Why brands weigh influencer agency options
Choosing an influencer partner can feel risky. You are trusting an outside team with your brand voice, your budget, and your relationship with creators who speak directly to your customers.
Many marketers look at agencies like Obviously and Influencer Response when they want more organized, professional campaigns instead of one-off posts.
Both focus on connecting brands with creators, but they differ in scale, style, and how hands-on they are with campaign management.
Table of Contents
- What each agency is known for
- Obviously: services and client fit
- Influencer Response: services and client fit
- How these influencer agencies differ
- Pricing approach and how work is structured
- Strengths and limitations of each option
- Who each influencer agency suits best
- When a platform like Flinque makes more sense
- FAQs
- Conclusion: choosing the right fit
- Disclaimer
What each agency is known for
The primary keyword for this topic is influencer agency selection. That is usually what sits behind questions about picking between well known partners.
Both agencies work mostly with consumer brands that care about social reach, creator storytelling, and sales.
Obviously at a glance
Obviously is widely recognized for running large, structured influencer programs across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other channels.
They often emphasize data-driven casting, detailed reporting, and the ability to manage hundreds or even thousands of creators for a single brand.
Well known categories they touch include beauty, fashion, lifestyle, tech, and retail, often with nationally or globally known brands.
Influencer Response at a glance
Influencer Response tends to focus on more targeted campaigns, often highlighting authentic content and closer relationships between brand and creator.
Their work usually appeals to marketers who want a team that feels nimble and responsive rather than massive and highly systematized.
They may be more attractive to brands that value hands-on communication and closer feedback loops over sheer scale.
Obviously: services and client fit
Obviously is built for brands that want a structured, scalable influencer engine. They position themselves as end-to-end partners.
Core services offered
While exact services shift by client, Obviously usually focuses on full campaign support from planning through reporting.
- Influencer discovery and vetting across multiple social platforms
- Campaign concepting and creative direction
- Contracting, product seeding, and logistics
- Content review and brand safety checks
- Paid amplification of creator content
- Performance tracking and post-campaign analysis
They can also help run ongoing ambassador or advocacy programs, not just one-off bursts.
Campaign style and workflow
Obviously tends to approach campaigns with a clear process. That often means structured briefs, well defined timelines, and clear performance targets.
Campaigns may include a mix of larger creators for reach and smaller ones for engagement, with volume adjusted to your budget.
Many brands mention that reporting is detailed, with metrics like reach, impressions, clicks, and sometimes estimated sales.
Relationships with creators
Obviously has built large creator networks over time. That lets them move quickly when a brand needs many posts in a short window.
However, large networks can feel a bit less intimate. Creators may see the agency as one of many partners, not always as a long term collaborator.
For brands, this can be an advantage when they want variety and volume more than deep, long running creator ties.
Typical client fit
Obviously often works well for:
- Mid to large consumer brands aiming for national reach
- Companies with established marketing budgets and strict KPIs
- Teams that want detailed reporting and predictable processes
- Brands planning recurring seasonal or always-on campaigns
If your team is lean but resources are strong, their structure can remove a lot of internal workload.
Influencer Response: services and client fit
Influencer Response operates more like a focused, boutique-style influencer partner, even if they work with sizable brands.
Core services offered
As a full service influencer marketing agency, they usually cover the essentials of planning and executing campaigns.
- Influencer casting and relationship outreach
- Content planning aligned to your launches or promotions
- Coordination of posts, stories, and video content
- Negotiation of deliverables and usage rights
- Monitoring of posts, approvals, and feedback
- Summaries of results once campaigns wrap
They often lean into storytelling and brand fit rather than massive scale.
Campaign style and workflow
Campaigns from this type of agency may feel more conversational than industrial.
Brands may experience more back and forth on creative ideas, with room to shape messaging and choose among shortlisted creators.
This can be valuable if you care deeply about tone, visuals, and brand alignment, not only impressions.
Relationships with creators
Smaller or mid sized influencer shops often build closer ties with a core group of creators.
Those creators may work with the agency repeatedly across different brands, making communication smoother.
To you, this can feel like working with a curated roster rather than a massive database.
Typical client fit
Influencer Response can be a match for marketers who want:
- Closer creative control and deeper brand storytelling
- Flexible, responsive communication with the agency team
- Campaigns that prioritize quality content over sheer volume
- Support testing influencer marketing before scaling up fully
It may especially suit emerging brands trying to stand out in crowded niches.
How these influencer agencies differ
On the surface, both agencies help brands hire creators and run campaigns. Underneath, the experience can feel very different.
Scale and reach
Obviously often touts large scale programs with hundreds of creators, sometimes across several countries.
That scale is ideal if you are a national retailer, global beauty house, or tech brand with wide distribution.
Influencer Response tends to lean into more focused campaigns with smaller groups of carefully chosen creators.
This can work well when you are targeting niche audiences or testing messaging.
Structure versus flexibility
Obviously often brings a well oiled, standardized process. That can streamline work but may feel less flexible if you like constant tweaks.
Influencer Response might offer more room to experiment, change direction mid campaign, or adjust creative as you go.
Your preference for structure versus flexibility should guide the decision more than brand fame alone.
Reporting and data depth
Both agencies will track campaign performance, but emphasis differs.
Obviously may highlight dashboards, cross campaign benchmarks, and more complex performance stories.
Influencer Response might focus on straightforward recaps, content examples, and plain language results.
If you are reporting into a data driven leadership team, depth of measurement may matter a lot.
Client experience day to day
With a larger agency like Obviously, you may work with an account team including strategists, project managers, and analysts.
