How do you think good synergy with an SEO specialist can be beneficial to a content strategist?

"While an SEO specialist may be more technical focusing on mechanics of a website like speed or being responsible for understanding many factors which determine constantly changing search engine algorithms, their knowledge is beneficial to the content strategist. They have already digested the information related to how content will meet technical requirements to make it useful online. By sharing a clear overview with the content marketing strategist, they enable them to craft content that meets the technical needs but allows them to dedicate more energy to visual appeal, entertainment, and other audience-facing details."

The interviewer wants to know if you understand the essential connection between content and search engine optimization. You don't need to be an expert in search engine optimization to answer this question, but you should have a fundamental understanding of how it is complementary to content creation. Avoid explaining what the individual roles of the SEO and content strategists are. Instead, focus on how the collaborative effort positively affects the content strategist's effectiveness.

"Good synergy between the SEO strategist and the content strategist allow for the creation of content campaigns that are much more impactful. SEO knowledge is a crucial part of the content strategy. In one example, the content strategist may be concerned with frequently posting to keep the audience engaged, but posting frequently is of no benefit if the content never reaches the audience. Their SEO counterpart helps with this because before content conception; they ensure the content strategist knows how to structure the content to ensure proper indexing by search engines. This example is just one of the many ways the SEO strategist's technical expertise can benefit the content strategist."

Do you consider yourself a persuasive person?

"Persuasion and digital marketing methods go hand in hand so, yes, I believe that I am a persuasive person. My approach is not sly or combative in any way, however. I go about persuading others by displaying how my approach, or belief, could benefit the other party. In my case at work, the client."

Part of being an excellent communicator is also having the power of persuasion when necessary. There is a difference between persuasion and debating - or even convincing. Persuasion is used when you want to influence someone rather than tell them that they are wrong, and you are right. The power of persuasion is essential if you are selling or pitching anything. It is also a valuable skill when you want to gain momentum with your coworkers or have your boss better understand your approach on a project. It is not a negative thing to be persuasive. Talk to the interviewer about whether or not you consider yourself to be a persuasive individual.

"Persuasion is everywhere - from the conversations we have to the things that we buy. I am persuasive with my clients but not immediately. I first ensure that the groundwork is present, there is rapport, and enough supporting evidence that my path is the way that benefits everyone involved, as much as possible. I need to be able to prove the upside to whomever I speak to."

Have you ever managed or helped with a content budget? If so, what type of budgets are you accustomed to working with?

"Most of the budgets that I have worked within spread amongst a variety of digital production and creative costs. I have worked on budgets as small as $5,000 and as large as $15M. No matter the size of the budget, it's incredibly important that I treat every dollar as though it's my own; being wisely allocated and accounted for."

Before your interview, take some time to gather data related to the budgets you have worked with, and the times when you have come in under budget. This way, you will be prepared with specifics when asked about your budgetary experience. The interviewer wants to see that you have great insight when it comes to being budget conscious. Appropriate planning is one of the keys to a successful project, so be sure to discuss the steps that you take to plan a project's dollar spend carefully. Every dollar counts, even if you are working for a large company like Future! If you do not have experience in budget management, refer to the fact that you are responsible and resourceful.

"Although my experience does not yet include budget management, I have made recommendations on cost savings when it comes to content writing, video production, and talent acquisition. I feel that with the right training, and some more work experience, I will be ready to assist with content budgeting in no time."

Market research is essential to Future to help us understand where to take our business in the years to come. Rate your research skills from 1-10. Do you enjoy conducting research?

"One of the reasons why I would love to work for Future is because of your solid reputation for reputable sources and research. In my previous positions, I have always earned recognition for my great research skills. When you call my references, they will attest to this as well. There is always room for improvement, so for that reason, I would rate myself as an 8.5 out of 10 for research capabilities."

In the media and publishing industry, research and reliable sources are everything. Assure the interviewer that you are capable of conducting robust and dependable research. Draw on your positive references when answering this question.

"When it comes to research capabilities, I am most definitely a 10/10. An eleven even, if that is allowed! I love researching a large range of products and am very data and analytically minded."

Proper planning enables a marketing team to publish well-thought out, well-timed content. If leading a content initiative at Future, how would you suggest planning for it?

"With previous content marketing campaigns, I have always started by briefly analyzing campaign goals and the buyer persona. So, I would suggest beginning here by deciding on content structure, then make decisions on publishing platforms and sequence. To stay organized while putting together and carrying out the plan, using a robust scheduling tool is imperative. Once we have the foundation of the plan in place, we'll come up with names, subjects, formats and assign someone on the team to each piece of content. We'll also decide when the pieces will be published and decide how we'll regroup to review their performance."

