The Goat Agency vs AAA Agency

Why brands look at different influencer agencies

When you weigh up influencer partners, you usually want simple answers: who will actually move the needle, who understands your niche, and who can handle real scale without wasting budget.

That’s why many marketers compare well known creator agencies side by side, especially when planning bigger social campaigns.

In this case, we’re looking at two influencer marketing agencies that both build and run campaigns for brands, but in slightly different ways and for slightly different types of clients.

Table of Contents

• What “influencer marketing services” really means
• What each agency is known for
• Inside a social-first influencer agency
• Inside a more traditional full service shop
• How these two agencies actually differ
• Pricing approach and how work is structured
• Strengths and limitations to keep in mind
• Who each agency is usually best for
• When a platform alternative like Flinque makes sense
• FAQs
• Making your choice with confidence
• Disclaimer

What “influencer marketing services” really means

The primary keyword here is influencer marketing services. That phrase sounds simple, but it can cover very different approaches.

Some agencies behave like creative studios with influencers as talent. Others act more like media buyers, using creators as ad units, with a heavy focus on data and performance.

Before choosing, it helps to know which style fits your team, goals, and timelines.

What each agency is known for

Both agencies operate in the influencer space, but their reputations lean in slightly different directions.

Reputation of Goat-style agencies

One camp is known for being very social native, building its name on creator led campaigns across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

They tend to emphasize performance tracking, measurable outcomes, and always on campaign management rather than one off bursts.

These agencies often publish case studies with recognizable brands, showing direct links between influencer content and sales or sign ups.

Reputation of AAA-style agencies

The other camp often positions itself as more fully rounded, mixing influencer work with broader digital or brand services.

They may talk more about long term brand impact, storytelling, and integrated campaigns that include creators alongside paid social, content, and sometimes PR.

This type of shop can feel closer to a creative or advertising agency that also runs influencer programs.

Inside a social-first influencer agency

Let’s look at the kind of approach you usually find in a social-first influencer specialist similar to The Goat Agency vs AAA Agency comparisons.

Core services you can expect

Social-first influencer agencies usually focus on a tight set of services built around creators and social platforms.

• Influencer discovery and vetting across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and sometimes Twitch
• Campaign strategy and content planning rooted in social trends
• Contracting, approvals, and legal checks for creator content
• Paid amplification using creator content as ads
• Reporting tied to clicks, sign ups, and revenue where possible

Some also help with organic social strategy, but the core is still creator driven campaigns.

How campaigns tend to run

These agencies usually build campaigns around clear goals like app installs, trial sign ups, or e‑commerce sales.

They may test different creators, formats, and hooks quickly, then double down on what performs, similar to paid social optimization.

Content is usually planned as a mix of sponsored posts, short videos, Stories, and sometimes whitelisting for paid ads.

Creator relationships and network depth

Social-first agencies usually keep large creator databases, often thousands of influencers across niches.

They may have close ties with many mid and micro creators rather than relying only on large talent.

The focus is on volume and testing, so they value creators who deliver consistently and meet deadlines.

Typical client fit and use cases

Brands that often benefit from this model include direct to consumer companies and digital products with clear conversion goals.

• E‑commerce brands wanting trackable sales from social traffic
• Apps and SaaS tools needing installs or sign ups
• Consumer brands launching new products with strong offers
• Marketers comfortable with performance dashboards and testing

In general, this style suits marketers who want influencer work to behave more like paid media.

Inside a more traditional full service shop

Now look at how a broader full service agency that offers influencer programs typically works.

Services beyond influencers

These teams often deliver a wider range of marketing services alongside creator campaigns.

• Brand positioning, messaging, and creative concepts
• Influencer strategy plus other social content work
• Paid media planning and buying across channels
• Content production, from video to lifestyle photography
• Sometimes PR, events, or experiential campaigns

Influencer work becomes one part of a larger brand picture, not the only focus.

How campaigns are planned and delivered

These agencies often start with a wider brand story or seasonal theme, then plug influencers into that idea.

Creators might be used for launch moments, hero content, or long term ambassador programs more than constant testing.

Timelines can be longer because ideas move through fuller creative development and approvals.

Creator work and brand alignment

Since brand positioning is central, creator selection can be stricter, with more attention to values, tone, and visual style.

Agencies may lean towards higher profile influencers or carefully chosen mid tier talent rather than broad scale.

Creator content may be more polished, sometimes shot with production support rather than entirely self filmed.

Typical client fit and use cases

Brands that lean towards this model usually care about long term brand building as much as short term wins.

• Established consumer brands wanting consistent brand voice
• Lifestyle, fashion, and beauty labels focused on image
• Companies doing large seasonal or global brand launches
• Teams that prefer one partner for multiple marketing needs

This setup suits marketers who want a single agency to handle creative, media, and creators together.

How these two agencies actually differ

On paper both are influencer agencies, but the day to day experience can feel very different.

Focus on performance versus storytelling

Social-first specialists usually talk about cost per acquisition, return on ad spend, and direct tracking.

Full service shops speak more often about brand lift, sentiment, and long term positioning.

Neither is right or wrong; the best choice depends on whether you’re judged on sales today or brand health tomorrow.

Scale and speed of creator work

Specialists tend to run more creators at once, often dozens to hundreds for bigger pushes.

They also move quickly, with shorter planning cycles and rapid creative testing.

Broader agencies may work with fewer, more curated creators, with tighter control over each piece of content.

How deeply they integrate with your team

A social-first shop might collaborate most closely with growth, performance, or digital marketing teams.

