Why brands weigh up different influencer marketing partners
Choosing an influencer marketing partner can feel risky. You are trusting an outside team with your brand voice, your money, and your relationships with creators.
When marketers compare agencies like SociallyIn and Goldfish, they usually want clear answers on fit, cost, and day‑to‑day working style.
Table of Contents
- What these agencies are known for
- Inside SociallyIn’s approach
- Inside Goldfish’s approach
- How the two agencies differ
- Pricing approach and engagement style
- Strengths and limitations on both sides
- Who each agency is best for
- When a platform like Flinque makes more sense
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
What these agencies are known for
The primary keyword for this page is influencer agency comparison, because that is what most marketers are really searching for when looking at these two names side by side.
Both SociallyIn and Goldfish are best understood as service based influencer partners, not software tools. They help brands plan, run, and optimize creator campaigns from start to finish.
In broad strokes, SociallyIn is often linked to creative social media content and performance driven influencer work. Goldfish is typically associated with curated creator relationships and brand storytelling across platforms.
Brands usually compare them to understand three things: how hands on the agencies are, what kind of creators they bring to the table, and how flexible they are with budgets and timelines.
Inside SociallyIn’s approach
SociallyIn is widely known as a social media focused agency that includes influencer work as part of a wider content and community offering. Many clients come to them when they want more than one‑off influencer posts.
The team tends to focus on creative concepts, multi‑format content, and tying influencer activity back to broader social media strategy.
Services SociallyIn typically offers
While exact services can change over time, SociallyIn often highlights a mix of social and creator offerings that may include:
- Influencer campaign planning and management
- Social media content production for TikTok, Instagram, and more
- Community management and engagement
- Paid social support to boost creator content
- Reporting around reach, engagement, and conversions
Brands that prefer one partner handling both owned social channels and influencer efforts often feel drawn to this bundled style of service.
How SociallyIn runs influencer campaigns
SociallyIn’s style tends to lean into concepts and storytelling. They often start with a clear campaign idea, then plug in creators who can bring that idea to life.
This might look like TikTok series, themed content weeks, or coordinated campaigns across several creators posting within the same time frame.
They usually handle outreach, brief writing, coordination, content review, and reporting so your in‑house team can focus on approvals and feedback rather than chasing details.
Creator relationships and talent style
Agencies like SociallyIn usually keep their own pools of trusted creators plus broader outreach. They may not position themselves as a strict “talent agency,” but as a brand side partner focused on matching creators to goals.
Expect a mix of micro influencers, mid‑tier voices, and sometimes bigger names depending on budget and industry.
Because of their social media roots, they may lean slightly more into creators who are strong at video, short form content, and native platform trends rather than purely blog or long‑form creators.
Typical client fit for SociallyIn
SociallyIn tends to appeal to brands that want influencer activity woven tightly into their everyday social presence.
- Consumer brands wanting always‑on content, not just seasonal bursts
- Companies wanting one partner for social media and influencer work
- Teams that care about platform‑native content and trends
- Marketers looking for creative concepts backed by clear reporting
They are often a match for marketing teams that want to be involved in direction but prefer not to manage creators directly.
Inside Goldfish’s approach
Goldfish is commonly talked about in the context of curated influencer partnerships and campaigns that feel a bit more boutique.
Instead of positioning themselves as a broad social media firm, they often put creator collaborations and brand storytelling front and center.
Services Goldfish is usually associated with
While details depend on their current offer, agencies working under the Goldfish name typically highlight services such as:
- Influencer discovery and vetting
- Campaign strategy and creative direction
- Contracting and negotiation with creators
- Content review, approvals, and posting coordination
- Measurement of campaign performance and insights
This can feel more like a dedicated influencer shop than a wider social media agency, especially for brands whose main goal is creator collaboration.
How Goldfish tends to manage campaigns
Goldfish style agencies often start with brand positioning and audience fit. They spend time matching the right voices to your message, not only chasing big follower numbers.
You can expect hands‑on help with creative ideas, messaging, and ensuring each creator understands your non‑negotiables before content goes live.
