Differences Between Brand Ambassadors and Influencers
What Are Influencers?
If you are active on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, you might have heard the word influencer. Influencers are people on social media or other online sources who have a large network of individuals who listen to their voice and follow them. At times, influencers promote services and products for others in exchange for monetary benefits. Influencers can be big celebrities who have a large base of followers on social media, but anyone with a substantial following may also be an influencer on the internet. For instance, celebrities like actors or national award winners can be influencers, but young kids and teenages can also be influencers if enough people listen to them and respect their opinions.
The concept of an influencer has evolved over time; as we moved away from strictly defining an influencer as a celebrity and now recognize that anyone with a substantial following can becomeinfluencers on the internet.
Companies often look for influencers discussing topics about their industry, brand, or product that fit into the same genre and have influence over people similar to their customer base. This helps companies reach out to their target audience effectively. Companies look for people who already have a strong online presence and solicit them to discuss their product, or service with their network to help promote their brand.
Brand Ambassador Vs. Influencer
Brand ambassadors, on the other hand, are individuals who love a brand, product, or service and naturally want to tell their friends and family about it because they genuinely want others to experience similar benefits as they have enjoyed. Ambassadors do not necessarily work for monetary benefits.
Brand ambassadors have many characteristics that make them similar to influencers, yet their motives are deemed more pure and genuine and the desire to share a message about the product or service is self-promoted. Here are a few differences between brand ambassadors and influencers:
> Influencers generally build a network for monetary gain and companies come to them to exploit the promotion of their business in return for some form of financial gain. Brand ambassadors have a good experience with a brand and want their family and friends to realize similar benefits.
> The primary motivation to share a product or service endorsement with others for Influencers is based on monetary gain, i.e., to sell a service or product by representing it. While, the primary focus of a brand ambassador is placed on the happiness, health, and enjoyment of their close friends and family.
> Brand ambassadors leverage their personal connections with family and friends to help educate others on great services and products. Influencers may or may not have had a positive experience with a product or service, but will promote it for financial gain.
However, one of the most significant differences between the two is the type of collaboration that they have with the brand they want to endorse.
