The Station vs IMA

Why brands weigh up these two influencer agencies

When brands search for influencer marketing partners, they often end up comparing boutique agencies with more established names. That is where The Station and IMA usually appear on the same shortlist.

Both work with creators, manage campaigns, and help brands grow through social content. Yet the experience, style, and ideal client can be very different.

If you are planning your next creator push, you are likely asking: Who understands my audience better? Who will actually move the needle on sales, not just likes?

This page walks through those questions in plain English, so you can see how each agency fits different goals, budgets, and ways of working.

What these influencer agencies are known for

The shortened theme at the heart of this topic is influencer marketing agencies. Both The Station and IMA operate in that space, but their strengths lean in slightly different directions.

Most brand teams hear about them through case studies, referrals, or social content where they highlight standout creator campaigns.

Before diving into details, it helps to know how each is generally positioned in the market and which types of projects they are associated with.

The Station in simple terms

The Station is often seen as a nimble, creatively driven influencer partner. Its focus tends to lean toward curated creator casting, storytelling, and close collaboration with brand teams.

Many marketers see it as a good fit when they want campaigns that feel less like ads and more like native, community-first content.

IMA in simple terms

IMA, sometimes referred to as Influencer Marketing Agency in broader discussions, is associated with larger, more structured campaigns and international work.

Its reputation leans toward scale, process, and cross-market coordination. That can be attractive for global brands that need consistency in many countries and languages.

The Station: services, style, and ideal clients

While details vary by project, The Station generally operates as a full service influencer partner, guiding brands from idea to reporting.

Core services The Station typically offers

You can expect a set of familiar influencer services designed to cover the full campaign lifecycle, such as:

Influencer discovery and vetting across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other channels
Campaign strategy and creative concepts aligned with brand voice
Negotiation, contracts, and relationship management with creators
Content feedback, approvals, and posting schedules
Reporting on reach, engagement, traffic, and basic sales signals

The exact mix depends on your brief, budget, and how involved your internal team wants to be.

How The Station usually runs campaigns

The Station tends to emphasize creative alignment and brand nuance. Rather than mass outreach, it often leans toward handpicked creators and tighter quality control.

Campaigns may start with a collaborative workshop or strategic session to understand your story, then flow into a clear rollout plan.

This approach suits brands that care deeply about tone, look, and ongoing creator relationships, not just short bursts of reach.

Creator relationships and casting approach

The Station’s work is often built on close ties with mid-size and niche creators who speak directly to specific communities.

Instead of famous faces only, you might see more “everyday expert” profiles: stylists, fitness coaches, parents, or gamers with loyal followings.

This mix can deliver strong trust and conversation, which is crucial for categories like beauty, wellness, fashion, and lifestyle.

Typical brand fit for The Station

While any sector could work, certain types of brands may get extra value from this style of agency.

Emerging and growth stage brands needing standout storytelling
Consumer product launches in beauty, fashion, food, or wellness
Marketers who want to stay hands-on with creative direction
Teams looking for repeat collaborations with the same creators

If you want campaigns that feel personal and crafted, The Station’s model can be appealing.

IMA: services, style, and ideal clients

IMA generally positions itself as a more scaled influencer partner, with structured processes built for bigger brands and broader reach.

Core services IMA typically offers

Like most full service influencer firms, IMA usually provides end-to-end support, including:

Global influencer identification and vetting across major regions
Campaign planning for product launches, brand awareness, or seasonal pushes
Contracting and compliance management, often across multiple countries
Coordination of content across many creators and timelines
Detailed reporting with platform-specific breakdowns and learnings

The advantage here is being able to repeat similar programs in multiple markets with central control.

How IMA often runs campaigns

IMA’s style tends to favor structured planning and clear processes. For large campaigns, that can mean detailed timelines, layered approvals, and standardized briefs for hundreds of creators.

Brands with many stakeholders usually appreciate that level of coordination and documentation.

The trade-off is that it can feel less flexible than smaller, fast-moving teams, especially if internal approvals already take time.

Creator relationships and network style

IMA usually maintains a broad network, from top-tier talent to mid-tier and micro creators. This allows them to scale campaigns up or down as budgets and markets change.

They may also maintain more formalized processes for creator onboarding, usage rights, and content reuse, which big brands often require.

That structure is particularly helpful for brands that want to re-use influencer content in paid ads or across global channels.

Typical brand fit for IMA

Not every brand needs that level of scale. But for those that do, the benefits are clear.

Established brands running multi-country influencer programs
Companies with strict legal, compliance, or brand safety rules
Marketing teams that need standardized reporting for leadership
Brands planning year-round influencer activity with many creators

If you are coordinating with regional teams or multiple agencies, IMA’s structure can make things feel more manageable.

How their approach really differs

On paper, both agencies run influencer campaigns. In practice, your experience as a client can feel quite different.

Creative style and storytelling

The Station often focuses on campaigns that feel intimate and community-led, with creators that match specific subcultures or aesthetics.

Its content may lean into storytelling, lifestyle angles, and subtle product integration rather than big, obvious ads.

IMA tends to work more with large-scale storytelling, where many creators deliver consistent, aligned messages to amplify brand themes across markets.

Scale and campaign complexity

The Station usually shines when the priority is quality of content and strong audience fit, even if the number of creators is smaller.

IMA is often better geared for large projects, like pan-European launches or global rollouts, where dozens or hundreds of creators must follow compatible guidelines.

Your internal resources matter here: smaller teams may appreciate The Station’s more personal touch, while global teams may need IMA’s structure.

