Influencers have the ability to impact and inspire other people, raise awareness about important issues and, at the same time, build a platform to promote a business. Being an influencer is constant work and takes a lot of time and effort.
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Working as an influencer has become popular, especially in the last couple of years.
Influencers have the ability to impact and inspire other people, raise awareness about important issues and, at the same time, build a platform to promote a business. Being an influencer is constant work and takes a lot of time and effort.
As an influencer, you have the opportunity to express yourself creatively, and nail art is a great example of that. In the nail industry, working as an ambassador is comparable to working as an influencer. Being an ambassador gives you an opportunity to represent a brand, learning and growing together with them and potentially even attaining a career advancement within the company. Working in a team of ambassadors gives you a feeling of having colleagues and can be positive when you work with social media, where it otherwise can be very lonely. Like everything else in life, there are pros and cons working as an ambassador. However, if you find the right company and people, you have the potential to learn and grow a lot.
If you want to work as an ambassador, here are some useful strategies and tips for you to keep in mind.
1. Define your goals.
You need to clearly define what you want to achieve with your career. Do you want to gain more followers to be able to work with social media? Are you trying to expand your clientele and increase your salary? Do you want to grow independently? Be realistic when it comes to your own expectations when you consider the company’s resources. Working as an ambassador is a give and take commitment. Is this something that will help you reach your future goals? Sometimes it can be hard to tell what the best next move forward is, but there’s nothing wrong with trying something new. Embrace the unknown because you never know what opportunities you may get.
2. Find the right brand/company for you.
I cannot stress enough how important it is that you find a company that is your perfect match. You need to ask yourself:
- Is this a brand that you feel passionate about?
- Is this a company that you want to be associated with and represent?
- Will you be able to grow and develop as a person and business owner together with this company?
- Does the company offer a positive and productive climate where you’re allowed to experiment and make mistakes without being called out?
- Will there be a learning environment where they offer training and skill-building?
There are plenty of businesses out there that can offer you these things, so don’t settle for anything less. Do your own research about the company before making a decision.
3. Talk to the businesses.
If you have a small account, the chances of being discovered are pretty slim. You need to reach out and introduce yourself, tell them what you have to offer and let them know why they need you. This might feel uncomfortable or frightening in the beginning, but it will become easier the more you do it. Have the courage to step out of your comfort zone!
If you are approached by a company and offered an ambassadorship, let it sink in for a couple of days before responding. It’s easy to get a little carried away and flattered in the moment, and that can make you push your own boundaries and agree to things you might regret later. Discuss the offer with someone you trust, and consider the pros and cons.
Remember, before you reach out to a company, or when a company approaches you, there’s nothing wrong with reaching out to other ambassadors currently working there or those who have worked there. This will give you a better picture of the company and the working environment. Again, do your own research about the company!
4. Look for an equal and respectful contract.
Signing a contract can feel stressful, especially if that is something you haven’t done before. The most important thing is that you read through the contract several times, and let it sink in a couple of days before agreeing to anything. Signing a contract is a big deal, and you must know every detail written in the contract before taking that next step. Ask someone you trust to read it with you, just to make sure there’s nothing stated there that shouldn’t be there. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a lawyer, but someone who has experience with writing and signing contracts.
The following things are some items you can pay extra attention to.
- Notice period: It varies, but normally it should be around 1-3 months depending on the commitment.
- Responsibilities: If there are tasks that are expected from you, without being specified how much/often in the contract, make sure it is clarified and written down, so there aren’t any uncertainties.
- Termination rules: What happens after you quit? Do you have any obligations after the termination? Is that fair and something you are comfortable with?
- International changes: Writing a contract from a different country than yours may vary, so make sure you are aware of the rules regarding the contract in that country so that you are not blind sided.
- Be prepared: Consider every possible outcome, and don’t be afraid to discuss it with the company. Ask specific questions, “If we come to a disagreement regarding _____, what happens then?” The more that is clarified and written down in the contract, the easier it will be.
