What Does a Content Analyst Do?

Content analysts are responsible for analyzing and organizing content into a database or other system. They may work with all types of content, but they’re especially concerned with information that is relevant to their organization or industry.

Content analysts must be able to read through large amounts of text quickly and accurately in order to identify important pieces of information. They also need strong communication skills so that they can effectively convey this information to others who might use it later on.

Content Analyst Job Duties

A content analyst typically has a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Monitoring social media channels for mentions of the company or its brands in order to engage with customers and respond to negative comments or complaints
• Analyzing data to determine which products are most popular among customers or which regions have the highest number of potential customers
• Researching topics relevant to the organization’s offerings in order to write articles, reports, or reviews
• Reviewing news stories, advertisements, product descriptions, and other materials to identify possible trends or opportunities for improvement in products or services
• Conducting surveys to assess public opinion about a company’s products or services
• Interpreting data from surveys or research studies in order to provide actionable insights for businesses
• Comparing current trends to historical data to spot patterns over time
• Collecting and analyzing data to identify areas of opportunity or concern within an organization’s business model
• Creating visual content such as infographics or videos to be shared on social media or other channels

Content Analyst Salary & Outlook

The salary of a content analyst can vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the company they work for. Content analysts may also earn additional compensation in the form of bonuses.

• Median Annual Salary: $66,500 ($31.97/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $122,000 ($58.65/hour)

The employment of content analysts is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

Demand for content analysis is expected to increase as organizations continue to use data and analytics to make business decisions. Organizations will need content analysts to organize and analyze large amounts of information.

Related: Content Analyst Interview Questions and Answers

Content Analyst Job Requirements

A content analyst typically needs to have the following qualifications:

Education: Content analysts are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as English, journalism, communications or another related discipline. Some employers may prefer candidates who have a master’s degree in content strategy or another related field.

Training & Experience: Content analysts typically receive on-the-job training to learn the specific processes and procedures of their role. Training may include learning the company’s content management system, how to use the company’s content management software and how to use the company’s content management workflow. Training may also include learning the company’s style guide and how to properly format content.

Content analysts can also receive training in the form of formal education. Some content analysts have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, such as information systems, computer science or library science.

Certifications & Licenses: Though content analysts do not need a certification to get hired, earning one can show an employer that you are motivated and want to stay on the cutting edge of your industry.

Content Analyst Skills

Content analysts need the following skills in order to be successful:

Research: The ability to conduct research is an important skill for content analysts. They often need to research topics and write about them in a way that’s engaging and informative. This can include researching the topic, finding sources to support the topic and writing about the topic in a way that’s easy to understand.

Search engine optimization (SEO): SEO is the process of optimizing a website to increase its search engine rankings. Content analysts may use SEO to help their company’s website appear higher in search results. This can help the company attract more potential customers.

Data analysis: Data analysis is the ability to interpret large amounts of data and find the most important information. Content analysts use data analysis to find the most relevant information about a topic and create a comprehensive outline for their content.

Critical thinking: Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information and make decisions based on the information you have. As a content analyst, you may be responsible for creating a strategy for your company’s content marketing efforts. This may include determining what content to create, how to create it and what the results of your strategy were. Critical thinking can help you make the best decisions for your company.

Communication: Communication is the act of conveying information to others. As a content analyst, you may be required to communicate with other members of a team, clients or other stakeholders. Effective communication can help you to convey your ideas and messages clearly and concisely.

Content Analyst Work Environment

Content analysts work in a variety of settings, including corporate offices, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. They typically work full time during regular business hours, although they may occasionally work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines or to attend events related to their work. Content analysts typically work on teams with other analysts, writers, and editors, and they may have regular contact with clients or customers. Although the work can be challenging and deadlines can be tight, content analysts generally find their work to be interesting and rewarding.

Content Analyst Trends

Here are three trends influencing how content analysts work. Content analysts will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Growth of Content Marketing

The growth of content marketing is a trend that is quickly changing the way businesses market their products and services. By creating and publishing high-quality content, businesses can attract new customers and build trust with them.

Content analysts are in high demand as businesses look for ways to create and publish more content. These professionals can help businesses develop content strategies that are effective and meet the needs of their target audience.

More Focus on User Experience (UX) Design

As technology continues to evolve, so too does the user experience (UX) design field. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on designing products and services that are both easy to use and enjoyable to interact with.

Content analysts can capitalize on this trend by developing skills in UX design. This includes understanding how to create engaging content, as well as understanding the psychology behind why people react the way they do to different types of content.

A Greater Emphasis on Data Analysis

Data analysis is becoming an increasingly important part of many jobs, including those in the content industry. As data becomes more and more prevalent, businesses will need professionals who can analyze it and make sense of it all.

Content analysts can utilize this trend by learning how to extract valuable information from data sets and then communicate that information to others in a way that is easy to understand. This skill set will be essential in the future as data becomes even more ubiquitous.

How to Become a Content Analyst

A content analyst career can be a great way to start your career in the digital marketing field. As a content analyst, you’ll be responsible for gathering and analyzing data related to content performance. This could include things like pageviews, unique visitors, bounce rate, time on site, etc.

You’ll also be responsible for creating reports based on this data that will help inform decisions about future content creation. This is a great role for someone who enjoys working with numbers and has an analytical mind.

To become a successful content analyst, it’s important to have strong writing skills and be able to think critically about data. You should also be familiar with common analytics tools, such as Google Analytics and Excel.

Advancement Prospects

Content analysts typically start out in entry-level positions and advance to more senior roles as they gain experience. With experience, content analysts may move into management positions or take on more complex projects. Those with strong analytical skills may move into data analysis roles, while those with strong writing skills may move into content writing or editing roles. Those with strong project management skills may move into project management roles.

Content Analyst Job Description Example

As a content analyst at [CompanyX], you will play a key role in ensuring the accuracy and quality of the content we produce. You will be responsible for reviewing and editing content for a variety of projects, including website content, blog posts, articles, whitepapers, and eBooks. A successful content analyst will have strong editing and proofreading skills, as well as the ability to provide constructive feedback to content creators. He or she will also have a keen eye for detail and a passion for accuracy.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Understand and document business goals, objectives, and requirements for new or updated content
• Work with subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop a deep understanding of the content and how it’s used
• Conduct content audits to identify gaps, errors, and opportunities for improvement
• Analyze user data to understand how users interact with content and make recommendations for changes
• Develop and implement content governance policies and procedures
• Create detailed content plans that map content to business goals
• Write, edit, and publish high-quality content
• Manage projects from start to finish, including coordinating with other team members, setting deadlines, and ensuring quality standards are met
• Monitor web analytics to track content performance and make recommendations for optimization
• Stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure a consistent brand voice and message across all channels
• Perform QA checks on content before publication

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications, or related field
• 3-5 years professional writing and editing experience
• Exceptional research skills
• Ability to work independently and with a team to meet deadlines
• Excellent organizational skill and multitasking ability
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Experience working with content management systems, WordPress, etc.
• Proofreading experience and familiarity with standard style guides
• A keen eye for detail and appreciation of great design
• Experience with search engine optimization (SEO)