Blog Assistant

Job Overview
We are looking for a highly organized and WordPress familiar blog operations assistant to help run and scale a portfolio of established blogs, including MK Library and The Weekly Driver.

Writing is a smaller portion of this role. It is an operational role designed to build systems, improve efficiency, and manage the day-to-day workflow of a digital publishing business.

The ideal candidate is a "finisher" who loves checking boxes, organizing chaotic inboxes, and finding faster, smarter ways to get things done. You will work directly with the Publisher to turn high-level strategies into executed tasks, ensuring content is published on time, emails are answered, and the sites continue to grow.

Candidates must possess an obsessive attention to detail. In this business, a single broken link, incorrect fact, or typo in a headline can negatively impact business operations and credibility. We need someone who treats every post and email as high-stakes, ensuring 100% accuracy before hitting “publish” or “send.”

This position requires frequent in-person communication. To facilitate deep collaboration and seamless onboarding, much of the work will be performed on-site at the Publisher’s home office. We are looking for a local candidate who values face-to-face teamwork as we establish new workflows and systems together.

Responsibilities

Operations & Systems Management

• Inbox & Correspondence Management: Take ownership of the primary email inboxes. Filter inquiries, respond to guest post requests, flag high-priority opportunities, and draft standard replies for common queries.
• Workflow Optimization: Identify bottlenecks in the current publishing process and create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline tasks (e.g., “The 10-step checklist for publishing a post”).
• Task Management: Use project management tools (e.g., Trello, Asana, or Notion) to track open projects, deadlines, and deliverables, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
• File Organization: Organize and maintain digital assets, including Google Drive folders, photo libraries, and contract archives for easy retrieval.

Editorial & Content Coordination

• Editorial Calendar Management: Plan and maintain the content schedule for multiple sites, ensuring a consistent flow of articles, reviews, and updates.
• Content Staging & Formatting: Take draft content (from the Publisher or guest writers) and stage it in WordPress. This includes formatting headers, adding internal/external links, and selecting featured images.
• Guest Post Coordination: Manage the end-to-end process for guest contributors, from reviewing pitches and communicating guidelines to final scheduling and publication.
• SEO Audits & Updates: Systematically review and update older content (“content decay”) by refreshing stats, checking broken links, and improving on-page SEO based on current keyword research.

Growth & Scaling

• Competitor & Keyword Research: Assist in identifying new content opportunities by researching competitor gaps and high-volume, low-competition keywords.
• Affiliate Management: Audit and update affiliate links (e.g., Amazon Associates) to ensure monetization is active and optimized across top-performing posts.
• Performance Reporting: Create a simple monthly report summarizing key metrics (traffic, email subscribers, revenue) to help the team make data-driven decisions.

Skills & Qualifications

• Detail-Oriented: You spot typos that others miss and care about the visual consistency of a blog post.
• Platform Proficiency: Advanced experience with WordPress (Gutenberg editor) is non-negotiable. You should know how to manage blocks, manage categories and tags, and troubleshoot basic formatting issues.
• SEO Literacy: A solid understanding of on-page SEO best practices (keywords, meta descriptions, alt text, internal linking). Experience with tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest is a strong plus.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously without getting overwhelmed. You live by your to-do list.
• Communication: Professional, clear, and concise writing style for email correspondence and team updates.
• Tech Adaptability: Comfortable learning new software quickly. Experience with AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude) for outlining and brainstorming is preferred.
• Knowledge of fact-checking, research methods, and journalism principles
• Experience with technical writing, creative writing, or copywriting is a plus
• Proficiency in word processing software (e.g., Microsoft Word) or similar tools
• Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Experience

• Prior experience managing a blog or working as a Virtual Assistant for a digital publisher.
• Basic knowledge of HTML/CSS for minor troubleshooting.
• Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, ConvertKit).

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Application Question(s):

• Explain a system you use to keep your own life organized. Or, share a time you improved a process to make it more efficient.

Work Location: In person