Top FB Ads Interview Qs for Filipino Marketers

I often tell fellow Filipino marketers about the paradox I face daily: the more I dig into Facebook Ads, the more I realize how vast and complex it is. Facebook seems straightforward — post an ad, reach people, get sales, right? But in reality, many businesses in the Philippines throw money into ads without seeing returns. They expect instant success but don’t invest time to learn the platform’s intricacies.

In my early years managing Facebook Ads for local clients, I also wrestled with campaigns that didn’t deliver. But gradually, through trial, error, and constant learning, I discovered what separates average campaigns from successful ones. It’s not just about spending money but understanding why and how each element works together.

This guide is my attempt to share that knowledge with you, especially if you’re preparing for Facebook Ads roles or want to deepen your skills to help your Filipino clients succeed.

Why Facebook Ads Mastery Is Vital for Filipino Marketers

Facebook dominates the Philippine digital landscape. As of 2024:

  • Over 80 million Filipinos use Facebook monthly (Statista)
  • About 70% of Filipinos shop online via social media platforms
  • 90% of Filipino small businesses use Facebook for marketing (Survey by DTI)

However, many SMBs struggle due to:

  • Lack of targeting knowledge
  • Inefficient budget management
  • Weak creative execution
  • Poor data analysis

Understanding common interview questions helps you showcase your mastery and equips you with practical knowledge that directly impacts campaign success.

Section 1: Facebook Ads Fundamentals – The Foundation

Q1: What Are the Different Types of Facebook Ad Objectives? How Do You Decide Which to Use?

Facebook provides 13 campaign objectives, grouped into three categories:

CategoryObjectives
AwarenessBrand Awareness, Reach
ConsiderationTraffic, Engagement, App Installs, Video Views, Lead Generation, Messages
ConversionConversions, Catalog Sales, Store Traffic

How I choose objectives:

  1. Clarify Business Goals:
    For example, a local restaurant aiming for walk-in customers might focus on Store Traffic or Reach with geo-targeting. An online seller of Filipino delicacies would prioritize Conversions (purchase event).
  2. Match Objective to Funnel Stage:
    If the goal is awareness, pick Brand Awareness or Reach. For retargeting existing customers, Conversions or Lead Generation is better.
  3. Consider Budget and Timeline:
    Awareness campaigns tend to need larger budgets and longer timeframes to build recognition.

Q2: Explain Campaign Budget Optimization (CBO) vs Ad Set Budget Optimization

Facebook offers two budget management options:

  • CBO: Campaign Budget Optimization assigns a single budget at the campaign level. Facebook’s algorithm automatically distributes funds across ad sets based on performance.
  • Ad Set Budget: You manage budgets individually at the ad set level.

When to use CBO:
For SMBs with limited budgets (₱3,000–₱10,000/month), CBO helps maximize efficiency by allocating budget dynamically. It’s easier to manage and can improve return on ad spend (ROAS).

When to use Ad Set Budget:
If you want strict control over spending per target segment (e.g., different cities or demographics), manual budgeting per ad set works better.

Q3: What Is a Custom Audience? How Can You Use It Effectively?

Custom Audiences allow you to target people who already interacted with your business:

  • Website visitors tracked via the Facebook Pixel
  • Customers in your email list
  • People who engaged with your Facebook or Instagram page

Why Custom Audiences matter in the Philippines:
Filipino consumers trust brands they’ve interacted with before. Retargeting these warm audiences typically delivers a conversion rate improvement of 40–70%.

Example:
For a local bakery in Davao City, retargeting visitors who viewed their cake menu but didn’t order led to a 50% increase in online orders during the holiday season.

Q4: What Is Lookalike Audience? How Do You Create One?

Lookalike Audiences help you find new potential customers similar to your existing high-value customers.

Creation process:

  1. Choose a source audience (e.g., top 1% buyers from your Custom Audience).
  2. Select country or region (e.g., Philippines).
  3. Choose audience size — 1% is most precise; 5% or higher increases reach but lowers similarity.

