What does a Content Writer do?

A content writer spends most of their time working with SEO Writing, Blog Content, Long-Form Guides to solve real problems in marketing & growth. It's a hands-on role where you're expected to pick things up quickly and contribute to projects from day one. Most of your early work will involve content writer tasks, with plenty of guidance from senior team members.

The people who do well in this role tend to be strong in Case Studies, Research & Interviews, WordPress/CMS, but more importantly, they know how to figure out what they don't know. Marketing & Growth moves fast, and the best content writers are the ones who can adapt without needing someone to hand them a playbook every time something changes.

Right now, content writer roles pay in the range of $50,000 - $80,000, and most positions are looking for entry level candidates. It's a competitive field, but companies are hiring. If you've got the right skills and can show real project work, you're in a strong position.

How to get there

Build your foundation in content writer

Before anything else, get solid on the fundamentals. For content writer roles, that means understanding SEO Writing and Blog Content at a level where you can explain them to someone else. Don't try to learn everything at once. Pick the core topics that show up in every job posting for this role and get genuinely good at them.

Get hands-on with SEO Writing and Blog Content and Long-Form Guides

Reading docs and watching tutorials won't get you hired. You need to actually build things with SEO Writing and Blog Content and Long-Form Guides. Set aside time every week to write code, run experiments, or practice in a real environment. Hiring managers can tell the difference between someone who has used a tool and someone who has just read about it.

Work on real projects

Run a real campaign, even a small one. Grow a newsletter, optimize a landing page, or run A/B tests on your own site. The goal is to have something concrete you can talk about in interviews. "I built X, it does Y, and here's what I learned" is worth more than any course certificate.

Get certified in HubSpot Content Marketing

For content writer roles, certifications like HubSpot Content Marketing Certification actually carry weight with hiring managers. They won't get you the job on their own, but they signal that you've put in structured effort. If you're choosing between certifications, pick the one you see mentioned most in job postings for roles you want.

Target your first content writer role

Most content writer positions are entry level and pay around $50,000 - $80,000. When you're applying, tailor your resume for each job. Use the exact skills and keywords from the posting. Don't be picky about company size or brand name early on. A role where you'll learn fast is more valuable than a prestigious name on your resume.

Grow from here

Once you've got a couple years as a content writer, you'll have options. Roles like Marketing Director, Growth Engineer, Product Marketing Manager are natural next steps in marketing & growth. The key is to keep building depth in your specialty while picking up broader skills like leadership, architecture, and cross-team collaboration. Your career path isn't a straight line, but this gives you a strong starting point.

Skills you'll need

These are the skills that show up most often in content writer job postings. You don't need all of them on day one, but you should be working toward them.

SEO WritingBlog ContentLong-Form GuidesCase StudiesResearch & InterviewsWordPress/CMSKeyword ResearchEditing & ProofreadingContent BriefsSocial Media Copy

Certifications that help

These won't get you hired on their own, but they show hiring managers you've put in real study time. Worth it if you're switching careers or don't have much experience yet.

HubSpot Content Marketing Certification

Google Analytics Individual Qualification

Yoast SEO Certification