5. Consider the work environment.
Working as an ambassador should definitely be compared with a normal employment. The conditions of your work level might differ, but the surrounding situations are no different. Just as any other employee, ambassadors should be treated fairly and feel valued and respected. Equal opportunities for growth should be established. The leader should provide clear directions, offer support and guidance when needed and set a great example for a positive work environment.
Working as an ambassador often means working in a team with several other ambassadors. Does the teamwork and collaboration between the ambassadors function well? Do you have a positive and open culture where you can share ideas and knowledge without feeling stressed or taken advantage of? Does the communication work both ways between employees and management? Open communication is key for maintaining a healthy work environment.
6. Evaluation and appreciation
The leader should give you constructive feedback and performance evaluations for you to be able to improve your working skills. This should preferably be discussed in a meeting where you are able to ask questions, discuss different issues that might be addressed or clarify any questions. It’s equally important for you as an ambassador/employee to give feedback to the leaders. How else can they learn how to improve their leadership and working environment for the employees? Feedback can be given in many different ways and should address concerns to identify areas for improvement in order to implement necessary changes.
Just as much as the leader gives you responsibilities and expects you to deliver, the leader should recognize and reward your achievements. If you feel stuck in a situation where you constantly deliver but never receive appreciation, this is a warning sign. You might not be able to expect your leaders to constantly pat you on the back, but some appreciation given on a regular basis is something that is fair to expect. Compare this with a coach in any sport. If the coach constantly tells the players to improve and do better and never acknowledges or appreciates their successes, the players’ motivation will probably deteriorate over time.
To maintain a positive work environment, all parties must be committed and pay attention to all people involved. The most important thing is that the ambassadors’/employees’ working climate and environment are constantly evaluated and improved.
7. Terminate your ambassadorship.
If you feel like some of the above requirements aren’t measuring up with what you expect, or if you just feel that it’s time for you to move on and quit the ambassadorship, make sure you take enough time to reflect on the decision. Sometimes leaving behind stability or certain benefits can cause doubt. Question if quitting is really the right decision. The most important thing is that you trust your instincts and gut feeling. It all comes back to the first thing I wrote about your goals and health. If quitting is aligned with your long-term goals, or if it is something you must do to protect your health, there should be no reason for you to doubt your decision. Trust yourself, your capabilities and your intuition. No one knows better what is right for you than yourself. You are good enough just the way you are, and you should never have to change for anyone else. As long as you stay true to yourself, most things will work out in the end.
8. When stress arises...
Maintaining high engagement rates without posting content frequently is difficult. Taking a vacation or time off work without an increased stress level is nearly impossible. Breaks are necessary, as with any other job, in order to recharge and be your best creative version of yourself.
Preparing your followers for your upcoming vacation/break telling them when you will be back or creating content in advance for you to upload with minimal effort are things you can do to decrease the risk of losing engagement while taking a break.
Taking control of that stress level is crucial in order to be able to grow your business in the long run while maintaining your health. It’s easier said than done, but if you learn how to keep your stress on a decent and healthy level, you can turn it into a positive force that drives you forward. This can even be an opportunity for growth and development that helps you achieve your dreams and goals.
Stress is a normal part of life that comes and goes, and trying to avoid it completely will not be a solution to strive for. You need to find healthy ways to manage it and an acceptable level for you in the long run. Being independent and in control of your own schedule gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom. This is why many people find the benefits of being a business owner more beneficial than the negatives it can bring, such as the pressure to consistently create engaging content and the constant feeling of never working enough.
What would make you terminate an ambassadorship?
”If the business owner starts talking behind other ambassadors’ backs and tries to turn them against each other, I would quit the ambassadorship immediately!”
How do you protect your mental health?
”If you feel that the ambassadorship is too heavy a burden on you, you can always re-negotiate the contract. This is no different than negotiating your salary with your boss as an employee. If the ambassadorship still feels wrong for you, move on. There will always be other brands to collaborate with in the future if you feel like going for it again. Once you’ve done it, it’s easier to negotiate a new contract to your benefit.”
About the Author:
Emelie Westin is a nail artist, international educator and influencer. She is the co-founder of Nail Art Queens and owner of Design in Light. She lives in Sweden and loves spending time with her family, watching Christmas movies and dancing. You can follow her on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @beautiful_in_light.
