Why brands weigh up these two influencer partners
When you look at top influencer marketing agencies, these two names often come up. Both work with creators at scale, but in different ways and for slightly different kinds of brands.
Most marketers want clarity on fit, expected results, and what working day to day with each partner actually feels like.
This walk-through focuses on real-world needs: how campaigns are run, how creators are managed, who each agency suits best, and where a lighter platform option might fit instead.
What these influencer agencies are known for
The primary keyword for this page is global influencer marketing agencies. Both companies sit in that space but answer different needs.
One is widely recognized for large-scale creator programs, social-first strategy, and talent management across major platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
The other has built its name through performance-focused influencer work, especially for mobile apps, gaming, and brands wanting clear user growth alongside reach.
Both help brands move beyond one-off sponsored posts and into structured creator campaigns, but they differ in how much they lean into content, paid media, and measurable installs or sales.
Viral Nation: services and style
This agency is usually seen as a full-service influencer and social media partner. It tends to work with bigger brands that want end-to-end help, from strategy to reporting.
Core services brands usually tap into
Their offering typically spans multiple areas of social and creator work, often rolled into larger programs rather than tiny test campaigns.
- Influencer campaign strategy and management across major platforms
- Creator sourcing, contracting, and relationship handling
- Talent representation for select influencers and creators
- Paid social amplification and content whitelisting
- Social content production and creative direction
- Brand safety, compliance, and risk monitoring
For many brands, the appeal is having one partner that can handle everything from finding the right creators to turning top content into paid ads.
How campaigns are usually run
Campaigns often start with broader business goals: awareness, consideration, or conversions. From there, the team maps channels, types of creators, and content formats.
They may run large multi-creator waves, combining macro influencers for reach with smaller creators for depth and community engagement.
Content is frequently repurposed into paid placements on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, giving the best posts more life than just organic reach.
Reporting typically includes metrics such as views, engagement, link clicks, and, where possible, downstream impact like signups or sales.
Creator relationships and talent side
Beyond managing campaigns, this agency is also known for representing individual creators. That dual role changes how they work in the market.
On campaign work, they recruit both in-house talent and independent creators, depending on fit, budget, and audience need.
Being close to talent can help unlock better creative ideas, more authentic content, and deeper knowledge of what will actually resonate with each audience.
However, representation also means they must balance brand goals with long-term creator careers, which sometimes affects negotiation and creative scope.
Typical client fit for this team
This partner often fits brands that:
- Want global or multi-country influencer campaigns
- Need both strategy and execution under one roof
- Value polished creative and strong brand protection
- Are comfortable with larger budgets and longer planning cycles
Industries often include consumer brands, gaming, tech, financial services, and other sectors that see social media as a core brand channel.
Zorka Agency: services and style
This agency is often associated with performance-driven influencer and user acquisition work, especially for app and game publishers.
Core services they highlight
While still running broad influencer projects, their positioning leans more toward measurable acquisition and growth.
- Influencer marketing with a focus on installs or conversions
- Paid user acquisition across channels alongside creators
- Creative production for ads and influencer content
- Performance analytics tied to app installs or signups
- Support for gaming, fintech, e-commerce, and app-based brands
The appeal here is often a closer tie between creator content and concrete growth outcomes, especially around mobile products.
How influencer campaigns are structured
Campaigns often revolve around tracking links, promo codes, and events like installs, registrations, or in-app actions.
Creators are chosen not only for reach and style but also for how likely their audiences are to try new games, apps, or services.
The team typically blends organic influencer posts with paid boosts, creative testing, and iterative optimization based on early results.
Performance metrics such as cost per install, cost per action, or return on ad spend are often central to decision-making.
Creator relationships and regional strengths
This agency has experience with a wide mix of creators in gaming, lifestyle, and tech-friendly niches.
They often work heavily with YouTube and streaming platforms, plus social channels where gaming and app communities are strong.
Relationships are usually framed around clear performance goals, with creators briefed on strong calls to action and tracking methods.
Brands that care deeply about measurable downloads and signups tend to appreciate this more analytical creator approach.
Typical client fit for this team
This partner often suits brands that:
- Run mobile apps, games, or subscription platforms
- Want influencer spend tied directly to user growth numbers
- Are comfortable with ongoing testing and optimization
- Operate in competitive performance-heavy markets
It can also be a strong match for emerging brands that see influencers as part of a bigger performance marketing mix rather than only for branding.
How the two agencies really differ
Both options sit among global influencer marketing agencies, but there are clear differences in how they work and what they emphasize.
Brand building versus performance tilt
One side leans more toward brand-building, storytelling, and long-term creator partnerships that boost perception and social presence.
The other often leans toward performance metrics, connecting each campaign more tightly to installs, registrations, or purchases.
In practice, this means one may spend more time on big ideas and hero content while the other obsessively tracks cost per result and tests variations.
Scale and campaign complexity
Campaigns from the larger, brand-focused shop often involve many teams: strategy, creative, production, influencer management, paid media, and reporting.
This works well for global companies but can feel heavier for startups wanting to move very fast.
The performance-focused agency may move more nimbly, especially for app launches or game updates where speed and testing are crucial.
However, some brands may feel it is less suited if they mainly want upper-funnel storytelling with no direct conversion goal.
Client experience and communication style
If you are a marketing leader at a large brand, you may be used to multi-layered teams, longer onboarding, and extensive decks.
The more performance-oriented partner may feel more like a user acquisition agency with creators baked in, with a sharper focus on spreadsheets and dashboards.
Neither style is better across the board. The right choice depends on whether you want deep creative partnership, hard numbers, or a mix of both.
Pricing approach and how work is scoped
Neither of these agencies publishes simple price lists. Both typically work through custom quotes that reflect your goals, regions, and creator mix.
