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- Manage the development, uploading and maintenance of content on an organisation's website
- Roles can range from highly creative work, writing and editing, to more technical roles managing data
- Progress into information management, editorial roles, search engine optimisation (SEO) or web development
As a web content manager, you'll plan and manage the information that sits on websites or other applications like intranets. This might include text, images, video, audio, and other media. You could specialise in working on sites that are linked to your favourite topics, hobbies or interests as you'll have the knowledge and passion needed to plan great content that users will love.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Taking a lead role in maintaining and developing a site
- Attending meetings to plan and develop site content, style and appearance
- Using web content management systems (CMS)
- Analysing website usage statistics
- Writing reports for senior managers, clients and partnership organisations
- Carrying out quality assurance checks on content
- Reporting technical problems to IT support staff
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
Most of your work will be office-based at a computer. There may be some out-of-office duties, like attending meetings with clients or partners.
In larger organisations, you might manage an editorial team, but in a smaller organisation you are likely to have a more 'hands on' role, where you'll look after all aspects of the content on a site.
You'll need
There are no set requirements, but you'll need organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines, confident presentation skills, the ability to build relationships with clients and partners, an excellent grasp of English grammar, punctuation and spelling, the ability to write for a target audience, creative skills to find interesting ways to present information and to generate new ideas, and attention to detail, for example when proofreading.
You could start this career with a qualification or background in English, journalism, digital media, marketing or IT, or with business experience.
You'll usually need experience of writing content, although not necessarily online. You could gain this by blogging or writing on social media, writing marketing materials or newsletters, or volunteering for a student newspaper, charity or community group. Building up a portfolio of work to show employers could help you get your first role. You may be able to work your way up from a digital content editor role.
Knowledge of web design, video and photo editing will also be useful.
You could also take an online course or a college course like a Level 4 Diploma in Creative and Digital Media that would teach you some of the skills needed for producing web content, like journalism, publishing, media and communications, or PR and marketing.
Alternatively you could do a digital and technology solutions professional degree apprenticeship.
CAREER PROSPECTS
You could progress into information management, editorial roles, search engine optimisation (SEO), technical web development or wider information planning and policy roles.