The Digital Dept vs BEN

Why brands weigh up these influencer agencies

When brands start looking at influencer partners, they often end up comparing The Digital Dept vs BEN to understand which outfit better fits their goals, budgets, and timelines.

You are likely trying to figure out who actually drives real results, who understands creators best, and who will be easiest to work with day to day.

Both are known as influencer marketing agencies, but they bring different strengths, cultures, and styles of execution. The choice matters because it shapes how your brand shows up online, which creators you access, and how much control you keep over strategy.

• What each influencer agency is known for
• Inside The Digital Dept’s style and services
• Inside BEN’s style and services
• How the two agencies really differ
• Pricing style and how budgets are shaped
• Key strengths and real limitations
• Who each agency is best for
• When a platform like Flinque makes more sense
• FAQs
• Bringing it all together
• Disclaimer

What each influencer agency is known for

The primary keyword for this page is influencer agency comparison, because you are likely deciding which partner can actually move the needle for your brand.

The Digital Dept is generally seen as a creative-first influencer shop, more boutique in feel, often praised for hands-on work and nimble execution for brands that want custom campaigns.

BEN (often called BENlabs) is better known as a large, tech-enabled influencer and entertainment agency, with roots in product placement, AI-driven creator matching, and deep ties with YouTube and streaming talent.

While both run influencer campaigns, one tends to feel like a tightly focused team, the other like a bigger, data-heavy network with broad reach across platforms and media formats.

Inside The Digital Dept’s style and services

The Digital Dept operates more like a specialist shop, focusing on tailored influencer ideas, brand storytelling, and close collaboration with both clients and creators.

Core services you can expect

While packages vary by client, most brands will recognize a similar slate of services from this agency.

• Influencer strategy and channel planning
• Creator discovery and vetting
• Campaign creative and content briefs
• Negotiation, contracts, and coordination
• Content review and brand safety checks
• Reporting on reach, engagement, and key outcomes

Because the team is leaner, brands often feel more direct input on the shape of a campaign, with less bureaucracy and faster feedback cycles.

How they tend to run campaigns

Campaigns from this kind of agency typically start with a discovery call, a short planning phase, and then a curated shortlist of creators that match your brand’s tone and goals.

You can expect more manual creator selection, careful briefing, and regular check-ins during content production. That often leads to more on-brand storytelling, especially for lifestyle and niche products.

Reporting may focus less on complex dashboards and more on clear summaries of what worked, why it worked, and what you should adjust next time.

Relationship with creators

Smaller or mid-sized influencer shops often build a trusted roster of recurring creators, plus a wider network they tap into on demand.

That usually means they know which influencers deliver on time, which ones perform well for certain verticals, and which personalities align with sensitive categories like finance or health.

For you, that can feel like an extension of your team that already knows who will likely be a fit, instead of starting from zero each time.

Typical client fit for The Digital Dept

This type of agency tends to work well with brands that value tailored creative work and close communication, sometimes even early-stage or challenger brands.

• Consumer brands wanting standout storytelling
• Direct-to-consumer companies needing measurable growth
• Brands in fashion, beauty, wellness, or lifestyle
• Marketing teams that want to review content before it goes live

If you prefer knowing the team by name, having their direct emails, and being able to tweak ideas as you go, a shop like this often feels natural.

Inside BEN’s style and services

BEN operates more like a large-scale influencer and entertainment powerhouse, blending AI, data, and long-standing talent relationships across YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and streaming platforms.

Core services from a larger network

Because BEN sits closer to the entertainment world, their work often spans beyond typical social campaigns.

• Influencer campaigns on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more
• Product placement in shows, films, and digital series
• Creator sponsorships and brand integrations
• Long-term ambassador programs with top talent
• AI-backed creator matching and performance prediction

They tend to support bigger rollouts and multi-channel efforts, and are often associated with global brands and large-scale launches.

