Stargazer vs IMA

Why brands weigh up different influencer marketing agencies

If you’re comparing Stargazer and IMA, you’re likely trying to figure out which partner will actually move the needle for your brand. You’re not just hunting for reach; you want real sales, trusted voices, and a team that understands your niche.

Most marketers ask the same questions. Who really understands my audience? Who can handle everything from creator outreach to reporting? Who will be transparent about costs and results?

This is where a focus on influencer agency services becomes important. Both teams work with creators, but the way they build campaigns, report performance, and choose partners can feel very different once you are inside a contract.

What these agencies are known for

Both agencies built their names around influencer campaigns, but they sit in slightly different spaces. One tends to lean toward performance and creator-led content production, while the other is often associated with polished brand partnerships and global collaborations.

They share common ground. Both help brands plan campaigns, find and brief creators, manage content approvals, and report results. Most clients come to them to reach new customers across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and sometimes newer channels.

Where they part ways is in emphasis. Some marketers see one as more performance and creator economy driven, while the other feels like a classic partner for brand storytelling and long-term ambassador work. Your choice often comes down to how you define success.

Stargazer: services and style

Stargazer is generally viewed as a full service influencer agency with a strong digital focus. Many brands tap them when they want creator-led content that can live across social and paid media, not just a one-off post.

Core services you can expect

While offerings can shift over time, brands typically look to this team for end to end help. That usually includes planning, creator selection, campaign execution, and measurement for social channels where short and mid form video dominate.

• Influencer sourcing across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other major platforms
• Campaign planning, creative concepts, and content briefs
• Contracting, creator payments, and content approvals
• Content repurposing for ads or brand channels where relevant
• Reporting and optimization across multiple flights or waves

Some brands also ask them to support user generated style content, where creators produce assets that function more like ad creatives than classic sponsored posts.

How Stargazer tends to run campaigns

The agency usually acts as a hands on partner. You lean on them to manage creators day to day, keep posts on schedule, and deal with common issues like missed deadlines or edits.

Campaigns often start with a clear outline of target audience, key messages, required deliverables, and platforms. From there, the team will shortlist creators who match your goals and negotiate the scope.

Most communication with creators stays centralized, which can save time for lean marketing teams. You may be involved in final approvals and top level strategy, while the agency handles details.

Creator relationships and talent style

Stargazer usually works with a wide mix of creators rather than just a small managed roster. That can be helpful when you need a lot of content at scale or niche creators across different verticals.

Expect a mix of mid tier and smaller influencers alongside select larger names, depending on your budget. Many campaigns blend different tiers to balance cost, credibility, and reach.

Because the creator pool is broad, your brand’s fit depends heavily on the briefing process. Clear audience and brand safety guidelines are key so the agency can filter talent correctly.

Typical client fit

Brands that lean toward Stargazer often share a few traits. They care about measurable outcomes, want a partner comfortable in digital performance environments, and are open to experimenting with creator driven formats.

• Direct to consumer brands that rely on online sales
• Apps, gaming, or subscription services seeking user growth
• Challenger consumer brands that want thumb stopping content
• Marketing teams that prefer a done for you style partner

If you are comfortable letting creators interpret your brief in their own voice, and you value having many pieces of content to test, this kind of agency may feel natural.

IMA: services and style

IMA is typically known for well structured influencer programs and brand collaborations that feel more polished. Many marketers see them as a good fit for lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and brands with a strong visual identity.

Core services you can expect

Like most full service influencer partners, IMA normally supports the full life cycle of a campaign. That covers strategy, talent sourcing, execution, and reporting, with an emphasis on quality and brand alignment.

• Influencer strategy and creative direction
• Talent discovery, vetting, and outreach
• Contract negotiations and usage rights
• Campaign management and logistics
• Reporting on reach, engagement, and brand outcomes

Some collaborations may include events, product seeding, or longer ambassador programs where creators represent the brand over months or seasons.

How IMA tends to run campaigns

Campaigns often start with a strong concept that ties into your brand’s overall story. The team may present mood boards, content angles, and sample creator fits before you green light execution.

Once the direction is set, they coordinate content calendars, briefings, and approvals. You can expect structured timelines and detailed tracking of deliverables, especially for cross market efforts.

Brands often lean on IMA when they want the influencer work to feel fully integrated with other marketing, not like an add on tactic.

Creator relationships and talent style

IMA usually focuses on creators who embody particular lifestyles or aesthetics that fit their clients. That often means a strong presence on Instagram and TikTok, with carefully curated feeds and engaged communities.

You may see more emphasis on fashion, beauty, travel, or premium lifestyle categories, though this can vary. The goal is to match your brand with voices that feel aspirational yet relatable.

Because the focus is on alignment, you can expect deeper vetting on image, tone, and historical content, especially for sensitive or prestige brands.

Typical client fit

Brands that feel drawn to IMA often have strong brand guidelines and care deeply about visuals and storytelling. They may be less focused on immediate performance metrics and more on image, awareness, and long term affinity.

• Fashion and luxury brands seeking consistent image
• Beauty and personal care companies
• Travel, hospitality, and lifestyle brands
• Established consumer brands rolling out multi country projects

If you want influencer work that looks like a seamless extension of your existing campaigns, and you value carefully managed brand presentation, this style of agency can work well.

How the two agencies really differ

On the surface, both partners plan and run influencer campaigns. The differences show up in emphasis, culture, and the types of briefs they excel at handling.

One key difference is how heavily each side leans into performance versus brand building. Stargazer is often associated with creator content that feeds into paid media and measurable growth, while IMA tends to be linked to storytelling and brand equity.

Their creator networks also feel different. Stargazer may work with a broader long tail of creators to generate volume and testing options. IMA may invest more in handpicked matches that align tightly with a brand’s aesthetic and values.