Case study:
A Cebu-based fashion retailer created a 1% lookalike from their loyal buyers and saw a 3x ROAS increase within two months.

Q5: What Is the Facebook Pixel and Why Is It Important?

The Facebook Pixel is a JavaScript code added to your website that tracks visitor behavior.

Benefits:

  • Tracks conversions accurately
  • Builds Custom Audiences for retargeting
  • Helps optimize campaigns for specific actions (e.g., purchases)
  • Provides detailed analytics on user behavior

In one project with a Metro Manila e-commerce client, Pixel implementation improved conversion tracking accuracy by 50%, enabling smarter budget allocation and doubling sales in three months.

Section 2: Campaign Setup and Optimization Strategies

Q6: How Do You Structure a Facebook Ads Campaign?

Typical structure:

  • Campaign: Choose objective and budget method (CBO vs ad set budget)
  • Ad Sets: Define target audiences, placements, schedule, bid strategy
  • Ads: Actual creatives (images/videos) and copy

For Filipino SMBs operating locally:

  • Segment ad sets by location (e.g., Manila vs Cebu)
  • Use age/gender filters aligned with buyer personas
  • Target interests relevant to Filipino culture (e.g., basketball fans)

Q7: How Do You Optimize Campaign Performance?

Optimization is ongoing:

  1. Monitor metrics daily: CTR, CPC, CPM, conversion rate.
  2. Pause ads/ad sets with CTR <1% or CPC >₱10.
  3. Test variations of creatives and copy regularly.
  4. Adjust audience targeting based on data.
  5. Increase budget gradually on winning ads.
  6. Use Facebook Analytics and Pixel data for deeper insights.

Q8: How Do You Handle Budget Scaling?

Scaling requires caution:

  • Increase budgets by 20–30% every few days.
  • Duplicate winning ad sets before increasing spend.
  • Expand audiences slowly using broader lookalikes or interest groups.

A Manila-based fashion brand I worked with scaled from ₱10k daily spend to ₱50k monthly while maintaining 4x ROAS using this approach.

Q9: What Are Common Reasons for Ad Rejections? How Do You Fix Them?

Common reasons:

  • Misleading claims
  • Prohibited content (e.g., adult products)
  • Excessive text on images
  • Policy violations around health claims

Fixes:

  • Review rejection reason carefully.
  • Adjust copy or creatives accordingly.
  • Refer to Facebook’s Policy Center.
  • Appeal politely if changes are made.

In the Philippines, be cautious when promoting health supplements due to FDA regulations.

Section 3: Creative and Copywriting Techniques

Q10: What Types of Creatives Work Best for Filipino Audiences?

Based on my experience and local data:

  • Short videos (<15 seconds) perform best.
  • Use bright colors and lively music reflecting Filipino lifestyle.
  • Include Tagalog or Taglish copy.
  • Highlight promos clearly; Filipinos respond well to discounts/freebies.

Example: A travel agency increased engagement by 60% using videos showcasing popular destinations with Taglish captions like “Tara na! Bakasyon time!”

Q11: How Do You Write Effective Ad Copy?

Good copy includes:

  • Attention-grabbing headline addressing pain points/desires
  • Clear value proposition upfront (“Save 20% today!”)
  • Friendly but professional tone
  • Call-to-action (“Order now,” “Book your slot”)
  • Use of Filipino expressions like “Kahit saan ka man sa Pinas” for relatability

Q12: How Do You Test Creatives?

Split testing is key:

  • Test different images/videos
  • Test various headlines and CTAs
  • Test audience segments separately

I recommend running A/B tests for at least 3–5 days before making conclusions.

Section 4: Technical Deep Dive into Facebook Ads Manager

Q13: How Do You Set Up Conversion Tracking in Facebook Ads Manager?