You can answer this question by providing a suggestion from your past planning experience from an initiative that went well, or you can give a more data and process-focused response. Whichever you choose, be detailed enough to show that your know-how enables you to lead a content marketing plan.

"I would suggest planning a content strategy around various kinds of important data. This approach can mean researching to find opportunities across the internet based on commonly searched keywords and finding ones for which you could easily rank. You may determine that certain keywords rank best by posting a blog of X amount of words, a video, or that there are specific platforms where you can place content to meet the demand of the searched topic. There is also data that can be used from internal or external sources to help you decide on the content format, best times of day to post, etc. With all of this information, you can compose a great plan, then use an editorial calendar, automation, and scheduling tools to roll it out smoothly."

In your opinion, what is the difference between marketing and advertising?

"To me, the most significant difference between marketing and advertising is that advertising is simply one component of an entire marketing plan. The term marketing encompasses topics such as public relations, distributions, sales, market research, and more."

There are terms in the publishing industry that are similar; however, the interviewer wants assurance that you fully understand the semantics. Briefly discuss what you believe to be the most significant difference between marketing and advertising.

"Marketing refers to an entire plan when it comes to approach and distribution. Advertising is simply one facet of a marketing plan."

What methods do you use, to work within a brand's voice consistently?

"One tool that my current employer uses, and I find to be very helpful, is our internal Style Guide. This style guide is a tool for writers, producers, and creatives of all kinds, to refer to when they are unsure if their idea is on-track with the company's brand. Another method that I refer to often is to first storyboard the 'voice' that I want before beginning a project. I can create a clear narrative around the marketing effort very early on in the project."

When working on digital content, you will be asked to remain in line with your employers brand, and even perhaps the brand of your clients. The interviewer would like to know how you ensure that you maintain a brand's voice, consistently delivering it across multiple platforms or channels. Discuss your best methods for preserving the brand voice, and be sure to express that you understand the importance of this skill.

"I fully understand how critical it is to work within a brand's voice consistently throughout a project. One method that I enjoy using is to create a guide that outlines the jargon or colloquialisms that are acceptable to use in the campaign. Somewhat like a style guide, but easier to refer back to. I also feel it's important to make the voice of a brand a company-wide initiative so that co-workers can check in with each other to ensure all work is consistent and the best it can be."

Tell me about your experience in gaining corporate partnerships for live events.

"In my current position we have longstanding relationships with big brands such as Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Wells Fargo. My responsibilities with these partnerships have included identifying, and tracking new prospects as well as approaching them via phone or email. When required, I will source the decision makers and make an appointment to pitch them. My success rate has been very high, and I would be happy to share with you my approach to pitching new sponsorships."

A significant part of funding certain events could be securing corporate sponsorships or advertisers. The interviewer would like to see that you have experience working with potential sponsors, ironing out the details of their advertising efforts. If you do not have experience working with corporate partnerships, be sure to highlight the fact that you are eager to learn and that you will be comfortable with future tasks surrounding sales and promotions.

"Being new to my career, my responsibilities have not yet included working directly with corporate sponsors or advertisers. With that said, I do have sales training and cold calling experience that could be beneficial to Future when it comes to securing new corporate partnerships for a variety of events."

Name for me some of the websites we publish. Which do you read most often?

"From what I understand, Future has dozens of online publications targeted towards tech, music, and lifestyle. The website which I visit most often is Modern Dad. I like to be informed and well-rounded on multiple subjects when it comes to parenting in today's age. I find this website highly informative and entertaining at the same time."

The interviewer wants to be sure that you have done your homework on their company. Most major media organizations offer multiple content avenues geared towards niche markets. Discuss which Future publications you are best versed in and why. Be sure to support your interests. Some of Future's work include: - Modern Dad - Crackberry - TechRadar - LifeHacker...and more!

"TechRadar, released by Future, is hands down the one I read the most. As an avid tech enthusiast, I appreciate the effort that goes into your articles. I love to read about the latest rumors in tech and get the knowledge that I need before making any tech-related buying decisions."

In your opinion, what makes a memorable live experience?

"There are many moving parts to create a memorable live experience; however, I believe the top three include having a few 'holy-grail moments' where you drop jaws. Whether that be in the production, in the customer service, in the initial welcoming; there must be moments when the attendee cannot believe how amazing they feel. Next, having what we call 'Instagrammable' places and moments. These are backgrounds, structures, or overall environments that are Instagram-worthy. This approach also ensures that we have evergreen marketing content from the attendees ourselves. I am eager to bring more exciting and engaging ideas to Future soon, helping you to craft these memorable experiences and events."

