Consulting and strategy
Hire a Content Strategist/Manager
A content strategist decides what to publish, for whom and in what order. I map topics to search demand and customer questions, design the page types and the internal linking, and hand your writers briefs they can execute. The result is a content plan tied to leads, not a pile of unrelated posts.
Pricing is scoped to each project. Book a call and I will tell you what yours involves.
- 10 yearsin digital growth
- 4 marketsUK, Australia, USA and Bangladesh
- 30-60-90day plan with a written checkpoint
- 1 callto scope your project
The role
What a content strategist does
As your content strategist, I research keywords and customer questions into a topic map, design the page types, calendar and internal linking, and report on topics covered against the map, organic clicks per content cluster and leads attributed to content. I work as an adviser: I diagnose, set the direction and hand you a plan your team or agency can execute, with me reviewing the output.
Before
You publish regularly but articles compete with each other, rank for nothing useful and do not lead anywhere.
With me as your content strategist
- Research keywords and customer questions into a topic map
- Design the page types, calendar and internal linking
- Write briefs that give writers the angle, structure and sources
- Measure content by rankings, leads and updates needed
Process
Process: audit, strategy, roadmap, execution
The work follows four steps: audit, strategy, roadmap and execution with reporting. The first 90 days look like this, with checkpoints agreed in writing before work starts.
- Days 1-30
Audit existing content and build the keyword and topic map.
- Days 31-60
Deliver the calendar and the first set of briefs.
- Days 61-90
Review early rankings and refine the plan.
Pricing
How pricing works
The cost of hiring a content strategist depends on the site size and number of topics in scope, whether I also brief and review the writers, the number of channels or platforms involved, the size of the team I work with, how long we work together and how quickly you need results. I scope every engagement to your situation and do not publish rates, so you pay only for the work your business needs.
What changes the scope
Site size and number of topics in scopeWhether I also brief and review the writersThe number of channels or platformsTeam size and who needs to be managedLength of the engagementHow fast you need results
- Project
A defined piece of content strategist work with a start, an end and agreed deliverables.
- Monthly retainer
Ongoing content strategist work with a fixed monthly scope, reviewed every month.
- Fractional or part-time
A set number of days or hours each week, with me working inside your team.
Freelancer vs agency vs in-house for content strategist work
| Option | Speed | Control | Accountability | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer (me) | Starts within days of agreeing scope | Direct access to the person doing the work | One named person answers for results | Scale up or down by month |
| Agency | Slower to start; account and delivery teams | Work passes through several people | Shared across a team and account manager | Fixed packages and notice periods |
| In-house hire | Slowest: recruiting and onboarding first | Full day-to-day control | Direct line manager, but one person covers many tasks | Long-term commitment, harder to change |
Proof
Case studies with numbers
These are real projects from my own records, with the first number shown exactly as it is reported in the full case study.
Fit
Who it is for and who it is not for
You publish regularly but articles compete with each other, rank for nothing useful and do not lead anywhere. That is the situation where content strategist work pays back fastest.
Choosing well
How to choose a content strategist: criteria and red flags
A good content strategist shows their reasoning, not just their results. Check these points before you sign, and treat vague answers or guaranteed outcomes as red flags.
- 01
Ask to see a topic map and the brief that came from it.
- 02
Ask how they avoid two articles targeting the same keyword.
Tools
Tools and methodology
My method is audit first, then plan, then execute and report. For content strategist work I rely on Ahrefs and Semrush, Search Console, GA4 and a content brief template, and I record every change so results can be traced to decisions.
The stack
Ahrefs and SemrushSearch ConsoleGA4a content brief template
Before the call
A content gap check to run before we talk
Bring these to the call so we can scope the work in one conversation.
A content gap check to run before we talk
- List your ten most valuable products or services
- Write the five questions customers ask before buying
- Note which of those already have a page
- Mark pages you have not updated in over a year
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on scope, timing and fit. Pricing is always scoped to your project.
What does a content strategist do?
As your content strategist, I research keywords and customer questions into a topic map, design the page types, calendar and internal linking, write briefs that give writers the angle, structure and sources and measure content by rankings, leads and updates needed. I diagnose, set the direction and hand your team a plan to run.
How much does it cost to hire a content strategist?
Cost depends on the site size and number of topics in scope, whether I also brief and review the writers, the number of channels or platforms, team size, engagement length and how quickly you need results. I scope each project individually instead of quoting a standard rate. Book a Call for a scoped quote and I will tell you exactly what your situation involves.
Freelance content strategist vs agency: which is better?
A content director runs the team and the calendar; a content strategist designs the plan and briefs and then hands over, usually without managing the people. A freelancer gives you direct access and flexible commitment; an agency adds a larger bench. Tell me what you need on a call and I will say honestly which suits you.
When should I hire a content strategist?
Hire a content strategist when you publish regularly but articles compete with each other, rank for nothing useful and do not lead anywhere. If that sounds familiar, a short call is enough to confirm whether the role fits or whether something simpler would do.
What should I ask before hiring a content strategist?
Ask to see a topic map and the brief that came from it. Ask how they avoid two articles targeting the same keyword. Their answers matter less than whether they answer plainly, with specifics you can check. Book a Call and I will answer this for your specific situation.
How long until I see results from a content strategist?
Timing depends on your starting point and the channel. In the first 30 days I audit existing content and build the keyword and topic map. By day 60 I deliver the calendar and the first set of briefs. By day 90 I review early rankings and refine the plan. We agree these checkpoints before work starts.
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