Hi, this is Amanda Perelli and welcome back to Insider
When an influencer becomes a "brand ambassador," they are often signing up for a long-term partnership with several exclusive perks that can help their career.
But what exactly does a brand ambassador get and how can someone apply?
My colleague Sydney Bradley and I decided to look deeper into what some top fashion and beauty brands offer brand ambassadors and how to get into their programs.
We found that while the terms of these programs vary widely, what usually separates a brand ambassador program from other brand sponsorships or affiliate programs is the length, as an ambassador program can often can last several months to over a year.
Some offer tropical beach vacations and access to other exclusive events, but usually the most valuable perks are the free products and inside access to the brand, industry insiders said.
Check out the top 9 fashion and beauty ambassador programs in 2020 and the perks they offer, here.
A lawyer explains why influencers should always pay close attention to 'usage rights'
Influencers who create content for brands own the legal rights to that content. This means that without permission, brands cannot re-post or repurpose that influencer's content elsewhere.
That's what makes "usage rights" — which refers to the ways brands seek to re-use the influencer's content — such a hot topic in influencer contracts.
Sydney spoke with with several influencers, managers, and lawyer Amanda Schreyer (who works closely with content creators), about what usage rights mean, what to look for in contracts, and how to negotiate extra fees.
Veronica Bonilla, a content creator on
But sometimes usage rights can be tricky to navigate, and influencers should always make sure they know what they are agreeing to before they sign a contract.
Read more about how "usage rights" work and what to look out for, here.
How Instagram Reels compares to TikTok for brand deals
Instagram introduced its short-form video feature Reels on August 5, and although it looks at first glance like a
Sydney spoke with creators and industry professionals about why some think Instagram has an advantage over TikTok when it comes to brand partnerships with influencers, especially in the fashion, beauty, and luxury spaces.
Influencer Chriselle Lim, who has around 1 million followers on Instagram and 2 million on TikTok, said she sees more revenue potential in Reels, even though she's built a wildly popular "Rich TikTok Mom" character on TikTok.
She said she thinks Reels will perform well for brands, especially those in fashion, as it's a "great way to show collections in very short-form content, which they didn't have before."
Read more about how Reels compares to TikTok for brand deals, here.
More creator industry coverage from Business Insider:
YouTube star Mindy McKnight's haircare line with Walmart is on track for $30 million in sales in its first year. (by Amanda Perelli)
This week from Insider's digital culture team:
The creator of the 'meatier, meteor' TikTok on how her newfound virality has had a direct impact on her life. (by Palmer Haasch)
Several University of Michigan students have voiced concerns with the school's COVID-19 safety measures on TikTok. (by Margot Harris and Monica Humphries)
Shane Dawson said in a new YouTube video that YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki gave him a mini fridge. (by Rachel Greenspan)
Charli D'Amelio opened up about living with an eating disorder on Instagram. (by Lindsay Dodgson)
We went to BOA Steakhouse, the LA restaurant where TikTok's biggest stars dine every night. (by Anneta Konstantinides)
Industry updates:
TikTok influencer Dixie D'Amelio released a remix to her single "Be Happy" featuring artists Blackbear and Lil Mosey.
TikTok star Avani Gregg is releasing a memoir about her childhood and rise to fame.
TikTok creators Willy Wonka TikTok, Devin Caherly, and Tati are creating a content house in Los Angeles.
YouTube is launching an early beta of YouTube Shorts, a feature that will let creators make and share 15-second videos.
Top TikTok creator Charli D'Amelio recently joined rival app Triller.
Here's what else we're reading:
YouTube stars Jeffree Star, MrBeast, and FaZe Clan received coronavirus relief loans. (by Morgan Sung, from Mashable)
Gamer and influencer Ninja has returned to streaming on Twitch after Mixer shut down. (by Kellen Browning, from The New York Times)
Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski (known as "emrata") wrote a personal essay about reclaiming her own image. (by Emily Ratajkowski, from The Cut)
How The Washington Post became a TikTok hit, with Dave Jorgenson. (by Pierre de Villiers, from Fipp)
Thanks for reading! Send me your tips, comments, or questions: aperelli@businessinsider.com