Hypertly vs IMA

Why brands look at these two influencer partners

When marketers compare Hypertly vs IMA, they are usually trying to figure out which partner can turn creator relationships into real sales, not just social buzz. Both are influencer marketing agencies, but they tend to appeal to slightly different types of brands and goals.

Most teams want clarity on three things: how these agencies actually run campaigns day to day, what results they usually focus on, and what kind of working style they bring to the table. You are likely weighing those questions against your budget and internal resources.

Before diving in, we will use the primary topic influencer marketing agency choice to frame every section, so you can decide which route fits your brand best.

What each agency is known for

Both partners work in the same space: planning and running influencer campaigns for brands. Still, each has built a slightly different reputation around how they work with creators and clients.

You will see overlap in services like strategy, creator sourcing, content management, and reporting. The main differences live in their creative style, preferred industries, and how hands-on they are throughout a campaign.

Thinking about influencer marketing agency choice, you should focus less on labels and more on whether their usual way of working matches your team’s reality, pressure, and growth targets.

Hypertly overview

Hypertly is often seen as a modern, social-first partner that leans into short-form content and fast-moving trends. Their work tends to focus on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and sometimes YouTube Shorts for brands trying to capture attention quickly.

They typically position themselves around data-aware creativity. That usually means combining creator storytelling with performance signals such as engagement, watch time, or conversions, instead of just reach or follower counts.

Services Hypertly usually offers

Actual service menus vary, but agencies with this profile tend to offer end-to-end support for brands that want someone to “own” the influencer piece from start to finish.

• Influencer strategy tied to product launches or seasonal pushes
• Creator discovery and vetting based on audience fit and content style
• Outreach, negotiation, and contract management with influencers
• Creative brief development and content review before posting
• Campaign coordination across multiple creators and platforms
• Basic or advanced reporting on performance and key learnings

Some teams also support paid amplification, like whitelisting content from top performers for ad use, though the level of paid media support can differ by agency.

How Hypertly tends to handle campaigns

An agency like this usually leans into themed content waves. For example, they may group creators into phases: teaser content, launch content, and reminder content to keep your product visible over a longer period.

They also often encourage looser, authentic briefs. Instead of rigid scripts, they might push for concepts that allow creators to speak in their own voice, as long as your key messages are clear and legally safe.

Creator relationships and talent style

Hypertly-style agencies often work with a mix of mid-tier and micro influencers, especially people who create native, fast-paced content. Think creators who are very comfortable with trends, sounds, and jump-cut editing.

They may also maintain informal or semi-formal rosters of creators they trust. This can speed up casting, but it also means you should ask how they balance known talent with fresh voices in your niche.

Typical brands that choose this direction

Brands drawn to this setup are usually chasing attention among younger or highly online audiences. Many are focused on direct response and measurable sales, not just vanity metrics.

• Consumer brands in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle
• Mobile apps, gaming, and digital-native services
• DTC products looking for fast feedback and quick wins
• Marketers who want agile testing of multiple creatives and hooks

If you have a strong in-house brand team but little time to handle dozens of creator relationships, a fully managed approach like this can be appealing.

IMA overview

IMA is a long-established name in the influencer world, often associated with polished campaigns for well-known brands. Their work frequently spans multiple markets and channels, not just one social platform.

They tend to highlight their experience with global brands, structured processes, and integrated creative thinking. That can feel reassuring for larger companies that need consistency and predictability.

Services IMA is typically known for

While details depend on each engagement, agencies in this category tend to cover the full spectrum from planning to measurement, sometimes with more formal documentation and alignment steps.

• Influencer and creator strategy aligned with brand platforms and campaigns
• Global creator casting, including local voices in key markets
• End-to-end campaign management and cross-market coordination
• Content concepting, moodboards, and brand-aligned creative direction
• Event-based influencer activations, trips, or live experiences
• Detailed reporting, case stories, and insights decks

They may also collaborate closely with your other agencies for media, PR, or retail to keep messaging aligned across everything else you are doing.

