8 Essential Tips to Become a Paid Brand Ambassador or Influencer
1. REACH OUT TO BRANDS, AGENCIES, AND MANAGERS TO GET PAID FOR INSTAGRAM POSTS
It’s a big world out there! Brands of all sizes and shapes want to work with Brand Ambassadors, and working with them sometimes means making the first move. Compile a list of influencer marketing agencies and brands that use influencer marketing, and research influencer listing services to make sure you are seen in the right places. Join private networks that promote participation in brand programs. For example, if you have at least 1,000 followers you can join Buzzoole worldwide network of influencers.
2. LOOK TO YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES AS STARTING POINTS
Doing something well usually means doing something you love. And what better place to start than hobbies? You usually take up a hobby because you enjoy spending time doing something that invigorates your mind. Thinking about starting in the fashion world? Hopefully, you already live and breath fashion. That energy will come through when you start creating content about your hobby. It’s an intangible, but very easy to identify traits of the best brand ambassadors.
3. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE NICHE (AND STICK TO IT)
Even within a very niche topic area, there are often certain types of people who gravitate to it in larger numbers. Being a successful brand ambassador can mean finding the largest audience group within your area of speciality and targeting them with content, outreach, or in-person meetings. It’s a great way to broaden your network and become known for something within a small web of people.
4. LEARN TO MAKE AMAZING CONTENT THAT SOLVES PROBLEMS
Be it videos, written blogs, or beautiful Instagram posts, making great content is all part of the brand ambassador’s job. Its even better when you can solve a problem your niche audience may be having in an elegant, exciting, or totally new way. Think about what your audience really wants (and do some research by asking) and then give it to them!
5. DEMONSTRATE PASSION AND CONVICTION BEYOND THE BASICS
Everything up until this point has been simple. Pick a niche, start making content that speaks to a specific audience. What comes after is where most fledgeling brand ambassadors fall flat. Only a truly passionate, unstoppable attitude will get you from a hobby to a job. That’s why the first tip in this article is so important. You must be willing to keep making great content and spending time building your presence for months, and perhaps years. It’s the only way to really dominate a category and raise your profile to the top of the heap.
6. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO GET PAID FOR INSTAGRAM POSTS
There are many tools brands and agencies use to spot cheaters. You can’t fake being a great brand ambassador. While buying followers, faking engagement, and generally appearing to be super popular can get your inquiries, it won’t close deals. As brand expertise continues to advance around influencer and brand ambassador marketing, it’s becoming impossible to cheat the system.
7. START SMALL WITH COLLABORATION IN MIND
Don’t try to jump straight into the world of Instagram millionaires. Being a great brand ambassador means practicing. You’ll learn a lot in the early days by working with brands, and it won’t always be for cold, hard cash. Offer to partner on a marketing effort and bring more ideas to the table. Make sure you give yourself a chance to let that passion shine through, showing brands what you’re all about. Eventually you’ll get paid for Instagram posts, it may take 60-90 days to get you there.
8. LEARN HOW TO SPEAK, ACT, AND THINK LIKE A MARKETER TO GET PAID FOR INSTAGRAM POSTS
If you want a career, you need to get educated on how professionals in the field do business. Unfortunately, there isn’t an Instagram University to teach you the ropes. We’ve put together a short Amazon list of required reading that will guarantee you are on the fast track to success before you even start:
9. KNOW WHEN TO TURN DOWN OFFERS
Money can be an enticing proposition, and brand ambassadors can be very well compensated. But how much do influencers actually get paid? The answer isn’t always cut and dry, and the marketplace is fairly opaque. If you know a brand ambassador or influencer friends, ask them how they structure their payment terms. Don’t blindly accept the first offer to get paid for Instagram posts if you don’t know what your value in the market truly should be!
Remember, it’s better to make relationships through shared experiences before raising your prices or creating rate sheets. Learn about the benefits of influencer marketing that you can deliver upon before asking for large fees. You are in this for the long haul, right?
Being a successful brand ambassador often brings perks, cash, and the satisfaction of running your own business while doing something you love. With a little luck and a lot of determination, you too can leverage social media platforms to become an online celebrity.