Campaigns may run as one‑time pushes for launches, product drops, or seasonal moments, or expand into long‑term partnerships as brands see returns.
Creator relationships and network
Where SociallyIn feels closer to a social content studio, Goldfish branded agencies often highlight personal relationships with creators and managers.
This can matter if you want talent that truly lives your niche, such as beauty, fitness, gaming, parenting, or finance.
Goldfish often emphasizes brand alignment and authenticity, trying to avoid placements that feel forced or obviously scripted.
Typical client fit for Goldfish
Goldfish tends to attract brands that view influencer marketing as a key pillar of their overall marketing mix rather than a side channel.
- Consumer brands planning multiple creator campaigns per year
- Companies with strong brand identity seeking the “right” voices
- Marketers with specific audience segments to reach
- Teams who care deeply about long‑term creator partnerships
They can suit both emerging and established brands, especially those ready to invest in deeper creator relationships.
How the two agencies differ
Even though both agencies sit in the same broad space, their emphasis and feel can be quite different in practice.
Focus of services
SociallyIn usually feels like a full social media partner with influencer marketing built into a wider content and community plan.
Goldfish tends to sit closer to a dedicated influencer shop, emphasizing creator sourcing, relationship building, and tailored storytelling for each brand.
This difference matters if you want one partner for everything versus a team focused tightly on creators.
Approach to creativity and content
SociallyIn often leads with campaign concepts and platform‑native ideas. The creators then help execute those concepts across short form video, stories, and static posts.
Goldfish is more commonly associated with creators’ own storytelling styles. They may encourage influencers to interpret brand messages in ways that feel natural to their audiences.
In simple terms, one may feel more like “brand driven creative,” while the other feels more “creator‑driven storytelling.”
Client experience and communication
With SociallyIn, you may experience tighter integration with your social calendars, content production, and community goals.
With Goldfish, you may notice more emphasis on talent matchmaking, negotiations, and maintaining strong creator ties over time.
In both cases you should expect a dedicated point of contact, regular updates, and wrap reports, but the conversations can focus on slightly different levers.
Pricing approach and engagement style
Neither of these agencies sells off‑the‑shelf software seats. Instead, they usually build custom proposals around your goals, platforms, and budget.
How agencies like SociallyIn typically charge
SociallyIn often works on ongoing retainers when handling social media plus influencers, or on project based fees for specific campaigns.
Common cost drivers include:
- Number of platforms and content volumes they manage
- How many creators are involved, and their size
- Whether paid social amplification is included
- Depth of reporting and creative production
Your monthly investment will usually blend agency management fees with creator payments and any ad spend you allocate.
How agencies like Goldfish usually quote
Goldfish tends to quote campaign by campaign or via retainers if you plan a steady stream of influencer work.
Pricing often revolves around:
- Type and volume of creator content
- Influencer fee levels and usage rights you need
- Number of creators and platforms per campaign
- How involved their team is in creative direction and reporting
Expect custom quotes rather than fixed packages, especially when negotiating content usage beyond social channels, like paid ads or website use.
What impacts total cost with both
Regardless of which agency you choose, similar factors drive pricing:
- Creator tier: nano and micro cost less than celebrity names
- Content type: video and complex shoots cost more than simple posts
- Usage: the more rights and longer terms you want, the higher the fees
- Speed: rush timelines can carry added costs
*A common concern for brands is not knowing what a “fair” creator fee looks like until they start getting quotes.*
Strengths and limitations on both sides
Every agency has trade‑offs. The best fit for one brand may not be the best for another.
Where SociallyIn tends to shine
- Strong alignment between influencer campaigns and overall social strategy
- Ability to produce content and manage communities alongside creator work
- Comfort with short form, trend driven platforms like TikTok and Reels
- Useful for brands wanting ongoing, always‑on activity
The flip side is that some brands mainly seeking pure influencer expertise may feel the broader social focus is more than they need.
Where SociallyIn may fall short for some brands
- Less ideal if you only want rare, one‑off campaigns
- May feel too social‑media heavy for brands focused on PR style placements
- Not always the best match for teams wanting to manage creators in‑house
Brands craving a purely influencer centric partner might find a more specialized agency a closer match.
