The Digital Dept vs August United

Why brands look at these two influencer partners

When brands compare The Digital Dept vs August United, they are usually choosing between two different flavors of influencer help rather than a simple “better or worse” choice.

Both are influencer marketing agencies, but they lean into different strengths, styles, and ways of working with creators and in‑house teams.

Most marketers want clarity on three things: what each agency actually does day to day, what type of brands they fit best, and what working together looks like over months, not just during a launch.

Table of Contents

• What each agency is known for
• Inside The Digital Dept approach
• Inside the August United approach
• How these agencies differ in style and focus
• Pricing approach and how work is scoped
• Strengths and limitations to keep in mind
• Who each agency is best for
• When a platform like Flinque can be a better fit
• FAQs
• Conclusion: choosing the right partner for your brand
• Disclaimer

What each agency is known for

The primary keyword here is influencer agency comparison, and in this case it is between two established players with slightly different reputations.

Both agencies focus on creator driven campaigns, but they stand out in different ways, from the types of clients they attract to how hands on they are with content and strategy.

Reputation and positioning at a glance

While details shift over time, each agency tends to be associated with a distinct personality and way of doing things.

• The Digital Dept is often seen as more nimble, digital native, and flexible with emerging platforms and content formats.
• August United is often described as polished, brand centric, and comfortable supporting larger, more complex organizations.

Both support full campaign work, from planning and creator sourcing through reporting, but they may prioritize different steps along the way.

Inside The Digital Dept approach

The Digital Dept typically positions itself as a modern, creator forward agency that leans heavily into social platforms, cultural moments, and rapid testing.

Brands that want speed and experimentation often gravitate here, especially if they care about short form video, social storytelling, and performance driven creator work.

Services brands usually tap into

Exact offerings change, but services often fall into familiar buckets that matter for most marketing teams.

• Influencer discovery and vetting based on audience, content style, and brand fit
• End to end campaign planning tied to launches, seasons, or always on activity
• Content guidance so creators stay on brand without sounding scripted
• Usage rights and content repurposing for ads, email, and site creative
• Reporting that highlights views, clicks, engagement, and quality of content

Many brands also look to them for help coordinating creators with paid social, so standout content can be amplified as ads.

How they tend to run campaigns

Campaigns with this type of shop usually feel fast paced and collaborative, with plenty of room for creators to shape ideas.

They may emphasize testing different concepts and creators early, then pushing more budget behind what works best on each channel.

There is often a strong focus on creative angles that feel native to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, rather than traditional “influencer posts.”

Creator relationships and network style

Instead of operating as a closed talent roster, they commonly work with a mix of existing partners and new creators sourced per brief.

This can be helpful if you want fresh faces, niche audiences, or very specific content styles for each campaign.

For some brands, this approach feels more flexible than working with a tightly curated but limited internal roster.

Typical client fit

This agency model usually suits brands that move quickly and are eager to test new creative and platforms.

• Growing DTC and ecommerce brands trying to scale with creator content
• Consumer apps and SaaS products that rely on performance focused campaigns
• Mid market companies that want agile partners rather than large holding company structures

Teams that prefer detailed playbooks and rigid approvals may need to lean into more trust and creative freedom to get the best outcomes.

Inside the August United approach

August United is generally associated with big picture brand storytelling, more formal processes, and campaigns that slot smoothly into broader marketing plans.

They usually highlight long term brand building, integrated ideas, and carefully curated creator partnerships that can run for multiple waves or seasons.

Services most brands ask for

Again, details evolve, but their support commonly spans several core areas that larger organizations expect.

• Influencer strategy aligned with overall brand and media plans
• Campaign concepting tied into TV, digital, events, or shopper programs
• Creator sourcing with an eye on brand safety and long term alignment
• Contracts, approvals, and compliance, especially for regulated categories
• Measurement that can report back to senior stakeholders and cross functional teams

They often act as a bridge between internal brand teams, legal, PR, and external media agencies to keep everything coordinated.

Campaign style and process

Campaigns with this type of agency tend to be more structured, with clear phases and approval points.

Ideas are usually built to last beyond a single post or trend, with narrative themes that can carry through multiple channels and quarters.

This can be reassuring for brands that must align influencer content tightly with corporate messaging, brand voice, and long term positioning.

How they work with creators

August United typically treats creators like long term brand partners rather than one off vendors.

That can mean deeper onboarding, clearer expectations, and more thoughtful collaboration, especially for your primary brand ambassadors.

For brands looking to build recurring relationships with the same core set of voices, this can be a strong advantage.

Typical client fit

This style of shop often pairs best with more established or complex organizations.

• Mid sized and enterprise consumer brands needing tight alignment with other marketing efforts
• Companies in regulated spaces that require strict message oversight
• Brands that value long term creator programs over short term experiments

If your internal team is lean and prefers a highly guided, structured process, this approach may feel particularly comfortable.

How these agencies differ in style and focus

On paper both partners deliver influencer campaigns, but the day to day experience can feel quite different once you are in the work.

Understanding these differences upfront can save you from mismatched expectations or the wrong level of structure.

Approach to ideas and creative control

The Digital Dept tends to lean more into experimentation and creator led concepts, often trying several angles quickly to see what resonates.

August United is more likely to anchor ideas in a top level brand narrative, then layer creator content under that umbrella.

Neither approach is “better,” but they fit different comfort levels for brand teams and legal partners.

Scale and complexity of work

A nimble team may be ideal if your campaigns are frequent, scrappy, and driven by performance metrics and creative tests.

