Hiring A Content Writer? Maybe You Need A Content Strategist Instead
A content strategist carries out content strategy. Do you have a content strategy for your business?
You know you need content. Blog posts. Emails. Lead magnets. Maybe even an entire content library. You want to attract customers, earn trust, and grow your business. So you do what seems logical: Hire a writer.
And what do you hand them?
A topic. Maybe a keyword. Maybe a vibe. Maybe a deadline.
And then you wait for magic.
But if what you get back feels off—scattered, superficial, or otherwise not the right fit—you might not have a writing problem.
You might have a strategy gap.
Writers write; content strategists decide what gets written
Content strategists may writer, but they also decide what to write about, for whom, and where to ... More publish.
Here's the simplest way to understand the difference between a content writer and a content strategist:
It's the difference between saying, "Write me a blog post about humans-in-the-loop for humanoid development," and saying, "We want to build authority in the humanoid development space, especially among humanoid engineers. Let's map out a three-month content series that educates, attracts search traffic, and nurtures people toward our services."
That second one? Strategy.
From that strategy comes a writing brief.
From that brief comes content that has a damn good chance of actually working.
A content brief in my inbox: A real-world example
Here's a real-life example of what a content strategist does, right from my inbox
Just last week, I received an email that said, "We're looking for articles that answer common questions readers are already searching for. We'll provide a detailed brief, created by an SEO expert, designed to help you maximize long-term traffic."
See, a brief does more than provide writing direction. It puts content strategy into motion. As soon as I read it, I realized someone had already spotted an opportunity, researched what the audience wants, and built a container for the content.
The brief included:
I'm a good writer, so all I have to do is follow the brief. But what I want you to see here is that someone had to make that brief. And that someone was a content strategist.
If you don't have a strategist in your corner, you're likely relying on your writer to make strategic decisions, which can be good or bad, depending on the writer.
Why content strategy matters to your business
A content strategist helps your content have pinpoint focus.
Here's the thing. You can hire the best content writer in the world, but if you don't give them strategic direction, you're making them guess.
That humanoid article I mentioned? It's a real assignment that landed in my inbox without a brief. So I had to email my client back to ask:
Without that clarity, content gets fuzzy. Outcomes get fuzzy. ROI gets fuzzy, or disappears.
Ask yourself these questions to know if you need a content strategist
If you're not sure whether you're hiring a writer or a strategist, ask yourself:
If your answer to most of those is 'me, I guess,' you probably need a strategist.
How to hire smarter (without doubling your budget)
Content strategist or content writer? Here's help for you to decide.
Fret not about your budget: You don't need to hire both a content writer and a content strategist right away. But you do need to be clear about what you're asking for.
If you only need words on a page, say that. And give your writer a solid brief. If you need help deciding what to create, hire someone who can see the whole forest, how content maps to your brand and content goals, and how it changes the lives of prospects.
Some content professionals do both. Others specialize. Know which one you're getting. (Side note: I do both, in case you're wondering. I love helping founders turn scattered content efforts into clear, connected strategies and pieces that work.)
The truth is, most good content strategists started as writers. They learned to think beyond the words on the page. So when you hire a content strategist, chances are you're getting someone who can both plan the strategy and do the writing. But when you hire just a writer, you might only get half the equation.
The bottom line? When you think 'content strategist,' think "thinker"
Content strategists are thinkers.
Great content doesn't start with writing. It starts with thinking.
If your content efforts aren't working as you'd hoped, or if you've hired writers and still feel like you're not results, it might be time to stop looking for wordsmiths and to start looking for thinkers.