Where Goldfish often stands out
- Clear focus on influencer matchmaking and relationship building
- Good fit when authenticity and niche audience fit are top priorities
- Strong if you want deeper partnerships, not just transactional posts
- Helpful for brands with multiple campaigns mapped across the year
This style can be reassuring if you worry about misaligned creators or tone‑deaf content.
Where Goldfish might feel limiting
- Less emphasis on running your entire social media presence
- May require separate partners for paid media or organic channel management
- Not ideal if you prefer to own the creator relationships directly
Some marketers ultimately prefer more tools and data in‑house, with lighter agency help.
Who each agency is best for
Using broad strokes, here is how the client fit often breaks down between the two.
Best fit scenarios for SociallyIn
- Brands wanting one partner to run social content, community, and creators
- Teams that like a strong campaign concept before recruiting influencers
- Companies with ongoing content needs, not just launch spikes
- Marketers focusing heavily on TikTok, Instagram, or similar platforms
If your team is small and you want to outsource most of social execution, SociallyIn style support can be attractive.
Best fit scenarios for Goldfish
- Brands that define success primarily through influencer marketing
- Companies with clear brand positioning and niche audiences
- Teams aiming for deep, long‑term creator partnerships
- Marketers comfortable handling other channels separately
If your internal team already runs owned channels well but needs expert help with creators, a Goldfish style partner can slot neatly into that gap.
When a platform like Flinque makes more sense
Full service agencies are not the only way to run influencer campaigns. Some brands prefer more control, especially once they have basic processes in place.
This is where a platform like Flinque can be useful. Flinque is best thought of as a campaign and discovery platform, not a managed agency.
Why some brands choose a platform instead
- They want to discover and vet creators themselves
- They prefer direct relationships with influencers for the long term
- They have in‑house staff who can manage outreach and approvals
- They want to avoid ongoing agency retainers and markups
With a platform, you manage workflows, messaging, and reporting internally, while the software helps with search, organization, and tracking.
When an agency still makes more sense
Even with tools like Flinque, agencies are often the better choice when:
- Your team is too lean to handle day‑to‑day creator management
- You need expert creative direction and campaign design
- You want a partner accountable for full execution and results
Some brands end up with a hybrid: agencies for complex campaigns, and platforms for smaller, ongoing collaborations.
FAQs
How should I choose between these two influencer agencies?
Start with your main need. If you want combined social media and influencer support, SociallyIn style agencies often fit. If deep creator partnerships are your priority, a Goldfish type partner may be stronger. Then compare culture fit, budget, and reporting style.
Do I need a long contract to work with an influencer agency?
Not always. Many agencies offer project based engagements for launches or tests, as well as longer retainers for ongoing work. It is common to start with a smaller project first, then discuss a longer agreement if results look promising.
Can I still talk directly with creators if I use an agency?
Yes, but the level of direct contact varies. Some agencies prefer to coordinate everything, while others welcome brand‑creator chats once contracts are set. Clarify expectations about communication in your scope and contract before campaigns start.
What should I prepare before speaking with an influencer agency?
Have clarity on your goals, target audience, key platforms, budget range, and timelines. Bring any existing brand guidelines, success examples, and data from past campaigns. This helps the agency propose realistic strategies and pricing quickly.
Is a platform like Flinque cheaper than hiring an agency?
Platforms usually charge less than full service retainers, but you must factor in your team’s time. If you have people who can manage outreach and approvals, a platform can be cost effective. If not, agency support may be worth the extra spend.
Conclusion
Choosing between agencies like SociallyIn and Goldfish comes down to what you want most: blended social and influencer support, or a sharper focus on creator partnerships.
If you want one team running your social presence and influencer activity, SociallyIn style support can be compelling. If your main priority is carefully chosen creators and long‑term relationships, Goldfish type partners often fit better.
Consider how involved you want to be, how much internal capacity you have, and whether you prefer agency execution or more direct control via a platform like Flinque.
With clear goals, honest budget ranges, and the right questions, you can find a partner that feels less like a vendor and more like an extension of your team.
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
