SmartSites vs INF Influencer Agency

Why brands weigh influencer agency options

When you look at SmartSites and INF Influencer Agency, you are really choosing between two different ways to build influence online. Both work with social creators, but they come from different backgrounds and play different roles for brands.

Most marketers want clarity on three things: who will actually move the needle, how campaigns are handled day to day, and what kind of budget and workload they should expect.

The primary phrase many people search for here is influencer marketing agency choice. That phrase captures what you are really trying to figure out: which partner fits your stage of growth, goals, and comfort with social content.

What each agency is mainly known for
SmartSites and how it handles influencer work
INF Influencer Agency and how it runs campaigns
How the two agencies differ in real life
Pricing approach and how work is structured
Key strengths and limitations for each
Who each agency is best suited for
When a platform like Flinque can make more sense
FAQs
Conclusion: choosing your influencer partner
Disclaimer

What each agency is mainly known for

SmartSites is widely recognized first as a digital marketing and web design agency. Over time, it has added social and creator-focused services alongside paid ads, SEO, and conversion work.

INF Influencer Agency comes from the other side. Its core identity centers on matching brands with creators and building social buzz, rather than starting with websites or search.

So you are not just choosing between two influencer firms. You are choosing between a broader digital agency that includes influencer work and a specialist focused primarily on creator-led storytelling.

SmartSites and how it handles influencer work

SmartSites tends to work with brands that want their influencer activity connected tightly to their website, paid traffic, and search marketing. Influencers are one part of a bigger plan, not the only focus.

Services SmartSites usually offers

Beyond creators, SmartSites typically provides services like:

Website design and development
Search engine optimization
Pay-per-click and social ads
Email marketing and funnels
Analytics setup and conversion tracking

Influencer work often plugs into this broader mix. For example, creators may drive traffic to landing pages that SmartSites builds and tunes for conversions.

How SmartSites tends to run campaigns

When SmartSites helps with influencer marketing, the focus is usually performance. They aim to connect creator content to measurable actions like leads, sales, or booked calls.

That may mean working with a mix of content creators, running paid amplification on their posts, and tracking how those posts feed into your ad and email systems.

Influencer activity is not often treated as pure brand awareness. It is aligned with funnels, retargeting, and long term customer value.

Creator relationships and day to day process

Compared with a pure influencer shop, SmartSites is less likely to highlight an in-house roster of creators. Instead, it may identify and outreach to talent based on each campaign need.

The process may look like this, though details vary by client:

Define goals and key actions you care about
Map audiences and platforms that match those goals
Source creators and negotiate terms
Coordinate messaging, offers, and tracking links
Measure results alongside ads and website metrics

Communication normally flows through an account manager who also oversees your other digital channels, which can simplify coordination.

Typical client fit for SmartSites

SmartSites often fits brands that:

Need their website, ads, and creator content to all work together
Care deeply about measurable returns from social campaigns
Prefer one main partner for many marketing channels
Operate in sectors like ecommerce, services, healthcare, or B2B

If you want creators to be one piece of a tightly tracked marketing engine, SmartSites can be a realistic fit.

INF Influencer Agency and how it runs campaigns

INF Influencer Agency positions itself more squarely around influencer relationships and creator-led storytelling. Social proof and buzz are at the heart of what it does.

What INF usually focuses on

While exact offerings can evolve, a creator-first agency like INF will typically concentrate on:

Influencer discovery and vetting
Campaign concepts and creative direction for social content
Negotiating fees and deliverables with creators
Managing content deadlines and approvals
Reporting on reach, engagement, and conversions

Their lens is social-first. They start from the content and community perspective rather than from your website or ad account.

How INF typically runs creator campaigns

A specialist influencer shop is likely to put more emphasis on matching tone and audience between brand and talent. Your campaign may include:

Detailed creator shortlists organized by niche and platform
Creative briefs built around platform trends, like Reels or TikTok sounds
Multiple smaller creators for depth, or a few key names for impact
Options for whitelisting content into ads, depending on agreements

INF may be more flexible on campaign style, from one-off bursts around a product launch to long term ambassador programs.

Creator relationships and network depth

Because it leads with creator work, INF is likely to highlight its relationships with influencers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and possibly Twitch or podcasts.

That can mean faster matching, smoother negotiations, and better insight into what each creator’s audience actually reacts to.

Many brands value this kind of network when they lack in-house social expertise or don’t have time to talk with dozens of creators themselves.

Typical client fit for INF

INF tends to fit brands that:

Want to lean heavily on social proof and creator storytelling
Care most about buzz, reach, and content volume
May already have their website and ads handled elsewhere
Operate in visually driven niches like fashion, beauty, lifestyle, or consumer tech

If you see influencers as your main engine for awareness, or you want to scale creator collaborations quickly, this type of agency can be attractive.

How the two agencies differ in real life

Even though both work with influencers, they sit in different spots along your marketing stack.

SmartSites is best described as a full digital shop that also does influencer work. INF lives closer to the creator world, with campaigns often centered around social storytelling.

This leads to a few practical differences you will feel as a client.

Focus and starting point

SmartSites typically starts from your funnel. They look at your existing traffic sources, website, and offers, then see where influencers can plug in.

INF usually starts from your audience and story. They think in terms of creator niches, social platforms, and content styles, then choose the best fits to bring your brand to life.

Measurement and success metrics

SmartSites is likely to center metrics like:

Leads and purchases from influencer traffic
Return on ad spend when creator content is reused in ads
Impact on overall cost per acquisition

INF may report in more detail on creator-specific numbers:

Reach and impressions across all posts
Engagement rates and saves
Content output compared to plan

Both can look at sales, but the emphasis often differs: one is performance-first, the other content-and-community-first.