With better strategy, you'll get better writing. And with better both, you'll get better results.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
1 Soaring Growth Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist Before It Is Too Late
Applied Materials stock is in rebound mode. Even better, it still trades at an attractive valuation. The semiconductor equipment supplier expects stronger growth in the future due to increased spending by chipmakers and foundries. Applied Materials stock could deliver terrific gains going forward thanks to favorable end-market developments. 10 stocks we like better than Applied Materials › Share prices of Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) have jumped impressively from the 52-week lows they hit just over two months ago, gaining 31% in a short time on the back of the broader rally in the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite index that has clocked solid gains of 25% during the same period. What's worth noting is that investors shrugged off Applied Materials' mixed fiscal 2025 second-quarter results (for the three months ended April 27), which were released on May 15. The semiconductor equipment supplier reported robust growth in sales and earnings for the quarter, but its top line was a tad lighter than expected. The company's outlook for the current quarter followed a similar pattern. However, savvy investors would do well to note that Applied Materials' results and guidance were resilient at a time when the tariff-fueled turmoil and the restrictions on sales of semiconductor equipment to China are turning out to be headwinds for the company. Let's take a look at the factors that could help Applied Materials stock maintain its momentum on the market. Applied Materials reported year-over-year growth of 7% in its revenue in the previous quarter, while its non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) increased at a faster pace of 14%. A quarter of its revenue came from sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China. For comparison, Applied Materials' top-line growth was flat in the same quarter last year, while its adjusted earnings increased at a much slower pace of 5%. Applied Materials got 43% of its revenue from Chinese customers in the year-ago period. So, the company's growth accelerated even though restrictions on sales of advanced chipmaking equipment to Chinese customers hurt its business in its largest market abroad. This can be attributed to the global growth in semiconductor demand owing to catalysts such as artificial intelligence (AI). Equity research firm Summit Insights Group predicts that the improvement in demand for advanced chips in the second half of 2025 and next year should allow Applied Materials to continue doing well even if its Chinese business remains negatively impacted. Applied Materials CEO Gary Dickerson's remarks on last month's earnings conference call suggest something similar: The impact of AI datacenter innovation and investments is apparent in the wafer fab equipment market, where there are significant shifts in the spending mix this year. We see investment in leading edge foundry-logic growing substantially in 2025, and we also expect spending for leading-edge DRAM to be up significantly. Large-scale AI infrastructure investments such as the $500 billion Stargate project and the multibillion-dollar investments by cloud-computing giants to bolster their AI capabilities are the reasons why foundries and chipmakers are focused on enhancing their manufacturing capacities. Foundry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), for instance, is set to increase its capital expenditures (capex) by 38% at the midpoint of its forecast to $40 billion in 2025. The Taiwan-based company is on track to build nine fabrication plants this year. TSMC further points out that it will spend 70% of its capital spending on advanced process nodes. That's not surprising as almost three-fourths of the company's revenue comes from selling chips manufactured using advanced nodes that are 7-nanometer (nm) or smaller in size. Looking ahead, TSMC estimates that its revenue from sales of AI chips is likely to increase at an annual rate of mid-40% through 2029. So, it won't be surprising to see the company spending more money on shoring up the production capacity of advanced chips to meet the AI-fueled demand. The increase in capex by the likes of TSMC is expected to drive a 2% increase in global semiconductor equipment spending this year to $110 billion, followed by a much stronger increase of 18% in 2026. This should ideally lead to an acceleration in Applied Materials' growth as well, paving the way for more stock price upside. Analysts are forecasting a 10% increase in Applied Materials' earnings this fiscal year to $9.49 per share. This is expected to be followed by a smaller jump in fiscal 2026 before another year of double-digit growth in fiscal 2027. However, the sharp acceleration in global semiconductor equipment spending could allow Applied Materials to grow at a faster rate over the next couple of years. But even if the company's bottom line grows in line with consensus expectations and its earnings hit $11.17 per share after a couple of fiscal years (as per the chart above), its stock price could jump to $329 (based on the tech-laden Nasdaq-100 index's forward earnings multiple of 29). That points toward an 88% gain from current levels in the next three years. Applied Materials stock is now trading at just 18 times forward earnings, which is a nice discount to the Nasdaq-100 index, which serves as a proxy for tech stocks. However, the market could reward Applied Materials with a richer earnings multiple in the future if it can deliver stronger-than-expected earnings growth. That's why savvy investors may want to buy this semiconductor stock while it is still trading at an incredibly cheap valuation, as it has the ability to go on a terrific bull run going forward. Before you buy stock in Applied Materials, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Applied Materials wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $659,171!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $891,722!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Applied Materials and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Soaring Growth Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist Before It Is Too Late was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