Full service agencies often work with brand leaders, creative directors, and senior stakeholders.

This changes how meetings run, what gets reported, and which metrics are highlighted.

Pricing approach and how work is structured

Influencer marketing services are almost always priced through custom quotes, not fixed plans.

Common pricing structure for social-first specialists

Expect a mix of management fees, creator costs, and media spend if they run ads.

• A monthly retainer for planning and campaign management
• Individual influencer fees, sometimes bundled into a single budget
• Optional paid social budget to boost creator content
• Possible creative production costs for specific assets

Budgets usually flex up or down based on number of creators, posting volume, and target markets.

Common pricing structure for full service agencies

Broader agencies may price influencer work as part of a wider scope including creative and media.

• Annual or multi month retainers covering multiple channels
• Project based fees for launches, seasons, or campaign waves
• Separate production budgets if content requires shoots
• Creator and talent fees either pass through or bundled

Costs are shaped by how integrated the influencer work is with other services.

Key cost drivers to watch

Regardless of agency, similar factors push pricing up or down.

• Number of creators and regions involved
• Size and fame of influencers you want
• How much usage rights you need and for how long
• Amount of content and rounds of review
• Level of reporting and testing expected

*A common concern is not knowing how much budget actually reaches creators versus agency overhead.*

Strengths and limitations to keep in mind

Both styles of influencer agency can deliver strong results, but with trade offs that are worth understanding.

Strengths of a social-first influencer specialist

• Deep knowledge of social platforms and trends
• Experience running large creator programs at scale
• Stronger emphasis on measurable performance
• Ability to test concepts quickly and adjust mid flight

This makes them powerful partners for direct response brands and growth teams.

Limitations of that approach

• Brand storytelling can sometimes play second fiddle to performance
• Content might feel more native but less polished or premium
• High volume campaigns can be complex for your team to review
• Reports may feel very metric heavy for brand stakeholders

Strengths of a more traditional full service shop

• Ability to align influencer work with brand and creative strategy
• Centralized management across channels and markets
• Often stronger in premium content and bigger ideas
• Good fit for internal teams used to agency structures

This can give you a smoother experience when multiple departments are involved.

Limitations of that approach

• Influencer work may feel slower to launch or adjust
• Performance tracking can be less granular
• Budgets may be higher due to wider scopes
• Creators might be fewer and more curated, limiting experimentation

Who each agency is usually best for

Your best fit depends more on your situation than on any ranking between agencies.

When a social-first specialist fits best

• You sell online and can track revenue or sign ups directly.
• Your team is comfortable with data, dashboards, and frequent testing.
• You want always on creator activity rather than rare big launches.
• You’re open to a mix of big, mid, and small influencers.

When a full service influencer partner fits best

• You need one agency to manage creative, media, and creators.
• Brand consistency and tone are your top priorities.
• Your launches involve TV, out of home, events, or PR as well.
• Internal stakeholders expect traditional agency structures.

Questions to ask yourself before deciding

• Will we be judged mainly on sales, or on brand lift and reach?
• Do we have in house creative and media, or do we need those too?
• How much control do we want over individual creators?
• Are we ready for high volume campaigns, or do we prefer focused work?

When a platform like Flinque may make more sense

Sometimes neither a social-first nor full service agency is exactly right, especially for lean teams or early stage brands.

Why some brands choose a platform instead

Tools like Flinque let you handle influencer discovery, outreach, and campaign workflows directly, without paying for full service agency retainers.

This can work well if you have internal staff who understand creators and only need better infrastructure and data, not external strategy.

Ideal scenarios for a platform based route

• You already work with creators and want to scale without big agency fees.
• Your market is niche and you know it better than external partners.
• You need transparency into every creator cost and performance metric.
• You’re comfortable building repeatable internal processes.

Platforms can also pair with occasional consulting or project help from agencies when you hit bigger moments.

FAQs

How do I know if an influencer agency is performance focused?

Look at how they present results. If they highlight revenue, sign ups, cost per acquisition, and testing, they’re performance leaning. If they focus mainly on reach, impressions, and brand impact, they sit closer to brand and creative work.

Can one agency handle both performance and brand work?

Yes, but most have a stronger side. Ask for case studies that show both high quality creative and clearly tracked performance. Then speak directly with the team who would run your account, not just the sales lead.

What should I ask about influencer pricing before signing?

Ask how much of your budget goes to creators versus agency fees, how creator rates are negotiated, and how usage rights are handled. Clarify whether media spend is separate from influencer fees so you can compare offers fairly.

Do I need exclusive long term contracts with influencers?

Not always. Long term deals can deepen authenticity, but they cost more and reduce flexibility. Many brands mix short term collaborations for testing with a smaller group of longer term partners once they know who truly fits.

Should I start with an agency or a platform?

If you lack time, people, or experience, an agency is usually safer at the beginning. If you have a scrappy team, clear goals, and a need for cost control, starting on a platform and adding targeted expert help can work very well.

Making your choice with confidence

The best influencer partner for you depends on three things: your main goal, your budget, and how involved your team wants to be.

If you need quick, trackable results and are comfortable with lots of testing, a social-first specialist may be ideal.

If you want tight brand control and integrated creative, a broader agency with influencer capabilities may serve you better.

And if you prefer to keep skills in house while saving on retainers, a platform option like Flinque can be a strong alternative.

Take time to map your goals, internal resources, and success metrics before you reach out. That clarity will make conversations with any agency far more productive.

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.