Future has one primary goal, and that is to create memorable live experiences! The interviewer wants assurance that you know how to achieve this goal. Give a reply that is thoughtful and shows off your knowledge of the events industry. If you are new to your career, draw upon your own experiences as an attendee and what made them so memorable. Most important is that you bring enthusiasm to your response!

"I have attended many live events and festivals and have found that the most memorable experiences are the ones where customer service is over the top. Also, another common factor in successful events are ones that offer a 360-degree experience, both in person and online. I am eager to learn more about event production from Future."

Describe to me the types of digital media you are most experienced with.

"In my current role, I work primarily with online channels such as YouTube and IGTV, creating video content. I also have experience working on projects related to gamification ads. I saw in the Future job posting that you were looking for someone with in-depth knowledge with IGTV and Insta Stories for marketing. I would rate my knowledge in this area an 8 out of 10, leaving me very confident that I would meet your requirements."

There are a plethora of digital media forms today, and the interviewer would like a breakdown of the ones with which you are most familiar. Some types of digital media include images, video, gamification of many kinds, social media, websites, online channels, and more. Speak to the forms of digital media you are most experienced with while being sure to address the types listed in the Future job description.

"While completing my degree in Digital Marketing, I learned a great deal about digital media production and design for video and web platforms. Most of my experience is with creating compelling video ads, and shorts for use online and on social media."

To be a valuable contributor to the product development process at Future, team members need to keep up with the evolving social media trends. How do you plan to do so if hired?

"As a regular user of Facebook and Instagram, I can remain updated on new features of these social media platforms. Any other updates I may have missed I learn about through industry news feeds to which I subscribe. Once I learn about these changes, I visit the platforms to test out the new features. In doing so, I try to view it from a personal and business perspective to better understand how the changes affect different types of users. Any industry updates I learn about through online forums that I check regularly. I have a great interest in the social media industry, and therefore am proactive about remaining informed about technological advances in tools and platforms. My knowledge will be an asset to the product development process at Future."

It is essential to familiarize yourself with the social media platforms available - particularly the most popular ones such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. This familiarity would require that you be a consistent user of these platforms, whether in a social or professional capacity. Talk about your familiarity and experience with some of the social media platforms available. Include ways that you would try to stay abreast of new features and capabilities offered by the platforms. Be sure to mention how you remain current on the industry; overall, whether that is through online forums, communities, conferences, professional networks, or through any other means.

"I am a frequent user of the major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Because I am a regular user, I can learn from my social media connections about new platform features and capabilities. I believe being a user is the best way to understand these platforms and to strategically build new products plans that complement them from a marketing perspective. Also, I subscribe to many online social media newsletters that share upcoming trends in the industry and am diligent about setting aside time weekly to review the news. Over the years, I have also expanded my professional network of industry experts. My knowledge and user experience provide a strong foundation from which I can provide valuable insight into product development projects at Future."

How would you increase magazine subscriptions in an online-centric world?

"Print media is still very relevant, especially when a publication attracts a particular niche such as music or gaming. In an online-centric world, I would place focus on the nostalgia that comes from flipping through the physical pages of your favorite magazine, along with the fact that Future has been a trusted magazine for a variety of hot topics."

In a world immersed in online content, the hiring authority would like to know how you would capture the interest of new magazine subscribers. Future magazine publications include: - The official XBOX Magazine - The official PlayStation Magazine - Bass Guitar Magazine - Rhythm Drum Magazine...and more! Discuss one idea you have that would help print subscriptions to stand out in an online world.

"Many people love the offering of traditional magazines because they get to flip through the pages and get something in the mail. To increase magazine subscriptions, I would focus on those offerings, that are not available with online-only subscriptions."

What do you know about the events put on by Futur, and who our clients are:?

"I researched Future extensively before applying, and also before this interview. From my understanding, your top industries are Technology, Gaming, and Music. You put on events such as PC Gamer Weekend and the Progressive Music Awards. I am eager to jump into these esteemed projects and help Future continue to achieve amazing results in these sectors."

The interviewer at Future needs to know that you have conducted research on their business and that you are well prepared for the interview. The more you know, the more engaged you will appear; increasing your chances of being asked to return for the next round of interviews. Talk about aspects of their business but dig deeper than the 'Brands' or 'Who We Are' pages on their website. Mentions factors that are interesting and also highlight your excellent research abilities.

"The events by Future that I am most familiar with include The London Drum Show and the PC Gaming Show. My expertise is also in the music and gaming industry, which is what drew me to apply. Congratulations on winning 'Transformation of the Year' at the PLC Awards! I look forward to helping you achieve even more exceptional results in the coming years."

Do you have experience creating marketing materials for event promotions?

"I have worked alongside creative and design teams; involved in brainstorm sessions dedicated solely to marketing strategies. I am confident in my ability to give useful suggestions that shine an entertaining and value-driven light on the events that we promote."

There is a science to creating marketing materials for event promotions; including the copy used, the imagery, the call to action; and even proper typography and colors. Discuss with the interviewer your past involvement in creating marketing materials for event promotions, clearly outlining your specific responsibilities. If you are newer to your career, without this type of experience, think about a similar project you may have worked on in University, for instance.

"Part of my post-secondary education focused on marketing and promotions; however, I have not yet had the experience of being directly involved in the creative or decision-making process when it comes to event promotions. For one of my marketing classes, I put together an entire promotional strategy for a live music fundraiser. While creating this project, I learned a great deal about event promotions and how to best drive engagement and ticket sales. I look forward to learning more over the years with Future."

Future PLC is behind some of the world's leading music, film, and sporting events. How will you contribute to our track record of success?

"I am very impressed by what Future has been able to achieve in the live events space in a short amount of time. It's highly competitive; however, you remain in the lead because of your unwavering dedication to entertaining and immersive experiences. I will contribute to this success by showing levels of dedication and follow through that is uncommon in the workplace. I am always very responsive with an upbeat and open approach. You will not be disappointed in my performance if you choose to hire me."

Future has an excellent track record of success, and the interviewer wants to know exactly how you plan to contribute to it. This question is similar to 'why should we hire you?' in the sense that they are asking you to draw out a specific set of skills that no other candidate will have. Be compelling in your answer since this is your opportunity to sell yourself!

"I will contribute to your track record of success with my recent education in marketing and my natural ability to act as a leader, even when I am not in a formal leadership position. I believe my success with Future will come from having all of the hard skills that you are looking for, whether learned in school or gained through my internship experience. I am well networked and like to stay informed of best practices in the events and media industry."

A large part of creating content is in the creative process, but what strategic elements need to be considered for content creation to be highly effective?

"A content marketing strategy always starts with data about the audience to ensure the content distributed is appropriate. The data will tell you what kind of content your audience will enjoy, where and how you can expect them to consume it. Timing is also important, and research can be used to figure out the best times of the month, week, and down to the time of day when posts will get the best visibility. After forming and deploying a content plan, it's important to be consistent with analyzing the performance of all posts, which means looking at various engagement metrics like impressions, clicks, shares, likes, and comments - not just the number of comments but what's being said by the audience. All of the before mentioned let you measure the success of your plan and make continuous improvements."

Demonstrate your familiarity with content effective marketing by speaking of data and analytics first. Then, talk about other essential non-creative parts of content strategy that should be incorporated.While the creative and strategic elements of content creation will cross over into one another, don't talk about the creative process when answering this question much, if at all.

"Data from different sources, for example, keyword research, surveys, or machine learning, needs to be analyzed to plan the best possible content and its reach, both organically and during paid promotions. Planning what topics to cover, keeping an editorial calendar, and knowing how to recycle posts effectively are important parts of creating a feeling of consistency and the proper messaging for a brand's audience. Lastly, it's a good idea to balance the human element with automation tools that will allow content distribution in a timely and organized way that best fits the preferences of your audience."

What expertise do you bring in digital KPIs and analytics?

"In my current role, the numbers that I care about the most include our sentiment rates. I look at the number of comments and engagement. I like to see soaring numbers when it comes to social media shares or @ tags. Nothing feels as great as seeing your digital content go viral, and I look forward to achieving more of that in my career with Future."

Be prepared to discuss with the interviewer the types of digital KPIs and analytics you are accustomed to tracking. Some critical KPIs in the world of digital content creation may include analytics around reach; including unique visits. Engagement rates; including time spent on your page, ad, or video. You may also look at the number of engaged comments or social sharing rates. Talk to the interviewer about the KPIs that you currently work with, and why you believe they are essential to track.

"When it comes to digital KPIs, my current employer puts a significant focus on social sharing and engaged comments. When digital content is good, viewers will quickly share without hesitation. When engagement rates are high, it's a quick indicator that your content is on point."

If you had just one day to sell out a live experience, what are the three most important things you would do?

"If I had less than 24 hours to sell out an event, I would create FOMO (fear of missing out), lean into a scarcity mindset, and leverage my network as if my life depended on it. To foster a fear of missing out, I would create a social campaign focused on what the person would be missing out on by not coming. I find this approach to be much more effective than describing the benefits of attendance. Next, to create a scarcity mindset, I would set up a quick landing page for ticket sales with a countdown timer. The website visitor could physically see the ticket availability reduce while the clock ticks down. Lastly, leaning on my network is important because people are more likely to buy when there is already an established rapport."