Steps:

  1. Install Facebook Pixel on your website.
  2. In Ads Manager, create custom conversions based on URLs or events (e.g., “Add to Cart”).
  3. Configure events like “Purchase” for accurate tracking.
  4. Test pixel using Facebook Pixel Helper Chrome extension.
  5. Use Event Manager dashboard to monitor data flow.

Q14: What Are Bid Strategies Available? When Should You Use Them?

Facebook offers:

  • Lowest Cost (default)
  • Cost Cap
  • Bid Cap
  • Target Cost

For SMBs with tight budgets, Lowest Cost is usually best as it maximizes results without overspending.

Use Cost Cap when you want to maintain cost per result under a specific threshold.

Q15: Explain Facebook’s Learning Phase

When a campaign/ad set starts or undergoes significant edits, it enters the learning phase where Facebook tests delivery options to optimize performance.

Typically lasts ~50 conversions/events.

During this time:

  • Performance may fluctuate.
  • Avoid major changes until learning completes.

Understanding this helps in setting realistic expectations during campaign launch or edits.

Section 5: Advanced Strategies for Filipino Marketers

Q16: How Can You Use Dynamic Ads for E-commerce?

Dynamic Ads automatically show personalized products based on user behavior tracked by Pixel.

For Filipino online shops selling multiple products like clothes or gadgets:

  • Set up product catalog in Business Manager.
  • Connect catalog to Dynamic Ads campaign.

This personalization increases conversion rates by up to 70%, as I experienced working with an online shoe store in Manila.

Q17: What Are Effective Retargeting Funnels?

In the Philippines’ context:

  1. Target website visitors who viewed products but didn’t purchase (within last 7 days).
  2. Show ads offering discounts/free shipping.
  3. Retarget those who added to cart but abandoned checkout with urgency-driven ads.
  4. Target past customers with upsell/cross-sell promos after 30+ days.

This layered approach nurtures leads systematically.

Q18: How Do You Leverage Facebook Analytics for Insights?

Facebook Analytics provides data on:

  • User demographics
  • Funnel drop-offs
  • Engagement patterns

Use these insights to adjust targeting, creatives, and messaging.

For example, if data shows users drop off checkout at payment step, consider promoting additional payment options popular in the Philippines (like GCash, COD).

Section 6: Localized Tips & Common Pitfalls for Filipino SMBs

Local Challenges:

  • Internet speed varies; keep video ads low file size.
  • Mobile users dominate (>90%); optimize for mobile-first experience.
  • Payment methods vary; highlight accepted options in ads.

Common Pitfalls:

  • Over-targeting too narrow audiences leading to high CPMs.
  • Ignoring Pixel setup leading to poor tracking.
  • Using non-localized copy/creatives reducing engagement.

Extended Case Study: Boosting Sales for a Quezon City Food Stall

Background:

Small food stall wanted weekend online order boost.

Strategy:

Used Store Traffic objective targeting Metro Manila neighborhoods within 5km radius during weekends.

Created Custom Audience for past buyers plus 1% lookalike for new customers.

Used short video featuring popular dishes with Taglish captions like “Sarap na sulit!”

Budgeted ₱3k weekly using CBO.

Outcome:

65% increase in orders within three weeks.

CTR jumped from 0.8% to 3.5%.

Cost per order dropped from ₱150 to ₱90.

Final Key Takeaways

  1. Always align campaign objectives with business goals.
  2. Use Custom and Lookalike Audiences strategically.
  3. Optimize budgets dynamically but cautiously scale spend.
  4. Leverage Pixel data fully for tracking and retargeting.
  5. Tailor creatives and copy using local language and culture.
  6. Prepare clear examples and results for interviews.
  7. Avoid common pitfalls by thorough setup and ongoing testing.

Mastering these areas will ensure you not only ace your interviews but become a trusted Facebook Ads expert serving the Filipino market effectively.

If you want me to include additional sections such as a glossary of Facebook Ads terms in Tagalog/Taglish or a sample interview script tailored for Filipino marketers, just let me know!

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