How To Become an Instagram Brand Ambassador Ultimate Guide
Being an Instagram brand ambassador can be a great way to boost your social media profile, get free products, and discover new interests. However, many brands are looking for ambassadors right now, and it can take some work to stand out from the crowd. Here is our ultimate guide on how to become an Instagram brand ambassador, as well as tips on being a great advocate.
It’s no secret that brands and influencers are collaborating more than ever. Even though the rise of collaborations may seem sudden, it’s not a new idea by any means. In today’s digital world, brand partnerships have evolved from ads in magazines and window displays to photos and videos on Instagram. As a result, more and more brands are working directly with influencers and ambassadors to help boost their brand awareness.
Read on to learn more about this rapidly growing career opportunity and how you can become an Instagram brand ambassador.
What is an Instagram brand ambassador?
An advocate for a company’s goods and services is known as a brand ambassador. Individuals who take on the role of an ambassador spread their enthusiasm for a particular cause throughout their networks of loved ones, acquaintances, and fans.
An Instagram brand ambassador is someone who has an active account that aligns with a particular brand they want to represent. These individuals often have large followings on social media, so partnering with them can be highly beneficial for brands looking to target those audiences.
Advocacy marketing occurs through a variety of channels, both online and offline. When it comes to Instagram brand ambassadors, these people promote a company’s products and services primarily on the Instagram social media platform. They represent a company’s image through their online interactions and daily lives. Ambassadors genuinely care about a company and use their social connections and influence to spread the word about it.
An Instagram brand ambassador is someone who has an active account that aligns with a particular brand. These individuals often have large followings on social media, so partnering with them can be highly beneficial for brands looking to target those audiences.
A brand ambassador on Instagram will usually post pictures of themselves using products from the brand they are promoting, along with a call to action. For example, they may write something like, “Just tried this new lip gloss and can’t stop wearing it!” accompanied by an image of themselves wearing the product.
While this is a simple example, the brand ambassador will usually tag the company they’re working with and include additional hashtags related to the product or brand they represent.
If you’re interested in becoming an Instagram brand ambassador, this ultimate guide was created for you.
Overview
Instagram has grown into a powerhouse platform for brands and businesses. Today, the photo-centric app is home to over one billion monthly active users and continues to be a top destination for millennials.
This strong presence on the social media landscape makes it easier than ever to market your product or brand through sponsored posts and partnerships with influencers.
Becoming an Instagram brand ambassador can expand your business’s reach, introduce you to new audiences, and help you build lasting relationships with key industry players.
What does an Instagram brand ambassador do?
A brand ambassador’s job on Instagram often involves a few primary roles. However, the duties may change from one business to the next.
The following are key things that an Instagram brand ambassador does. And that being said, these are the same things you need to start doing to become an ambassador on Instagram.
Grow Audience
Cultivating and maintaining positive relationships with their social network is one of the most essential things a brand ambassador does. Instagram ambassadors use this social media site to connect with and grow their following. You are of little benefit to brands without a healthy, engaged following.
Increase Awareness
Brand ambassadors increase awareness of a business and boost sales through their authentic connections with customers. Companies can benefit from having brand ambassadors because of the word-of-mouth advertising they provide through their trusted networks of friends, family, and acquaintances.
Product Discovery
Once they’ve established a following, Instagram ambassadors encourage their followers to explore new products. This is a cornerstone of what an ambassador on Instagram does.
83% of users find new products and services on Instagram. (SocialPilot)
Although brands post all the time, they are seen as less believable than ambassadors. So be authentic when sharing information and details about products you love.
User-generated Content
Because of its incredible visual nature, Instagram is ideal for highlighting products and experiences. In the influencer industry, anything created by users of a brand is called UGC, or user-generated content.
Another duty of a brand advocate is to use the product themselves and share their impressions on social media platforms like Instagram.
Compared to branded images or videos, 85% of people have more trust in UGC. (Adweek)
Post on Instagram
Obviously, as an Instagram brand ambassador, you’ll be required to post at least monthly about the brands you’re working with. Brands should have organized programs with structured campaigns and actions.
