Once you love the outside, it’s pure to wish to share that love with others and assist them get to expertise it too. With the rise of social media platforms and outside information shops, it has develop into simpler to take action. Many weekend warriors, gear aficionados, thru-hikers, and different outside fans are discovering methods to show outside content material creation into full-time jobs and even aspect gigs.
If you happen to’ve questioned what it’s prefer to be an out of doors content material creator, we’re right here to assist pull the curtain again on this expertise. In a collection of interviews, we’ll chat with a model ambassador, a gear reviewer, and a TikTok influencer to be taught extra about their experiences. We’ll ask them about:
- How they acquired began in outside content material creation
- What they get pleasure from about being outside content material creators
- How they stability content material creation with merely having fun with the outside
- Suggestions they’ve for others seeking to get into the sphere
We’re kicking off half one in all our outside content material creator collection near house with our very personal model ambassador, Michelle Zhang!
Michelle relies in San Francisco and is an avid weekend warrior and extremely runner. She makes use of Instagram to share photographs and inspiration from her outside adventures, highlighting manufacturers she companions with in her posts. We caught up together with her to be taught extra about what it’s like being a model ambassador and the way others can get began too!
Gossamer Gear: Are you able to begin by telling us a bit about how you bought began as a model ambassador within the outside business?
Michelle: I like being open air and within the mountains. I’d spend my Friday evenings driving to the trailhead, then camp within the mountains over the weekend, and Monday morning I’d be again at work. Most, if not all, my journeys had been solo, so I’d have to hold all my tenting gear in my pack, which is after I got here throughout Gossamer Gear. I purchased my first ultralight backpack, the Gorilla 50. It was life altering. Earlier than Gossamer Gear, I used to be utilizing a heavier pack, stuffed with extra zippers and materials that weighed me down earlier than I even put my gear in it. The Gorilla weighed lower than two kilos and felt like wings on my again. I couldn’t recover from how nice it was—and liked raving about it to my fellow hikers. Then I acquired The One, a tent that packed all the way down to lower than the dimensions of my shoe, and I used to be instantly hooked.
I felt invincible, having the ability to go longer and better, with such a light-weight pack. I began sharing photos of my Gossamer Gear adventures with mates and actually began constructing a following of fellow outside lovers who had been excited by my way of life and studying extra about how they’ll get into it as effectively.
I’d have coworkers come to me and be like, how do you do it? How do you discover the time? And, I inform them, I’ve the identical two days in a weekend as you do. As a substitute of driving house on Friday evening, I’m driving to the mountains. As a substitute of doing laundry or going to brunch on the weekend, I’m on a path. It’s only a matter of the place you spend your time (and, sure, my laundry pile suffered). Not that there’s something fallacious with spending a Friday evening Netflix-and-chilling (I very a lot get pleasure from these nights too), however I simply wish to present others you can squeeze a fast hike in and nonetheless have a traditional Monday by way of Friday job.
I like sharing my weekend adventures on my Instagram channel, and shortly had strangers messaging me that I impressed them to get exterior that day, or asking me what sort of footwear I’d advocate for his or her first path run. I noticed I may use my platform to attach with on a regular basis folks like me and make the outside extra accessible by sharing my experiences.
What do you want about working with manufacturers and the way do you select which of them to companion with?
I like working with manufacturers which might be real and care extra about what their model stands for, relatively than numbers or gross sales. I solely work with manufacturers if I really get pleasure from their merchandise. I’ve undoubtedly been approached by manufacturers who need me to symbolize their product, however the place I instantly say, effectively, maintain on—I’ve by no means even tried your product. Let me use it for a bit after which if I prefer it, I’d be open to working with you.
As a model ambassador, what sort of issues do manufacturers count on from you and what do you count on in return?
Manufacturers often supply gear or financial compensation in trade for photographs of the gear getting used on my adventures.
How do you stability product placement with merely having fun with your time exterior?
Ah, this one is a troublesome one. Do you intend your journey round getting the best pictures or potential to make use of the product? Or, do you intend your journey the way in which you wish to get pleasure from it, after which if the product suits, then cool? I’ve undoubtedly tried to make it possible for the tip objective of my journey is the journey itself, relatively than having the ability to take pictures of a product with cool backgrounds. This aligns lots with why I solely work with manufacturers I really imagine in, and use regularly. Our function as ambassadors is impactful, and also you wish to be sure you’re sharing genuine data together with your viewers.
I’ve undoubtedly discovered myself asking for prolonged deadlines with manufacturers as a result of I simply haven’t discovered the best second or alternative to seize a shot. Most manufacturers are OK with this, as they need their content material to be genuine and effectively put collectively, relatively than simply positioned someplace for the sake of it. I’ve additionally labored with a pair manufacturers which have been much less forgiving, and the content material simply comes out compelled and unauthentic, a minimum of to me.
Lengthy story quick, this can be a lot simpler to stability while you solely work with manufacturers you genuinely use and luxuriate in. For instance, all of my backpacking packs are Gossamer Gear—so, it’s simple to go on a visit, and if the best shot comes alongside, I simply take it. And if it’s a foggy journey with no views, then there’s no disappointment because the objective wasn’t to go there and take photographs of merchandise. If it’s a meals or drink I like, I’m already packing it with me on my journey. I don’t wish to carry extra weight only for the sake of grabbing photographs of a product I don’t even use.
What has been one in all your favourite issues about being a Gossamer Gear model ambassador?
Gossamer Gear is an organization that’s true to their model, and the workforce behind it are individuals who love the outside simply as a lot as their audience. Every bit on the pack has been closely considered and designed to make sure it has a objective. If it doesn’t serve a use, then why add the additional weight? I’ve gone on a backpacking journey with Glen, and I’ll inform you, each ounce is meticulously deliberate out; if it’s not going for use, then it doesn’t make the lower! I like that. Being intentional in every part you do, in order that, sure, you possibly can take much less, and do extra.
Do you will have any recommendation for others who could also be excited by changing into a model ambassador for an out of doors firm?
I feel my recommendation would simply be to remain true to what you’re keen on doing. I don’t work as a content material creator as my job. Getting exterior, taking photographs in cool locations—that is all stuff I already do and have a ardour for. If I receives a commission to spotlight merchandise I’m already utilizing and like, then that’s a plus. But when I’ve to do it only for the sake of doing it, or for a product I don’t even use, then it’s not as pleasing anymore.
If you wish to make it a job, then that’s one factor. You’ll have completely different objectives. However for me, it’s simply to have the ability to spotlight merchandise I already get pleasure from utilizing, in order that others may also find out about that and benefit from the product too. That’s my entire factor, is exhibiting others how I prefer to reside my life. I’m not a loopy athlete or profitable influencer, however I’m pursuing what makes me joyful, and profiting from all that mom nature has to supply. I wish to present others that they’ll do this too. You don’t have to stop your job or be tremendous wealthy to get exterior. You simply want a pair of footwear (or not), an open thoughts, and a want to get exterior!
Comply with Out of doors Trade Model Ambassadors for Inspiration, Gear Suggestions, and Extra
Our most important takeaway from chatting with Michelle is that profitable model ambassadors have to recollect to maintain it actual. By solely working with manufacturers that you simply imagine in, you create extra genuine content material on your followers and might extra organically seize new content material whereas out in your adventures.
You may comply with Michelle on Instagram at @ChelleTraveled. Have some enjoyable content material of your individual? We’d like to see it! Share it with us by tagging us on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