AppLovin: The advertising giant in the making
Introduction AppLovin is a premier mobile technology company that has transitioned from a mobile gaming developer to a full-fledged app marketing and monetization platform. It was established in 2012 and is based in Palo Alto, California. The company operates two main business units: Software Platform and Apps. The Software Platform, which is driven by the AI-based AXON engine, is aimed at mobile app developers and it provides them with cutting-edge solutions like user acquisition, monetization, and analytics. This platform is responsible for handling billions of ad requests on a daily basis, as it leverages machine learning algorithms to improve campaign performance and to increase revenue for both advertisers and publishers. Among the key products offered are the MAX mediation platform which is the instrument that allows publishers to operate several ad networks with a single integration, and thorough user acquisition tools that are specifically designed for developers to grow their user bases at the shortest time possible. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Sign with APP. Key Growth Drivers Machine Learning and AI-Powered Optimization The AXON platform that is powered by AppLovin's sophisticated machine learning infrastructure, which is its own product, is the genetic code of the tech advantage of the company. The proprietary AI engine that the company uses, being at the heart of the whole process, is in charge of the incredible computational task of processing a diverse range of data to make real-time decisions on the best ad placements, user acquisition campaigns, and monetization strategies available. By examining the engagement metrics and conversion data, the system constantly improves the targeting accuracy and campaign efficiency besides getting insight from user behavior patterns. This exceptional efficiency, which allows advertisers to make more informed bids on ad inventory while publishers to generate more revenue, is based on the system's predictive capabilities. The platform's establishment to process and learn from billions of pieces of data each day creates a significant barrier for other competitors, as it is developed better with more available data. AXON is the neural network that drives the whole platform with deep learning technology, which is used to explore the user data in a way that traditional analysis tools would not be able to. That is to say, this platform is the most modern digital solution that performs the task of reinforcement learning, where the smart algorithms are given real-time feedback with optimal ad placement and bidding decisions generated automatically. This automated optimization function, which in reality results in the use of less human resources, is achieved compared to the delivering of impressive results using a set of predefined rules. Real-Time Bidding and Programmatic Infrastructure AppLovin has the technology stack including high-performance real-time bidding (RTB) infrastructure capable of processing hundreds of thousands of bid requests per second with sub-100 millisecond response times. This is a low-latency system for mobile advertising where split-second decisions are the determinants of campaign success. The distributed architecture of the platform ensures global scalability and uniform performance, despite different geographic regions. Moreover, the programmatic advertising technology platform includes header bidding alongside the integration allowing publishers to increase their revenue through enabling multi-demand sources to compete for the same inventory simultaneously. The system's complex auction mechanics are not only concerned with bid prices but also take into account user experience, ad quality, and long-term value optimization. However, Applovin's server-side integration mechanisms spare the technical brunt of application developers while presenting centralized data collection and analysis techniques. This approach is compared to client-side implementations, which need multiple SDK integrations, resulting in longer app latency and poor user experience. Data Analytics and Attribution Technology The advanced data analytics structure of the company processes the huge amounts of data it collects to find insights that are valuable for both the advertisers and publishers. More advanced attribution models, in turn, allow for better measurement of the user paths across multiple touchpoints, which translates into higher confidence in the budget allocation decisions. The two ways to attribute the platform's capability are probabilistic and deterministic, which are useful for a much dense privacy environment. AppLovin's analytics tool provides sophisticated analysis of cohorts, predicting lifetime value, and churn modeling to the app developers in an effort to enhance the user acquisition process. The platform's ability to connect the costs of acquiring new users with the value they bring over time means it can help optimize return on ad investment (ROAS) more than measuring just installs can. The company's commitment to using privacy-friendly methods in data collection and analysis ensures that it is well-prepared for the ever-changing legal landscape. Data confidentiality and federated learning methods, together with innovative approaches in data collection, will facilitate users' right to privacy, and continue the optimization process by respecting regulatory mandates. Competition from Technology Giants AppLovin is up against robust competition from technology companies that are using their resources and networks. Google, through its AdMob platform and Google Ads ecosystem, is probably the strongest rival. Google's interconnectedness with Android, YouTube, and its advertising network turned it into a powerhouse that promises premium exposure and fine contracts. Facebook (Meta), through its Audience Network along with the vast amount of data from social