Open Influence vs SociallyIn

Why brands weigh influencer agency options

When you’re deciding between influencer partners, you’re really asking a few core questions. Who understands my audience? Who can actually move sales, not just likes? And who will be easier to work with day to day?

Open Influence and SociallyIn both promise to match brands with creators and run cross channel campaigns. Yet they feel very different in style, scale, and how hands on they are.

This breakdown focuses on real world concerns brand marketers have when choosing between influencer agencies: campaign strategy, content quality, reporting, pricing, and how well each fits different team sizes and industries.

What each agency is known for

The primary keyword for this discussion is influencer marketing services. Both teams operate in that world, but with different strengths.

One side is widely known for large scale campaigns, global creator networks, and heavy data use. The other is associated with social first storytelling, creative studios, and community driven content.

Understanding those reputations helps you see where each might shine for your brand and where you could run into friction.

Open Influence in plain language

This agency is often seen as a full funnel influencer partner for larger brands. They lean into data, structure, and broad creator reach across many countries and categories.

Core services at a glance

Services typically cover the full influencer lifecycle, including:

• Influencer discovery and vetting across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more
• Concept development and creative direction for campaigns
• Contracting, briefs, and brand safety checks
• Campaign management and content approvals
• Performance tracking, reporting, and insights
• Usage rights and repurposing influencer content in paid media

They are designed for brands that want a single partner to plan, run, and measure almost everything related to their creator work.

How campaigns usually run

Campaigns are often built around data first planning. That can include audience analysis, category research, and historical performance of specific creators or formats.

From there, a team helps refine the creative idea, selects influencers, and handles outreach and negotiation. Expect structured briefs and tighter control on messaging.

Reporting tends to focus on measurable outcomes like reach, engagement, clicks, and in some cases sales lift or conversions when tracking is available.

Creator relationships and network

Open Influence positions itself as having a large network, not just a small roster. That means they usually do not manage creators exclusively but connect brands with many types of influencers.

This can be helpful if you want variety across verticals. It can also support global campaigns where you need creators in multiple markets and languages.

Because the network is broad, relationship depth may vary. High value creators might get more attention than very small ones.

Typical client fit

Clients are often mid sized to enterprise brands, especially those in:

• Consumer packaged goods and food
• Beauty, fashion, and lifestyle
• Tech, mobile apps, and entertainment launches
• Retail and ecommerce looking to scale reach

Marketing teams that already run media and want influencers to plug into wider campaigns tend to find this structure comfortable.

SociallyIn in plain language

SociallyIn is widely recognized as a social first creative partner. Influencers are part of a larger focus on building communities and original content for channels like TikTok, Instagram, and more.

Core services at a glance

Their offering often combines influencer programs with broader social media production, such as:

• Social strategy and channel planning
• Ongoing content creation and studio production
• Influencer sourcing and relationship management
• Community management and engagement support
• Paid social management to boost top content
• Social branding, campaigns, and seasonal pushes

This mix can help brands that want one partner to manage both their own social feeds and their influencer collaborations.

How campaigns usually run

Campaigns often start from a creative idea tailored to a specific channel’s culture rather than just numbers on a slide. Think TikTok trends, Instagram Reels, and playful content formats.

Influencers may be integrated into broader themes or series that also include content from the brand’s own channels.

Measurement usually includes social metrics, but there is strong emphasis on content quality and community reaction.

Creator relationships and network

SociallyIn works with a variety of creators, often chosen for fit with a brand’s tone and niche audiences. They place serious value on style alignment.

Because of the creative studio focus, influencers may collaborate closely with in house producers and editors, leading to more polished or experimental content.

This can be powerful if your in house team lacks the bandwidth or skills for a constant flow of channel native content.

Typical client fit

SociallyIn often fits brands that care deeply about their social presence beyond any single campaign. Common examples include:

• Emerging consumer brands building awareness and a voice
• Regional or niche brands wanting closer community ties
• Companies with minimal internal social teams
• Brands that value creative experimentation and storytelling

Teams that want to keep social content and influencer work tightly connected may find the structure appealing.

How the two agencies really differ

While both can deliver influencer marketing services, their styles differ in ways that matter day to day. Think scale, creative approach, and how structured communication feels.

Scale and structure

One agency is built for bigger campaigns, larger creator pools, and more layered reporting. The other leans into a boutique feel, with social content creation deeply woven into influencer work.

If you are running multi country launches, you might lean toward a scaled network. If you want your Instagram or TikTok feeds refreshed constantly, the creative studio model may win.

Creative approach

Open Influence often starts from data, campaign goals, and structured brand guidelines. This can protect brand voice and reduce risk for highly regulated industries.

SociallyIn tends to start from ideas and channel culture, then pulls in influencers as part of that concept. This can result in fresher, more playful output when the brand is open to it.

Client experience and communication

With a larger, more process heavy team, you may see more formal project steps, timelines, and tools. That can bring predictability, but approvals might feel slower.

A creative led team might respond faster with ideas and edits, but may be less suited for very rigid internal workflows or heavy compliance.

Industries and typical use cases

Brands with strict guidelines, multiple stakeholders, and large budgets may feel more at home with the heavily structured option.

