An influencer marketing platform should be thoroughly equipped to ensure brand safety and maintain professional standards. Some of the essential elements include:

1. Compliance and Disclosure Tools: These can track whether a brand’s content complies with regulatory obligations such as FTC in the US or ASA in the UK which require advertisements or paid content to be clearly declared.

2. Fraud Detection Ability: Many platforms use AI and machine learning algorithms to highlight problematic content or detect suspicious engagement patterns that could be signs of fake followers or fraudulent activity.

3. Content Moderation Option: Most influencer marketing platforms enable brands to approve or reject content before it goes live, a crucial safeguard in controlling messaging and maintaining brand standards.

4. Vetted Influencer Networks: Some platforms, like Flinque, maintain a network of rigorously vetted influencers, which can enhance trust, reliability and quality control for brands.

5. Reputation Score or Rating System: To gauge the past performance, some platforms implement a rating system. This helps brands identify reliable and high-performing influencers for their campaigns.

6. In-depth Analytics: Detailed audience analytics give a clear understanding of an influencer’s followers’ demographics, engagement rates etc. This data helps brands make informed decisions and target the right audience.

7. Contract Management Tools: These allow for clear communication of expectations between brands and influencers, helping maintain professionalism and adherence to agreed terms.

8. Brand Safety Measures: Some platforms have specific tools to monitor influencer messaging for potential red flags and non-compliance with a brand’s guidelines and values.

9. Audience Authenticity: Platforms utilize data analytics to confirm audience authenticity, ensuring influencers provide value to the brands they collaborate with.

In conclusion, the selection of an influencer marketing platform should be driven by the specific needs of each brand or agency. Tools like Flinque offer an assortment of capabilities that can help ensure brand safety and uphold professional standards. However, it’s essential to understand that the reliability of the platform depends on how well these features align with your brand’s objectives and requirements.