Responses may be structured through processes and systems, which is helpful for complex brands with many internal stakeholders.
With a smaller team, you might know exactly who handles your campaign from start to finish.
That can feel more personal, though capacity may be tighter during busy seasons.
Pricing approach and how work is structured
Neither agency publishes simple, one size fits all pricing. Influencer campaigns are too variable for fixed menus to make sense.
How influencer agencies usually charge
Most influencer marketing partners follow similar patterns:
- Custom quotes based on campaign scope and timeline
- Influencer fees, including content creation and usage rights
- Agency management fees for planning and execution
- Optional paid media budgets to boost creator content
- Longer term retainers for always-on programs
Exact splits differ, but the mix of creator costs and agency time is standard.
Factors that drive total cost
Several key variables affect your final budget, regardless of which agency you pick.
- Number of creators and total deliverables
- Platforms used: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or cross channel
- Creator size: nano, micro, mid tier, or celebrity
- Regions and languages covered
- Need for content usage rights or whitelisting
- Depth of reporting and strategy support
Large scale programs with strict measurement needs naturally cost more.
Engagement style and commitments
Obviously is more likely to work on larger campaigns, often within ongoing retainers or multi wave programs.
That can mean higher minimums but stronger continuity across quarters.
Influencer Response may be more open to project based work or smaller tests, especially for brands earlier in their influencer journey.
Make sure to ask about minimum spends, preferred engagement lengths, and how they handle pilot campaigns.
Strengths and limitations of each option
Every agency choice involves tradeoffs. Being clear on them prevents disappointment down the road.
Where Obviously tends to shine
- Handling complex, multi market campaigns at scale
- Detailed workflows that reduce brand side labor
- Ability to activate many creators quickly for big launches
- Robust reporting that supports executive level updates
This structure is great for large organizations that need reliability and depth of service.
Where Obviously may feel less ideal
- Smaller budgets looking for a quick experimental test
- Brands that want daily creative back and forth with creators
- Very niche industries with limited pool of relevant influencers
Some marketers worry large agencies can feel distant or rigid once campaigns begin.
Where Influencer Response tends to shine
- Brands wanting more personal, flexible communication
- Campaigns focused on storytelling and deep brand fit
- Early stage or challenger brands needing guidance
- Niche audiences where careful creator selection is crucial
This style can feel more collaborative, especially for founders and small teams.
Where Influencer Response may feel limited
- Very large, global campaigns needing huge creator rosters
- Enterprises demanding heavyweight analytics and complex reporting
- Brands needing big, multi region activations on tight timelines
The tradeoff for flexibility is sometimes capacity, especially during peak seasons or large launches.
Who each influencer agency suits best
It helps to map each option to clear types of brands and goals.
When Obviously is usually a better fit
- Well funded consumer brands with national distribution
- Marketers who need consistent, repeatable influencer programs
- Teams under pressure to show clear KPIs and structured reports
- Companies planning global or multi region influencer work
If influencer marketing is already a sizable line in your budget, this level of scale may pay off.
When Influencer Response is usually a better fit
- Emerging brands testing influencer marketing for the first time
- Companies prioritizing authenticity and storytelling over raw volume
- Founders and small teams wanting close creative input
- Businesses targeting tight niches or specific communities
Smaller campaigns can still deliver strong returns when creator selection and messaging are carefully handled.
When a platform like Flinque makes more sense
Full service agencies are not the only option. Some brands prefer software platforms that let their own teams run campaigns.
What a platform alternative offers
Flinque is an example of a platform based approach, not an agency. It is designed for brands that want to:
- Discover influencers directly and manage outreach in-house
- Track campaigns in one place without high retainers
- Experiment with smaller creator sets before hiring an agency
- Keep control over messaging and communication with talent
Your internal team does more work, but you maintain tighter control and often lower long-term costs.
When a platform fits better than an agency
Consider a platform like Flinque when:
- You have a small but motivated marketing team
- Your budget cannot justify agency retainers yet
- You want to learn influencer marketing internally
- You prefer building direct, long term creator relationships
For some brands, starting on a platform then graduating to an agency later is a smart path.
FAQs
How do I choose between these influencer agencies?
Start with your budget, internal bandwidth, and goals. If you need scale and deep reporting, a larger agency helps. If you want flexible, personal support, a smaller partner may suit you better.
Do I need an agency for my first influencer campaign?
Not always. Platforms and direct outreach can work for early tests. An agency becomes more useful when budgets rise, you manage multiple creators, or you lack internal time.
What should I ask during agency discovery calls?
Ask about past campaigns in your category, how they pick creators, how they measure success, minimum budgets, and who you will work with daily. Request case studies and example reports.
Can I use both a platform and an influencer agency?
Yes. Some brands keep small, experimental campaigns on a platform while using an agency for big launches. Just clarify roles so creators are not confused by overlapping outreach.
How long should I commit to an influencer partner?
Many brands start with a three to six month term to test fit. If results and communication are strong, year-long or multi-campaign relationships often deliver better learning and performance.
Conclusion: choosing the right fit
Choosing between agencies comes down to how you like to work, not just their client lists.
If your main need is scale, structured processes, and robust analytics, a bigger, established influencer partner is likely the right move.
If you want more flexible, collaborative work with a tighter group of creators, a smaller, boutique style team may fit better.
Brands willing to be hands-on and budget conscious might start with a platform like Flinque, then hire an agency once they know what works.
Clarify your budget, goals, and internal capacity first. Then talk to both styles of partner and choose the team that best understands your audience and brand voice.
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 10,2026