Brands prioritizing cultural relevance, humor, or strong community voice may find SociallyIn’s style more natural.

Both can support ecommerce and DTC, but they will tell that story in different ways across content and creator choice.

Pricing approach and how work is scoped

Neither of these agencies sells simple software seats or pre set packages. Costs depend on your scope, channels, and goals.

How brands are usually charged

Most influencer focused agencies mix several components in their pricing:

• Strategy and account management fees
• Creator fees and content production costs
• Paid media budgets to amplify top posts
• Reporting and analytics work
• Optional extras like studio shoots or travel

Some work on project based fees for specific campaigns. Others work on monthly retainers for ongoing social and influencer activity.

Factors that raise or lower cost

Costs often shift based on:

• Number of creators and their follower size
• Number of posts, stories, Reels, or videos
• Markets and languages involved
• Whether you need full social channel management
• Level of reporting and data required

If you want complex multi wave campaigns, expect higher budget requirements than for single bursts or tests with smaller creators.

Budget transparency and expectations

With any influencer agency, you should ask for clear breakdowns: what portion is going to creators, what is agency margin, and what is set aside for production or media.

That transparency helps you compare apples to apples, especially when one proposal includes broader social management while another is influencer only.

Key strengths and limitations

Every partner has tradeoffs. Understanding them upfront will save you stress later.

Where Open Influence tends to shine

• Running campaigns at larger scale with many creators
• Serving brands with strict guidelines or global structures
• Building data rich reports and performance insights
• Coordinating influencer work with digital media buys

This is often a strong choice when you need structure, repeatability, and consistent delivery across multiple launches or markets.

Where SociallyIn tends to shine

• Integrating influencer content with your daily social presence
• Producing original content in studio and on location
• Crafting channel native ideas and playful storytelling
• Supporting smaller teams that lack an internal social unit

For brands that want to move quickly with creative ideas, this type of partner can feel like an extension of your in house content crew.

Limitations to keep in mind

*A common concern for many brands is losing control of messaging or not getting the content they imagined.* This can happen with any partner if expectations are not crystal clear.

Large networks may feel less personal for very small brands. Creative studios may feel stretched if you demand complex global coordination.

Make sure you align on decision making, feedback cycles, and what success will actually look like before signing anything.

Who each agency is best for

Thinking in terms of brand type and internal resources can make the decision simpler.

When Open Influence is usually a better fit

• Mid market and enterprise brands with larger budgets
• Companies running multi region or multilingual campaigns
• Teams that need strong processes and predictable reporting
• Brands integrating influencers with wider media strategies

This setup fits marketing leaders who want an external engine that can be plugged into their existing planning and measured with clear metrics.

When SociallyIn is usually a better fit

• Brands building their social presence from the ground up
• Smaller marketing teams that need creative support
• Companies that value bold, channel native ideas
• Brands that see community and conversation as top priorities

If you want one team to handle both your own socials and your influencer activity, this type of partner may match your needs better.

When a platform alternative makes more sense

For some teams, full service influencer marketing services feel like too much. The cost, layers of approvals, and long timelines can be heavier than needed.

In those cases, a platform based option like Flinque might be worth considering as an alternative path.

How a platform based option fits in

Flinque is designed for brands that want more control over influencer discovery and campaign management without paying ongoing agency retainers.

Instead of outsourcing everything, your team uses software tools to find creators, manage briefs, track content, and measure results.

This works best if you have at least one person internally who can own influencer relationships and is comfortable running campaigns.

When a platform is a better choice

• You have limited budget but strong internal marketers
• You want to test many small campaigns before scaling
• You prefer direct relationships with creators
• You already work with freelancers for creative assets

If you want more flexibility and are willing to do the coordination work yourself, a platform can offer more control at a lower long term price.

FAQs

Should I choose a full service agency or manage influencers in house?

If you lack time, relationships, or expertise, an agency is usually safer. If you have social savvy staff and want to control costs, managing in house or with a platform can work well.

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

Brand awareness can move quickly, sometimes within weeks. Sales impact often takes multiple waves of content and several months of consistent work to measure properly.

Can these agencies work with small budgets?

Both tend to be better suited to brands with enough budget for multiple creators and proper production. Very small budgets may be better served by a platform and micro creators.

What should I prepare before talking to any influencer agency?

Clarify your main goals, budget range, target audience, preferred platforms, and any strict rules around messaging or legal review before you start conversations.

How do I compare proposals from different influencer partners?

Look at creator quality, content concepts, reporting detail, and how much of the budget reaches creators. Ask them to walk you through a past campaign similar to yours.

Helping you decide what’s right

Choosing between agencies is less about who is “best” and more about who is best for you. Start from your goals, internal resources, and risk tolerance.

If you need large scale coordination and robust reporting, a structured network driven partner will likely serve you better.

If you want lively social storytelling and closer integration with your channels, a creative studio style partner might be the right move.

If budgets are tight or you want maximum control, consider managing creators directly with a platform and building your own processes over time.

Whichever route you choose, insist on clarity around scope, deliverables, success metrics, and ownership of content before you sign.

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.