Should You Be a Brand Ambassador?
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Dive In
It’s an Instagram world, guys, and we’re just living in it. Everywhere you turn, there’s a new company with a brand ambassador out there hawking their favorite products—especially in the beauty industry. And you know what? We don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.
While there are definitely some brand ambassadors out there who are kind of doing the brand ambassador thing in a shady way, it’s also not an overwhelmingly bad thing. In fact, for every person out there who’s trying to sell you a product they’ve probably never even used (but they’re getting a percentage of the sales, so…), there’s another barber out there who genuinely is proud to rep a brand and is working in a healthy, symbiotic relationship with that brand.
And you know what? That person could be you.
If you’re in a situation where you’re trying to decide if you should be a brand ambassador—or you just want to be prepared to deal with this situation if it ever should arise—it’s vital that you’re really thinking it over. Being a brand ambassador isn’t just about gaining insta-fame, being looked on as the authority (although, look, those two things aren’t necessarily bad things), or raking in extra cash—being a brand ambassador is about making the choice to truly represent a company. In other words, they become an extension of you, and vice versa.
Are you ready to make that choice? If you’re unsure, that’s OK—it’s a tough decision.
We laid out the five most important questions you need to ask yourself before you dive in headfirst into a brand ambassador deal.
#1 First and Foremost—Do You Believe in the Company?
We made sure this question was first for a reason—because it really, really matters. If you’re cool with being one of those phony barbers out there hawking products they’ve never even heard of, hey, that’s your prerogative. But you know what? If you’re reading this article, you obviously care about your career—and personally, diving into a brand deal you don’t believe in is a good way to nosedive that valued career of yours.
Always, always make sure that if you’re going to rep a brand, a product, or a service, you truly believe in it. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself—would I recommend this to a client if I wasn’t benefiting from it?
#2 Is It a Smart Marketing Move?
This isn’t a bad question to ask! Being a brand ambassador can be a really smart marketing move, and it’s silly to not acknowledge that. There’s no shame in marketing yourself well, especially if the product and the brand you’re repping are top quality.
So, take a moment. Think about how working with this brand could affect you. Does it help your image? Does it affect your marketing budget? Does it work with your marketing goals? If it ultimately can benefit you, it might be a good move!
#3 Does the Agreement Benefit Both of You?
We know that business isn’t always 50-50—sometimes, one party gets more and one party gives more. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a generally symbiotic relationship. Take a good, hard look at the paperwork and the agreement—does this agreement benefit both of you? Are you getting the short end of the stick? Does the deal seem too good to be true? Really evaluate this before you decide.
#4 Will Your Ambassador Obligations Get in The Way Of Your Business?
Think about what your goals and priorities are—if you’re a barber who’s dedicated to their career, it’s likely that your profession (and the goals associated with that) come first. So, simply ask yourself—does this ambassadorship or partnership get in the way of your business? Does it work with your goals? If this brand ambassadorship doesn’t complement what you’re aiming for within your business, it might not be a good fit.
#5 Does it Feel Right?
Don’t be afraid to trust your gut. While it’s not always the smartest business move to let your intuition lead the way, it’s certainly never a good idea to ignore a bad feeling you might have about a company. If your feeling weird or off about working with a brand, don’t ignore that—really investigate that feeling and figure out where it’s coming from. Your gut might be right after all.
When it comes to your career, it’s not always an easy, black-and-white decision—sometimes there are grey areas that exist and make what you should do a conundrum. But at the end of the day, remember, it’s unlikely that your choice on whether or not to become an ambassador is truly going to make or break your career—especially if you’re a hard worker who’s dedicated to the grind.
Ultimately, you’ll do what’s best for you and your business, so don’t sweat it too much.
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