Do your eyes glaze over when you see a “promoted” tweet in your feed?
If so, you are not alone – many users prefer to be able to control their content and avoid ads altogether.
The challenge for candidates for social media marketing jobs will be to demonstrate how they plan to promote their brand in a way that engages the audience instead of 
annoys it. Those who are able to generate relevant, targeted content by listening to their audience and cultivating authentic relationships with them will be in demand.
Additionally, with the number of mobile users skyrocketing, having a dedicated mobile marketing strategy will be paramount in keeping pace with current trends.
As e-commerce becomes more entrenched in social media, marketers who can craft succinct messages and provide an efficient transaction experience for users will have the best chance of success.
Also, with the possible inclusion of buy buttons on Facebook and Twitter, marketers will have access to improved analytics, and finally, have the ability to attach revenue figures to specific messages.
[Related Article: Survey Says Employees Checking Facebook at Work is a Good Thing. Here’s Why.]
Sample of Possible Interview Questions for Social Media Marketers:
How can “buy buttons” help with your social media marketing strategy?
What is the most successful campaign you have managed from start to finish?
How can you use big data to customize messages to your audience while not making them feel their privacy has been invaded?
How do you prove a ROI for social media marketing?
What steps do you take before you post a new piece of content?
How do you ensure that your social marketing is not the same as your traditional marketing posted on social media?
How do you keep your “finger on the pulse” of what is trending?
Discuss how a brand could win followers with helpfulness and relevance to improve the user’s experience.
List 5 things you can do to increase reach.
Do you have any specific strategies to increase visibility without a big increase in your budget?
Why is it important to determine how most of your customers are interacting with you – desktop vs. mobile?
How would you rate on a scale of 1 to 10 this company’s social media efforts?
Do you write your own content?
How do you determine if your message has value to your audience?
Give me an example of a tweet you would send your first day on the job here.
How do you build up a base of loyal people who actively look for your updates?
What are the key elements of a successful social marketing strategy?
Are there any up-and-coming sites that you think would help this company’s social media marketing efforts?
How do you stop your audience from having “banner blindness?”
Who are the key influencers in this industry and how could you use them to build your customer base?
How do you “listen” to what is being said about your company?
How do you determine what channels your customers are using?
What steps do you take to get a higher engagement rate?