Influencers should be somewhat involved in the initial planning stages of a marketing campaign, although the extent of their involvement may vary based on the specific campaign and influencer relationship.

1. Understanding the Campaign: It’s important for influencers to have a solid understanding of the campaign objective, target audience, and key messaging. This ensures their content aligns with your brand voice and campaign goals.

2. Creative Control: Influencers have a deep understanding of what resonates with their audience. Hence, giving them the creative freedom to guide their content within your campaign parameters can often result in more authentic and engaging posts.

3. Contracts and Approvals: While influencers need to be aware of campaign specifics, they usually don’t get involved in the minutiae of contractual terms or final content approval. These aspects are typically handled by the brand or agency and the influencer’s point of contact.

Platforms such as Flinque, HYPR, and Julius, among others, can help manage this collaborative process by streamlining communication, providing audience analytics, and by offering contract and campaign management tools. Remember, choosing the right platform will depend on your team’s specific needs and goals.

It’s crucial to strike a balance between brand goals and influencer authenticity. Incorporating influencers in the planning stages allows them to bring their unique perspective and personality into the strategy, leading to compelling and impactful influencer campaigns.