HOW TO BECOME A BRAND AMBASSADOR - FROM A FORMER BUMBLE HONEY
First of all, what is a brand ambassador? Why are brands hiring them? Although an ambassador’s responsibilities can vary from company to company, their main function is to build brand awareness and increase sales. Often confused with an influencer, a brand ambassador has a longer term partnership with the given company. While an influencer might post one time with a certain company’s product(s), a brand ambassador typically requires more posts across various social media platforms as well as in person promotional tasks.
So, what’s in it for you? Of course you’ll be compensated in some capacity. But, being a brand ambassador is also a unique way to gain experience outside of your typical internship or job. Depending on the work you produce, it could give you expertise in social media management, content creation, relationship management, community engagement, public speaking, and more. Not to mention, ambassador roles can open doors for more brand partnerships in the future.
BE GENUINELY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BRAND
I was a fan of Bumble long before I applied to their Bumble Honey ambassador program. So when it came to filling out the application, I felt prepared to speak to their brand values and mission, and how it aligned with my own life. If given the opportunity to answer questions in an application, make sure to use the organization’s social media and website as a tool to understand what’s important to them.
Another way to show your passion is by interacting with the brand on social media. Following their accounts, liking and commenting on posts, and even posting and reposting (don’t forget to tag them!) about the brand is a great way to express your genuine interest. If you can prove that your lifestyle aligns with the brand’s own, an ambassador position will seem like a natural fit.
HAVE A “GOOD” SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE
This doesn’t necessarily mean having thousands and thousands of followers! You need a public account just to be considered, so let’s start there. Much like you use a resume and cover letter in a job application, you should look at your Instagram as a digital portfolio and reflection of who you are. Essentially, you want to give off the impression that you put thought and effort into what you post. It’s also an opportunity to show your content creation skills by utilizing every feature that Instagram has to offer like Highlights, Reels, Stories, IGTV and more. Most companies will expect ambassadors to use a variety of mediums to connect with their audience. In some cases, be prepared to present your Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or more. Companies work very hard on their reputation, so they want to hire ambassadors who also care about their social presence and who will be a good representation of their brand.
BE ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
We often associate brand ambassadors with social media. But, many ambassador programs, especially college programs, will expect their ambassadors to promote their product or service offline as well. In my ambassador experience, I partnered with local influencers, small businesses and on-campus organizations for speaking engagements, promotional events, merchandise distribution and more. Being an active member of my community made creating those partnerships that much easier, and was something I spoke to in my ambassador application.
Brands want to work with individuals who have a multitude of interests and an ability to juggle many tasks at once. Being a part of different organizations and having some leadership roles is a great way to show how you connect with people and have a positive impact on your community.
Here are some student ambassador programs to get you started: