Influencer agency VS social media agency: what's the difference?

Blog post

In today's digital landscape, companies are looking to optimize their online presence and engage their audience. Two types of agency play a key role in this: influencer agencies and social media agencies. Although their functions may seem similar, they have distinct missions and expertise.

In this article, we explore the differences between an influencer agency and a social media agency. We'll highlight their roles, advantages and specificities.

 

 

What is an influencer agency?

 

Definition and role

To begin with, an influencer agency specializes in connecting brands with influencers. Influencers are individuals with a strong presence on social networks and an engaged audience. The main role of the influencer agency is to facilitate collaboration between brands and influencers to create impactful campaigns. 

 

Our services

Services offered by an influencer agency include:

- Influencer identification Find relevant influencers for your brand and campaign.

- Relationship management Negotiate the terms of collaborations and ensure fluid communication between the brand and influencers.

- Content strategy Content strategy: Develop creative campaign concepts that align with brand objectives.

- Monitoring and evaluation Analyze the performance of influencer campaigns and provide detailed reports.

 

Specific expertise

In addition, an influencer agency's expertise lies in its ability to identify influencers whose audience and content are a perfect match for the brand. It uses analytical tools to assess influencer authenticity and engagement, guaranteeing a fruitful collaboration. At 18h08, that's exactly what we do. We help you find relevant influencers to optimize your campaigns and maximize your results. If you'd like to find out more about how we work, go right here.

 

 

What is a social media agency?

 

Definition and role

In contrast, a social media agency focuses on the overall management of a brand's presence on social networks. It develops and executes strategies that increase visibility, engagement and audience growth on various social platforms. 

 

Our services

The services offered by a social media agency include, among others:

- Social account management Creation and daily management of the brand's social profiles.

- Content creation Production of visual and written content adapted to different social platforms.

- Paid advertising Design and management of advertising campaigns on social networks.

- Community management Interacting with the audience, managing comments and messages, and moderating discussions.

- Analysis and reporting Monitoring the performance of campaigns and social activities, and providing analytical reports.

 

Specific expertise

What's more, a social media agency's expertise lies in its ability to manage a brand's entire social presence. It masters the subtleties of each platform and knows how to optimize content and strategies. This maximizes engagement and audience growth. A good example is the Sprinklr agency, which offers complete social network management and analytics solutions for major brands like Nike.

 

 

Comparison of influencer agencies and social media agencies

 

Objectives and strategies

Influencer agency

Influencer agencies' main objective is to create partnerships between brands and influencers. Their strategy is based on using the power of influence of content creators to achieve objectives in terms of awareness, consideration or conversion.

 

Social media agency

Conversely, social media agencies aim to strengthen a brand's overall presence on social networks. Their strategy encompasses content creation, community management and the use of paid advertising to achieve a wide range of objectives, from brand awareness to customer loyalty. 

 

Approach and methodology

Influencer agency

Influencer agencies' approach focuses on selecting and collaborating with relevant influencers. They use data and analytics to select influencers whose audience matches that of the brand and who have a strong ability to engage their community. A relevant example is influencer agency "Gleam Futures", which used in-depth analytics to select fitness influencers for a nutritional products campaign.

 

Social media agency

In contrast, social media agencies take a holistic approach, managing all aspects of a brand's social presence. They create and plan content, engage audiences directly and use advertising campaigns to achieve brand objectives. 

 

Advantages and limitations

Influencer agency

Advantages :

- Precise targeting Influencer campaigns can target specific niches thanks to the influencer's audience.

- High engagement Influencer recommendations are often perceived as genuine, which increases engagement. For example, when we collaborated with Hypnoledgewe generated over 7.5K direct clicks and over 1.2M impressions.

- Creativity Influencers often bring creative ideas and authentic content that are appreciated by their audience.

Limitations:

- Influencer dependency Successful campaigns rely heavily on the performance of influencers.

- High costs : Working with popular influencers can be costly.

 

Social media agency

Advantages :

- Total control Social media agencies directly manage all aspects of social presence, ensuring brand consistency.

- Adaptability They can adjust strategies in real time according to performance and trends.

- Extended reach : Paid campaigns enable you to reach a larger, more diversified audience.

Limitations:

- Time and resources The day-to-day management of social accounts can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

- Variable engagement Organic engagement can be harder to maintain without the contribution of influencers.

 

 

Choosing between an influencer agency and a social media agency

 

Specific brand needs

The choice between an influencer agency and a social media agency largely depends on the brand's specific needs. For example, if the main objective is to leverage the power of influencers to increase awareness or promote specific products, an influencer agency will probably be the best choice. On the other hand, if the brand is looking to develop a solid, consistent presence across multiple social platforms, a social media agency will be more suitable.

 

Budget and resources

The financial and human resources available also play a crucial role in this decision. Collaborating with influencers can require higher budgets, especially if you're targeting highly followed influencers. A social media agency, while also potentially expensive, often offers a wider range of services for the same budget, which can be a deciding factor for some brands.

 

Short-term vs. long-term goals

Finally, for one-off campaigns or product launches, an influencer agency can deliver fast, visible results thanks to the leverage of influencers. For long-term objectives, such as continued growth of social presence and constant audience engagement, a social media agency will be more appropriate.

 

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, influencer agencies and social media agencies offer distinct but complementary services in the field of digital marketing. An influencer agency specializes in creating impactful campaigns in collaboration with influencers, while a social media agency manages a brand's overall presence on social networks. The choice between these two types of agency depends on the brand's specific objectives, budget and available resources. By understanding the differences and advantages of each type of agency, brands can make an informed choice to optimize their digital marketing strategy.

If you don't want to take care of your influencer marketing strategy, contact us. We're the number 1 influencer marketing strategy agency in France. We'll work with you to identify your needs and create a tailor-made strategy. We've already worked with Booking, Nokia, Décathlon... So why not you?