By: George Moore
If we pretend the world is back to normal. And that the pool brands didn't lose a ton of money...and were still willing to invest in players for their ambassador's team. A brand like Peri Cues has more than 64 ambassadors. And they demand a lot in return from each and every one! Being a sponsored player is a lot more work than most realize. Just wearing a logo patch on your shirt and adding a hashtag on social media is not enough.
A company is providing you with their trust. They invest their resources, name, and time in you. You have to repay that trust by putting in extra time and going out of your way to make them happy. You have to become their brand ambassador full time.
A brand ambassador is hired to promote a company and it's product or service to its network. This drives awareness, leads, and conversions. Often, brand ambassadors have an existing following on a social media site like Facebook or YouTube. Brand ambassador programs are an effective marketing tactic, because they generate buzz, provide social proof, and broadcast the brand to a loyal audience. You have to be 100% sure that you are ready to go the extra mile to make your sponsor happy. You are talented. Otherwise, the sponsor would not be interested. But, and here is the important part; the sponsor is looking for a good return on their investment. It's way better for them to have an ambassador who's not a world champion, but works like a world champion to promote them! MINIMUM REQUIRED EFFORT Unless you are that «one-in-a-million» person who gets front covers, interviews, and millions of followers, you have to be creative and productive. This shows your current and potential new sponsors what you're made of...and it will pay off! SOCIAL MEDIA You are also building your own brand and getting new followers. Stay relevant, engage your followers, reply to every single post, and produce interesting content. Tell a story; «I'm doing this drill because.....» No more than 1 post per day, no less than 2 per week. Don't overexpose yourself. YOUR SPONSOR'S "USP" Make sure you align your statements in accordance with your sponsors Unique Selling Points (USP). Are the products handmade? Do they offer quick delivery? Is their customer service super nice? Make sure you emphasize these things in the content you produce and post. As a brand ambassador, it's important that you influence your audience. OFFLINE Your job as a brand ambassador does not end when you log off. Talk to people in the pool hall, at events, and amongst your peers. You are a trusted person and your opinion matters to them. Send your sponsor customers! Building a brand and running a company takes a lot of hard work. You, as the brand ambassador, is part of the team. It's your job to go out there and tell the world about the great things that «your» company is doing. It ́s a family, and when they take care of you, it ́s only fair that you return the love. Influencer marketing can be very effective, but only when companies work with great ambassadors. So, think about that the next time you crave for a sponsorship; ARE YOU READY TO PUT IN THE WORK? Ad: Visit Cue Listings to purchase your pool cues, bags, and other pool-related products.
Very well said and very true on every point.