Client experience and touchpoints

With SmartSites, you may have one account team covering your website, SEO, ads, and influencer collaborations together. This can be convenient if you want one partner steering the ship.

With INF, your main touchpoints are more likely to be specialists in creator campaigns. They live in the day-to-day of social content, platform trends, and creator needs.

Neither model is automatically better. The right choice depends on whether you want a generalist partner or a specialist in social influence.

Pricing approach and how work is structured

Neither agency usually sells simple off-the-shelf plans. Pricing tends to be custom, based on scope, channel mix, and how much support you want.

How SmartSites typically charges

As a broader digital agency, SmartSites often structures fees in ways like:

Monthly retainers for ongoing services, which may include influencer management
Project fees for website builds or redesigns
Management fees tied to ad spend, if running media buying

When influencers are involved, you can expect separate budgets for creator fees, content production, and any paid amplification of that content.

How INF usually prices campaigns

A creator-focused agency typically prices more directly around influencer work, for example:

Campaign-based fees for planning and managing a defined burst of activity
Retainers for ongoing creator programs or ambassadorships
Separate budgets for individual influencer payments and content costs

Costs depend heavily on creator size, content format, and exclusivity terms. Bigger names, multiple revisions, and usage rights in ads all increase budgets.

Factors that influence cost with either agency

With both partners, expect pricing to shift based on:

Number of creators involved and their follower ranges
Platforms used, like TikTok versus YouTube
Content volume and type, such as short clips versus long-form video
Need for strategy, creative concepts, and reporting depth

It is wise to enter early calls with a rough budget range so both teams can advise what is realistic.

Key strengths and limitations for each

Every partner has trade-offs. Your choice depends on which strengths matter most and which weaknesses you can live with.

SmartSites strengths

Integrated view across website, search, ads, and influencers
Strong focus on measurable outcomes and conversions
Simplified vendor management when many channels sit under one roof
Ability to quickly test creator content in paid media campaigns

SmartSites limitations

Influencer work may be one of many services, so it might feel less specialized
Brands wanting pure awareness or edgy social concepts may find the approach more performance-led
Global niche creator expertise may be more limited than in a pure influencer shop

A common concern is whether a broad digital agency can go deep enough into creator culture to feel truly native on every platform.

INF strengths

Deep focus on influencer relationships and social storytelling
Likely strong feel for trends and what performs on each platform
Access to a wide roster of creators across niches
Flexible campaign structures for launches, seeding, or long-term partnerships

INF limitations

Less emphasis on websites, search, or broader funnel optimization
You may need separate partners for other digital channels
Results might be more brand and community focused than strictly performance focused

For some brands, this is perfect. For others, running multiple agencies can add complexity to reporting and coordination.

Who each agency is best suited for

To make things clearer, it helps to imagine the type of marketer or founder who would get the most value from each option.

When SmartSites is a better fit

You want one partner to handle your website, search, ads, and influencer efforts.
You care deeply about tracking sales or lead value from creator traffic.
Your team is small and prefers a single point of contact for most marketing.
You are in an industry where compliance, landing pages, and funnels really matter.

When INF Influencer Agency is a better fit

You see creators as your main growth engine on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
You already have your website and ads handled by another partner or in-house.
You want quick access to a wide range of influencers in your niche.
You value social buzz, content volume, and audience fit as top priorities.

When a platform like Flinque can make more sense

In some cases, neither a broad agency nor a pure influencer shop is the best starting point. A self-serve platform can be more practical.

Flinque, for example, is positioned as a platform where brands can handle influencer discovery, outreach, and campaigns directly, without paying for full agency retainers.

Good situations for using a platform

You already have a social-savvy team member who can manage creator relationships.
Your budget is modest, and agency fees would swallow most of it.
You want to test influencer marketing before committing to a big campaign.
You prefer to own the creator relationships long term.

With a platform like Flinque, you trade some hands-on support for more direct control and potential cost savings.

FAQs

How do I decide between a broad digital agency and an influencer specialist?

Start with your main problem. If you need your whole funnel fixed, a broad agency helps. If you already have funnels working and mainly need social buzz from creators, a specialist usually makes more sense.

Can I work with both types of agencies at the same time?

Yes, many brands do. One partner may handle web, SEO, and ads, while the influencer specialist runs creator campaigns. Just make sure roles are clear and reporting is shared so efforts stay aligned.

Do I need a huge budget to work with influencers?

No. Micro and mid-tier creators often deliver strong engagement at lower costs. The key is setting realistic goals and choosing a partner or platform that matches your budget size and expectations.

Should I own the influencer relationships or let an agency manage them?

If you see creators as long-term partners, owning relationships can help. If you lack time or experience, letting an agency manage them reduces risk. Many brands start with agency management, then gradually build in-house skills.

How long before I see results from influencer campaigns?

Some campaigns drive traffic quickly, but steady impact often builds over a few months. Multiple waves of content, reposts, and testing different creators usually give a clearer picture than a single one-off push.

Conclusion: choosing your influencer partner

Your decision is less about which agency is “better” and more about which one fits how you already market and what you are ready to manage.

If you want your website, ads, and creators firing together, a broad digital partner like SmartSites may be the smoother path. It wraps influencers into a bigger performance system.

If you want to go all in on social proof and creator-led storytelling, a specialist like INF Influencer Agency may feel more focused and nimble.

And if you have the internal bandwidth to run things yourself, a platform such as Flinque can give you control and flexibility at a lower overhead.

Clarify your goals, estimate a realistic budget, decide how involved you want to be, and then talk openly with each option. The right choice will be the one that matches your stage, not just your aspirations.

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.