Content’s going out every week. The writers are busy. Maybe there’s even an agency in the mix. But the results? Flat. Traffic isn’t compounding. Leads aren’t coming in. And internally, the conversation’s starting to shift: Do we need a better content plan—or just better content creation?
This is the inflection point a lot of startups hit. You’re investing in content, but no one’s really owning it. No one’s aligning it to business goals, guiding what gets published (and why), or making sure all that output actually drives growth. That’s when the question comes up: Should we hire a content strategist?
There's a reason why content strategy is a key content marketing skill. Ahead, you'll learn what a content strategist actually does, when to bring one in, and how to know if it’s the missing piece in your marketing org.
What is a content strategist?
A content strategist turns scattered content efforts into a focused growth engine. They're the architect of your content program, mapping content to business goals. This individual aligns topics to search intent, structures content by funnel stage, and ensures every piece moves the needle.
Content strategist roles and responsibilities
Most teams assume a good content marketer or content specialist can “figure out” strategy on the side. They're wrong.
Content strategy is its own discipline, and skipping it leads to wasted output and missed growth. You can count on a content strategist for:
Audience research
A content strategist job description involves digging deep into who your brand is really trying to reach and accordingly writing relevant content that drives action. Think: demographics, purchase motivations, buying triggers, objections, and content consumption habits. They analyze customer interviews, sales calls, search data, and competitive content to map your audience’s decision-making journey.
Search engine optimization (SEO) and intent mapping
High-traffic content that doesn’t convert is a red flag. Strategists go beyond basic keyword tools and identify digital content opportunities based on intent (what your audience actually wants to do). They prioritize topics that align with business goals and identify clusters that support authority. Also, they use on-page structure and internal linking to build assets that rank and convert.
Funnel-based content planning
A strategist maps content to your entire sales funnel, so your brand doesn't end with basic editorial calendars. Top-of-funnel blog posts that bring in traffic are just one part of the picture. You also need comparison pages, objection-handling pieces, customer stories, and email nurtures that move leads closer to a decision.
Distribution strategy
Publishing is half the job. A strategist outlines how every piece of content will be distributed—through SEO, lifecycle emails, social, partnerships, and repurposing. They don’t rely on “build it and they will come.” Instead, they engineer discoverability and amplify reach from Day 1.
Read More: The Blueprint for Building an Effective Demand Generation Team Structure
Content audits
Most sites are weighed down by legacy content that no longer performs. Creative professionals like a content strategist audits your existing library to assess performance and spot opportunities for consolidation, rewrites, or removals—giving you a healthy, growing site.
Briefing and guiding creators
Strategists create detailed, focused briefs that translate business goals, keywords, and content marketing strategy into content outlines. That includes SEO guidelines, target audience insights, tone of voice, and CTAs. Consequently, writers produce on-brand, on-message, and usable content.
This is how you can stop publishing vanity content and start building assets that rank, convert, and compound. Note that these aren’t junior hires. At MarketerHire, our content strategist partners have scaled content programs at high-growth brands—and they know how to take over fast, without a long ramp.
Content strategist salary
Disclaimer: The salary benchmarks and pricing models discussed represent industry averages and are not specific to MarketerHire's rates or pricing structure.
Full-time content strategist salaries (U.S.):
- Average salary: ~$94,000/year
- Typical range: $67,000 – $129,000/year
(Varies by experience, industry, and location) - Senior-level (7+ years): $110,000 – $150,000+/year
(Especially in SaaS, tech, or high-growth startups) - Enterprise-level (Google, Meta, etc.): $190,000 – $220,000/year
(Includes base + bonus + equity; Source: Coursera)
Freelance and fractional content strategist rates:
- Hourly rates: $75 – $150/hour
(Rates vary based on specialization—SEO, editorial, UX, ABM marketing etc.) - Project-based: $3,000 – $10,000+ per engagement
(Strategy audits, playbooks, editorial planning, etc.)