media, which makes it possible for precise user targeting and cross-platform campaign management, is another relevant competitor. Apple's recent privacy policies, namely, App Tracking Transparency (ATT), are a mixed-source benefit in the competition scene. The fact is that these issues eliminate some of the attribution and targeting capabilities for a while but at the same time, that would bring balance to the situation by lessening the data advantages that some of the competitors had before. The way to deal with this threat is a concentration on those areas where the giants might not be as swift or/and comprehensive. The deep dive on the mobile gaming and app monetization areas by the company grants the right for more in-depth verticals and exactly tailor-made solutions rather than platform companies do. The optimization brought along with the AXON platform's automatic algorithms for the mobile app environment often results in better performance than generic ad solvers in the scope of new user quality and monetization efficiency. Competition from Specialist Ad Tech Companies The mobile advertising game is competitive with the participation of many niche players, each of whom has identified a particular slice of the market. Unity Technologies is one of them, in particular, because it uses its Unity Ads platform to operate in the same arena as mobile gaming ads and even leverage its game development engine to provide integrated advertising. IronSource (now part of Unity) used to be a significant adversary with its all-in-one platform that handled app monetization and user acquisition comprehensively. Chartboost has a very specific operation model that enables it to focus only on mobile game advertising, which includes direct publisher relationships and extensive knowledge of the gaming industry. Vungle (now part of Liftoff) is a firm that, through its video ad solutions, has added strong creative optimization capabilities. These companies are mostly known for their vibrant industry knowledge and long-standing partnerships defined within the industry sectors. However, these specialized players are giving a tough time with their niche focus, AppLovin is competing against them by bringing extra scale and high-level technology. The yield of billions and billions of ad requests daily makes the company to have the capacity of more effective machine learning optimizationin and standard machine learning schemes. AppLovin's user acquisition, monetization, and analytics in one solution platform and the simplicity of not having to carry out multiple integrations delivers accessibility and effectiveness over single point solutions that require integrations. Strengthened by the right acquisitions, the company is in a stronger position as it has consolidated its market share, and the potential competition was eliminated. The MoPub acquisition from Twitter gave AppLovin a digital publisher relationship and mediation capabilities while other small acquisitions enriched the tech stack and human resources, thus enhancing the platform. Key Risks Risks of Platform Dependency and Ecosystem Control AppLovin is at a high risk concerning the technological factors stemming from its reliance on mobile platforms governed by Apple and Google. Any iOS and Android platform policy changes can, in a matter of seconds, thus alter the way AppLovin operates. The real-time impact of the implementation of Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework proved this vulnerability when mobile advertisers immediately lost the ability to accurately attribute and target their ads. The prospective platform issues may involve more rigorous SDK approval processes, more privacy restrictions, or modified app store policies that will limit the advertising functionality altogether. For instance, the introduction of Private Relay in iOS 17 and the addition of enhanced tracking protection greatly narrow data collection capabilities. Although the Privacy Sandbox initiative from Android is still in progress, it poses a serious risk of redefining the way mobile advertising attribution and targeting are done. The technical risk branch out to the potential scenarios of platform fragmentation in which different versions of iOS or Android impose different privacy and advertising restrictions. AppLovin's single platform strategy is rendered more complex as it needs to reconcile with the different technical requirements caused by the braid of platform versions and geographic regions with various regulatory frameworks. Algorithmic and Machine Learning Model Vulnerabilities AXON's machine learning algorithms are the backbone of AppLovin's business edge as they grant a strongly concentrated technical risk around model performance and accuracy. The susceptibility of machine learning models to concept drift, where changing user behavior patterns or market conditions reduce the effectiveness of the model over time, is one of the most common reasons for this fall. The constant mutation of the mobile advertising ecosystem can make the previously useful alphas to be of no use whatsoever. Model bias is another highlight technical risk, this is when the algorithms inadvertently discriminate against some user segments or app categories, which in turn could result in regulatory violations or suboptimal performance outcomes. Attacks that are deceitful to the machine learning systems could influence either the bidding algorithms or the attribution models, which will in turn lead to financial losses and site degradation. The scenario of being data poisoned where the hackers introduce the useless and malicious data into the training datasets has the detrimental effect of degrading the performance of the models or creating vulnerabilities which can be exploited. The scale at which AppLovin is processing data, daily handling over billions of events, is making it more difficult to ensure comprehensive data validation while maintaining the real-time processing needs. The most serious of the risks that are created through overfitting is the one that comes from the models completely specializing in what has been done historically, thereby rendering the generalization capacities for new market conditions or user