From a client experience standpoint, you might feel more experimentation and iteration with one, and more curated, campaign like rollouts with the other. Neither is better by default; it depends what you need right now.

If your leadership team asks daily for cost per acquisition numbers, you may lean one way. If they care more about brand perception and how campaigns look in board decks, you might lean the other.

Pricing and how they work with you

Neither of these partners publishes rigid one size fits all prices, because every campaign depends on scope, creator tiers, and regions. Expect custom quotes tied to your goals and budget.

Usually, cost breaks down into two big parts. First, the money that goes directly to creators and content production. Second, the agency’s fee for strategy, management, and reporting.

Influencer budgets cover things like creator fees, usage rights, possible whitelisting rights, and sometimes event or travel costs. These numbers rise quickly with large talent or cross market coverage.

Agency fees may be structured as a percentage of media and talent spend, flat project fees, or monthly retainers for ongoing programs. High touch management, global coordination, and tight timelines usually increase the fee.

Many brands start with a pilot project to test fit, then move into longer term relationships once they are confident in the working style, reporting, and impact on their goals.

Strengths and limitations of each agency

Every partner shines in some areas and feels less ideal in others. Understanding both sides helps avoid mismatched expectations and frustration later.

Where Stargazer often shines

• Comfortable running campaigns that tie closely to online sales or app metrics
• Good for brands that want lots of creative assets to test and learn from
• Skilled at managing multiple creators and deliverables at the same time
• Helpful for challenger brands pushing into crowded digital markets

A common concern is whether high volume content will still feel fully on brand. Solving that usually comes down to clear guidelines, assets, and hands on approvals during early waves.

Where Stargazer can feel less ideal

• If your brand needs extremely tight visual control on every frame
• If leadership cares more about legacy media feel than creator led styles
• When your priority is a small number of very high profile ambassadors

Where IMA often shines

• Aligning creators with strong lifestyle and aesthetic fit
• Developing cohesive brand stories across influencers and markets
• Handling premium or sensitive brands that require careful image control
• Running multi country or multi wave ambassador style programs

Brands sometimes worry that polished campaigns may feel less “real” to everyday consumers. Balancing aspirational content with genuine creator voices is key here.

Where IMA can feel less ideal

• If your main goal is direct response performance and constant testing
• When you need a very high volume of content quickly
• If your budget is modest and you must stretch every dollar

Who each agency suits best

Both agencies can work across industries, but certain patterns appear again and again. Thinking about your internal reality will make the decision easier.

When Stargazer is likely the better match

• Your brand sells mainly online and tracks sales or installs closely.
• You want scalable creator programs rather than a few hero faces.
• Your team is small and needs heavy execution support.
• You are comfortable letting creators add their own spin to your brief.

This path also suits marketers who plan to repurpose creator content into ads across platforms like Meta, YouTube, or TikTok.

When IMA is likely the better match

• Your brand identity and visuals are central to your value.
• You are planning brand campaigns, launches, or seasonal pushes.
• You care deeply about long term relationships with fewer creators.
• You want influencer activity tightly aligned with other campaigns.

If your leadership asks, “Will this look like us?” more often than “How many conversions did we get yesterday?” then this type of partner may feel more aligned.

When a platform like Flinque makes more sense

Not every brand needs a full service agency. Some marketers prefer more control, especially if they already have in house social or creator managers who understand the space.

Flinque is a platform option that helps brands discover influencers, manage outreach, and run campaigns without committing to large agency retainers. You keep ownership of relationships and oversee daily interactions.

This can work well if your team is comfortable handling briefs, contracts, and approvals, but just needs better tools and data to do it efficiently at scale.

Choosing a platform rather than an agency typically suits brands that want to build in house capability, stretch budget further, and move quickly, while still tapping structured discovery and workflow features.

If you are unsure whether you need full service help or a platform, consider how much of the work you realistically can and want to own internally over the next year.

FAQs

How should I brief an influencer agency for the first time?

Share your target audience, key products, main goals, preferred platforms, budget range, and examples of content you like. Clear guardrails on brand safety, messaging, and visuals help the agency suggest the right creators and structure for your campaigns.

How long does it take to launch a campaign with these agencies?

Timelines vary, but many campaigns take four to eight weeks from briefing to the first posts going live. Complex or multi country activations can take longer due to creator contracts, approvals, and coordination across time zones.

Can I work directly with creators as well as through the agency?

Usually, yes, but terms depend on your contract. Some agreements limit direct outreach during the engagement. Clarify ownership of relationships, future usage rights, and whether you can continue working with creators independently later.

How do I know if an agency is delivering real value?

Look beyond vanity metrics. Track performance against goals like sales, sign ups, brand lift, or content quality. Check reporting transparency, responsiveness, and whether learnings from early waves are shaping later activity meaningfully.

Is a platform cheaper than an agency for influencer work?

Platforms are usually more budget friendly for ongoing work because you pay mainly for software and creators, not full service fees. However, you must factor in internal staffing costs, expertise, and the time required to manage campaigns yourself.

Conclusion: choosing the right fit

Choosing between these influencer partners is less about who is “better” and more about what you need right now. Your goals, budget, and internal resources should drive the decision.

If you want performance focused, scalable creator content and heavy execution support, a team like Stargazer can be a strong ally. If you care most about polished storytelling and brand image, IMA’s style may feel closer to home.

For brands with experienced internal teams, a platform route like Flinque can offer control and efficiency without the cost of full service management. You keep strategy and relationships in house while using software to stay organized.

Start by writing a simple one page brief about your goals, constraints, and success metrics. Use that as a lens when speaking with each partner so you can quickly see who actually understands your needs.

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.