House of Marketers vs Pulse Advertising

Why brands compare influencer marketing agencies

When you’re betting serious budget on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, choosing the right partner matters. Many brands end up weighing two popular influencer marketing agencies and wondering which one will actually move the needle.

Some focus on short term wins. Others care more about long term brand building and community. You’re likely looking for clarity on services, costs, and how closely each team works with you.

This breakdown looks at these two influencer partners as service businesses, not software tools. You’ll see how they work, who they fit best, and where you might want a different option altogether.

Influencer campaign partners in plain English

The primary phrase that ties this topic together is influencer campaign partners. Both agencies sit in that space, turning client budgets into creator led campaigns across social platforms.

They help brands find creators, manage content, and track performance. Instead of selling software seats, they sell hands on support, time, and experience. You’re paying for people and process, not just technology.

For most marketers, the real question is less “who is bigger?” and more “who is right for our goals, stage, and risk tolerance?” That’s what we’ll focus on here.

What each agency is known for

These two agencies both play in influencer marketing but lean into it differently. Understanding those basics prevents you from expecting the wrong things from either partner.

House of Marketers at a glance

This team is widely associated with TikTok first campaigns. They emerged when short form video exploded and built a reputation around performance minded social content.

They often highlight data driven influencer selection, creative tailored to each platform, and a strong focus on direct response outcomes like app installs or sign ups.

Pulse Advertising at a glance

Pulse built its name on broader influencer and social work, often with well known consumer brands. They tend to stress brand storytelling, multi channel presence, and collaboration with highly polished creators.

Their work can span Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and sometimes wider digital touchpoints, often with an eye on brand image and reach.

Inside the first agency’s approach

To make this tangible, let’s walk through what working with a TikTok focused partner like House of Marketers typically looks like from a brand’s point of view.

Core services you can expect

Services are usually grouped around planning, production, and optimization. While details differ by client, you’ll commonly see offerings such as:

• Influencer scouting and vetting across TikTok and other short form platforms
• Campaign strategy tied to performance goals like installs or sales
• Creative direction for short form videos and hooks
• Influencer coordination, contracts, and briefing
• Paid amplification using Spark style ads or whitelisting
• Ongoing reporting and optimization recommendations

Instead of handing you a login, they run the work for you and report back, often acting as an extended growth team.

How campaigns tend to run

Typical campaigns start with a clear objective, audience, and budget. From there, the agency proposes a mix of creators and creative angles designed to hit measurable outcomes.

Because of their performance leaning background, you’ll often see strong attention on creative testing, iteration, and scaling what works through paid spend and additional creators.

Creator relationships and style

This team tends to work with a wide range of creators, from mid sized TikTok profiles to larger personalities. The emphasis is usually on creators who can drive action, not just views.

Briefs often leave room for creator personality while keeping messaging tight. The goal is content that feels native to the platform but still pushes your desired action.

Typical client fit

This agency tends to be a good match for brands with clear performance goals and an appetite for testing. Common fits include:

• Mobile apps and gaming companies seeking installs
• DTC eCommerce brands driving trackable sales
• Startups wanting quick feedback loops from creative tests
• Marketing teams comfortable with data heavy updates

If you want highly polished hero films for TV, they may not be the first call. If you want a lot of TikTok experiments, they might sit near the top of your list.

Inside the second agency’s approach

Pulse Advertising also runs influencer campaigns but with a slightly different flavor. They often pitch themselves as a bridge between brands and culture, balancing reach and style.

Core services you can expect

While offerings vary by market, you’ll commonly see services such as:

• Influencer strategy across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
• Talent selection with a strong eye on brand fit and aesthetics
• Campaign creative concepts and content calendars
• Influencer management, contracts, and compliance
• Event based influencer integrations or launches
• Performance tracking with brand and reach metrics

Where some agencies lean purely into performance, Pulse often blends brand storytelling with measurable outcomes and long term partnerships.

How campaigns tend to run

Campaigns frequently start with brand platform, audience insight, and a desired story arc. Creators are then cast to bring that story to life in platform native formats.

You may see integrated content drops across multiple social platforms, sometimes supported by paid media and other brand activity like events or PR.

Creator relationships and style

Pulse is known for working with creators who have strong brand alignment and visual style. That can mean lifestyle, fashion, beauty, or premium positioning in other categories.

Content is often more polished and curated than raw. That can help brands focused on image, but may feel slower for teams chasing fast iterations.

Typical client fit

This agency tends to align well with established brands or those investing heavily in brand equity. Typical fits include:

• Beauty and fashion labels seeking aspirational content
• Premium consumer brands wanting consistent brand image
• Global or regional campaigns needing coordinated creator waves
• Marketing teams where brand voice and aesthetics are paramount

If you want long running brand ambassador programs with polished visuals, this style of partner can be attractive.

How these agencies differ in real life

On paper, both do “influencer marketing.” In practice, the feel of working with each one can be quite different, especially in pace and priorities.

Focus of the work

One agency pushes harder on measurable direct response and short form experiments. The other places more emphasis on multi channel creator storytelling and brand perception.

Neither is right or wrong. The difference is in what they optimize for by default and how they speak to your internal stakeholders about impact.

Scale and creator types

Both agencies can work with larger and smaller creators, but their default creator mixes may differ. TikTok heavy campaigns often lean into mid tier and micro creators.

Brand focused efforts may prioritize creators with clear aesthetic alignment and strong feed curation, even if that means fewer experiments per month.

