The Digital Dept vs Goldfish

Why brands look at two different influencer agencies

When brands weigh up The Digital Dept vs Goldfish, they are really asking a simple question: which partner will actually move the needle with influencer campaigns without wasting time and budget?

Both are service based influencer marketing agencies, but they appeal to slightly different needs, styles, and comfort levels with creator work.

What “influencer agency services” really means

The primary focus here is influencer agency services. That phrase can sound vague, so it helps to spell out what most brands expect from a specialist partner.

In simple terms, these agencies help you figure out who to work with, what to say, how to measure it, and how to keep all the moving parts under control.

They typically support brands across several areas:

• Strategy for which creators, platforms, and content formats to use
• Creator sourcing, outreach, and negotiations
• Briefs, content ideas, and approvals
• Campaign go live, tracking, and reporting
• Longer term creator relationships and ambassador ideas

Where agencies differ is style, depth of support, and the kinds of brands they know best.

What each agency is known for

Both agencies live in the same broad space but have built different reputations, often based on the size and stage of brands they attract.

The Digital Dept in simple terms

This agency tends to be viewed as a hands on partner that wants to plug directly into your marketing team, almost as if they were an extra internal department.

They often focus on building structured programs, clear processes, and repeatable creator partnerships rather than one off, random posts.

Goldfish in simple terms

Goldfish is more often associated with creative storytelling and social first ideas that feel native to each platform.

They usually lean into content that feels organic, with creators who can bring strong personality to a brand’s message.

Inside The Digital Dept’s way of working

Think of this team as a partner that wants to build a long term engine for influencer marketing, not just a quick traffic spike.

Core services you can expect

While exact offers vary, brands usually look for support from this kind of agency across:

• Influencer strategy tied to broader digital marketing goals
• Research and vetting for creators who fit your brand and budget
• End to end campaign management, including scheduling and approvals
• Payment handling and contract coordination
• Reporting that connects influencer work to sales or leads where possible

How campaigns tend to run

Campaigns with a structured agency often start with a discovery call and a clear brief. You walk through your audience, goals, budget, and any non negotiables.

From there, they suggest themes, creator types, and timelines. You usually review a shortlist of creators before anything moves forward.

Throughout the campaign, you can expect regular check ins, performance updates, and some guidance on how to use the content in paid ads or email.

Creator relationships and roster style

Rather than representing talent like a talent agency, they tend to build flexible partnerships with a wide range of creators.

This makes it easier to tailor a mix of micro, mid tier, and sometimes larger names to your budget and geographic needs.

They usually value reliable creators who deliver on brief and timing over chasing pure follower counts.

Typical client fit

This style of agency often works well for brands that:

• Have clear products and a defined target customer
• Want influencer work to plug into email, paid social, and content calendars
• Need predictable processes and regular reporting
• Prefer a single main point of contact who keeps things organized

Inside Goldfish’s way of working

Goldfish leans toward creative social content, often paying close attention to how each platform’s culture is shifting.

Core services you can expect

In general, brands turn to this sort of agency for help with:

• Concepts and storytelling suited to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or emerging platforms
• Finding voices that fit a specific subculture or niche
• Managing creator relationships across multiple content drops
• Coordinating usage rights so you can reuse top performing content
• Performance tracking focused on reach, engagement, and brand lift

How campaigns tend to run

You usually start with a creative exploration, focusing on what will make your brand feel fresh in crowded feeds.

The agency suggests content formats, hooks, and creator archetypes rather than starting only from demographics or follower numbers.

They may encourage experimentation with series, challenges, or recurring creator collaborations rather than a single burst of posts.

Creator relationships and roster style

Goldfish is likely to cultivate strong ties with creators who are known for storytelling, humor, or a distinctive style.

They may return to familiar creators frequently, building mini communities around your brand instead of constantly rotating faces.

This can work especially well when you want your brand to feel like part of a cultural conversation.

Typical client fit

This style of partner usually suits brands that:

• Care deeply about brand voice and visual style
• Sell lifestyle, fashion, beauty, food, or entertainment products
• Are open to playful, sometimes risky creative ideas
• Value brand awareness and social buzz as much as direct sales

How the two agencies actually differ

On paper, both teams help you run influencer campaigns. In practice, the experience and output can feel quite different.

Style of collaboration

A more structured agency style often feels like an extension of your marketing department, with clear steps, reports, and approvals.

Goldfish leans slightly more into creative experimentation, where you may trade a bit of structure for bolder concepts and looser content formats.

Focus of success metrics

The structured approach often leans into metrics you can track in dashboards: clicks, conversions, cost per acquisition, and repeat use of content in ads.

Goldfish tends to pay closer attention to storytelling impact, shareability, comment sentiment, and cultural relevancy alongside baseline numbers.

Scale and creator mix

Both can work with a mix of small and large creators, but they may prioritize them differently.

One may lean harder into micro and mid tier creators for cost efficiency, while the other pushes for standout personalities who can own a series or concept.

Day to day client experience

With a more process driven team, you are likely to have structured status calls, detailed recaps, and a predictable meeting rhythm.