One of the primary goals of a live event is to sell out; and, quickly! Future prides themselves on their ability to promote and sell out their unique events in record time. Discuss with the interviewer what approach you would take, to sell out an event in 24 hours. There is no real right or wrong answer here as the interviewer wants to see that you are thoughtful, creative, and knowledgable. Let your creativity flag fly high!

"The three things I would do, to sell out an experience or live event in 24 hours or less would be to push out early bird pricing that included an irresistible perk such as free merch for the first 500 tickets sold. Next, I would do a big social media push on Instagram, heavily image focused, which would include images of previous attendees having the time of their lives. Lastly, I would DM everyone in my network and ask them to share the social media posts to create some hype."

What do you know about the nature of print advertising?

"The whole 'print is dead' argument that some people make, when they argue against investing in print advertising is one hurdle that I love to overcome when it comes to print advertising. By nature, a magazine is more targeted to a specific audience, grabbing their attention for longer, ensuring that readers pay better attention to a printed ad than one they come across online. I believe there is strength in targeted print ads with great imagery and smart copy."

The interviewer would like to know your current knowledge level when it comes to print advertising. Most magazines rely heavily on the revenue that comes from advertising, so it's essential that you bring an understanding of how this style of advertising operates.

"I know that print advertising is heavily trusted by well-established companies looking to advertise to a highly specific audience. Print advertising, when executed correctly, can have an incredibly effective impact and strong ROI."

Future believes that for visitors to have an enjoyable experience on a website or an app, its functions and formatting should be human-centric. How does this tie into the big picture when it comes to digital strategy?

"The experience on a company's digital platforms needs to be human-centric and designed to fit in with the customer's needs. I know this from experience because I've seen campaigns where a company placed a lot of focus on collateral or different kinds of content, but when the customers made it to the website, whether because it was unattractive or they couldn't figure out how to use it, they quickly lost interest. When we do not put sufficient thought to matching the target audience's preferences to a digital platform's functionality and feel, it can contradict all other messaging and branding that's been convincing until this point. They lose trust or become confused, and this causes them not to go to the next step. In this situation, the final result for the company is negative, and they suffer a loss in sales."

Your answer to this question will help the interviewer see into your philosophy behind user experience, its impact, and the importance in digital strategy. First, tell the interviewer how your beliefs in user experience align with their digital strategy.

"Website and app experiences designed with customers in mind are an essential part of digital strategy. The online platform may be the first or only place where the customer gathers an impression of a company, then decides whether or not to make a purchase. When user experience is well-planned, the website or app can become a place of comfort for the customer and allows them to feel connected with the brand. It also makes decisions easy for the customer. Being able to intuitively navigate a site to learn about product details and pricing, for example, or seamlessly follow calls to action and complete purchases lowers the resistance and pushes sales to the finish line. Finally, the positive experience creates new opportunities because happy customers often return and refer you to others."

Tell me about your experience collaborating with marketing, sales, editorial, and design teams.

"In my current role we have a staff of 450 people within ten departments. Any given week, I will collaborate with marketing, sales, human resources, and IT. These are the departments with which I collaborate most often. I believe that everyone has a great deal of value to offer, so, for that reason, I embrace every opportunity to collaborate cross-departmentally."

The hiring authority is looking for details on your experience when it comes to cross-departmental collaboration. In the media and entertainment industry, it takes many passes through many hands to complete a project so, it's essential to Future that you can work well with other people through a variety of departments. Give an example of how you collaborate with a diverse team in your current role.

"I look forward to getting to know your marketing, editorial, and design teams here at Future. Currently, in my internship, I have spent two weeks in each department, getting to know the ins and outs of publishing, design, marketing, sales, and even public relations. The experience has been invaluable."

Where do you believe the magazine industry will be in 5 years? Support your response.

"I was recently reading an article on trends and facts in the magazine industry, from a journalism publication which had some powerful ideas on the future of magazines. Even though the purchase of physical magazines has declined over the past 15 years, the number of visitors coming to a magazines' website had increased exponentially. I believe that alternative print publications will exist for many years to come; however, many mags will begin to rely more heavily on their digital subscriber base who still go to them for reliable, consistent, and trustworthy content."

The interviewer wants to know that you believe in the longevity of Future, and the overall outlook of the magazine industry. Of course, since you are interviewing for a company with magazines in print such as the official XBOX Magazine, you want to keep your response positive. Be sure to support your opinion with the research you have done in the magazine publishing industry.

"I believe that magazine subscribers are also going to ask for digital subscription options, allowing them to pivot between the two mediums. Although sales of traditional print mags have decreased over the years, discerning readers will still turn to these traditional methods for reliable news. This engagement may be more digital and online, as time goes on."

