Why brands look at these two influencer partners
Many brands weighing influencer marketing end up choosing between different kinds of agencies. Some, like inBeat Agency vs SmartSites, focus deeply on creator work. Others combine influencers with broader digital marketing.
You’re usually trying to answer a few simple questions. Who will actually move the needle? Who understands your audience? And who is the better fit for your budget and way of working?
Table of Contents
- What these agencies are known for
- InBeat Agency: services and style
- SmartSites: services and style
- How their influencer marketing styles differ
- Pricing and how engagements usually work
- Strengths and limitations
- Who each agency fits best
- When a platform like Flinque makes sense
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
What these agencies are known for
The primary keyword for this page is influencer marketing agencies. Both teams work with creators, but their reputations come from different angles.
InBeat is mainly known for performance-driven creator campaigns, especially on TikTok, Instagram, and user-generated content used in ads. They often highlight micro-influencers and content volume.
SmartSites is better known as a full-service digital marketing agency. Influencers are usually part of a broader mix that can include PPC, SEO, website design, and email marketing.
So while both can help you run creator campaigns, one leans heavily into influencers as the main growth channel, and the other tends to fold creators into a larger online strategy.
InBeat Agency: services and style
InBeat positions itself squarely as an influencer-focused partner. Most of their services connect directly to creator sourcing, content production, and performance.
Core services you can expect
From public information, InBeat typically focuses on:
- Influencer campaign strategy across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
- Creator discovery with an emphasis on micro-influencers
- Negotiation, briefs, and creator relationship management
- User-generated content production for paid ads
- Reporting on reach, engagement, and sales impact
They often talk about turning influencer content into ads on platforms like Meta and TikTok. That means the same creators who post organically may also supply assets for performance campaigns.
How they tend to run campaigns
InBeat usually starts by defining your target customer, platforms, and performance goals. Then they map those to influencer types and content angles.
Expect a lot of emphasis on testing multiple creators and creative variations. Instead of one big celebrity, they favor many smaller partners who feel authentic and close to their audiences.
Campaigns typically include:
- Initial discovery and shortlisting of creators
- Outreach, negotiation, and contracts
- Briefing and content guidelines
- Review and quality control before posts go live
- Performance analysis and scaling of what works
How they work with creators
InBeat’s messaging centers on micro-influencers and UGC creators. These are people with smaller but engaged communities and a strong storytelling style.
They often value speed and volume: getting a steady flow of new content that can be tested, reused, and turned into ads. This matters if you run paid campaigns and constantly need fresh material.
Because of that, collaborations may feel more “always-on” than one-time. Many brands use them to build a repeatable creator pipeline, not just a single launch.
Typical client fit
From public case studies and examples, InBeat tends to work best with:
- Consumer brands wanting direct sales from social platforms
- Ecommerce and DTC businesses wanting measurable results
- Apps and SaaS tools that rely on performance marketing
- Marketing teams comfortable with fast testing and iteration
If you care more about creative testing and performance than traditional PR-style influence, this style of partner usually makes sense.
SmartSites: services and style
SmartSites is often recognized first for web design and performance marketing rather than pure influencer work. Influencers tend to be one piece of a broader plan.
Core services you can expect
Based on public information, SmartSites offers:
- Website design and development
- SEO and content marketing
- PPC campaigns on Google, Meta, and others
- Email marketing and CRM-related services
- Branding and creative support
Influencer support may be integrated either through partnerships, outreach, or campaign planning that ties creators to landing pages, ads, and email funnels.
How they tend to run campaigns
Because SmartSites is a full-service shop, campaigns often start from a broader business goal, not only influencer outcomes.
They may design or optimize your site, set up tracking, run ads, and then layer in creators to support launches, promotions, or evergreen funnels.
That means the influencer piece is usually treated as one traffic and content source among many, alongside search and paid media.
How they work with creators
Information specific to creator processes is more limited publicly. In general, you can expect:
- Influencers supporting campaigns rather than driving everything
- Focus on how creator content feeds the rest of your channels
- Closer alignment with landing pages, offer testing, and email flows
Creator work may feel more integrated with web and ad strategy, rather than a standalone influencer track.
Typical client fit
From available case studies and positioning, SmartSites tends to fit:
- Brands needing website and conversion help alongside promotion
- Businesses that want SEO, PPC, and creators under one roof
- Companies in more traditional or B2B spaces exploring online growth
- Teams that care about long-term web presence beyond social media
If you want one partner to shape your website, ads, and traffic channels together, this model often works well.
How their influencer marketing styles differ
Even though both can activate creators, they usually show up in very different ways for your team.
Focus of the relationship
InBeat tends to position influencers as the main engine of growth. Most of their pitch revolves around sourcing creators, building UGC, and turning that into performance assets.
SmartSites, by contrast, sees creators as one line in a wide marketing mix. Their core promise is a stronger digital presence overall, not only influencer results.
Scale and content volume
InBeat’s model often emphasizes content volume. Many micro-influencers, many variations, and lots of testing.
SmartSites is more likely to focus on how any creator content supports your site and ad funnel. The priority is not necessarily the highest number of influencers, but how they fit your broader campaign.
Measurement and goals
With InBeat, you will probably talk often about cost per acquisition, return on ad spend, and creative performance inside paid campaigns.
With SmartSites, metrics may span the full funnel: traffic, time on site, form fills, calls, or sales across channels. Influencers become one part of that bigger picture.
Client experience day to day
If you partner with InBeat, expect most conversations to center on creators, content ideas, and scaling what works on social and ads.
With SmartSites, conversations may span everything from landing pages to search rankings and email performance, with influencers woven into that roadmap.