Complete Campaigns and Actions
Brands will likely have certain things they need an ambassador to accomplish. Campaigns are collections of tasks, and advocates should participate in them.
Campaigns could involve anything from going to their storefront and reviewing products online to making personal purchases and posting photos of yourself enjoying the items. Two examples of campaigns are Thanksgiving Social Media Posts Stuffed With Goodness and Black Friday Campaigns Perfect for Brand Community. If you need some marketing inspiration (and let’s be real-we all do) check our Social Media Campaigns: 2023 templates.
Roster’s ambassador management platform also has dozens of easy actions for Instagram. Ambassadors may be asked to follow the brand on Instagram, comment on or share a post, create a Story, and more. These quick, simple tasks are valuable. They expand brand reach and awareness and augment marketing campaigns. Participating in these seemingly small activities can produce big results for the brands you represent.
Tag and Mention the Brand!
You’ll also need to tag the brand in your post and link back to their website in your caption, where appropriate. This will help the brand gain more exposure and can lead to potential sales with each post you make.
Social listening and social feed software, like Roster, capture your posts and mentions for the brand.
Types of Ambassadors
When brands are looking to partner with an Instagram influencer, they’ll often look at how large their following is and how engaged that audience is. Engagement rates can be used to determine how effective an Instagram user is. The more likes and comments a post receives, the better chance it has of being seen by other users.
Some of these brand ambassadors are bloggers with a large Instagram following who don’t necessarily recommend products. They’re simply sharing their daily lives and travel adventures with their followers.
On the other hand, some Instagrammers are known as micro-influencers. These individuals have a smaller following but are very engaged with their followers and highly relevant to the products they promote.
There are four sub-industries within the sphere of influencer and ambassador marketing. There are many different sizes of these influencers, from mega to micro to nano. The terms influencer and ambassador are synonymous.
Mega-influencer
Mega-influencers are the biggest names in the business. Their fan base is enormous, numbering in the millions.
Macro-influencer
Large-scale influencers commonly have a significant online following. A half-million to a million people follow them.
Micro-influencer
Micro-influencers are generally subject matter experts or industry professionals. Between ten thousand and fifty thousand of their committed fans attend their shows regularly.
Nano-influencers
Someone well-known in a small setting, such as a school or neighborhood, is an example of a nano-influencer. Their fan base is the smallest, typically numbering in the low tens of thousands at most.
Benefits of Becoming an Instagram Brand Ambassador
If you’re looking for a way to earn extra money, this could be a great option. As an Instagram brand ambassador, you’ll likely be offered a fee per post or a flat rate for the entire duration of your contract. More established bloggers, ambassadors, and influencers may be able to negotiate a percentage of sales or a fee per post, but this is less common.
Many Instagram ambassadors and creators receive personal discounts for completing campaigns. You can use the discount coupons for the products you desire the most. And the cycle continues. Ambassadors are more loyal, more inclined to buy additional products, and more likely to tell others about the product.
Apart from earning a brand ambassador salary, taking on the role of an Instagram spokesperson provides the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most prominent brands in the industry. Plus, you’ll have the chance to promote products that you genuinely like and believe in, meaning you’ll be happier and more likely to create content your followers appreciate.
Steps To Become a Brand Ambassador on Instagram
Finally! The nuts and bolts of becoming an ambassador. If you’re set on earning money by posting on Instagram or becoming a brand ambassador, you’ll need to be determined and have some awesome content within your chosen niche. It won’t be a walk in the park, but with the help of this guide, you’ll be on the right track in no time.
Step 1 – Know Yourself
Knowing yourself is the first step to creating a unique identity. Take the time to get clear about who you are and what makes you stand out. Your personality and values are the foundation of your brand, so make sure that you show your true self to the public and potential sponsors. After all, no one else can be you – so be sure to flaunt it!
Step 2 – Build a Following
Create an Instagram account and consistently post. Fill it with relevant, high-quality content. You can create posts inspired by what you love and what your followers would enjoy seeing. Focus on a niche or specialty. (See step #3.)
The goal of being active is the build an audience that trusts you. To become a brand ambassador, it’s essential to have a significant and engaged following on the platform. This means that you should focus on building a community of loyal followers who are interested in your content, and who are likely to engage with it.
