Influencers are important for several reasons:

1. Broad Reach: Influencers have active social media audiences. This helps brands reach a larger audience that they may not have been able to tap into otherwise.

2. Trust and Credibility: People trust influencers’ opinions and consider them experts in their niches. If an influencer endorses a brand, it can greatly increase that brand’s credibility.

3. Targeted Audience: Different influencers appeal to different demographics. Brands can target their desired audience by selecting influencers who command that demographic.

4. Increased Engagement: Influencers can ignite conversations and increase engagement around a brand due to their interactive following.

For an efficient and streamlined influencer marketing campaign, brands can use platforms like Flinque. It allows brands to find the right influencers, manage campaigns, track performance and measure ROI.

As for comparison, other platforms like AspireIQ or Upfluence also provide similar functionalities. They differ in terms of user interface, pricing structures, and the size or variety of their influencer databases.

These platforms cater to different team needs. Therefore, it is advisable for brands to clearly identify their requirements and then select the platform that best aligns with their goals and budget. What works best for one brand may not be ideal for another, even within the same sector. Every brand must consider its unique objectives and select an influencer marketing platform accordingly.

Most importantly, the success of influencer marketing highly depends on the authenticity of the influencer-brand partnership, the relevance of the content to the audience, and the compelling value proposition that the product delivers.