How IMA-style agencies run campaigns

The process is often more structured. Expect discovery, strategy, concept development, approvals, and only then full casting and content production. Timelines can be longer, but the trade-off is alignment and polish.

This setup can be helpful if you manage multiple stakeholders, such as legal teams, regional offices, or category leads who all need visibility before content goes live.

Creator relationships and talent mix

IMA frequently works with a broad range of talent, from micro influencers to bigger names, depending on the brief. Larger campaigns might mix hero faces with a long tail of smaller creators to balance impact and cost.

They may also lean toward creators comfortable delivering premium content, including high-quality photography or video, suitable for usage in paid channels or e-commerce pages.

Typical brands that lean toward IMA

Larger brands and international companies often find this model fits their needs best, especially when brand safety and global consistency matter.

• Global consumer brands in fashion, beauty, and luxury
• Travel, hospitality, and lifestyle companies
• Established retail and e-commerce players
• Marketing teams with strict brand guidelines and approval layers

If you must defend your creator choices internally or report rigorously to leadership, this disciplined way of working can be worth the extra time.

How the two agencies really differ

On the surface, both partners deliver influencer programs. The real differences show up in style, pace, and how closely they mirror your internal processes.

Approach and creative tone

Hypertly-style partners often move faster, experiment more, and lean into native platform culture. That can mean more playful content, frequent testing, and quick pivots based on what works.

IMA-style partners usually prioritize cohesion, storytelling, and alignment with long-term brand positioning. Their work often looks and feels closer to your other marketing activity.

Scale and complexity

If you run multi-country launches or long-term ambassadors in several regions, an agency built for global coordination may be more comfortable for you. They know how to juggle time zones and local nuances.

If your focus is a handful of core markets or primarily digital sales, a nimble, social-first agency can feel more flexible, especially when products or offers change frequently.

Client experience and working style

Some marketers want a partner that feels like an extension of their internal culture, including speed, informality, and constant messaging. Others want a more formal relationship with regular decks, recaps, and documentation.

*One of the biggest worries brands share is choosing a partner whose working style clashes with how their own team operates.* This often matters more than any feature list or pitch deck.

Pricing and how work is structured

Influencer agencies rarely publish fixed price lists, because costs depend heavily on creator fees, campaign scope, geography, and timeline. Still, the basic structures are similar across the industry.

How agencies usually charge

• Campaign-based projects with a one-time fee and defined deliverables
• Retainer agreements where the agency manages ongoing work each month
• Hybrid setups that mix a base fee plus performance or volume-based elements

Both partners typically pass through influencer fees plus a management or service fee that covers strategy, operations, and reporting.

What influences cost the most

Several levers decide the final budget more than the logo on the agency’s door. Understanding these levers helps you compare offers more fairly.

• Number of creators and content pieces you want
• Size, niche, and geography of the influencers involved
• Content formats, usage rights, and length of usage
• Markets covered and languages needed
• Data, reporting depth, and testing complexity

If you are comparing proposals, ask each team to clearly separate creator costs from agency fees. That makes it easier to see where your money is actually going. When reviewing budgets it is also useful to request a detailed breakdown aligned with Influencity pricing so you can benchmark platform costs against service fees and creator payouts more accurately.

Engagement style during the relationship

Some marketers prefer a clear annual scope with fixed rhythms, like quarterly campaign waves. Others want more freedom to launch quickly when new opportunities pop up.

Social-first partners often allow more agile changes mid-flight. Larger, global agencies may be better for pre-planned annual calendars with agreed check-ins and milestones.

Strengths and limitations

Every influencer partner brings trade-offs. The key is knowing where each shines and where you may need to lean on your own team or other vendors.

Typical strengths you might see

• Hypertly-type partners: agility, trend fluency, and comfort with fast testing
• IMA-type partners: structured planning, global reach, and polished delivery
• Both: access to creators, negotiation experience, and campaign management

Most marketers value having one team that understands creator culture but also knows how to protect the brand, handle contracts, and manage approvals.

