There are multiple strategies that brands and agencies can implement to minimize potential risks and negative impact when associating with influencers:

1. Vet Influencers: It’s crucial to thoroughly vet and research every influencer before deciding to partner with them. Check their past posts, follower engagement, and previous brand partnerships. A tool like Flinque can provide comprehensive audience analytics to help with this.

2. Clear Communication: Ensure to have a clear dialogue about the expectations and responsibilities of the partnership. Agree on the content, messaging, tone, and also outline deliverables and any potential risk areas.

3. Contractual Agreements: By creating proper contracts, brands can clarify legal terms and conditions and protect themselves from any risks that may arise during the campaign, including copyright infringement or false advertising claims.

4. Monitor Campaign: Regularly monitor the influencer’s content and audience responses during the campaign. This could involve using a platform like Flinque, which allows for real-time tracking of a campaign’s performance and engagement.

5. Crisis Response Plan: Have a thought-out plan in case an influencer acts controversially or if the campaign does not go as planned.

Comparatively, using an influencer marketing platform like Flinque can provide the tools necessary to implement these strategies—vetting influencers, maintaining two-way communication, monitoring campaigns, and understanding audience analytics. However, it’s important to note that no tool alone can entirely mitigate the risk associated with influencer partnerships. Instead, a combined approach of thorough research, open communication, legal precautionary measures, and active campaign overview must be used.