HelloSociety vs IMA

Why brands look at these two influencer partners

When brands weigh HelloSociety against IMA, they are usually trying to pick the right partner for long term influencer work, not just a one off campaign.

You might be wondering who brings stronger creative ideas, who really understands your audience, and who can scale results without losing authenticity.

This comes down to your goals, budget, and how hands on you want to be in the process.

Table of Contents

• What these influencer agencies are known for
• HelloSociety: services and working style
• IMA: services and working style
• How the two agencies really differ
• Pricing approach and how work is structured
• Strengths and limitations of each partner
• Who each agency is best for
• When a platform alternative like Flinque makes sense
• FAQs
• Conclusion: choosing the right influencer partner
• Disclaimer

What these influencer agencies are known for

The shortened primary phrase here is influencer marketing agencies, because both organizations operate as full service partners for brands.

Each has built a reputation for pairing creative ideas with data driven thinking, but they are not identical in focus, scale, or style.

Understanding those differences helps you match the right team to your internal resources and growth plans.

HelloSociety: services and working style

HelloSociety started as a social focused creative partner, building strong roots on visually driven platforms like Pinterest and Instagram.

Over time it grew into a broader influencer marketing agency, often working with lifestyle, fashion, home, food, and beauty brands.

Core services you can expect

HelloSociety typically offers end to end influencer campaign support, from planning to reporting.

• Influencer discovery and vetting for brand fit
• Campaign strategy and creative concepts
• Contracting and negotiation with creators
• Content production and approvals
• Campaign management and coordination
• Performance tracking and reporting
• Sometimes broader social content and amplification

Brands often lean on them when they want content that feels organic but still polished and on brand.

Approach to campaigns and content

HelloSociety tends to emphasize storytelling and aesthetics, especially for visually driven categories.

Campaigns often center on curated moments, step by step visuals, or lifestyle scenes that make a product feel part of everyday life.

They work to balance brand briefs with room for each creator’s personal voice, so content feels believable.

Relationships with creators

Like most influencer agencies, HelloSociety maintains a network of creators they know and trust.

This can mean faster casting, smoother communication, and fewer surprises during production.

The tradeoff is that networks can feel smaller or more curated compared with open marketplace platforms.

Typical clients that choose HelloSociety

Brands that see value in this agency usually have consumer facing products that benefit from strong visuals.

• Retail, lifestyle, fashion, and home brands
• Food and beverage brands looking for recipe or entertaining content
• Beauty and personal care brands seeking aspirational storytelling
• Marketing teams that prefer more creative guidance and curated casting

It often suits companies that want a partner to “own” the influencer side while internal teams focus on broader marketing.

IMA: services and working style

IMA, previously known as IMA Agency, is a global influencer marketing partner with strong European roots and international reach.

It often works with bigger brands that want multi country or multi market campaigns.

Core services you can expect

IMA also operates as a full service agency for influencer work.

• Influencer strategy and campaign planning
• Creator sourcing across markets and languages
• Contracting, legal checks, and compliance
• Content coordination, briefs, and approvals
• Campaign management across channels
• Reporting focused on reach, engagement, and sales signals
• Sometimes added services like brand ambassador programs

IMA tends to spotlight structured campaigns with clear objectives and measurable outcomes.

Approach to campaigns and scale

IMA is often associated with larger scale programs, including multi influencer waves or always on brand ambassador setups.

They usually put weight on data, audience insights, and cross market consistency.

This may be helpful for global brands trying to keep messaging aligned while allowing local nuance.

Relationships with creators

IMA works with a wide range of influencers, from nano and micro creators through to larger talent.

Its international focus can help brands tap local voices in different countries without building their own local teams.

However, coordinating many markets can add complexity, timelines, and internal touchpoints.

Typical clients that choose IMA

IMA often appeals to brands that are already spending meaningfully on marketing and want scale.

• Global consumer brands in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and tech
• Companies expanding into new regions that need local creator insight
• Marketers under pressure to show clear ROI from influencer budgets
• Teams comfortable working with a structured, process driven partner

It suits organizations that can handle more stakeholders and layers of approval across markets.

How the two agencies really differ

While both operate as influencer marketing agencies, their focus and flavor are different.

This matters when you think about product category, geography, and how nimble your content needs to be.

Creative style versus structured scale

HelloSociety leans more into lifestyle storytelling and curated visual content, sometimes feeling like a boutique creative shop.

IMA leans more into structured, scalable programs that can run across markets and channels with tighter frameworks.

Neither is “better,” but one will feel more natural depending on your brand personality.

Network depth and geographic reach

HelloSociety’s strength is curated relationships, often in lifestyle verticals and mainly in North America or English speaking markets.

IMA positions itself with stronger global reach, including European markets and international talent across niches.

If you need translation, local laws, and regional nuance, the global focus may matter more than niche aesthetics.

Client experience and ways of working

Some marketers describe HelloSociety style partners as more hands on creatively, sometimes functioning like an extension of the social team.

IMA’s process can feel more like working with a global agency network, with defined steps, metrics, and cross country coordination.

Your internal culture and speed expectations will influence which rhythm feels right.

Pricing approach and how work is structured

Neither agency sells off the shelf software plans. Both typically work on custom scopes based on your needs and influencer fees.

Expect pricing to reflect campaign size, complexity, and how involved the agency is from strategy to reporting.

Common pricing elements for influencer marketing agencies

• Strategy and planning time for the agency team
• Management fees for running campaigns and handling creators
• Influencer compensation, including content usage rights
• Production costs if extra photo or video work is needed
• Paid media to boost influencer content, if included
• Reporting and analytics time, especially for complex projects

Both agencies are likely to provide a custom quote after understanding your goals, timelines, and markets.

