Demand for content is outstripping the demand for content developers. But do the people who write content for businesses actually have the skills to do so well? It’s a question many professionals consider themselves unprepared for.

In the midst of a Content Marketing Revolution, David Jackson-Schmitt, senior editor at Qualtrics, is looking for people who are prepared to take on the responsibility of content marketing, specifically, through a content development course. Jackson-Schmitt has worked closely with people who’ve taken Qualtrics’ 8-week developer certificate program, and he shares some of the best experiences Qualtrics has had on the experience of working with their developer certificate program.

“Our recent developer certification is taught online in Minnesota; we offer a limited number of sessions each year and will continue to do so because we see the benefit in having a QD go through the program so they know what to expect,” Jackson-Schmitt explains. “With the proper tools in place, it can be a lot of fun!”

Jackson-Schmitt knows first-hand what a great developer training can offer. At Qualtrics, he worked closely with Albert Kang and Steve Price, two Qualtrics employees that Jackson-Schmitt says were exactly what Qualtrics looks for in candidates for the certificate program.

“They are the kind of individuals Qualtrics looks for in program participants: young, ambitious, motivated, and driven by success,” Jackson-Schmitt explains. “It’s those qualities that will help them become exceptional developers.”

In order to increase your odds of being able to “become exceptional,” Jackson-Schmitt also recommends using these five strategies to develop better content for your target audience.

1. Use Keywords & Intent

Developing content can sometimes take more work than you think. According to Jackson-Schmitt, there are some things you should be doing right away that will get you on your way to developing that content in the first place. Some of these are developing keyword and intent (how your audience wants to receive your content) and understanding your audience. These and the other tips outlined in this article can help you get into the habit of developing and writing effective content.

2. Get Actionable Content

Get details and structure out of your questions. Such information helps to generate useful discussion and facts that can be incorporated into your content. This is especially true of the social media applications, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Write those questions in layman’s terms and include simple questions that will hopefully spark discussions between your audience and your content.

3. Design Your Content With Eyes Wide Open

“Take time to create a layout that gives you true interactivity and delivers engaging and dynamic content,” Jackson-Schmitt advises. “Don’t be afraid to use visual concepts to convey the content you’re writing.” Visual documents or collages can serve as effective visuals. The only hitch you may encounter is that the perspective might come off looking like someone is desperately trying to get their work done. When this occurs, make sure to cover your eyes.

4. Understand Your Audience

You may think you have knowledge of your audience. But do you? Jackson-Schmitt states that the more you know about what your audience wants, the better your content will be. It’s also vital to have a good grip on what gives your audience value. And if you don’t have a good grip on your audience’s value, change that. But that means you have to start figuring out what you want your audience to know, and what your audience would want to know.

5. Eliminate Obstacles & Challenges

You may need to do some legwork to gather the information you need. But don’t be deterred. According to Jackson-Schmitt, one of the things that often scares developers is the lack of productivity during the development process. They face all sorts of challenges and obstacles, some of which require they research data and find solutions. Jackson-Schmitt advises that while developers face this, so do you, so make sure to organize your efforts and plan ahead for when the time does come. Developing content is, essentially, time-consuming work. Take the time to get the best possible at a great price, and you will have accomplished a lot.