behaviors very weak. The high focus on the gaming vertical that has led to a competitive advantage could be detrimental if the gaming industry undergoes a drastic change. Valuation The forward P/E ratios for AppLovin portray impressive earnings acceleration with the non-GAAP P/E declining from 45.93x (FY1) to 27.69x (FY3), which suggests an impressive earnings increase, outstripping all but one peer company. It is the market's strong response that makes the compression evident, showing that it appreciates AppLovin's ability to grow the business while also keeping profitability up. The company's PEG ratios of 0.94 (non-GAAP forward) and 0.31 (GAAP TTM) are at a high level with respect to the growth rates making the stock very attractive, at least, it is significantly more attractive than peers like Adobe (1.35) and Cadence (3.09). This fact shows that the value of AppLovin is off the charts due to its markdown price based on its growth potential, which is further elaborated by the large upside that is now available. In contrast to industry rivals, AppLovin's valuation metrics look realistic even if the absolute P/E ratios are higher. Adobe and Cadence declare lesser P/E compression over time, while AppLovin shows signs of higher earnings growth. The absence of profit for a company like MasterCard (negative P/Es) contrasts sharply with AppLovin's prevailing profits in the ad-tech sector. Guru Holdings Lowenstein's 17.19% stake which is equivalent to $762.85 million shows tremendous conviction, especially if we take into consideration the average buy price that he had of $75.06, which is representing a 423.6% gain. Lowenstein's convincing position, which is large in size and yields excellent returns, is an evidence of AppLovin's strategic execution and its growth path. The 12.86% increase in the holdings that Lowenstein took just lately proves that he still has confidence in the company despite the stock's larger rise, which in turn shows that the bottom line is the company's fundamentals rather than the ups and downs of the market. Resnick's 13.47% stake ($740.26M) with an average cost basis of $49.41 (695.4% gain) represents even earlier conviction in AppLovin's transformation story. The stability of his holdings (0% recent change) indicates dissatisfaction with current positioning while maintaining long-term conviction. Both managers' five-star ratings and substantial outperformance demonstrate their investment expertise. ConclusionAppLovin faces strong competition from technology companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple. Google's AdMob platform and Ads ecosystem, coupled with its interconnectedness with Android, YouTube, and its advertising network, offer premium exposure and fine contracts. Facebook's Audience Network and vast data from social media enable precise user targeting and cross-platform campaign management. Apple's recent privacy policies, App Tracking Transparency (ATT), provide mixed-source benefits in the competition scene, but may limit data advantages. To address this threat, AppLovin focuses on mobile gaming and app monetization areas, offering tailored solutions rather than generic ad solvers. The AXON platform's automatic algorithms for the mobile app environment often result in better performance than generic ad solvers in terms of user quality and monetization efficiency. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Forget Tearing Down the House. Regenerative Design Is on the Rise.
While home renovation isn't a novel concept—people have been tweaking and refining their spaces for centuries—the physical act of remodeling is growing increasingly more nuanced. Climate change and its attendant natural disasters, coupled with the rising cost of construction materials (intensified by President Trump's heavy tariffs), are leading design professionals to reassess their approaches to projects and give greater consideration to their decisions' impact on the future. For many years, 'new' was a status symbol, and homeowners rushed to demolish existing rooms or entire structures they deemed outdated, often replacing them with trending styles. Architects clamored to provide clients with bigger and better houses, and in the 1990s and early 2000s, a class of starchitects such as Frank Gehry, Norman Foster, and the late Zaha Hadid cemented their fame by designing flashy museums and skyscrapers, each one seemingly more experimental and outlandish than the next. More from Robb Report Once Considered Passé, Hybrids Roar Back to Offer a Best-of-Both-Worlds Powerhouse Inside Hume Cloister, a $7.5 Million California Estate Inspired by a French Monastery This $11 Million Phoenix Mansion Will Help You Level Up Your Putting Game In a more recent industry-paradigm shift, firms are prioritizing the ecological consequences of their work, the history of a place, and the visual effect that renovating a structure will have on an area. As a result, the tear-it-all-down approach has started to lose its allure and what is known as regenerative design is on the rise—especially among young and emerging studios that are concerned about the future of the planet. This methodology goes beyond 'prettying up' a space, requiring architects to weigh their plans in relationship to the neighborhood and the natural world. It emphasizes using locally sourced materials—and fewer of them—and making decisions that don't just lower environmental impact but in fact reverse it. Strategies can range from restoring a historic home's original architectural details (but updating plumbing and HVAC to meet or even exceed industry standards) to repurposing existing materials during a renovation. Elements such as green walls or systems that collect, purify, and reuse rainwater can actually improve the environment. Unfortunately, these protocols can make a project more expensive and take longer to complete. But for a growing number of firms around the globe, including heavy hitters such as MASS Design Group, Christoph Hesse Architects, SANAA, and i29—not to mention their clients—the extra time and cash are worth it in order to design buildings that, quite literally, make the world a better place. Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