A more established, process heavy partner can shine when you manage multiple stakeholders, countries, or regulatory constraints.

Consider your organizational reality, not just your creative ambitions, when choosing between the two.

Client experience and communication

With a more agile team, you may communicate quickly and often, iterating in real time as results come in.

With a more structured shop, you may see defined touchpoints, formal check ins, and slide based updates for leadership.

Think about whether your leadership style prefers fast chats and quick pivots or thorough decks and clear milestones.

Pricing approach and how work is scoped

Neither of these agencies typically sells neat “packages” the way a software product would.

Instead, fees are usually built around your goals, the number of creators, and the depth of services you need across planning, management, and reporting.

Common pricing elements both may use

While every proposal is customized, you can expect several recurring components that affect cost.

• Strategy or upfront planning fees for research, briefs, and creative concepts
• Campaign management covering outreach, negotiations, and day to day coordination
• Creator fees paid directly to influencers, often the largest budget portion
• Content production support if you need extra assets, editing, or shoot help
• Optional add ons like paid amplification, whitelisting, or extra reporting

You may see either one off campaign pricing or an ongoing retainer with multiple waves throughout the year.

How pricing style may differ

A more agile agency may be open to smaller test campaigns or phased rollouts that grow over time.

A more established, brand heavy partner may steer you toward larger, integrated programs that justify deeper strategic work.

In both cases, your budget range will strongly influence the scope of creators, content volume, and channels in play.

Strengths and limitations to keep in mind

Every influencer partner, no matter how strong, comes with tradeoffs. Looking at both sides honestly is important before signing anything.

Where a nimble influencer shop shines

• Faster speed to market when reacting to trends or sudden opportunities
• Greater flexibility to test new platforms or creator formats without heavy process
• Potentially lower minimums or smaller pilot programs for growing brands
• Closer alignment with performance metrics and creative experimentation

Some marketers worry that too much agility can feel chaotic without clear internal roles and expectations.

Where a structured, brand led agency excels

• Comfortable navigating approvals across legal, PR, and brand teams
• Better suited to cross channel programs tied to TV, retail, or events
• Strong fit for long term creator partnerships and ambassador programs
• Reporting tailored for leadership and cross functional visibility

The tradeoff can be less flexibility to pivot quickly once programs are in motion, especially at large scale.

Common limitations both may share

• You are relying on their creator recommendations and data sources.
• You pay management fees on top of creator costs.
• You may not own all relationships if you later move work in house.

Clarify how much access you will have to creator lists, performance data, and learnings once an engagement ends.

Who each agency is best for

Thinking in terms of “fit” instead of “winner” usually leads to better decisions and smoother partnerships.

When a nimble, digital first agency makes sense

• Early stage and growth brands that need to move quickly with lean teams
• Marketing leaders comfortable with testing, learning, and iterating fast
• Brands heavily focused on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and performance content
• Teams willing to give creators real freedom within clear brand boundaries

When a structured, brand centric partner fits better

• Established brands with strict legal, brand, and compliance needs
• Companies running multi channel launches where influencer work must integrate cleanly
• Marketing teams that value polished decks, timelines, and process maps
• Organizations planning multi year creator programs, not just one offs

If you see yourself across both lists, consider starting with a pilot and assessing which style feels more natural for your culture.

When a platform like Flinque can be a better fit

Sometimes the real question is not which full service agency to pick, but whether you need an agency at all for certain parts of your influencer work.

What a platform based option offers

Flinque, for example, is built as a platform alternative rather than an agency.

Instead of paying ongoing retainers, you use software to discover creators, manage outreach, and track campaigns with your own team.

This can be appealing if you want more direct control, already have internal social talent, or need to stretch budget further.

When a platform may make more sense

• You have a small but capable in house marketing or social team.
• You want to build direct creator relationships you own long term.
• Your budget can’t support full service fees plus influencer costs.
• You’re comfortable learning a tool and building repeatable processes.

A hybrid approach is also common, using agencies for big, high stakes launches and a platform for ongoing always on seeding.

FAQs

How do I choose the right influencer agency for my brand?

Start with your goals, budget, and team capacity. Decide how much structure you want, how fast you need to move, and whether brand storytelling or direct performance matters more. Then speak with each agency about specific campaigns you envision.

Can smaller brands work with these agencies?

Some smaller brands can, especially if they bring clear goals and realistic budgets. Agencies may tailor scopes or start with pilots, but you still need enough budget to cover creator fees plus management costs.

Should I hire an agency or build an internal influencer team?

If you need speed and expertise right away, agencies are often faster. If influencer work will be central to your marketing for years, building internal skills plus a platform may pay off. Many brands do both over time.

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

Most brands see initial signals within weeks of launch, but strong results usually come after multiple waves. Expect at least one to three months for learning and optimization, and longer for brand lift or long term loyalty.

What should I ask during agency discovery calls?

Ask about recent campaigns similar to your goals, how they choose creators, how they measure success, and who will actually manage your account. Clarify pricing structure, minimums, and how they handle changes mid campaign.

Conclusion: choosing the right partner for your brand

Both agencies bring real strengths to the table. The right choice depends far more on your goals, internal resources, and risk tolerance than on any generic ranking.

If you crave agility and creative experimentation, a nimble partner may feel right. If you need structure, alignment, and long term creator programs, a more brand centric shop may fit better.

Consider also whether part of your work could move onto a platform like Flinque, especially if you want to own relationships and processes internally.

Whichever route you take, push for clarity on scope, communication style, and success metrics before you sign. That alignment matters more than any single campaign idea.

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.