Everything you need to know about brand ambassadors

Ever feel like you talk about a particular product so much that the brand should pay you for doing so? If so, chances are you’d be a perfect brand ambassador.

Companies hire passionate individuals to represent their brands. So, whether you’re always raving about your favorite denim label or miracle-working eye serum, somewhere out there is a brand that wants to turn your passion into money – for you and them. Ready to start raking in some cash for the products and services you already can’t stop talking about? Read on to learn how.

The main responsibilities of a brand ambassador

What do brand ambassadors do, exactly? That’s a great question. Yes, the work is a bit more involved than just telling your friends, family, and social media followers how great something is, but the task itself isn’t so different. Here are some of the main responsibilities of a brand ambassador.

• Represent the brand’s values: Brands work hard to create a positive image that aligns with the values of their potential customers. To become a brand ambassador, your online presence and personality should align with the company’s values. It will make you a more believable salesperson, too.
• Create content: If a brand hires you to represent them, say, on social media or your blog, you may have to create content. This content should align with the brand’s image and talk up the products in a favorable light.
• Provide insights for the brand: As a brand ambassador, you interact directly with clients and can provide valuable feedback about a company’s products or services.

Brand ambassadors’ responsibilities vary with the nature of their work. There are both online and in-person brand ambassadors, so the level and type of interactions they have with potential customers differ. Online ambassadors stick to content creation, social media marketing, and product reviews. In-person ambassadors, on the other hand, may raise brand awareness by giving talks at conferences and trade shows or doing word-of-mouth marketing.

What do you need to become a brand ambassador?

There's no cut-and-dried answer to what makes someone a good brand ambassador, but at a minimum, you should be an enthusiastic expert on whatever you wish to promote.

Successful brand ambassadors have experience in their product area and extensive knowledge to answer customers’ questions. A sociable personality and a willingness to interact also help!

How’s a brand ambassador different from an influencer?

Maybe you’re thinking that brand ambassadors sound a lot like influencers. Aren’t they both representing brands in front of their followers for a price? And aren’t both content creators? Yes, the roles are similar, but there are two key differences:

• The number of followers: Influencers usually have a substantial social media following, which helps attract brands in the first place. While a large social media audience might benefit a brand ambassador, these individuals form connected, long-term relationships with companies instead of running marketing campaigns as influencers do.
• How companies pay them: Brand ambassadors may receive hourly payment, commissions or free products. Some types of influencing, like affiliate marketing on social networks, are also paid via commissions, but influencers may receive compensation for a particular advertising campaign for, let’s say, a new product.

How to become a brand ambassador

Ready to have a go at making money off your passion? It’s a dream gig to get paid for talking up tacos or selling skincare you love. Here’s how you can get your start.

• Find well-aligned brands: You may already know exactly who you want to work with, but if you’re still researching, consider brands that align with your values, aesthetics and interests. This is key to your success as a representative and the brand’s success as your marketing partner.
• Get people engaged: While brand ambassadors aren’t technically influencers, they do influence their audience. So, having a wide reach with engaged individuals can help brand advocates promote a product more successfully. Connect with your followers and post high-quality content on your social media platforms. Don’t forget to include a Linktree URL in your bios so your audience can learn more about you (and, later, the brands you represent) on other platforms and websites.
• Perfect your online presence (i.e., your personal brand): You want brands to see the best you can possibly offer. So, curate your social media account, update your professional site, and keep only your best content before approaching companies.
• Contact brands and apply for jobs: Write to the companies you like to find out if they have brand ambassador programs and are looking to take on more help at this time. You could try sending your message via social media to pitch your content and vibe to these brands. Alternatively, check job posting sites for “brand ambassadors wanted” opportunities in your niche. And, if you’re in high school and looking for a laid-back summer job, search for roles for teenage brand ambassadors.

Do brand ambassadors get paid?

Brand ambassadors do get paid but not always in cash.

Some brand ambassadors are compensated with incentives like free products or discounts, which may be a valuable form of payment if you’re representing a brand whose products you already use. Just imagine not having to pay for that expensive skincare product you use or that dinner at your favorite restaurant.

Other ambassadors receive a more traditional payment, like an hourly wage or an annual salary. This brings us to the question, how much do brand ambassadors make? Unless you’re a celebrity, the highest annual salary of a brand ambassador comes to around $58,000 a year, but many earn a lot less. So, being an ambassador is a part-time job for many. Famous brand ambassadors, however, may make a lot more thanks to their celebrity-level reach.