Common pricing building blocks
Across both, you will usually see similar parts within a proposal.
- Campaign strategy and planning fees
- Creator fees for posts, content usage, and exclusivity
- Management and coordination costs
- Production and editing where needed
- Paid media budgets to boost winning content
- Reporting and optimization work throughout the campaign
Typically, the more markets, creators, and content pieces involved, the higher the overall budget.
Retainers versus project-based work
Larger brands may work on retainers, especially with the more brand-focused partner, giving an ongoing team that runs multiple waves of activity.
Retainers often cover always-on creator work, monthly reporting, and strategic support for social channels.
Project-based work is more common for launches, seasonal promotions, or testing new markets.
Here, pricing usually bundles planning, creator fees, and management into a defined scope for a specific time frame.
How performance goals affect cost
On the performance-oriented side, pricing may tie closer to expected installs or conversions, often with flexible testing built in.
That can mean more focus on variable costs like creator payouts, performance bonuses, and paid amplification budgets.
Brands with strict acquisition targets should expect deeper conversations around tracking setups, attribution models, and allowable cost per result.
Strengths and limitations on both sides
Both agencies bring strong capabilities, but they also have natural trade-offs depending on what you need.
Key strengths
- Broad influencer networks and established creator relationships
- Experience across multiple industries and markets
- Ability to combine organic influencer content with paid distribution
- Structured processes for briefing, approvals, and brand safety
- Experience with large brands and complex internal teams
These strengths make them attractive partners if you want reliable delivery and proven methods rather than building everything from scratch.
Common limitations brands should weigh
A frequent concern is whether agency fees will eat so much of the budget that not enough is left for strong creators and media.
- They may be overkill for very small budgets or hyper-local projects.
- Decision-making can feel slower compared with scrappy in-house squads.
- Performance measurement is only as good as tracking and attribution allow.
- Brands must invest time upfront in onboarding and approval flows.
- Some smaller or niche creators may feel overshadowed by bigger names.
Knowing these trade-offs upfront helps you decide if you are ready to engage at this level, or if a lighter option makes more sense for now.
Who each agency is best suited for
To make this more practical, it helps to map each agency to real-world brand situations and needs.
Best fit for a brand-focused global partner
You are more likely to benefit from the larger, branding-heavy shop if you:
- Run an established consumer or tech brand with clear positioning
- Want big, creative influencer ideas across multiple markets
- Need help with both creator work and overall social strategy
- Care strongly about long-term brand equity and reputation
- Have enough budget for sizeable creator rosters and paid support
This kind of partner is often used by companies similar to well-known global brands that treat social as a primary marketing channel.
Best fit for a performance-heavy influencer partner
You may lean toward the performance-driven agency if you:
- Run a mobile app, game, fintech product, or subscription service
- Need clear tracking between influencer content and user growth
- Plan to test and optimize constantly rather than run a single big splash
- Are comfortable working closely with analytics and performance metrics
- View influencers as part of your broader user acquisition mix
This path is common among app publishers, gaming companies, and digital-first brands that run large, ongoing acquisition programs.
When a platform alternative like Flinque can fit better
Not every brand is ready for full-service agency retainers. Some teams want more control and flexibility without long contracts or large minimum budgets.
Where a platform-based option fits
A platform such as Flinque positions itself as a way to run influencer work in-house while still getting modern tools.
- Search and discover creators based on filters that matter to you
- Manage outreach, negotiation, and briefings directly
- Track posts, performance, and content usage in one place
- Keep costs focused on creators and internal time, not agency overhead
This route can make sense if you already have a marketing team willing to own influencer relationships and campaign planning.
When to consider switching from agency to platform
A platform-first approach might be better if you:
- Have smaller or fluctuating budgets that make retainers hard to justify
- Want to experiment quickly in new niches or markets
- Prefer to build long-term creator relationships directly
- Need more visibility into every conversation and contract
Some brands even blend both paths, using a full-service agency for flagship markets and a platform for smaller tests or local programs.
FAQs
How do I decide which influencer partner fits my brand?
Start with your main goal. If you want storytelling and global brand presence, a brand-focused agency helps. If you need installs or signups, a performance-leaning team or platform may fit better. Then match your budget, timeline, and desired level of control.
Can smaller brands work with these agencies?
Some smaller brands do, but most of these teams are optimized for mid-market and enterprise budgets. If your budget is limited, consider starting with a platform like Flinque or a smaller boutique partner before approaching large global agencies.
How long does it take to launch a campaign?
Timelines vary, but full-service agency campaigns often take several weeks or more for strategy, creator sourcing, approvals, and production. Performance-heavy programs may launch faster after the first setup, especially once creator lists and tracking are in place.
Do these agencies guarantee sales or installs?
No reputable agency can guarantee specific sales or installs, because results depend on your product, market, and many external factors. Performance-focused partners will, however, optimize toward agreed metrics and be transparent about what is and is not working.
Should I use both an agency and a platform?
Some brands do. They use a full-service partner for major launches and brand work, while running smaller or experimental campaigns through a platform. This hybrid approach can balance expert support with more hands-on control and budget flexibility.
Conclusion: choosing the right influencer partner
Your choice should start with three things: your main goal, your budget range, and how involved you want to be in daily creator work.
If you want sweeping creative ideas and deep social support, a large global agency can be powerful, assuming you are ready for the investment.
If you run a product that lives or dies by user growth metrics, a performance-driven influencer team may be more aligned with your needs and culture.
If you prefer to keep control in-house and move flexibly, a platform like Flinque can give you tools without heavy retainers.
There is no single right answer. The best partner is the one whose strengths line up with your goals, your timelines, and how your team likes to work.
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.
Jan 06,2026
