Brand reps (representatives) or brand enthusiasts are people that you send free products or discounted products to in exchange for them taking pictures and posting them on their Instagram account. Brand reps or enthusiasts can be highly effective in growing small businesses on Instagram because they can help the shop’s following grow organically. This post will tell you everything you need to know about using brand reps or enthusiasts on Instagram.
Getting Ready to Use Brand Reps or Enthusiasts on Instagram
- Decide if you would like brand reps or brand enthusiasts. Brand reps are usually given products free of charge, while brand enthusiasts are generally offered a discount on products and must order regularly. You could use one type or a combination of both.
- Write a basic contract that outlines what products they will receive, how long you will use their services, how many posts you expect the rep or enthusiast to post during that time period, and when they will post the images.
- I’d suggest using brand reps in 3 or 6 month increments and starting over with your brand search as the term expires.
- I suggest having a signed contract with any brand rep or enthusiast.
- Write out requirements for brand reps or enthusiasts. Are you searching for moms or dads with babies, those with fabulous home decor, or someone trendy that loves the latest accessories? Feel free to ask for specific age or size ranges. The more specific you are when advertising the search, the better applicants you will receive.
- Create an image that states you are looking for brand reps or brand enthusiasts.
- Create a hashtag that incorporates your business name and “brandrep” or “brandenthusiast”. Be sure to search the hashtag on Instagram to make sure that it isn’t already in use.
How to Find Brand Reps or Enthusiasts on Instagram
- Post your image on Instagram along with dates for your brand rep or enthusiast search. From here, you have a few different options:
- Direct potential brand reps or enthusiasts to email you with information about them and why they want to be a brand rep or enthusiast.
- Direct potential brand reps or enthusiasts to an application on your website.
- (This method is generally most effective) Have potential reps or enthusiasts repost your brand search image and hashtag on their Instagram feed. Then, have them tag 2-5 pictures on their feed with your hashtag. Their tagged photos become their entries into the search. Last, have them tag friends that may be interested in your brand rep or enthusiast search.
What to Look for When Selecting Brand Reps or Enthusiasts
- Since Instagram is highly visual, look for someone who posts great photos.
- Look for someone who is active on Instagram (posting at least every other day) and has a large following.
- Brand reps and enthusiasts should have public accounts rather than private accounts.
Sample Brand Rep and Enthusiast Search Post
Brand Rep Search: (Name of business) is holding a Brand Rep and Enthusiast Search! We are looking for (number of reps) and (number of enthusiasts). We are specifically looking for (criteria you are looking for). Brand Reps will receive (number of items each month), while Enthusiasts will receive a discount of (choose discount, usually between 30 and 50%) each month and are required to purchase 1 item per month. In exchange you will post clear photos that show off (name of business) products at least once per week to help promote the brand. This term will last from (dates of term). How to enter: 1) Follow us (Instagram username). 2) Repost this image with hashtag (#yourhashtag) and tell us about (you, your child, your home, your decor, etc). 3) Tag 3 photos from your feed with (#yourhashtag). 4) Tag 2 friends that may be interested in (Name of business) Brand Rep and Enthusiast Search. Search ends on (date).
Will you use brand reps or enthusiasts to help grow your business? Let me know in the comments!
happy i came across this post as i am looking into getting brand reps now to help with my business ads
Hi Annie! I hope the information helped! Christine
Hi Christine!!
I can’t thank you enough! This post is very helpful! Wish me luck as I recently launched my new business and I’m looking to get the word out!
Thanks again!
Donna from Gomee Girl
Best of luck Donna! Can’t wait to watch your business grow!
Thanks for the tips! Now I have a greater understanding of what to expect of potential brand reps. I’m really trying to grow my business on Instagram, and I think this is a great way to do so 🙂 thanks!
So glad I helped you, Tahnaya!
Thanks, this was very helpful. I am considering brand reps to help grow my brand and this was very detailed on how to conduct the search.
Thanks again!
Shanna
@inspiritee
My pleasure Shanna!
Hi, do u know any great Instagram business that have cute fashions for tweens and teens
Hi! Off the top of my head I don’t, but searching hashtags like #tweenfashion or #teenfashion are a great place to start looking! Hope that helps!
Hi, Thanks for the article. Do you know if there is a legal minimum age for entrants? My business is in the UK and I have opened the application to international entrants so it’s a bit confusing on the legalities (because of all the different laws). I have people saying they want to enter but are under 18. 🙁
I’m not sure of the UK legalities, so you would have to look into them. 🙂
Thank you so much for this information. I am in the USA and have a younger audience for my products. I get a lot of request from fans that are under 18 years old to be brand ambassadors in exchange for free samples. At this time I require brand ambassadors to be 18 . Any thoughts?
Hello! If using brand ambassadors under legal age, you’d need to have parental consent.
I’m always gifting to celebrities through an agency and not getting much social media response from them.
I LOVE this idea, I’m always after good photos of my jewellery being worn and because I specialise in mostly foot jewellery it is hard to teach people how to take a foot selfie of their own feet or of their kids feet since I make barefoot sandals for all ages.
I’m gonna get into this !!!!
THANK YOU !!
My pleasure!
Thankyou Christine. I’m very new and very very new the Instagram and trying to find brandrep. And this has helped me to understand more.
My pleasure Diana!
Do you know if brand reps have to pay taxes? Or report the items they receive on their taxes?
It depends on how you set it up. In most cases, you would just be able to send a 1099 at the end of the year to brand reps.
Thank you for posting this, very useful x
My pleasure!
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your article. I have a store on Etsy and looking to enlist a help of a brand rep. Do you know if there is a way to give her a store credit ? I’ll appreciate your input.
You could use a custom coupon code.
Thanks so much for this information–very clear. I like the idea of doing a contract for a few months and starting over. Can you suggest how many free products each month and how many post should they do?
It’s entirely up to you and your business. I wouldn’t do more than 2 to 3 posts per week.
Very helpful information. Thank you for sharing. We have been considering doing this but didn’t really understand how it worked.
Great, glad it helped!
Can you send an example of a contract that I should send for Brand Rep moms after I’ve decided to have them represent my company?
No, it needs to be specific to your business and your policies. I’ve listed the bare minimum contract requirements above.
How do you differentiate who should be a brand rep and who should be an enthusiast? Does it really come down to viewing their profiles and who has more of a photography skill? What if I’m asked why they were picked for an enthusiast instead of a rep?
That’s really a decision for you to make. Yes, I’d view their profiles, their skills, their excitement, their application answers, their follower count and quality, and more. If someone asks you why they were picked for one or the other, be honest and tell them what contributed to your decision.