What do you think about Future's website? Do you think it's a responsive website?

"Oh absolutely - it was clear that the website was designed to be responsive. Visually, the first impression was very appealing and inviting. It wasn't cluttered with too much content but had precise language about Future and its products which help set user expectations. The tabs were intuitive. I noticed that when I clicked on the 'on sale' section, it showed recommendations for bundled deals as it recognized I might be a budget conscious buyer. I think what might bring it to the next level is if you ask the visitors a couple questions about their needs and preferences to show a customized/personalized page of most suitable products they should explore first to make sure they find what they are seeking. You could add language such as 'do you know that x% of our customers who used these products experienced y' or 'x% of our customers who are similar to your profile have bought this product' to reassure the customers the products are relevant to them."

Future wants to make sure all its online efforts ultimately lead the customers to the website to explore their brands and products; eventually, becoming customers. The interviewer wants to hear your insights on how to improve the website engagement to increase the # of visitors making purchases. Check out Future's website and test a few things such as finding information about the products, buying the product, asking questions to the support team, etc. In your response, include things they've done well and things they could improve to make the site more behavior-driven. Also, include any recommendations you may have to make impactful yet straightforward improvements such as simplifying the URL, page titles, adding search words, etc.

"I noticed that when I searched certain terms such as tech events, and gaming magazines, Future website wasn't on the top of the list. It might be a good set of keywords to add. Also, for certain products, it might make sense to have the searchers be directed directly to the relevant product pages instead of the main page. Also, having a simple URL helps bring return customers and visitors. It's easier to share with their friends too so I'd suggest simplifying the URL to be more intuitive."

Future produces many events every year, all over the country. Are you willing and able to travel when necessary?

"I understand that the events industry requires a great deal of travel, and I am happy to deliver on those needs. In my current position, I travel for shows, conferences, or pitch meetings as needed. Could you share with me a bit more about the travel requirements for this position?"

Future has many interests around the country and perhaps the globe; the interviewer would like assurance that you are open to travel opportunities. Discuss any work-related trips you may have taken in the recent past, and express your level of willingness when it comes to travel. If you are not sure of the travel requirements with Future, be sure to ask questions like how many overnight trips you would be expected to take, or what the travel expectations look like in general.

"As an event marketing professional, I am accustomed to a great deal of travel. Currently, I spend approximately half of my month on the road for overnight trips. Your job posting mentioned one week of travel would be required per month. Is this correct?"

Tell me about your experience in content marketing and why you feel a successful content marketing strategy is vital to an overall digital strategy?

"Content is important because it makes you a source of entertainment and learning for your audience. This value turns your audience into advocates for your brand. I once ran a campaign for products that were supposed to help messy consumers get organized. Using data about our target audience, I realized most of my audience were in their middle stages of life, had big homes, and loved shopping and accumulating tons of stuff. But they were bad at staying organized. They couldn't find things when they needed them, and often spent lots of time hunting for them or wasted money making duplicate purchases. I found countless opportunities to create humorous but useful, visually stimulating before and after posts. The posts got tons of likes, comments, and laughs from women on Facebook and Pinterest, who shared and recommended the ideas. They were a source of new ideas, too, because they'd ask for more suggestions and it made me understand how they ticked and conjure up new ways to present the products. Delivering on their requests kept the content success going. Impressions and engagement on the social media pages increased by double digits month over month for more than a whole year, and the product name is becoming synonymous with home organization."

The interviewer wants to gain insight on your perspective of content marketing and the role it plays in promoting a company and brand. Answer first by presenting your experience in content marketing, followed up by explaining why content is essential and then provide an example of a time you used content to drive a message home to an audience.

"Content marketing is an essential way to humanize a brand and establish a meaningful connection with your audience. My team created a campaign to market a pickup truck brand that historically catered to audiences living in rural areas. Our data showed that many of the potential consumers' idealized small-town life, hard work, and conservative views. We used video and picture content that showed actors whose appearance was such that they could easily be a neighbor to any of our audience members. In each piece, they would talk about how they loved their trucks; the same brand as the one we advertised, and how it allowed them to their help nearby friends and family, make a living and support their local and national economies. Our content conveyed in a heartwarming way that consumers who bought these pickup trucks were not just supporting a brand, but upholding a responsibility and sense of community. Many people in our audience commented on our posts with stories of their own, expressing their loyalty and affinity to the brand. After this, we saw an increase in repeat purchases and a surge in new customers who received this interaction with our content as valid social proof."

Future believes that live experiences are an art form. Tell me about the best event you have been to recently. What made it so great?

