SmartSites vs The Digital Dept

Why brands look at these two influencer partners

Marketing teams searching for a partner to handle creators often end up comparing SmartSites and The Digital Dept. Both work with brands that want real social reach, but they offer different paths to that result.

You might be trying to decide who understands your niche, who will manage creators more closely, and who gives better long term value. That’s where a clear look at influencer marketing services really helps.

Table of Contents

• What these agencies are known for
• SmartSites for influencer work
• The Digital Dept for influencer work
• How their styles and focus differ
• Pricing approach and how they work with you
• Strengths and limitations to keep in mind
• Who each agency is usually best for
• When a platform like Flinque makes more sense
• FAQs
• Conclusion: choosing the right partner
• Disclaimer

What these agencies are known for

Both SmartSites and The Digital Dept are known for helping brands connect with creators and turn those relationships into sales. They generally sit between brands and influencers, handling the messy middle so you do not have to.

They overlap in core services but differ in how integrated they are with broader digital marketing and how hands on they are with strategy, content, and reporting.

SmartSites for influencer work

SmartSites is widely recognized as a full service digital marketing shop that also runs influencer campaigns. Influencers are usually one part of a larger online growth plan, not a one off tactic.

Services you can usually expect from SmartSites

SmartSites tends to weave creator work into broader marketing. Typical offerings can include:

• Influencer research and outreach on social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
• Campaign planning tied to paid ads, SEO, and landing pages
• Brief creation, talking points, and creative concepts for influencers
• Contract handling, fees, and content rights negotiations
• Tracking links, promo codes, and performance reporting

Because of their broader team structure, you often see creators supporting email, retargeting, or website testing efforts as well.

How SmartSites tends to run campaigns

Influencer efforts here often start with your overall traffic and sales goals. They look at where you can win quickly, then plug creators into that picture.

For example, they might:

• Identify social channels that already send your best converting traffic
• Find creators with audiences similar to your existing customers
• Use influencer content in paid social tests to see what drives cheaper clicks
• Adjust landing pages or offers once creator traffic starts coming in

This approach can feel structured. If you like organization, shared dashboards from other services, and monthly reviews, this rhythm often fits.

Creator relationships and brand fit at SmartSites

Instead of being a talent agency with a closed roster, SmartSites usually sources creators per campaign. That means you can tap new voices in your niche without being locked into a static list.

They often work well with brands that care about measurable results, including:

• Ecommerce brands wanting more sales from social traffic
• Service businesses generating booked consultations or demos
• Local or regional brands building awareness with tight budgets

If you already invest in search ads, social ads, or website optimization, the way SmartSites layers influencer work over existing channels can feel very natural.

The Digital Dept for influencer work

The Digital Dept is usually seen as a creative leaning partner that focuses hard on content quality and storytelling through influencers. Instead of folding everything into a big digital plan, they often start with the social story first.

Services you can usually expect from The Digital Dept

The Digital Dept typically focuses on:

• Influencer casting and vetting for brand fit and creative style
• Concept development for social series, launches, and seasonal pushes
• Close creative direction for content formats, hooks, and angles
• Usage rights and content repurposing for ads or brand channels
• Campaign recaps that lean on engagement, reach, and content quality

Their work often feels like a bridge between a small creative studio and an influencer manager.

How The Digital Dept tends to run campaigns

They often start from questions like “What story does this brand need to tell right now?” and “Which voices would tell it in the most authentic way?”

From there, the process usually involves:

• Reviewing your current social presence and brand guidelines
• Shortlisting creators whose tone and values match yours
• Working with influencers on creative angles rather than strict scripts
• Planning content drops around key dates, events, and launches

The goal is to create content that fits naturally on each creator’s feed while still moving your brand forward.

Creator relationships and brand fit at The Digital Dept

The Digital Dept often relies on strong personal ties with creators and a sharp eye for style. They may lean toward smaller, engaged audiences or niche communities, depending on your goals.

They can be a strong match for brands that care about:

• Visual identity and brand voice on social media
• Story driven launches and product reveals
• Long term creator relationships instead of one off posts

If you see influencers as part of your brand’s long term creative family, their style can be especially appealing.

How their styles and focus differ

This is where the comparison between SmartSites vs The Digital Dept shows the clearest contrast. Their services overlap, but the feel of working with each can be quite different.

Approach and mindset

SmartSites views influencer work as one lever among many to grow traffic and sales. You are likely to see lots of talk about testing, conversion, and performance.

The Digital Dept tends to start from content and culture. You may hear more about storytelling, creative mood boards, and making sure each piece feels genuine.

Scale and structure

SmartSites is often built for larger or more complex accounts that need several channels handled at once. Their structure can absorb frequent reporting and clear performance targets.

The Digital Dept often suits brands wanting more flexibility in creative direction and less layers between you and the people making the work.

Client experience and involvement

With SmartSites, you may have:

• Account managers who coordinate across channels
• Regular review calls focused on numbers and next steps
• Processes that feel similar to working with a media agency

With The Digital Dept, you may notice:

• More direct conversations around creative ideas and aesthetics
• Frequent feedback loops with you and the creators
• A focus on what content will feel right to the audience

Neither style is automatically better. The right choice depends on how you like to work and what you expect from an influencer partner.

