as part of the skill set. That's where I learned the value of concise, clear writing, how not to bury the lede, and how storytelling is perhaps the most powerful component of effective communication.<br><br>My other suggestion would be spending some time in account services, where (I hope) you really learn to listen to clients and help them reach conclusions as to what their real problem is (frequently not what they think it is). Lots of great advice here, but I'm a little surprised no one mentions journalism training as part of the skill set. That's where I learned the value of concise, clear writing, how not to bury the lede, and how storytelling is perhaps the most powerful component of effective communication.

My other suggestion would be spending some time in account services, where (I hope) you really learn to listen to clients and help them reach conclusions as to what their real problem is (frequently not what they think it is).

]]> By: dhutson http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/comment-page-1/#comment-432 dhutson Sat, 09 May 2009 14:54:22 +0000 http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/#comment-432 Lots of great advice here, but I'm a little surprised no one mentions journalism training as part of the skill set. That's where I learned the value of concise, clear writing, how not to bury the lede, and how storytelling is perhaps the most powerful component of effective communication.<br><br>My other suggestion would be spending some time in account services, where (I hope) you really learn to listen to clients and help them reach conclusions as to what their real problem is (frequently not what they think it is). Lots of great advice here, but I'm a little surprised no one mentions journalism training as part of the skill set. That's where I learned the value of concise, clear writing, how not to bury the lede, and how storytelling is perhaps the most powerful component of effective communication.

My other suggestion would be spending some time in account services, where (I hope) you really learn to listen to clients and help them reach conclusions as to what their real problem is (frequently not what they think it is).

]]> By: Ben Foster http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/comment-page-1/#comment-278 Ben Foster Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:06:00 +0000 http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/#comment-278 Because the job is so new, you're going to hear many different answers. But don't be confused by it, I think that's the lesson. The best strategists (content or otherwise) have experience in many different functions and are able to understand how the pieces fit together. Experience in many different functions allows you to be a "SMQ" or "Subject Matter Questioner" instead of a SME or "Subject Matter Expert". This is a critical skill because you're going to need to ask the right questions to get through the fog of what people are telling you. Content is feeling more like a commodity to me so the best strategists are the ones that can understand their audience's unmet or unarticulated needs. If you can get to the core of your audience's problems and then deliver content that helps them solve that problem, you'll be doing your job. Therefore, a background in market research, business development, or innovation strategy would help you understand how to study your customers to learn more about their problems and frustrations. Because the job is so new, you’re going to hear many different answers. But don’t be confused by it, I think that’s the lesson. The best strategists (content or otherwise) have experience in many different functions and are able to understand how the pieces fit together.
Experience in many different functions allows you to be a “SMQ” or “Subject Matter Questioner” instead of a SME or “Subject Matter Expert”. This is a critical skill because you’re going to need to ask the right questions to get through the fog of what people are telling you.
Content is feeling more like a commodity to me so the best strategists are the ones that can understand their audience’s unmet or unarticulated needs. If you can get to the core of your audience’s problems and then deliver content that helps them solve that problem, you’ll be doing your job.
Therefore, a background in market research, business development, or innovation strategy would help you understand how to study your customers to learn more about their problems and frustrations.

]]> By: Julie Espinosa http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/comment-page-1/#comment-279 Julie Espinosa Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:33:31 +0000 http://blog.braintraffic.com/2009/04/what-should-you-study-to-become-a-content-strategist/#comment-279 The advice was convincing enough for me to blog about it and join both the Google group and e-mail list, so that's saying something. Thanks for the varied responses! The advice was convincing enough for me to blog about it and join both the Google group and e-mail list, so that’s saying something. Thanks for the varied responses!

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