"Without a doubt, the best event I have been to is Coachella. I have attended for the past four years; each one better than the next. What I find makes Coachella so amazing is the production value. The structures are a spectacle in themselves, but yet the intimacy remains. I can find everything when I need it and never feel lost despite the multiple massive stages."

The interviewer would like to get to know you and the types of events and experiences that you consider memorable. If your example includes a Future event; that's wonderful! If it does not, that's okay too. It's more important that you come prepared to discuss the details of what made this event so memorable for you. A solid answer will show that you pay attention to detail and that you have a genuine interest in the live events industry.

"Sporting events have always been my favorite to attend, and I must say that Superbowl last year was incredibly well executed and memorable. Despite mountains of attendees, I did not have to wait in line for an unreasonable amount of time, at any point. The sound for the half-time show was on point. I felt entirely entertained the entire time. As an attendee, I felt like an important part of a long-time sporting tradition."

Future creates live events in the technology, gaming, entertainment, music, creative and photography, lifestyle, education, and television industries. With which do you bring the most experience?

"For the past six years I have been working on gaming and tech events. I have helped create events big and small; locally and globally. I understand that Future creates events such as the PC Gaming Event, which is of significant interest to me because it's the only dedicated PC gaming event that brings together people from every corner of PC gaming to celebrate and showcase exclusive happenings. Because of my experience in gaming, I could make an impact on this subject very quickly."

The interviewer would like to know where your specialty is when it comes to live events. Live events come in many forms, including sporting events, concerts, retreats, speaking conferences, forums, and more. Come to your interview prepared to discuss where you are most experienced. If you have a portfolio of work, be sure to bring this with you. If you are newer to your career and have not formed a preference yet; that is okay! Discuss with Future the fact that you are ready to cut your teeth with whatever they have available for you!

"My education is in computer engineering. For that reason, I feel that I would be a quick study when it comes to putting together gaming events and other live events associated with tech. With that said, I am eager to learn multiples areas of live event curation and marketing and would be happy with any opportunity you present to me at Future."

Tell me about your experience using hashtags to increase the visibility of your social media content.

"Hashtag campaigns are a great way to promote content in connection with a brand, an industry, and an audience. It allows content discovery by people who are interested in a particular subject - and when you're limited on space or can't use a lot of text to introduce your content, a hashtag acts as a shortcut to providing an overview. I've had great luck with using hashtags to attract new potential customers who were interested in the specific service I was marketing. They searched for the topic specifically covered by my content and may not have found it without the hashtag. Lastly, because hashtags let you boost content visibility for free, I believe they're a necessary part of any content marketing strategy."

You can answer with working knowledge of how hashtags allow posts to be found across platforms or give examples of specific experiences you've had with using them to ensure content visibility.Avoid suggesting any hashtag practices that are spammy to show how you can be useful in using them market content while remaining professional.

"I've seen hashtags help with content visibility because by studying them, I can stay on top of what people are interested in at the moment. Following hashtag trends, I ensure that content is going to be interesting to the audience. This relevance factor also ensures that it is visible. A second way that hashtags help with promoting content is that they offer a non-costly method to direct the audience to it and encourage engagement. As an example, you can create a specific hashtag to spark conversation around a piece of content within a specific time frame and schedule a structured chat. All of these possibilities are completely free and generate a buzz around content that other methods have yet to achieve."

If you only had social media platforms for event promotions, with zero budget for ad spend, what would you do?

"If I had no budget for ad spend and needed to promote an event on social media, I would use a free trial of an application called Klear to source social influencers in the same realm as the event I was promoting. I would then approach those influencers to promote our gig in exchange for free tickets. Then, I would DM all of our followers on every platform an eye-catching event poster with special early-bird pricing for a limited time."

Future would like to see that you are confident in your ability to achieve results for their business, regardless of the expensive tools or large marketing budgets that may be on hand. Discuss, hypothetically, what your approach would be if you needed to hype an event using social media, but with no advertising budget. Feel free to get creative and show off your creative thinking!

"I believe that social media can be powerful; with or without an advertising budget. I would first send a direct message to our loyal followers on platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I would send out member-only pricing with a CTA for people to reserve their tickets. I would be sure to utilize the right hashtags and would engage micro-influencers; asking them to post about our event in exchange for free swag or merch."