Pricing approach and how they work with you

Both agencies usually avoid rigid public price lists. Instead, they scope work based on your needs, timelines, and creator mix.

How influencer budgets usually break down

When working with a full service partner, your total cost often includes:

• Influencer fees, including usage rights and content deliverables
• Agency time for strategy, outreach, and negotiations
• Campaign management and creator communication
• Reporting and optimization during and after the campaign

There may also be extra costs for paid amplification or whitelisting, depending on your plan.

SmartSites pricing tendencies

SmartSites often works inside larger monthly retainers that cover several digital channels. Influencers may be a line within that, or part of a project based scope for launches.

Factors that usually influence pricing include:

• How many creators you need and on which platforms
• Expected content volume and formats
• How deeply influencer work ties into broader performance campaigns

The Digital Dept pricing tendencies

The Digital Dept may quote based on specific campaigns or retained creative and influencer support. The emphasis is often on the level of creative direction and how many pieces of content are produced.

Cost usually shifts with:

• Creator tier and audience size
• Complexity of concepts and production
• Length of relationships and number of waves or drops

Strengths and limitations to keep in mind

Every agency has strong points and tradeoffs. It helps to see these clearly before you commit.

SmartSites strengths

• Integrates influencers with paid search, paid social, and web optimization
• Good for brands that are heavily performance and metrics focused
• Processes that can support multi channel marketing calendars
• Ability to reuse influencer content in ads and landing page tests

SmartSites limitations

• May feel structured or corporate for brands wanting highly experimental content
• Influencer work could feel like one part of a machine, not always the central focus
• Smaller brands might find full retainers tough to justify at early stages

Many brands quietly worry they will feel like a small fish at larger agencies if influencer work is not their biggest channel.

The Digital Dept strengths

• Strong focus on creative quality and audience friendly storytelling
• Good for brands wanting consistent look and feel across creator content
• Closer ties with creators, which can help with long term partners
• Flexible concepts that can adapt as trends shift on social platforms

The Digital Dept limitations

• May be less integrated into search and performance heavy channels
• Reporting may lean more on engagement than deep funnel data
• Brands expecting strict performance dashboards could feel under served

Who each agency is usually best for

Seeing which real world situations favor each partner can make your choice easier.

When SmartSites is usually the better fit

• Mid market or scaling ecommerce brands with existing ad spend
• Service businesses driving leads across search, social, and email
• Teams that value one partner running several digital channels
• Marketing leaders judged by revenue, return on ad spend, and cost per lead

When The Digital Dept is usually the better fit

• Brands that see social content as their main brand touchpoint
• Consumer products that rely on lifestyle storytelling and visual identity
• Founders and marketers who want to be close to the creative process
• Teams that prioritize long term creator relationships and brand love

When a platform like Flinque makes more sense

Sometimes neither agency style is ideal. You may want control, but not big retainers. This is where a dedicated influencer platform can help.

Flinque is one such option. It is a software based alternative that lets brands discover creators, manage outreach, and track campaigns without fully outsourcing everything.

You might lean toward a platform when:

• Your budget is tight but you have team time to manage relationships
• You want to test influencers before committing to long term agency contracts
• You prefer to own your data and creator list directly
• Your team already feels comfortable running social and email internally

This approach works especially well for younger brands or lean teams that still want structure around creator work, but not full white glove management just yet.

FAQs

How do I know if an agency really understands my audience?

Ask for examples in your niche, request to see previous creator work, and see how they talk about your customers after a short briefing. A good partner will quickly mirror your language and understand your buyers’ daily life.

Should I expect guaranteed sales from influencer campaigns?

No agency can honestly guarantee sales, but they should set realistic expectations and track clear actions like sign ups, site visits, or add to cart events. Over time, those signals help guide which creators you keep working with.

Is it better to work with a few big influencers or many smaller ones?

It depends on goals and budget. Bigger names can deliver fast reach and social proof, while many smaller creators often drive deeper trust and higher engagement. Some brands mix both to balance awareness and conversions.

How long should I commit to an influencer partner?

Plan for at least three to six months so you can test, learn, and refine. One off campaigns can work, but steady collaboration usually reveals which creators truly move the needle for your brand.

Can I use influencer content in my ads and on my website?

Often yes, but only if your contracts clearly include usage rights for paid ads or owned channels. Talk about content rights early so there is no confusion or extra surprise fees later.

Conclusion: choosing the right partner

Your choice comes down to how you see influencers fitting into your growth plan. If you want creators tied closely to performance channels, SmartSites may feel like a natural extension of your current marketing.

If you see social storytelling and creator relationships as the heart of your brand, The Digital Dept may match that vision better. If budgets are tighter and your team is hands on, a platform like Flinque could be the most flexible path.

List your must haves, your nice to haves, and your deal breakers. Then speak with each option and notice who truly listens, asks useful questions, and reflects your brand’s voice back to you. That fit often matters more than any single case study.

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.