If you watch me on Snapchat, you’d know that my contract with Toyota was renewed!!!
Yasss, that means that this is will be my 3rd year working with Toyota as a brand ambassador.
I’ll be honest (they’re not paying me to say this!). I love working with Toyota. The cars are bomb and the people I work with want the work I do to be creative, and reflective of my life. I loved this video we did during NYFW.
At any rate, being renewed made me think about what it takes to be a Bomb Brand Ambassador.
Let me tell you: when I first started working with brands, I was a little cocky. I scoffed at some requests. I got annoyed. I felt entitled and my attitude led to me losing opportunities.
After I realized that corporate checks are actually hard to come by, I wised up and got with the program. Corporate contracts are the closest thing you’ll get to a steady paycheck in this world of freelancing and entrepreneurship. If you align yourself with BOMB brands, you’ll be GOOD. So it’s important to treat these relationships with kid gloves. Be very happy to be there:
My tips.
1. Work with brands you believe in:
One of my newest ambassadorships is with Colgate Optic White. I’ve always had nice teeth (no braces, can you believe it?). But when I was an adolescent, I had cavities EVERY SINGLE TIME I went to the dentist. I got tired of always having cavities and getting fillings so I started to be extremely diligent about the care of my teeth. I swished, I flossed, I brushed, I swished again. I was determined to have zero cavities! I was tired of the drill!
The result? Strong teeth. So it makes sense that an oral care brand would take interest. And I love the product.
Work with brands that speak to you and your lifestyle. It’s ok to say no if they don’t.
2. Set goals and objectives.
The first few years I worked with Toyota, I wasn’t clear on how many views they wanted on Youtube or what goals they had for social media. So I asked! Talk to whatever brand you work with on how they can get a great return on their investment. In life, if you don’t set a goal, you can’t score.
3. Be Pleasant
YES should be the only word in your vocabulary. Of course don’t be a pushover, but understand that you’re working for a company. They have rules, most times your words, work, and creative output have to be reviewed for compliance and legal issues. At the end of the day, you are contractually obligated to go with the program.
Also, realize: there are MILLIONS of digital influencers out there. You’re special, but you’re not that special. And honestly, though Fashion Bomb Daily has a SCRONG social media presence, most campaigns I do involve other influencers who enjoy only a percentage of our following.
All that to say, brands can always find someone else! But, if you prove that you are a good collaborator and deliver, they will be more inclined to choose you.
4. Go Over and Above
If you’re in the process of ‘courting’ a brand, they might not want to write a big check right off the bat. They might want to do a few smaller collaborations with you to see how it rocks.
When you have these opportunities, show OUT! If they don’t ask you to include social media, do it anyway! Provide video, editorial posts, whatever you can. Sometimes you have to show what you will do for free before you get paid for it.
5. Make the Client Happy
Get in the habit of talking to your clients over the phone. Even in this world of e-mails and texts, pick up the phone.
Stay engaged, and if something isn’t going quite right initially, fix it. Your goal is not to have a ‘one off’ with a brand, but to continue to work for them year after year after year:)
At the end of the contract, submit a report, outlining the views, comments, likes, and whatever else you can muster. Submit your final report and hope for an A!
I know some of you may wonder: how do you get ambassadorships?
First, you have to have a website/instagram/social media presence with a strong following. It takes time, innovation, and a bomb team.
Once you have a great product/website/Instagram, put together a media kit and shop it to whichever brands make sense. Go to events and meet people. Make sure they’re familiar with you.
You won’t always hit a home run! Even though I work in fashion, I am not an ambassador for any fashion brands (though I’m working on it!). Sometimes you have to put together a proposal that spells out what you will do for a brand. Sometimes it registers, sometimes it doesn’t.
A lot of times people come to you, but put yourself out there and see what happens!
You might be pleasantly surprised:)
Love & Light!
Claire
*Have more questions? Leave ’em below.