Client experience and collaboration style

If you want a partner that feels like an extension of a small in-house team, The Station is likely to operate that way.

That usually means more direct conversations, closer creative collaboration, and quicker feedback loops.

IMA often brings more layers: account managers, strategists, project coordinators, and analytics leads. For bigger organizations, that can feel reassuring and familiar.

Pricing approach and how engagements work

Neither of these agencies tends to publish fixed price tags, because influencer work is highly variable. Instead, both usually offer custom quotes.

Common ways agencies structure costs

Most influencer marketing agencies build pricing around a few core pieces that both The Station and IMA likely follow.

Campaign budget for creator fees and production
Agency management fee for planning, coordination, and reporting
Possible retainer if you want ongoing support over many months
Added charges for paid amplification, usage rights, or extra content

The ratio between creator spend and management fees can signal how hands-on the agency will be.

How The Station may handle budgets

The Station is likely to work with a wide budget range, from focused pilot campaigns to more robust ongoing programs.

You might see more flexibility on smaller or mid-range budgets, especially if the creative scope is clear and the number of creators is limited.

This can be useful for brands testing influencer work for the first time or exploring new markets.

How IMA may handle budgets

IMA’s structure is typically better matched to larger budgets and long-term programs, where planning and reporting complexity are higher.

It may be less cost-effective for very small tests, since their processes and teams are built for bigger scale.

Brands with six or seven-figure annual influencer budgets are more likely to find a comfortable fit.

Engagement style and commitment

Both agencies may offer project-based work or retainers, depending on your needs.

Short-term projects are common for product launches or seasonal pushes, while retainers are better for always-on influencer programs.

Your choice should reflect whether influencer content is a side channel or a core part of your marketing engine.

Key strengths and common limitations

Every agency choice involves trade-offs. Understanding those helps you match expectations to reality.

Where The Station tends to shine

Highly curated creator selections that feel “on brand”
Closer collaboration with brand teams and founders
Strong fit for lifestyle, fashion, and culture-focused categories
Ability to build longer-term creator relationships, not just one-offs

One recurring concern marketers share is whether a creative-focused agency can also deliver clear, numbers-driven results.

Potential limitations with The Station

May not be optimal for huge, multi-market campaigns with hundreds of creators
Reporting and measurement might feel lean for very data-heavy organizations
Scope creep can appear if expectations are not clearly defined early

Where IMA tends to shine

Handling complex, multi-country campaigns with many moving parts
Working smoothly with big brand processes and approval flows
Providing structured reporting and learnings for senior stakeholders
Managing large creator pools with consistent standards

Potential limitations with IMA

Smaller brands may feel like one of many clients in a large portfolio
Processes can feel heavy if you want to move very quickly
Minimum budgets or scopes may rule out early-stage experiments

Who each agency is best for

Instead of asking which agency is better overall, it is more useful to ask who each one is better for.

Best fit scenarios for The Station

You are a growing consumer brand aiming to build strong community buzz.
Your priority is authentic, creative content that reflects your unique voice.
You want a partner that feels close to your in-house team and founders.
Your campaigns focus on depth of connection, not only maximum reach.

Best fit scenarios for IMA

You manage a well-known brand with strict brand and legal guidelines.
You need consistent campaigns across multiple countries or markets.
Your leadership expects structured reports and clear ROI narratives.
You can commit to meaningful budgets and long-term programs.

When a platform alternative makes more sense

Hiring a full service influencer agency is not the only path. Some brands prefer a platform-based route, where they keep more work in-house.

Tools like Flinque offer a different model, letting you discover creators, manage outreach, and track campaigns without agency retainers.

This can make sense if you already have a scrappy marketing team and want tighter control over relationships and costs.

When to consider a platform over agencies

Your budget is modest, but you plan to run influencer efforts regularly.
Your team is comfortable handling creator outreach and approvals.
You value owning the data and relationships directly.
You want to test many small collaborations before committing to big spend.

Platforms like Flinque do not fully replace agency brainpower, but they can reduce the cost of day-to-day operations for brands willing to be hands-on.

FAQs

How do I choose between these influencer agencies?

Start with your budget, internal resources, and goals. If you need global scale and deep structure, IMA may fit better. If you want more intimate, creative collaborations and close support, The Station may be the right match.

Can small brands work with larger influencer agencies?

Sometimes, but not always. Larger agencies often prefer higher budgets and longer commitments. If your budget is limited, consider a smaller agency, pilot project, or platform like Flinque before approaching big shops.

What should I ask during an agency pitch meeting?

Ask for recent case studies, team structure, expected timelines, and how they measure success. Clarify who will handle your account day-to-day and what happens if performance lags behind targets.

How long does it take to launch an influencer campaign?

Most full service campaigns take at least four to eight weeks from brief to first content. Global or complex work can take longer. Build in time for contracts, content review, and possible reshoots.

Do I need an agency if I already know some creators?

Not necessarily. If you work with a small creator pool, you can manage it in-house or use a platform. Agencies add the most value when you want to scale, enter new markets, or need strategic guidance.

Deciding what is right for your brand

Choosing between influencer partners is less about names and more about fit. Think carefully about how much help you need, how fast you must move, and what success looks like for your team.

If you want intimate, story-led collaborations with a close partner, The Station’s style may resonate. If you are managing big budgets, regions, and stakeholders, IMA’s structure might feel safer.

And if you prefer to own the process in-house, a platform option such as Flinque can help you run influencer marketing without long-term agency commitments.

Map your goals, talk openly about budget, and ask each partner to explain how their approach will turn creators into real business results.

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.