Publishing blogs, sending newsletters, posting on social—yet no results? Okay, pause.
You don’t need to churn out more content. You need a strategy. Otherwise, you’re just throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping it sticks. (Spoiler: Spaghetti-throwing is not a strategy 🥲)
Here’s how to tell if it’s time to bring in a content strategist:
1. You’re Creating Content Regularly But Not Seeing Results
You’re consistently publishing, but nothing’s moving the needle. It’s like driving a Ferrari in circles— it’s fast and exciting but where the heck are you going?
Content strategy gives your efforts direction, ensuring they align with business goals. How? First, through an audit. We’ll assess what’s working (and what’s not), evaluate your business objectives, and build a roadmap that actually leads somewhere.
2. Your Team Has Writing Talent but Lacks Strategic Direction
A talented team is great, but execution without strategy leads to scattered, disjointed content. Without clear direction:
- Your content feels inconsistent and unorganized.
- There’s no content operations framework in place.
- Your team is working hard, but the impact is minimal.
A content strategist is like the maestro of your orchestra. We provide structure through content briefs, brand voice documentation, editorial guidelines, and quality standards, ensuring everything works together instead of competing for attention.
3. You Don’t Have the Time or Bandwidth to Oversee Content Marketing
You know content is important. You also know you don’t have time to manage it because, well, you’re running a business and have a million things to do.
Content marketing is a full-time job. And unless you’ve figured out how to clone yourself, you probably don’t have the bandwidth to oversee everything from strategy to execution.
That’s where a content strategist comes in. We not only map out the strategy but also handle content operations—calendars, workflows, production—so you can focus on bigger priorities.
4. You’re Spending on Content Without a Clear ROI
Let’s be honest – content marketing isn’t cheap. You’re paying for writers, tools, platforms, and production. If you’re not seeing a return, you’re essentially throwing money into a black hole.
A strategist ensures your content directly supports business goals, whether it’s:
- generating leads
- shortening sales cycles
- improving customer retention —
- — or strengthening brand authority.
Every blog post, email, and social post should serve a purpose—otherwise, it’s just noise.
5. You Want to Use Content to Generate Leads or Close Deals
Content isn’t just for brand awareness. It can bring in leads, nurture prospects, and help close deals—if it’s strategically designed to do so.
A strategist ensures content works toward measurable business outcomes. They help:
- Align sales and marketing so content supports the customer journey.
- Develop sales enablement materials like case studies, FAQs, and knowledge bases.
- Create content based on audience FAQs, customer feedback, and market trends to move prospects from “interested” to “ready to buy.”
6. You’re Struggling to Compete
Everyone wants to be the go-to voice in their industry, but standing out takes more than just publishing consistently.
The good news? You don’t need a massive content team or budget to compete. A few strategic moves can:
- Help you capture market share.
- Strengthen your brand positioning.
- Set you up for sustainable growth without requiring an overwhelming content production schedule.
How I Help Growth-Ready Businesses with Content Strategy
I work with businesses in the ecommerce, SaaS, and B2B spaces to get their content strategy on track. These businesses already have product-market fit and are looking to scale—without wasting time, money, or effort on content that goes nowhere.
Some recent work I’m proud of:
Building Shepherd’s content marketing program from scratch
Launched a fully functional content marketing engine for Shepherd (now Somewhere), a remote staffing company. This included defining content pillars, scaling blog and email production, repurposing content for social, and creating sales enablement materials. By the time they got acquired for $29 million, the website already had thousands of organic visits thanks in part to aligned, purposeful content.
Building remote content teams for an ecom holdco
Assembled and trained a distributed content team for a multi-brand ecommerce holding company, creating streamlined workflows and ensuring consistent, high-quality output across multiple brands and teams.
Launching Health and Holiday’s marketing presence
Led the marketing launch for Health and Holiday, a medical tourism startup. I collaborated with the founders to develop their content strategy, establish their brand voice, and set up key content channels from day one.
Let your content work for you
The question isn’t whether content marketing works—it does. The question is whether yours is working for you.
If any of these challenges sound familiar, it might be time to bring in a strategist. Fill out this form to get started and let’s create content that fuels growth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Content Strategists
Still on the fence about bringing a content strategist on board? Here are answers to some common questions that might help you decide:
What exactly does a content strategist do?
A content strategist plans, develops, and manages content to ensure it aligns with your business goals and meets your audience’s needs. They’re the architects behind your content, ensuring every piece serves a purpose and contributes to a cohesive narrative.
How does a content strategist differ from a content writer or editor?
While content writers and editors focus on creating and refining content, a content strategist takes a broader view. They analyze audience insights, set content goals, plan distribution channels, and monitor performance to ensure content efforts drive desired outcomes. Think of them as the project managers of your content world.
When should a business consider hiring a content strategist?
If you’re consistently producing content without seeing meaningful results, lack a unified content direction, or struggle to connect content efforts to business objectives, it’s a clear sign you need a content strategist. They’ll provide the strategy and oversight to turn your content from clutter into a powerful tool.
How can a content strategist improve our content ROI?
A content strategist ensures every piece of content aligns with your business goals and resonates with your target audience. By conducting audits, setting clear objectives, and implementing effective distribution plans, they maximize engagement and conversions, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck.
Is hiring a content strategist worth the investment for small businesses?
Absolutely. For small businesses, every resource counts. A content strategist ensures your content efforts are efficient and effective, helping you stand out in a crowded market without wasting time or money on ineffective tactics.
