The Station vs Goldfish

Why brands weigh up different influencer agencies

You are likely here because you are trying to choose between two influencer marketing partners and want clear, practical answers, not buzzwords. You want to know who will actually move the needle on sales, content, and long term brand growth.

Both agencies you are considering sit in the same broad space: full service influencer shops that help brands plan, run, and optimize creator campaigns. On the surface they can look similar, so it is natural to feel stuck.

This is where looking at real differences in services, creator relationships, campaign style, and pricing makes the choice easier. By the end, you should feel confident about which model matches your goals, budget, and internal resources.

What each agency is known for

In the world of influencer marketing agency choice, two names often pop up together, which is why you see people searching for The Station vs Goldfish. Both operate as service based agencies rather than self serve tools.

They share common ground in helping brands find creators, negotiate deals, brief talent, and manage campaigns from start to finish. Both also focus on social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and sometimes emerging channels.

Where they tend to differ is in brand personality, category focus, and the way they structure collaborations. One may lean more into scaled programs for bigger brands, while the other might favor crafted, story driven work with tighter rosters.

They also usually differ in how hands on they expect your team to be. Some agencies welcome brands that want to co create every detail, while others shine when they are given clear targets and full execution control.

Agency one: services, style, and client fit

To keep things simple, think of the first agency as a partner built for brands that want structured campaigns, clear timelines, and measurable performance. Their value is often in process and repeatable frameworks rather than one off stunts.

Core services you can expect

Most full service influencer shops in this mold offer a familiar, end to end bundle. Even if names differ, the building blocks look similar from brand to brand.

• Influencer research and shortlisting across social platforms
• Talent outreach, negotiation, and contracting
• Creative briefing and content calendar planning
• Campaign management, posting oversight, and approvals
• Reporting on reach, engagement, and conversion metrics
• Sometimes paid social amplification of creator content

Some also help with bigger ambassador programs, affiliate setups, and always on gifting flows. The exact mix depends on your goals, budget, and timelines.

Approach to campaigns and creators

This type of agency often runs structured plays for product launches, seasonal pushes, and evergreen promotion. Think batches of mid tier creators, clear posting waves, and detailed briefs that keep everything on brand.

They tend to work with a broad pool of creators rather than a tight, exclusive roster. That makes it easier to scale quickly but can feel a bit less intimate in terms of long term creator relationships.

When things go well, you get consistent content, predictable deliverables, and a steady stream of performance data. Brands that want repeatable mechanics often gravitate to this kind of partner.

Typical client fit for this style

This model usually attracts growing or established brands that already invest in media and want influencer to plug into a wider mix. They care about creative, but track sales and cost closely.

• Consumer brands in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle
• Emerging DTC products wanting repeatable growth
• Apps and digital services experimenting with creators
• Marketing teams that value structure and clear processes

If you need predictable timelines, defined roles, and regular reports for leadership, this kind of agency often feels safe and straightforward.

Agency two: services, style, and client fit

The second agency you are weighing up often appeals to brands that care deeply about storytelling, visual identity, and cultural fit. Their work typically highlights personality and brand voice as much as pure performance.

What they usually offer brands

Service lines will sound broadly familiar, but how they are delivered can feel different. You may see more focus on creative collaboration and casting nuance.

• Influencer discovery with heavy emphasis on brand fit
• Collaboration on creative concepts with your team
• Full campaign management and communication with talent
• Support for long term ambassador and creator partnerships
• Reporting on performance, sentiment, and content quality

Some agencies in this lane also help with content repurposing, including whitelisting creator posts for ads and adapting content for email or web use.

How campaigns tend to feel

Instead of huge volumes of posts, you may see a smaller, more curated set of creators but deeper involvement from each. Campaigns can feel more like collaborations than transactions.

Briefs often allow room for creator voice and experimentation, within clear guardrails. This can lead to content that looks native to each channel and resonates with audiences that reject heavy handed ads.

Because of this, planning cycles might be a bit longer, and approvals can involve more creative back and forth. For some brands, that is a plus; for others, it may feel slower.

Typical client fit for this style

Brands that reach for this agency profile often care deeply about image and community. They see influencer work as brand building, not just a short term sales lever.

• Premium fashion, beauty, design, or lifestyle labels
• Food and beverage brands with strong aesthetics
• Culture driven startups wanting standout identity
• Teams comfortable giving creators more freedom

If you are drawn to thoughtful storytelling and visual polish, this kind of partner usually feels natural.

How the two agencies really differ

When you strip away the shiny decks, the real differences between these agencies tend to show up in a few everyday areas: pace, structure, and how they handle creative control.

The more structured shop tends to prioritize timelines, deliverables, and scale. They lean on defined processes, standard briefs, and larger creator pools to hit targets quickly and reliably.

The more creative leaning partner may spend more time upfront on casting, story, and concept. They might work with fewer creators per campaign but expect deeper involvement from each one.

For your team, that means one option may feel like a well oiled production engine, while the other feels more like a creative studio that happens to work with influencers.

There can also be differences in communication style. Some agencies prefer weekly status calls and thorough documentation; others rely more on collaborative work sessions and shared inspiration boards.

Neither is automatically better. The right choice depends on whether you value speed and structure over experimentation and craft, or ideally a balance that tilts slightly one way.