With a creative forward team, expect frequent idea sharing, social content inspiration, and sometimes shorter, more agile feedback loops.

Pricing approach and how work is scoped

Neither agency runs like a subscription software product. Pricing tends to be custom and shaped around your market, goals, and timelines.

Common influencer marketing cost drivers

When you request a quote, most agencies look at several factors:

• Your target regions and languages
• Number of creators and post count per creator
• Platforms involved, like TikTok versus YouTube
• Usage rights duration and where content will be reused
• Need for travel, events, or production support
• How much testing and ongoing optimization you want

Typical ways fees are structured

Most influencer agencies combine creator fees with an agency management fee. You may see:

• Single project fees for clear, one time campaigns
• Monthly retainers that cover ongoing strategy and management
• Blended campaign budgets where the agency manages all payouts

It’s rare for serious agencies to publish flat rate menus because creator costs shift quickly by market and demand.

How to approach budget talks

Be honest about your maximum budget, even if it feels small. Agencies can usually propose scaled down versions of ideas.

Share any internal targets, like target cost per acquisition or minimum reach, so the team can build realistic expectations into the scope.

Strengths and limitations to keep in mind

Every agency has trade offs. The right choice depends more on your needs than on a universal “best” option.

Where a structured agency shines

• Clear planning and organized communication
• Ability to plug influencer work into broader digital marketing
• Reliable reporting that helps justify spend to leadership
• Systems for managing many smaller creators at once

A common concern is whether influencer work can be measured well enough to keep getting budget each quarter.

Where Goldfish style creativity shines

• Content that feels native, fun, and shareable
• Deeper alignment with cultural trends and platform shifts
• Stronger emotional connection with niche communities
• Potential to create standout moments that earn organic reach

Limitations to watch for on both sides

• Influencer results can be uneven, especially in early testing
• Content approval can feel slow if too many people weigh in
• Usage rights and legal language can be confusing without clarity
• Agency time is finite, so ultra small budgets may feel constrained

Who each agency is best suited for

Looking at your own team, budget, and risk tolerance often reveals which partner makes more sense.

When to lean toward a more structured partner

• You want influencer work to support paid media and CRM.
• You have stakeholders who expect regular, structured reporting.
• Your brand voice is already defined and should stay consistent.
• You value step by step planning and firm timelines.

When to lean toward Goldfish

• You want to refresh how your brand shows up on social.
• You are willing to test playful, creator led content.
• You care about community building and conversation, not just clicks.
• You sell lifestyle products where aesthetics and story matter.

Questions to ask yourself before choosing

• Is our biggest gap ideas, execution, or measurement?
• How much time can our internal team spend on creators?
• Are we under more pressure for sales or for brand lift?
• Do we need international coverage or just one key market?

When a platform like Flinque may make more sense

Full service agencies are not the only path. A platform based option, such as Flinque, lets some brands keep more control in house.

What a platform alternative usually offers

Instead of paying an agency retainer, you use software to discover creators, manage outreach, track content, and measure performance yourself.

Flinque typically appeals to brands that already have a small marketing team willing to learn influencer workflows and own day to day operations.

When a platform is a better fit

• Your budget is tight, but you have time and curiosity.
• You want direct relationships with creators you can nurture long term.
• You prefer to test and learn quickly, changing briefs on the fly.
• You run frequent, smaller campaigns instead of a few big launches.

When an agency still makes more sense

• You lack internal bandwidth to contact and manage creators.
• You need help positioning your brand for social audiences.
• Your leadership expects a single partner to own results.
• Influencer work is new to you and feels high risk.

FAQs

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

Most brands see early signals within weeks, like reach and engagement, but stronger sales patterns usually become clear after several campaigns. Expect a few months of testing creators, messages, and platforms before judging long term performance.

Should I work with one agency or test several at once?

If budgets allow, some brands split tests across agencies. However, many prefer to commit to one partner for at least six months so both sides can learn, refine the brief, and build deeper creator relationships without starting over.

Do I need a big budget to work with influencer agencies?

No, but extremely small budgets can be limiting. Agencies can often design focused tests, using micro creators and fewer posts, as long as expectations are realistic and you use the learning to shape future investments.

Who should manage influencer work on my team?

Ideally, assign a single internal owner, often a social media or brand manager. They should coordinate with the agency, align internal teams, review content quickly, and share performance updates with leadership.

Can influencer content be reused in paid ads and on my website?

Yes, but only if your contracts and creator agreements grant usage rights. Always clarify duration, platforms, and regions for reuse. Many brands see strong returns from turning top creator posts into paid social ads.

Conclusion: choosing the right partner for you

If you want a predictable system that connects influencer campaigns to wider digital marketing, a more structured agency setup will likely feel comfortable and reliable.

If you are chasing memorable content and cultural relevance, a creatively driven partner like Goldfish may unlock bolder ideas and deeper community ties.

Look at your budget, your team’s capacity, and how much risk you can take. The right choice is the one that matches your goals and working style, not someone else’s ranking.

And if you are happy to be hands on, a platform such as Flinque can offer more control and flexibility without full service retainers.

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.