Future PLC Interview Questions

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1. How do you think good synergy with an SEO specialist can be beneficial to a content strategist?
2. Do you consider yourself a persuasive person?
3. Have you ever managed or helped with a content budget? If so, what type of budgets are you accustomed to working with?
4. Market research is essential to Future to help us understand where to take our business in the years to come. Rate your research skills from 1-10. Do you enjoy conducting research?
5. Proper planning enables a marketing team to publish well-thought out, well-timed content. If leading a content initiative at Future, how would you suggest planning for it?
6. In your opinion, what is the difference between marketing and advertising?
7. What methods do you use, to work within a brand's voice consistently?
8. Tell me about your experience in gaining corporate partnerships for live events.
9. Name for me some of the websites we publish. Which do you read most often?
10. In your opinion, what makes a memorable live experience?
11. Describe to me the types of digital media you are most experienced with.
12. To be a valuable contributor to the product development process at Future, team members need to keep up with the evolving social media trends. How do you plan to do so if hired?
13. How would you increase magazine subscriptions in an online-centric world?
14. What do you know about the events put on by Futur, and who our clients are:?
15. Do you have experience creating marketing materials for event promotions?
16. Future PLC is behind some of the world's leading music, film, and sporting events. How will you contribute to our track record of success?
17. A large part of creating content is in the creative process, but what strategic elements need to be considered for content creation to be highly effective?
18. What expertise do you bring in digital KPIs and analytics?
19. If you had just one day to sell out a live experience, what are the three most important things you would do?
20. What do you know about the nature of print advertising?
21. Future believes that for visitors to have an enjoyable experience on a website or an app, its functions and formatting should be human-centric. How does this tie into the big picture when it comes to digital strategy?
22. Tell me about your experience collaborating with marketing, sales, editorial, and design teams.
23. Where do you believe the magazine industry will be in 5 years? Support your response.
24. What do you think about Future's website? Do you think it's a responsive website?
25. Future produces many events every year, all over the country. Are you willing and able to travel when necessary?
26. Tell me about your experience in content marketing and why you feel a successful content marketing strategy is vital to an overall digital strategy?
27. Future believes that live experiences are an art form. Tell me about the best event you have been to recently. What made it so great?
28. Future creates live events in the technology, gaming, entertainment, music, creative and photography, lifestyle, education, and television industries. With which do you bring the most experience?
29. Tell me about your experience using hashtags to increase the visibility of your social media content.
30. If you only had social media platforms for event promotions, with zero budget for ad spend, what would you do?

Future PLC Interview Questions

1. How do you think good synergy with an SEO specialist can be beneficial to a content strategist?

2. Do you consider yourself a persuasive person?

3. Have you ever managed or helped with a content budget? If so, what type of budgets are you accustomed to working with?

4. Market research is essential to Future to help us understand where to take our business in the years to come. Rate your research skills from 1-10. Do you enjoy conducting research?

5. Proper planning enables a marketing team to publish well-thought out, well-timed content. If leading a content initiative at Future, how would you suggest planning for it?

6. In your opinion, what is the difference between marketing and advertising?

7. What methods do you use, to work within a brand's voice consistently?

8. Tell me about your experience in gaining corporate partnerships for live events.

9. Name for me some of the websites we publish. Which do you read most often?

10. In your opinion, what makes a memorable live experience?

11. Describe to me the types of digital media you are most experienced with.

12. To be a valuable contributor to the product development process at Future, team members need to keep up with the evolving social media trends. How do you plan to do so if hired?

13. How would you increase magazine subscriptions in an online-centric world?

14. What do you know about the events put on by Futur, and who our clients are:?

15. Do you have experience creating marketing materials for event promotions?

16. Future PLC is behind some of the world's leading music, film, and sporting events. How will you contribute to our track record of success?

17. A large part of creating content is in the creative process, but what strategic elements need to be considered for content creation to be highly effective?

18. What expertise do you bring in digital KPIs and analytics?

19. If you had just one day to sell out a live experience, what are the three most important things you would do?

20. What do you know about the nature of print advertising?

21. Future believes that for visitors to have an enjoyable experience on a website or an app, its functions and formatting should be human-centric. How does this tie into the big picture when it comes to digital strategy?

22. Tell me about your experience collaborating with marketing, sales, editorial, and design teams.

23. Where do you believe the magazine industry will be in 5 years? Support your response.

24. What do you think about Future's website? Do you think it's a responsive website?

25. Future produces many events every year, all over the country. Are you willing and able to travel when necessary?

26. Tell me about your experience in content marketing and why you feel a successful content marketing strategy is vital to an overall digital strategy?

27. Future believes that live experiences are an art form. Tell me about the best event you have been to recently. What made it so great?

28. Future creates live events in the technology, gaming, entertainment, music, creative and photography, lifestyle, education, and television industries. With which do you bring the most experience?

29. Tell me about your experience using hashtags to increase the visibility of your social media content.

30. If you only had social media platforms for event promotions, with zero budget for ad spend, what would you do?