Campaign based versus longer term arrangements

Brands usually work with these agencies in two main ways.

• Project based work, such as a seasonal launch or one campaign
• Ongoing retainers for always on influencer or ambassador programs

Retainers can spread costs over time and deepen relationships, while projects keep things flexible but require frequent scoping.

Factors that drive cost up or down

Your budget will move based on several choices.

• Number of creators and content pieces per creator
• Influencer size and fame, from micro to celebrity
• Number of platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
• Regions and languages involved
• Usage rights length and whether content is used in ads

Global, multi platform projects with big names and extended usage will always cost more than focused, micro influencer programs.

Strengths and limitations of each partner

Thinking honestly about pros and cons helps you avoid surprises after signing a contract.

Where HelloSociety tends to shine

• Strong visual storytelling for lifestyle and consumer brands
• Curated creator relationships that reduce quality issues
• Campaigns that feel organic and on brand rather than scripted
• Useful for brands that need creative help, not just logistics

A frequent concern is whether a curated network limits access to new or niche creators outside familiar circles.

Limitations to keep in mind

• May be less ideal for heavy B2B or highly technical products
• Global, multi region execution could require additional partners
• Creative leaning approach may feel slower if you want high volume testing

These are not deal breakers, but they should be weighed against your roadmap and markets.

Where IMA tends to shine

• International campaigns with localized creators and content
• Structured planning, reporting, and measurement expectations
• Ability to coordinate many influencers at once
• Helpful for brands with legal or compliance needs across regions

Some brands worry that very structured setups may reduce room for spontaneous, creator led ideas.

Limitations to keep in mind for IMA

• Global agency style may feel heavy for small, fast moving teams
• Multi market coordination can add time to approvals and changes
• Smaller budgets might not unlock the full benefit of their scale

Again, the question is fit, not right or wrong. Your internal process should guide your choice.

Who each agency is best for

Translating all this into practical choices can make your decision much easier.

Best fit situations for HelloSociety

• Consumer brands focused on lifestyle, home, food, fashion, or beauty
• Companies selling mainly in North America or a small number of markets
• Marketing teams that want strong creative partnership and hands on support
• Brands that value curated creators over sheer volume
• Teams that want content assets they can also reuse in ads and social

If your priority is beautiful, believable content that speaks to everyday life, this type of partner can be a strong match.

Best fit situations for IMA

• Global or regional brands needing creators in multiple countries
• Companies with marketing or eCommerce in Europe and beyond
• Teams with established budgets and reporting expectations
• Brands running always on influencer programs or ambassador schemes
• Marketers who want structure, documentation, and clear metrics

If your focus is scale, reach, and consistent brand presence across markets, this kind of international partner can make sense. In parallel, you can also explore a Heepsy alternative if you need stronger workflow automation, campaign management, and cross market performance tracking to support long term growth.

When a platform alternative like Flinque makes sense

Not every brand needs a full service influencer marketing agency from day one.

Some teams prefer to keep strategy in house and mainly need help finding creators and tracking campaigns.

What makes a platform different

A platform like Flinque usually offers software for discovering influencers, managing outreach, and tracking results in one place.

Instead of paying an agency to run everything, your own team runs campaigns using the tool.

This can lower long term costs, but requires internal time and know how.

When a platform may suit you better

• You have a small but capable in house marketing or social team
• You want to test influencer marketing before committing big agency budgets
• You prefer owning creator relationships directly
• You run many small campaigns and need flexibility
• You care about building your own internal knowledge and processes

Using a platform does not rule out agencies later. Some brands start with software, prove value, then add agency support when they need scale.

FAQs

How do I decide between a creative led agency and a global scale partner?

Start from your goals and markets. If you sell mainly in a few regions and care most about standout creative, pick a creative led partner. If you need multi country coverage and strict reporting, lean toward a global scale agency.

Can smaller brands work with these influencer marketing agencies?

Yes, but budget and scope matter. Smaller brands may start with limited campaigns or shorter projects. If custom quotes feel high, consider a platform approach first, then upgrade to an agency once you prove return on investment.

How long does it take to launch an influencer campaign with an agency?

Typical timelines range from a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on approvals, creator availability, and content complexity. Global, multi market projects can take longer because of legal reviews and translation needs.

Do these agencies guarantee sales results from influencer work?

No agency can honestly guarantee sales, because many factors affect performance. Reputable partners will focus on clear goals, tracking, and learning, then optimize based on what actually works for your audience and product.

What should I have ready before speaking with an influencer marketing agency?

Have clarity on your target audience, markets, budget range, main goals, key products, and timelines. Examples of past campaigns, brand guidelines, and must have messages or restrictions also help agencies give relevant recommendations and accurate quotes.

Conclusion: choosing the right influencer partner

Choosing between these influencer marketing agencies is really about alignment with your brand stage, markets, and style of working.

If you want highly visual storytelling for lifestyle products, a curated creative partner may feel right.

If you need global coordination and structure, an international agency with scale might be better.

And if you prefer to keep control in house while managing costs, a platform option like Flinque can give you more hands on control.

Begin by mapping your next twelve months of launches, markets, and budget, then speak openly with each potential partner about what success looks like for you.

Disclaimer

All information on this page is collected from publicly available sources, third party search engines, AI powered tools and general online research. We do not claim ownership of any external data and accuracy may vary. This content is for informational purposes only.