How BEN typically runs campaigns

Larger shops usually bring a more structured, data-led discovery process. You might see insights around audience demographics, predicted lift, and historical performance.

Campaigns can involve bigger creator names, cross-platform storytelling, and long timelines, with multiple teams touching strategy, creator outreach, and measurement.

Communication may feel more formal, with account leads and specialists, rather than one or two people covering everything end to end.

Creator relationships and scale

BEN’s roots in product placement and YouTube creator deals mean they generally have strong relationships with top-tier and mid-tier creators.

They are often able to unlock placements with creators who might ignore cold outreach from smaller brands or agencies without that track record.

This scale can open doors if your brand aims for high-visibility partnerships, trending formats, or cross-media integrations.

Typical client fit for BEN

Brands that choose a larger agency like BEN often have bigger budgets, cross-country or global ambitions, and a need for high-volume content or celebrity-level reach.

• Global consumer brands planning major launches
• Entertainment and gaming companies
• Household names wanting recurring placement with A-list creators
• Marketing teams comfortable with more formal processes

If you need massive reach, complex integrations, or prefer data-heavy presentations, a large networked agency can feel like the right fit.

How the two agencies really differ

On paper, both outfits help brands reach audiences through creators, but in practice there are real differences in feel, pace, and focus.

Scale and structure

The Digital Dept generally operates on a smaller scale, which can mean more bespoke attention, but sometimes fewer internal layers of specialist teams.

BEN, as a larger organization, brings more departments and resources, but also more structure, approvals, and standard ways of working.

Approach to creativity

A boutique shop may lean into inventive ideas crafted for your specific audience, with tighter control over the final content.

A bigger network can tap into large patterns and proven formats, using data to replicate what performs well across multiple creators quickly.

Data and technology

BEN is typically framed as AI-driven, particularly for creator selection and performance prediction.

Smaller agencies often use a mix of off-the-shelf tools, platform search, and human evaluation, leaning more on personal insight than proprietary algorithms.

Neither approach is automatically superior; your choice depends on whether you value advanced modeling or human judgment more.

Client experience and communication

With a boutique partner, you may talk directly to people doing the work, leading to quick updates and informal collaboration.

With a large partner, you’re more likely to have account managers, scheduled check-ins, and formal reporting decks.

*Many brands quietly worry about becoming “just another account” at a large agency, even while being attracted to their scale.*

Pricing style and how budgets are shaped

Neither agency typically shows fixed SaaS-style pricing. Instead, costs usually depend on your goals, creator mix, and campaign length.

How influencer agencies usually charge

Most influencer agencies build proposals that include several cost areas rather than one flat fee.

• Creator fees based on audience size and deliverables
• Agency management or strategy fees
• Creative development or production support
• Paid amplification budget if boosting posts
• Reporting and post-campaign analysis

The final number you see is often a combined campaign or quarterly budget that bundles these items together.

Where a boutique shop often sits on price

Smaller agencies may be more flexible around test budgets, one-off activations, or pilot programs, especially if they see long-term potential.

They might take on mid-range budgets that larger networks decline, and can tailor scope more tightly to what you can actually afford.

Where a large network usually sits on price

Bigger agencies frequently focus on higher minimum spends, because their overhead and systems assume larger, more complex campaigns.

This can make them less accessible for smaller brands, but more powerful for big launches that justify large creator rosters and extended timelines.

Expect more formal proposals, longer approval processes, and sometimes, multi-quarter or annual agreements.

Key strengths and real limitations

Both types of influencer partner bring real upsides and trade-offs. Thinking clearly about these can prevent regrets later.

Strengths of a boutique influencer partner

• Hands-on attention from senior team members
• Greater flexibility on creative directions
• Faster changes if content needs revisions
• Willingness to experiment with smaller tests

However, smaller teams can sometimes be stretched during very busy periods, and may not always have dedicated specialists for every niche need.

