Every Web team should include at least one person with content expertise. Job titles include: 

• Editor: content editor, online editor, managing editor, site editor, copyeditor, content manager
• Writer: content writer, online writer
• Management: managing editor, content manager, producer, information architect
• Coordination: content coordinator

 See sample job descriptions for writers and editors. 

Writer vs. editor

As in other media, writers and editors have different roles in creating content. 

Qualities of a successful Web content producer

If you’re an experienced writer or editor, you can transfer almost all your skills to the Web. But you’ll need to acquire some new ones, including:

• An understanding of how people read online and how to organize content appropriately
• The ability to package content for online consumption. Web content is more similar to magazines and catalogs than books and requires a similar approach.
• A basic understanding of how websites work and what it’s possible to do.
• Familiarity with the most common HTML tags

The peculiarities of working on the Web also make some personal qualities especially valuable:

• Flexibility – You must be willing to reconsider decisions and change processes to accommodate changes in technology and tools or shifts in the site’s definition. Editors must relax their insistence on consistency.
• Resourcefulness – You’ll need to solve a new problem almost every day.  
• Willingness to experiment – Web content is still in its infancy, so few conventions exist and many questions remain about what does and doesn’t work.
• Ability to compromise and negotiate – Roles overlap more on Web teams than other types of teams, including software. Successful writers and editors are able to skillful negotiate for what they want.
• Be a persuasive advocate for role of editorial -- People tend to focus with look and functionality of site and underestimate the importance of content and the expertise needed to create it. But that’s what users care most about. People in charge also tend to care more about creating new site, but don’t like thinking through details of ongoing publishing.
• Passion for the Web – Everyone on a Web team spends lots of time looking at other sites. Writers and editors collect relevant sites to link to and search for solutions to style and formatting problems.

To top

More information

• Craig's List Seattle – Web design and information design jobs in the Seattle area
• Hotjobs.com – Search for Internet and new media jobs for writers and editors.
• Monster.com – You can search for jobs by category or location. View specific listings for Internet writer or editor.
• STC job listings –  Technical communication jobs in the Puget Sound area.

Advice

• Freelancing in the Web World – Information and advice for finding a freelance job on a Web team
• Internet jobs – Tips and links to job sites (About.com)
• Job tips – Advice on conducting a job search, creating an “e-resume,” and more information for programmers, designers, and content producers looking for a job on a Web team.
• Notes for job seekers in UI design and computer science  – Advice from a Microsoft insider targeted at graphic designers, but useful for content providers
• Salary information – Search results of this salary survey by job title ("senior editor," "freelance writer," etc.) and location within the U.S. From www.webjobsusa.com.
• Web Content Development: The New Writing Career – How different sites use writers and the skills writers need to succeed
• What it takes to be an online content pro – 15 personal qualities that can make you a successful content producer (Contentious.com).

To top