What is Influencer Marketing and how to get started as a campus brand ambassador?

By Vanessa Buck

Influencer marketing has exploded within the last 10 years. Many companies use influencers to market their products or services. Most companies also have programs for college student ambassadors. Influencer marketing is a social media or word-of-mouth marketing that uses endorsements from influencers-individuals who have a dedicated social following and are viewed as experts within their niche. Many companies utilize influencers because of the high amount of trust that social influencers have developed with their audience. As a college student, looking for brand ambassador positions is beneficial to marketing or public relations students to gain experience, learn through a hands-on experience and get paid. Here are some tips on how to get started as a campus brand ambassador, where to look/find these opportunities and how to use your social media skills to grow your personal brand as a college student.

According to Social Media Today, “77% of teens think that YouTubers are more reliable than celebrities and 88% of consumers trust online recommendations as much as face-to-face recommendations.” There are so many opportunities on social media and digital for influencer marketing. There are 2 billion users on Facebook, 1.5 billion users on YouTube, 700 million users on Instagram, 328 million users are Twitter and 255 million users on Snapchat. TikTok, the newest place for influencer marketing, currently has an average of 100 million daily users. ​

​Tips for becoming a campus brand ambassador  
Most college students are Gen-Z and grew up in the age of social media. They are familiar with the ins and outs of social media and how to use the different capabilities of each platform. Some things students can do to find brand ambassador opportunities are:  

1. Researching through social media. 
Search Instagram hashtags such as #CampusRep or #BrandAmbassador, or even #Ad or #Sponsored, and look through tagged posts of what content students have previously created for various brand programs.  

2. Check the websites of your favorite brands or companies. 
See if they have a student ambassador program on your campus. Popular ambassador programs include VS Pink, Coca-Cola, Red Bull, Bumble, 5 Hour Energy, LaCroix, HBO, Course Hero, Bear Paw, Amazon Prime and Dunkin Donuts.  

3. Research and familiarize yourself with agencies. 
There are many agencies that specialize in connecting brands with student ambassadors to represent them, such as Intern Queen or Riddle & Bloom.   

Many programs will give their student ambassadors guidelines or briefs for what they are required to do each week. This can include a minimum number of posts on your social media feeds or stories each week. Incorporating the social media platform skills and familiarity that college students have today can benefit them when marketing themselves as they apply for these various student ambassador positions. Content creating, proficient editing and aesthetics are very beneficial for what these programs are looking for to promote their brand. 
 
Make the most of your social media and networking skills by applying for campus ambassador programs! Find opportunities in the influencer marketing industry as a college student and get paid to share content with your peers. Brands are looking for eager and motivated student ambassadors to represent their companies on their campuses and spread the word about their products/services. Stay on top of when program applications open, get involved on campus and get familiar with the company/brand you are applying for. Influencer marketing isn’t going away anytime soon and will most likely grow more and more popular into the future. Take advantage of opportunities now and gain experience for how to grow and become successful in this industry. Comment down below some brands you’re interested in becoming a campus brand ambassador for or have previously worked for as a brand ambassador! ​