💡 If you’re not ready for a full-time hire—or just don’t want to spend six months recruiting—this is exactly where an on-demand strategist from MarketerHire fits. Learn more about fractional content marketing.
Read More: Marketing Freelancer, Agency or Full-Time Hire: Which Is for You? [Quiz]
Benefits of hiring a content strategist
- You rank for the right things. One MarketerHire strategist helped Vivian Health 2x their organic traffic in 90 days—not by writing more, but by focusing on the content that mattered most to job-seeking nurses.
- Your CAC drops. With a real strategy, organic traffic pulls its weight—freeing you up to spend smarter on paid. Plus, optimize key demand gen metrics.
- You cover the full funnel. Strategists map content to every stage, so it attracts attention, supports sales, and closes deals.
- Your ops get tighter. Fewer random brainstorms, more briefs that convert. Writers stop guessing. Output improves.
The right content strategist stops the “just publish more” cycle and makes your content drive actual growth. And with MarketerHire, you get a content marketing expert who’s already done it at companies like Gusto, Lyft, or Ramp—no hiring delays, no long ramp-up. Just strategy, applied.
When to hire a content strategist?
If you’re unsure whether it’s time to bring in a content strategist, here’s a hard truth: if you're asking the question, you're probably already feeling the pain. This role becomes critical not when content starts, but when content stalls.
Below are five common inflection points—if any of these sound familiar, it’s time to bring in someone who can lead:
You’re publishing consistently but not ranking or converting
You’ve got the blog running, maybe even pushing 4–5 posts a month. But traffic’s flat, leads are trickling in (if that), and the content feels like a checkbox—not exactly maximizing your digital marketing efforts. A strategist figures out what to create, why, and how it ladders up to the pipeline.
You’ve grown past founder-led content
When the founder’s voice or domain knowledge can’t scale, content gets generic fast. A strategist helps turn internal knowledge into scalable content management systems—so content still reflects your brand, but doesn’t bottleneck at the top.
Your team is tactical, not strategic
Great writers and editors can execute—but if no one’s setting direction, you won't get effective content strategy deliverables. If every piece starts with “what should we write next?” instead of “what’s going to drive the most business impact?”—you need a strategist.
You’re scaling across channels and need alignment.
Maybe you’ve added email, LinkedIn, webinars, or SEO—but there’s no connective tissue. A content strategist builds the overarching plan so each channel supports the same business narrative, instead of pulling in different directions.
Your agency is producing content, but there’s no strategy.
Agencies can write—but without clear guidance, you get filler content that looks polished and says nothing. A strategist makes sure every brief, topic, and asset has a job—and it’s aligned with business goals.
These are exactly the moments when MarketerHire clients bring in content strategists—to get focused, build a roadmap, and finally tie content to revenue. If your content marketing team structure is doing the work but not seeing the payoff, a strategist isn’t optional. It’s your next move.
How to hire a content strategist with MarketerHire
If your content efforts feel scattered—or worse, invisible—it’s not a writing problem. It’s a strategy problem. And you don’t have to spend months recruiting or commit to a full-time hire to fix it.
MarketerHire connects you with senior-level content strategists who’ve led growth at companies like Gusto, Glossier, and Ramp. These aren’t generalists or unproven freelancers—they’re vetted experts who can step in fast, assess what’s not working, and build a plan aligning content with revenue.
Here’s how it works:
- Tell us what’s broken. Share your business objectives, roadblocks, and what you’ve tried so far.
- Get matched in 48 hours. We’ll pair you with a content strategist who fits your needs—industry background, channel expertise, business stage, and more.
- Start with a test project or ongoing engagement. You decide how you want to work—many clients start with an audit or 90-day roadmap and expand from there.
If your team is stuck in production mode, it’s time for someone to own the plan. With MarketerHire, you can bring in that strategist or a content marketing manager—without the full-time overhead or hiring delays. Get started here.