Hourly rate as brand ambassador?
Thread poster: Jenny Nilsson
Jenny Nilsson
Jenny Nilsson  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 15:56
English to Swedish
+ ...
Nov 21, 2019

I normally freelance as a translator and charge per word, but I have been offered a role as "brand ambassador", and the agency is asking for my hourly rate for the position. The role seem to be something like a linguistic expert for the brand. I would be in contact with the client, the localisation team, and UX team, be responsible for glossaries, and style guides, and also translate new terms.

When I research brand ambassadors, they are normally not in a linguistic position, so I d
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I normally freelance as a translator and charge per word, but I have been offered a role as "brand ambassador", and the agency is asking for my hourly rate for the position. The role seem to be something like a linguistic expert for the brand. I would be in contact with the client, the localisation team, and UX team, be responsible for glossaries, and style guides, and also translate new terms.

When I research brand ambassadors, they are normally not in a linguistic position, so I don't feel like a have a good grasp of the standard hourly rate here. Any advice?
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Kevin Fulton
Kevin Fulton  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 10:56
German to English
I don't understand how payment would work Nov 21, 2019

Normally brand ambassadors represent products: they hold webinars, engage in for-fee training or otherwise demonstrate the advantages of a given product. I'm familiar with the concept in photography: the brand ambassadors are paid in kind: copies of software, free products of the brand they represent such as camera straps, cleaning kits, etc. or are featured in company promotional material.

I would imagine (and I may be wrong) that a brand ambassador for an agency as you describe i
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Normally brand ambassadors represent products: they hold webinars, engage in for-fee training or otherwise demonstrate the advantages of a given product. I'm familiar with the concept in photography: the brand ambassadors are paid in kind: copies of software, free products of the brand they represent such as camera straps, cleaning kits, etc. or are featured in company promotional material.

I would imagine (and I may be wrong) that a brand ambassador for an agency as you describe it, would be a type of customer service representative, paid by the billable hour, but with no benefits a normal employee would receive. In such case, you would be paid by for each hour of service you provided. I'd also add a small monthly fee as a retainer to guarantee your availability.
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Yolanda Broad
Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
 
Thomas Pfann
Thomas Pfann  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:56
Member (2006)
English to German
+ ...
Lead linguist / Lead translator Nov 21, 2019

The name 'brand ambassador' is confusing (I'd think of a role like the one Kevin describes). The role in question sounds more what very often is called a 'lead linguist' or 'lead translator', maybe 'localization specialist'.

Anyway, names don't matter. What matters is the actual work you do. Will you need to be available all day for translators, reviewers, project managers etc. to be able to contact you? I could imagine that there will be a lot of small ad-hoc requests and answering
... See more
The name 'brand ambassador' is confusing (I'd think of a role like the one Kevin describes). The role in question sounds more what very often is called a 'lead linguist' or 'lead translator', maybe 'localization specialist'.

Anyway, names don't matter. What matters is the actual work you do. Will you need to be available all day for translators, reviewers, project managers etc. to be able to contact you? I could imagine that there will be a lot of small ad-hoc requests and answering questions here and there which might make it very difficult to log and keep track of time – and to plan ahead. A retainer or base fee (on top of which you charge for the more trackable things you do) might be a good way around this.
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Stanislaw Czech, MCIL CL
 
Jenny Nilsson
Jenny Nilsson  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 15:56
English to Swedish
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
Brand linguist Nov 22, 2019

Thomas Pfann wrote:

The name 'brand ambassador' is confusing (I'd think of a role like the one Kevin describes). The role in question sounds more what very often is called a 'lead linguist' or 'lead translator', maybe 'localization specialist'.

Anyway, names don't matter. What matters is the actual work you do. Will you need to be available all day for translators, reviewers, project managers etc. to be able to contact you? I could imagine that there will be a lot of small ad-hoc requests and answering questions here and there which might make it very difficult to log and keep track of time – and to plan ahead. A retainer or base fee (on top of which you charge for the more trackable things you do) might be a good way around this.


Indeed, I'm surprised that they are calling it Brand Ambassador too. It does seem to be a lead linguist role, or the like. I've decided to charge my standard hourly rate since I'm not sure what they are expecting, but you make a good point about the base fee. Will look into that if it becomes relevant.


Vadim Kadyrov
 
LIZ LI
LIZ LI  Identity Verified
China
Local time: 22:56
French to Chinese
+ ...
Marketing perspective Nov 22, 2019

It seems to be a marketing position, instead of the technical role as a Lead Translator.
Kind of showing their clients an image of professionalism.
Pls keep us informed once you find out what it is.


 


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Hourly rate as brand ambassador?







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