Brand Ambassador vs. Sales Representative: What Are the Differences?

Brand ambassadors and sales representatives are both customer-facing roles that require excellent communication skills. If you’re interested in working in sales or marketing, understanding the key similarities and differences between these positions can help you decide which is the best fit for you. In this article, we compare and contrast brand ambassadors and sales representatives, and we provide tips for excelling in each role.

What is a Brand Ambassador?

Brand Ambassadors are essentially marketing and sales professionals who represent a company’s products or services to customers and potential customers. They promote the brand through a variety of channels, including in-person interactions, social media, events and product demonstrations. Brand Ambassadors typically have a deep knowledge of the brand they represent and are able to effectively communicate the brand’s key messages to customers. They also develop relationships with customers and potential customers to encourage them to try the brand’s products or services. Brand Ambassadors may also be responsible for collecting customer feedback and reporting it back to the company.

What is a Sales Representative?

Sales Representatives are the driving force behind generating new sales and revenue for their companies. They work with potential and existing customers to promote and sell products and services. Sales Representatives typically work in a fast-paced environment and must be able to think on their feet to close deals. They often work on commission, so their income is directly related to their performance. Sales Representatives must be able to build relationships with customers, understand their needs and desires, and match them with the products or services that will best suit their needs.

Brand Ambassador vs. Sales Representative

Here are the main differences between a brand ambassador and a sales representative.

Job Duties

A brand ambassador represents a brand in public and interacts with customers on behalf of the brand. They may give speeches, appear at events or meet with consumers one-on-one to build rapport and promote the brand. The job duties of a brand ambassador can vary depending on their role and the goals of the brand they represent.

A sales representative works within a specific territory to sell products to retail outlets and directly to consumers. Their job is to increase product sales for the company they work for. Depending on their position, they may do this by securing contracts with new retailers or persuading current retailers to purchase more products.

Job Requirements

Brand ambassadors and sales representatives typically need at least a high school diploma to enter the field. However, some employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration or another related field. Additionally, brand ambassadors and sales representatives often receive on-the-job training that teaches them about the products they’ll be promoting and how to sell those products to customers.

Work Environment

Brand ambassadors and sales representatives typically work in different environments. Sales representatives often travel to meet with clients, attend conferences or trade shows and visit retail locations to promote their brand. They may also spend time at the office preparing reports for their managers and collaborating with other members of their team.

Brand ambassadors usually work in a more relaxed environment, such as attending events and meeting with fans. They may also have regular hours and perform administrative tasks like updating social media accounts.

Skills

There are several similarities between brand ambassadors and sales representatives, such as the ability to build relationships, communicate effectively and close deals. However, there are also some key differences in the skills each position requires.

Brand ambassadors typically need to be very outgoing and have excellent people skills. They need to be able to approach strangers and strike up conversations easily. They also need to be able to remember details about the products they are representing and be able to answer questions about them confidently. Sales representatives also need to be able to build relationships and communicate effectively, but they may not need to be quite as outgoing as brand ambassadors. In addition, sales representatives need to be able to negotiate well and be comfortable discussing pricing with potential customers.

Salary

Brand ambassadors can earn an average salary of $46,269 per year, while sales representatives can earn an average salary of $62,309 per year. Both of these average salaries may vary depending on the size of the company at which you work, location of your job and the level of experience you have prior to pursuing either position.