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The Content Technologist is a free weekly newsletter for content professionals working in the age of algorithms. We also offer an always-on website, virtual events, consulting services, and a course. If you are curious about our work, we recommend that you subscribe to the newsletter.

Our mission: To support knowledge workers in the theory, practice, business and craft of publishing digital content.

Our subscribers are content professionals at all levels, from junior copywriters to directors at major brands and media companies. Whether you're an independent creator running your own shop or part of an enterprise content team, you'll find practical tips and big thinking in our library of content, now in its 5th year of growth.

From July 2019 until December 2022, this newsletter was written exclusively by founder and publisher Deborah Carver. Since January 2023, we've published paid contributions from several working digital content professionals and consultants.

What we publish

The Content Technologist covers the business of digital publishing, with forays into brand strategy, user experience, information architecture, content analytics, audience development, content marketing, social media, and general digital culture from a business perspective.

Check out these playlists to get a sense of what you might read in each weekly newsletter.

• Generative AI: Content by computers
• SEO for the 2020s: Topic & entity optimization
• Rethinking email & website norms
• Data-informed content strategy

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Who we publish

If our call for pitches is open, you will see a button with the words "CALL FOR PITCHES" immediately below this line.

We publish active practitioners who are working professionally. Although our contributors sometimes work for other companies, we see their professional experience as valued expertise. We also don't promote their companies outright, but sure, a link in bio is fine.

AI: We have nuanced opinions

The Content Technologist has been covering AI-generated content since issue #3, so we're super familiar with its technical promise, limitations, and associated ethical quandaries. That said, we use AI for production and editorial support, and we contractually allow writers to have a small percentage of AI-generated language in their drafts.

Guest posts: No, thanks

We do not accept guest posts and feel that, well, posting for free on someone else's website for a link doesn't meet our bar for quality content. If you ask us to publish a guest post, we will assume you're interested in sponsoring our paid, expert-written content, and we will send you a link to the media kit.

Sponsor us: Support worthwhile B2B publishing

We believe that we get what you pay for, so we pay writers rates in line with their professional expertise. By sponsoring our content, you directly support the work of high-quality writers and editors.

If you are interested in sponsoring our publication, website, or events, please request a media kit.

*Did you hear? All the writers' and artists' jobs will be taken by robots... or will they? We consider the role of generative artificial intelligence in content strategy and planning.

How to edit AI-generated content

How can we improve AI-generated writing? Let’s jump on the trend train and ask the machines.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

DALL-E 2 won’t replace artists, but it’s still fun.

DALL-E 2 can generate multiple images in many styles on command. How can we learn to love this technology without replacing human ideas?

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Is ChatGPT a good substitute for human writers?

ChatGPT is the coolest new AI toy on the market. But is the writing actually good?

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

*Topic optimization is the key to search dominance. Learn how search engines build entities and start optimizing your content for contemporary algorithms.

What is entity optimization in SEO content? | The Content Technologist

In SEO, entities are the “topic clouds” or holistic concepts that surround a keyword. Entity optimization is both extremely simple and maddeningly complex. Learn about entity optimization.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

How search algorithms work | The Content Technologist

You’re right to be skeptical of organic search algorithms. But it’s also helpful to have an awareness of their very human characteristics. Here’s how search and content algorithms work, broken down for the non-experts.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

A content intelligence conundrum | The Content Technologist

These search results taste stale. TL;DR you can’t optimize content without human originality.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Language processing formulas | The Content Technologist

Language processing formulas break complex text down into component parts and assign meaning, identifying the statistical likelihood that one word or another will occur in relation to another.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

How to own the butt rock conversation | The Content Technologist

Or, how to break down a SERP and make authentic, impactful, visible long-tail content that ranks.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

*Best practices are always changing. Here's how we can build for shifting digital-first audiences.

Email content best practices in 2020 | The Content Technologist

Here’s what I tell clients and people who want to learn more about writing an email newsletter.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Does your website actually need a blog? | The Content Technologist

Why are we still building websites with blogs tacked on at the end? Are blogs really good for SEO?

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Reevaluating in-line linking | The Content Technologist

Links are the building blocks of the web. Revisit your linking best practices in the context of 2020s digital behavior.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

5-step brand SEO guide | The Content Technologist

Show up when someone searches for your brand name with this five-step guide to building a better brand SERP.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Types of website nav menus | The Content Technologist

What does it look like when we take a farm-to-table approach to menu and information architecture design?

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Tyranny of the landing page | The Content Technologist

“Drive traffic to the landing page” is the most time-worn of hastily considered digital marketing tactics. Here’s why you should think a little bigger.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

*For content publishers with deep archives and more sophisticated operations, these posts can help you get more out of your data to create better content.

Content analytics KPIs vs. dashboards | The Content Technologist

KPIs are also fantastic when programming a computer or optimizing an advertising algorithm. For content analytics, however, single KPIs are a bad choice.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Content pillars: The next evolution of impactful branded content strategy

If you’re looking to build audience, brand and a better case for digital content, you may want to adopt a strategy based on content pillars.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

First-party audience data collection | The Content Technologist

What are the benefits of collecting first-party data from your audience? What are the best sources of audience intelligence? Dive deep into the first-party data party.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

Session duration and engaged time | The Content Technologist

Session duration and engaged time are crucial performance metrics for content-rich websites. Learn why they’re often misread.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver

4 content engagement analytics patterns | The Content Technologist

Want to learn more about how your audience engages with your content? Here are 3 Google Analytics setups and one email metric to watch.

The Content TechnologistDeborah Carver