You can achieve this by consistently posting high-quality content, interacting with your followers, and using Instagram’s features, such as hashtags, stories, and live videos.
Step 3 – Specialize
It’s key to develop a niche or specialty. Brands often look for ambassadors who specialize in a specific area, such as fashion, beauty, or fitness. Also, an important aspect of becoming an ambassador on Instagram is knowing your target demographic and your strengths (and weaknesses) as a marketer.
You’ll want to focus your content and outreach on the largest group within your specialty. By researching local events and talking to stores that match your niche, you can grow your network and become known for something specific. Establishing yourself in a small but passionate group of people can open up many opportunities for further success, so be sure to know yourself and your audience niche and stick to it!
Step 4 – Create Content
Instagram is a very visual platform. So naturally, you need to excel at producing high-quality content.
Consistently post high-quality, visually appealing content that aligns with your niche or specialty. This means that you should focus on creating content that is visually appealing, engaging, and relevant to your followers. This can be achieved by using high-quality images and videos, and by using Instagram’s editing tools to enhance the visual appeal of your content.
Step 5 – Engage With Followers
People follow you because they like you and want to stay in touch. Remember this! Don’t ignore your audience or leave them handing. Engage with them and interact with your followers often. Treat them like friends because the truth is, they are.
This means that you should focus on building a community of loyal followers who are interested in your content, and who are likely to engage with it. This can be achieved by responding to comments and messages, answering questions, and engaging in conversations with your followers.
Step 6 – Collaborate
You can build your community and value by collaborating with other influencers and brands. Reach out to other influencers and brands in your niche and see if they would be interested in working together.
If you need to jumpstart some partnerships consider attending events, networking, and reaching out to other influencers and brands through social media.
Step 6 – Be Authentic
Be honest and transparent with your followers about any sponsored content, and always make sure to disclose any financial compensation you receive. This will help you build trust and credibility with your followers, and ensure that you stay true to yourself.
Step 7 – Connect With Brands
This final step is the most exciting. Once you have a large following and a niche, reach out to brands that align with your interests, and see if they are looking for a brand ambassador.
To become a brand ambassador, network with companies that fit into your expertise and approach them to learn about any available positions. Visit the company website and look for a brand ambassador program or recruitment form.
You may also physically going to events and contact brands through social media or email. A great approach is to direct message the company on Instagram.
How To Find the Perfect Brands
If you want to find brands looking for Instagram brand ambassadors, the best place to start is with the hashtag #ad or #sponsored. While not all posts with these hashtags are advertisements, they’re a great indicator of which brands are currently working with influencers.
From here, you can do a few different things. You can visit the Instagram pages of specific brands and scroll through their feed to see if they have any posts marked as being sponsored.
Another option is to go directly to the brand’s website. Many companies with a brand ambassador program have a link to their recruitment form in their footer.
Brand Partnerships
Before you sign a partnership with a brand, make sure you know their expectations for you as an Instagram brand ambassador. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what is expected of you before moving forward. This will help you avoid misunderstandings and communication issues further down the road.
As with any working relationship, it’s crucial to maintain a positive environment with the brands you represent. Be kind and constructive with any feedback you give the brands.
When the brand makes a request, respond promptly and always try to overdeliver. This mindset will forge a strong relationship for both.
If you have an issue with the company, try to take a step back and talk to them one-on-one about it.
Conclusion
Compared to traditional forms of advertising, Instagram brand ambassador partnerships are relatively inexpensive for brands. Also, they are much more effective. For these reasons, ambassador programs are booming.
Becoming an Instagram brand ambassador may be a good choice if you’re seeking an additional income opportunity. More brands are turning to Instagram influencers for these types of partnerships, and it’s easy to get started if you have an active Instagram account.
Be sure to look into potential partners and locate businesses that you can get behind wholeheartedly. From there, it’s just a matter of sending them a message and joining their ambassador team!
When all is said and done, a brand ambassador acts as an extension of the firm and, most importantly, a trusted partner over the long run.
Feature image: Photo by Josh Rose on Unsplash