Common limitations to keep in mind

• Fast-moving partners may feel less suited to strict legal or regulatory setups
• Highly structured agencies can feel slower for day-to-day experimentation
• Neither replaces a strong product, clear offer, or solid landing pages

*A frequent concern is overpaying for management while underinvesting in creators and media, which can limit overall impact even with a good strategy.*

To avoid this, be clear on your priorities: volume of content, depth of talent, or level of strategic support, then allocate your budget accordingly.

Who each agency is best for

You can think about fit through three lenses: your internal resources, your brand maturity, and how much you want to experiment with influencer marketing.

When a Hypertly-style partner makes more sense

• Emerging or growth-stage brands needing fast learnings and content volume
• Teams targeting younger or highly social audiences on TikTok or Instagram
• Marketers comfortable with more relaxed content guidelines and voice
• Brands willing to test, learn, and quickly adjust creative and offers

This path suits marketers who want a partner pushing new trends and content ideas, and who can handle some unpredictability in which creators or content perform best.

When an IMA-style partner is a better fit

• Larger or global brands with complex approval processes
• Companies needing campaigns across several countries or regions
• Teams that prioritize polished content and brand consistency
• Marketers who must report in detail to leadership or global teams

If your main concern is keeping everything consistent with long-term brand building, a more structured partner can feel like a safer and more defensible choice.

When a platform like Flinque can be better

Full service agencies are not the only route. Some brands want more control and are ready to manage influencers in-house with the help of a platform.

Flinque, for example, is built as a platform-based alternative where your team can discover creators, run campaigns, and track performance without paying for full agency retainers.

Situations where a platform fits

• You already have a social or influencer manager on your team
• You prefer to own creator relationships directly for the long haul
• You want to spread your budget more into influencer fees and less into management
• You run frequent, smaller campaigns rather than a few massive ones

Platforms can be especially helpful for brands that see influencer work as an ongoing channel, not a once-a-year initiative, and are prepared to invest time internally. To make the right choice it is worth exploring a Heepsy alternative that better supports long term workflows reporting and campaign execution.

Trade-offs versus agencies

With a platform, you gain control but accept more operational work. You will coordinate briefs, approvals, and payments yourself, even if the tool makes this easier.

With agencies, you pay more management fees but get a specialized team to handle operations, troubleshooting, and much of the day-to-day communication with creators.

FAQs

How do I choose the right influencer partner for my brand?

Start with your goals, budget, and internal capacity. If you need hands-on support and structure, a more established agency can help. If you want speed and experimentation, a social-first partner or platform might be better.

Should I prioritize follower count or creator fit?

Creator fit matters more than pure follower count. Look at audience relevance, content style, and past brand collaborations. Smaller but highly engaged communities often drive better results than broad but passive audiences.

Can I work with both an agency and a platform?

Yes. Some brands use an agency for major launches and a platform for always-on seeding or smaller tests. The key is clarifying who owns relationships and avoiding overlapping outreach to the same creators.

How long does it take to see results from influencer work?

Awareness can grow quickly, but consistent sales usually require several waves of activity. Many brands see clearer patterns after two to three campaign cycles, once messaging, audiences, and creators are better tuned.

What should I ask agencies before signing?

Ask about their process, reporting, team structure, and how they choose creators. Request real examples from your category, and make sure they explain how fees are split between management and influencer costs.

Conclusion

Choosing the right partner for influencer marketing comes down to your needs, not just brand names. Think carefully about your goals, markets, and how you like to work day to day with partners.

If speed, experimentation, and trend fluency matter most, a social-first agency may suit you. If global coordination, polish, and structure are key, a more established partner could be wiser.

For brands ready to build in-house muscle, a platform such as Flinque can stretch budgets by focusing more spend on creators themselves. The best decision balances your ambitions with your resources and appetite for hands-on involvement.

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.