Limitations to keep in mind

With a boutique partner, you might not get the same level of formal modeling or complex attribution studies that larger shops sometimes offer.

You may also need to be more involved in decision-making, especially if your product is technical or has strict compliance rules.

Strengths of a large, tech-enabled agency

• Access to bigger creators and established media ties
• AI-supported creator selection and forecasting
• Ability to scale quickly across regions and platforms
• Structured reporting and stakeholder-ready decks

For some marketing teams, this level of polish makes it easier to secure internal approvals and defend budgets.

Limitations of a larger network

At big agencies, junior staff may handle much of the execution, and changes can move slower due to approvals and process.

Minimum budgets may be higher than you expect, especially for top-tier creators.

*Brands sometimes feel like they lose creative control or that campaigns lean toward “safe” templates instead of unique ideas.*

Who each agency is best for

It helps to think through your own stage, budget, and internal capacity before leaning toward one style of agency.

When a boutique influencer partner fits best

• Emerging brands wanting standout storytelling and closer collaboration
• Marketing teams that value direct relationships with the people executing
• Companies testing influencer marketing for the first time
• Brands with niche audiences needing careful creator selection

When a large networked agency fits best

• Established brands with significant budgets and aggressive growth targets
• Teams needing access to celebrity-level or top-tier creators
• Global or multi-market campaigns requiring scale and structure
• Organizations that expect deep data presentations for leadership

If your main concern is reach and reliability at scale, a larger player will often feel safer. If your priority is originality and conversation, a boutique partner may be better.

When a platform like Flinque makes more sense

Not every brand needs a full-service influencer agency. Some teams prefer to manage relationships in-house while still benefiting from software support.

How Flinque fits in

Flinque is a platform-based alternative, helping brands find creators, run outreach, and manage campaigns without paying ongoing agency retainers.

Instead of outsourcing everything, your team uses the platform to handle discovery, collaboration, tracking, and reporting, keeping control over relationships and strategy.

Who a platform usually suits

• Brands with in-house marketers willing to learn influencer workflows
• Teams that want to build direct, long-term creator relationships
• Companies that prefer software costs over agency management fees
• Marketers who value transparency into every conversation and contract

If you have time and internal talent but limited budgets, a tool-based approach can stretch your spend further than fully managed campaigns.

FAQs

How should I choose between a boutique agency and a large network?

Start with your budget, how involved you want to be, and the level of reach you need. Boutique shops suit hands-on brands and custom work. Large networks suit bigger budgets, global reach, and highly structured campaigns.

Can smaller brands work with a big influencer agency?

Sometimes, but it depends on your budget and growth potential. Larger agencies often set minimum spends, so smaller brands may find them expensive or less flexible than boutique partners or platform-based options.

Do influencer agencies guarantee sales results?

No reputable agency can guarantee specific sales figures. They focus on reach, engagement, and content, while you handle pricing, product quality, and landing pages. Some will track conversions, but results vary by industry and offer.

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

Most brands start seeing meaningful signals within one to three months, especially around engagement and traffic. For consistent sales impact and learning, many marketers plan for at least two or three campaign cycles.

Is it better to work with a few big creators or many small ones?

It depends on your goals. Larger creators can generate fast awareness, while smaller or mid-tier creators often drive stronger trust and conversions. Many brands blend both to balance reach and authenticity.

Bringing it all together

Choosing the right influencer partner is less about who is “best” overall and more about who is best for your size, culture, and goals.

If you want close creative input, quick feedback, and the feeling of an extension of your internal team, a boutique agency often works well.

If you need massive reach, advanced data, and access to top-tier creators, a larger, tech-enabled network usually makes more sense.

And if your team prefers to stay in the driver’s seat while keeping costs lean, a platform like Flinque can support you without full-service retainers.

Clarify your budget, your appetite for involvement, and how quickly you need to scale. Then pick the partner type that aligns with those realities, not just with brand names.

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.