Client experience day to day

With a performance leaning partner, you may see more frequent testing updates, new creative ideas, and tactical suggestions for landing page or offer tweaks.

With a brand leaning partner, you may spend more time on creative direction, moodboards, and coordinating with other channels like PR or retail activations.

Reporting and success metrics

Success for a performance oriented team often centers on cost per outcome, return on ad spend, or funnel metrics tied to influencer content.

Success for a brand oriented team often centers on reach, sentiment, content quality, and longer term indicators like brand search or social growth.

Pricing and how work is structured

Neither agency sells off the shelf plans the way a software tool would. Pricing typically depends on your scope, markets, and talent level.

How agencies usually charge

Expect custom quotes based on several elements rather than fixed menus. Typical components include:

• Campaign planning and strategy work
• Influencer fees and content production costs
• Agency management fees for execution and reporting
• Paid media management if they run amplification
• Optional creative or content editing add ons

Some clients engage on a per campaign basis. Others move into monthly retainers for ongoing influencer activity across multiple launches.

Factors that influence cost

Budgets grow or shrink based on your ambitions. Major cost drivers include:

• Number and size of creators involved
• Regions or countries you want to cover
• Amount of content and usage rights length
• Need for paid media or whitelisting
• Speed of turnaround and complexity of deliverables

*Many brands underestimate how much creator usage rights and content volume impact final cost.* Make sure those are clearly discussed up front.

Engagement and collaboration style

Both agencies typically act as full service partners, taking heavy lifting off your plate. You’ll collaborate most on approvals, brand guardrails, and core messaging.

If you want to control every micro detail daily, either partnership may feel slow. If you prefer a managed service while you handle other channels, this approach can be ideal.

Strengths and limitations to keep in mind

No agency is perfect for every brand. Knowing likely strengths and drawbacks helps you ask sharper questions in early calls.

Where a TikTok first partner often shines

• Strong knowledge of short form trends and platform best practices
• Comfort with rapid creative testing and iteration
• Closer tie between influencer work and performance metrics
• Good fit for app launches or direct response offers

Limitations can include fewer resources for extremely high end brand films and potential misalignment if internal teams care more about brand than performance.

Where a brand storytelling partner often shines

• Deep focus on creator brand fit and visual style
• Strong alignment with broader brand and PR goals
• Ability to run cohesive international campaigns
• Appeal to premium, lifestyle, or fashion segments

Limitations can include slower testing cycles, heavier approvals, and less emphasis on granular performance optimization compared with growth focused shops.

Common concerns brands raise

*One of the biggest worries marketers share is paying agency level fees without seeing clear, transparent impact from influencer work.*

You can mitigate this by insisting on aligned KPIs, clear reporting cadences, and open conversations about what happens when something is not working.

Who each agency suits best

It helps to think less in terms of “better” and more in terms of “fit.” That lens usually leads to better long term satisfaction on both sides.

Best fit scenarios for a performance leaning agency

• You run a mobile app and want trackable installs from TikTok.
• Your eCommerce brand needs short form videos that convert.
• You’re comfortable with a lot of creative testing and quick pivots.
• You’re measured on performance metrics more than brand lift.

In these cases, a highly experimental partner focused on influencer led performance may feel like a natural extension of your growth team.

Best fit scenarios for a brand focused agency

• You manage a premium or lifestyle brand with strict guidelines.
• Your leadership cares deeply about image and storytelling.
• You want consistent creator presence across multiple countries.
• You view influencer work as part of wider brand plans, not only sales.

Here, a partner who obsesses over brand alignment and carefully cast creators can be worth the investment, even if tests are slower.

When a platform like Flinque makes more sense

Full service agencies are powerful, but they’re not the only option. Some brands prefer more control and flexibility around influencer work.

Platform based options like Flinque let teams handle discovery, outreach, and campaign management in house. You pay for access to tools instead of ongoing agency retainers.

Situations where a platform can be better

• You have an internal social team ready to run campaigns.
• Your budget is limited, but you still want structured influencer work.
• You prefer building direct relationships with creators.
• You want to test influencers before committing to larger agency projects.

In those cases, using a platform for smaller tests, then bringing in an agency for larger brand moments, can create a healthy balance.

FAQs

How do I choose between these two agencies?

Start with your main goal. If performance and testing speed matter most, look for a more experimental partner. If brand image and multi market presence matter more, lean toward a storytelling focused team.

Can these agencies work alongside my internal team?

Yes. Most influencer agencies integrate with in house teams. You set brand rules and objectives, they handle day to day campaign work, and you collaborate on approvals and reporting.

Do I need a big budget to work with them?

You usually need a meaningful budget because you’re paying both creators and agency fees. If funds are tight, starting with a platform solution or small pilot campaign can be smarter.

How long does it take to see results?

Simple influencer campaigns can go live within weeks, but building repeatable success often takes several cycles of testing and refinement. Plan for at least a few months of consistent activity.

Can I use both an agency and a platform?

Many brands do. They use a platform for always on influencer work and bring in an agency for flagship launches or complex multi country campaigns needing extra coordination and creative horsepower.

Conclusion

Choosing between two influencer agencies is really about matching your goals, budget, and working style to what each partner does best.

If you’re chasing measurable outcomes from short form content, a performance first team may be the better fit. If your priority is polished, multi channel storytelling, a brand focused partner likely makes more sense.

Consider how much control you want, how fast you need to move, and whether an in house plus platform setup could cover your needs. A short discovery project or pilot can reveal fit before you commit fully.

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.