Pricing approach and how work is scoped

Both agencies are service based, so you will not see simple SaaS style pricing with fixed tiers and logins. Instead, costs vary based on scope, markets, and creator levels.

Most agencies structure fees around a combination of campaign management and creator costs. Some also include strategy, creative direction, and reporting as separate line items.

Common ways pricing is framed

• Project based budgets for one off launches or seasonal pushes
• Monthly retainers covering ongoing planning and execution
• Hybrid setups with a base retainer plus campaign add ons
• Pass through creator fees plus an agency management percentage

Influencer payments themselves depend heavily on reach, content format, exclusivity, and usage rights. Video, whitelisting, and paid usage usually increase costs.

Before signing, you should expect to see proposals that outline sample creator counts, content volumes, and rough ranges for total budget. Any agency should be willing to tailor scope to your comfort level.

If a partner cannot explain how fees break down between management and creator costs, that is a useful flag to probe further during early calls.

Key strengths and limitations

Every agency model brings trade offs. Understanding them upfront saves you from unpleasant surprises after contracts are signed and campaigns go live.

Strengths to appreciate

• Structured agencies bring repeatable playbooks, clear timelines, and scalable systems that are helpful for busy teams.
• Creative led agencies can deliver standout content, deeper creator buy in, and campaigns that feel truly on brand.
• Both can save your team huge amounts of time on outreach, negotiation, and day to day coordination with creators.
• Good partners also help you interpret results and learn what actually works with your audience.

Limitations to be aware of

• Structured models may feel less flexible or innovative if briefs are too rigid or templated.
• Creative heavy approaches may move more slowly and require more attention from your internal team.
• Full service agencies can be expensive for very small brands with limited budgets.
• Results can vary if creator selection, messaging, or timing are off, regardless of the agency.

A common concern brands share is not knowing how much work they still need to do in house once an agency is onboard.

The answer usually depends on how clear your brand foundations already are. If your positioning and visuals are solid, agencies can move faster with fewer revisions.

Who each agency is best suited for

Instead of asking which agency is better overall, it is more useful to ask which one is better for you at this specific stage. That depends on your budget, team size, and goals.

When the structured agency model makes sense

• You have clear growth targets and need influencer to behave like a repeatable channel.
• Your internal team is lean and wants a partner to handle most logistics.
• You care strongly about hitting deadlines, especially around launches.
• You are comfortable with a wide range of creators representing your brand.

This setup is often ideal for ecommerce brands running multiple drops per year or mid market companies that need predictable reporting for leadership.

When the creative focused agency model fits better

• Your brand lives or dies on image, storytelling, and community trust.
• You would rather have fewer, more aligned creators than large volumes.
• You are open to collaborative experimentation with content formats.
• Your team can make time for creative reviews and feedback rounds.

This path usually suits brands that see influencer content as a cornerstone of their overall identity, not just one channel among many.

When a platform like Flinque makes more sense

For some brands, it is not just a choice between one agency or another. In certain cases, using a platform can be a better fit than hiring any full service partner at all.

Flinque is one example of this approach. Instead of providing managed services, it gives you tools to find creators, manage outreach, and track campaigns yourself.

This can be appealing if you have an in house marketer eager to learn influencer work and you would rather invest time than commit to a larger retainer.

Platforms tend to offer more flexibility in how many creators you work with and how often you run campaigns. You can start small, test ideas, and scale on your own schedule.

The trade off is that you are responsible for strategy, communication, and troubleshooting. If your team is already stretched thin, a full service partner may still be the safer path.

FAQs

How do I know if I really need an influencer agency?

You probably need one if outreach, negotiation, and campaign planning are taking more time than your team can spare, or if results are inconsistent. An agency adds structure, experience, and creator relationships that most brands cannot easily build alone.

Can smaller brands work with these agencies?

Some agencies welcome smaller brands, especially if they see long term potential, while others focus on larger budgets. It helps to be transparent about your range so you can quickly learn whether there is a realistic fit.

What should I ask during the first call?

Ask how they pick creators, how they measure success, what a typical campaign timeline looks like, and how much involvement they expect from your team. Request real campaign examples for brands similar to yours, not just polished reels.

How long before I see results from influencer work?

For awareness, you can see impact from the first campaign. For meaningful sales lift and learning, expect at least a few months of consistent activity. Always on programs generally outperform one off bursts over time.

Can I switch from an agency to a platform later?

Yes. Many brands start with an agency to learn what works, then move to platforms once they feel confident running campaigns in house. You can also combine both, using agencies for big moments and a platform for day to day work.

Final thoughts to help you choose

Choosing between two influencer agencies is less about who is objectively better and more about who works better with your reality. Your internal capacity, risk tolerance, and expectations matter as much as their case studies.

If you crave structure, predictable timelines, and scalable systems, lean toward the more process driven partner. If you care deeply about storytelling and aesthetics, a creative led shop is likely the safer bet.

Consider also whether a platform fits your stage. If your team can own the work and you want to avoid retainers, tools like Flinque can be strong alternatives or complements.

Whichever route you pick, push for clarity on roles, communication, and success metrics before signing. That upfront honesty does more to protect your budget than any guarantee of viral posts.

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.