Pricing and how engagements usually work
Both agencies price in ways typical for service-based marketing partners. You should expect custom quotes, not fixed SaaS-style plans.
How pricing tends to be structured
For influencer marketing agencies, pricing usually blends:
- Agency fees for strategy and management
- Influencer fees or product seeding costs
- Content usage rights and whitelisting
- Paid media spend if they manage ads
InBeat is likely to frame costs around creator recruitment, campaign management, and ongoing UGC production. Budgets depend on how many influencers and assets you need monthly.
SmartSites typically scopes fees around a wider program: web work, SEO, PPC, and any influencer pieces. Costs may be tied to retainers, project work, or a mix of both.
What affects your total budget
Several factors will influence quotes from either team:
- Number of markets or countries you target
- Volume of creators and posts per month
- Organic reach versus heavy paid promotion
- Need for creative direction and production
- Depth of reporting and testing you require
If influencers are your main growth lever, expect a higher share of budget going to creators and content. If they support a broader online plan, more budget may be in web, search, and paid traffic.
Engagement style over time
InBeat often fits ongoing creator programs with recurring content and testing. That usually means a retainer-based relationship, sometimes adjusted by campaign size.
SmartSites may mix long-term retainers with specific projects, like a site rebuild or a new ad push, then layer in creators when they support your roadmap.
Strengths and limitations
Both options have clear upsides and tradeoffs. Your decision should align with how you want influencers to fit into your marketing.
Where InBeat tends to shine
- Strong focus on micro-influencers and UGC
- Good fit for brands that live on TikTok and Instagram
- Content built to feed performance ads and testing
- Clear emphasis on measurable outcomes from creator work
If your team is already running ads and needs a constant stream of creator content, this kind of agency focus is powerful.
Where InBeat may feel limiting
- Less suited if you want deep SEO or web development support
- Not ideal if influencers are only a tiny part of your mix
- Might feel too performance-heavy if your goal is purely brand image
Some brands worry that a strong performance focus can overlook long-term brand storytelling, even though it often drives short-term sales.
Where SmartSites tends to shine
- Holistic digital marketing with web, SEO, and PPC
- Good option if your site and funnels need serious work
- Creator integration with landing pages and broader campaigns
- Useful for brands wanting one central digital partner
If you need your website, search traffic, and ads fixed first, a full-service approach can unlock more value from any influencer work you do.
Where SmartSites may feel limiting
- Influencers may not be the central focus of every engagement
- Less of a pure play if you want only creator programs
- Could feel broad if you want niche, influencer-only expertise
Brands that live and die by creator marketing sometimes prefer a partner that specializes almost entirely in that arena.
Who each agency fits best
Thinking in terms of fit instead of “best” makes the decision easier. Each agency serves a different kind of need.
When to lean toward InBeat
- You sell consumer products online and track sales by channel.
- You rely heavily on ads on TikTok, Instagram, or Meta.
- You want a high volume of creator content every month.
- You prefer many micro-influencers over a few big names.
- Your team is comfortable with fast testing and creative changes.
This route is especially appealing for DTC brands, mobile apps, and ecommerce stores with clear performance targets.
When to lean toward SmartSites
- You need major improvements to your site or store.
- You care about SEO, PPC, and email as much as social.
- You want one team coordinating multiple online channels.
- Influencers support your marketing, but do not drive everything.
- You prefer a broader digital strategy, not only creator programs.
This path often suits established businesses modernizing their online presence or those with complex sales funnels.
When a platform like Flinque makes sense
You may not be ready for a full-service agency at all. Some brands want to keep influencer work in-house but need better tools.
Flinque is a platform-based option that helps you discover creators and manage campaigns without long-term retainers.
Instead of handing everything to an agency, your team uses software to:
- Search and filter influencers that fit your brand
- Track outreach, responses, and contracts
- Manage deliverables and timelines
- Monitor results across multiple campaigns
This can make sense if you have internal marketers, want direct relationships with creators, and prefer to invest more in software and talent than agency fees.
On the other hand, if you lack time, in-house expertise, or creative direction, a done-for-you agency partner may still be the better move.
FAQs
How do I choose between an influencer-focused agency and a full-service one?
Decide whether influencers are your primary growth engine or just one of many channels. If creator content and performance ads are central, pick a specialist. If you need web, SEO, PPC, and influencers together, a broader partner usually fits better.
Can I work with both types of agencies at the same time?
Yes, but you need clear roles. One agency can handle influencers and UGC while another manages web and paid search. Make sure tracking, landing pages, and messaging are aligned so you do not duplicate efforts or confuse reporting.
Do I need a big budget to work with influencer agencies?
You do not need celebrity-level budgets, but you should be ready for a meaningful investment. Costs include agency work, creator fees, and sometimes paid ads. Even micro-influencer programs work best when funded enough to test, learn, and scale winners.
How long before I see results from influencer marketing?
Some brands see quick gains from early campaigns, but reliable results often take a few cycles of testing. Plan for several months to optimize creators, content angles, and landing pages before judging long-term performance.
Should I try a platform before hiring an agency?
If you have a small team and limited funds, starting with a platform can teach you how influencer campaigns work. Once you understand the basics and see potential, you can decide whether a full-service partner is worth the extra investment.
Conclusion
The choice between these influencer marketing agencies comes down to how central creators are in your growth plan and how much support you need beyond them.
If you want influencers and UGC to sit at the heart of performance advertising, a specialist that lives and breathes creator work is usually the better fit.
If you need your website, search, and ads improved alongside any creator efforts, a full-service digital partner may give you more long-term value.
Also consider whether your team prefers done-for-you execution or wants to keep control using a platform like Flinque. Your budget, timelines, and in-house skills should guide the final choice.
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.
Jan 06,2026
