What are some effective ways for Content Strategists to work with developers?

Try to think like the developer. A good Marketeer should be able to put herself in the shoes of the other, so this is a piece of cake. Goals, structure, and a plan of action give direction to the joint project. If you need real input from a developer for content, then draft something first and let them give feedback. In my experience, developers are much better at improving an idea/ content than sitting in front of an empty piece of paper and not knowing how to start.

Include content strategists from day zero (even before you brief the developer). Content strategists have a bird's eye view of everything that the brand website will eventually consist of (assuming they've had workshops with product & marketing teams, and know the business well). Content strategists will create the first site map, list content requirements and page layouts based on business requirements. 1. Create the information architecture first. 2. Establish the content hierarchy. Include brand & content guidelines. 3. Brief your developers, UX & UI experts after this part. This will allow them to improvise on your site map & page layouts using design principles and tech feasibility without losing business & brand goals.

In my experience, one of the most agile ways for content teams to work with the developers on website projects is to create a content pipeline based on developer sprints. This helps the testing process greatly. Simply by adding the actual content (copy, images and videos) during this process helps you test for all the grey areas between content and code. For example, if the actual images you're going to use are not rendering well on the web, you may have to retouch them, and so on with the copy, videos, etc. as well. For a pixel-perfect and elegantly worded website, you want all its aspects — copy, images, videos, layouts, buttons, CTAs — to be in perfect alignment, rendering on the web at their most optimised high resolution.

This is an area that I learned to focus on during my time at Twentieth Century Fox. It was drilled into us that as managers we needed to be clear and concise when it came to delivering feedback, but also to make ourselves accessible to our teams. Provide feedback promptly, making it relevant to the specific situation. Clearly articulate what went well and what could be improved. Specific feedback is actionable and helps individuals understand how to enhance their Acknowledge achievements and strengths, balancing them with areas for improvement. Establishing effective feedback loops involves creating an environment where communication is constructive, continuous, and contributes to individual and team development.

In my experience, I've always looked at developers as my creative partners in whatever project in which we've been engaged. Every member of a creative team brings his or her special talent, experience and point of view to making a project a success. It's been a successful formula for me and for those with whom I have worked – and for our clients.

Some of my favorite developers to work with are incredibly talented AND incredibly stubborn. In those situations, both of us are passionate about the end user and we have passionate discussions (AKA, arguments) over what would serve our visitors the best. This may seem counter-productive in business but it's how you go from a good project to a great one and continually raise the bar in marketing.

Content strategists and devs: different worlds, one goal – impactful content! Bridge the gap with these two superpowers: Define the Mission: Align on the "why" – conversions, brand love, user education? Clear goals are your map. Then, nail down the "what" – features needed, technical limits? Specificity avoids detours. Respect the Hustle: Ditch jargon, speak plain English. Devs explain tech hurdles, content wizards paint user needs. Empathy and open ears are your secret weapons. Celebrate wins together, each team's magic makes the symphony sing. Clear goals, open communication, and mutual respect – that's the recipe for a content dream team. Together, you'll craft experiences that not only look good, but drive real results.