Should I get an agent as an influencer?

ByJohanna Voss Published: Updated:

“Should I get an agent as an influencer?” It’s a question that many content creators ponder as they navigate the dynamic landscape of digital media. In an era where the lines between creativity and commerce blur, influencers find themselves grappling with a myriad of responsibilities, from content creation to brand partnerships and legal obligations. Let’s look at the benefits and considerations.

Should I get an agent as an Influencer
Should I get an agent as an Influencer

Benefits of Hiring an Agent:

  • Administrative Support: Agents specialize in negotiating brand deals, handling contracts, and managing partnerships, allowing you to focus more on creating content and engaging with your audience. This can be particularly beneficial if you find yourself overwhelmed by the demands of balancing the creative and business aspects of your influencer career.
  • Industry Networks: Agents often have extensive networks within the industry, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations that might not be accessible otherwise. Their connections with brands, agencies, and other influencers can help you expand your reach and secure lucrative partnerships that align with your brand and values.
  • Legal and Financial Expertise: .From ensuring compliance with advertising regulations to handling payment processing and invoicing, agents can provide valuable support in managing these crucial aspects of your career. This can help you avoid potential pitfalls and legal issues while maximizing your earning potential.
     
  • Strategic Guidance: Agents provide strategic advice based on their industry experience and knowledge of market trends, helping you make informed decisions that align with your long-term goals. Whether you’re looking to diversify your revenue streams, refine your brand strategy, or explore new platforms, an agent can offer valuable insights and help you make informed decisions that align with your long-term goals.

Other considerations about hiring an agent : 

  • Commission Fees: Agents charge a commission on deals they negotiate, which can affect your earnings. Some agents charge a monthly retainer for their services as well.
  • Finding the Right Fit: Finding an agent who understands your vision and goals may require time and effort, and there’s a risk of hiring someone who doesn’t have your best interests at heart.
4 benefits to have an influencer agent
4 benefits to have an influencer agent

Ultimately, whether you should get an agent as an influencer depends on your individual circumstances, goals, and preferences. If you feel overwhelmed by the business aspects of managing your career or believe that an agent could help you unlock new opportunities and maximize your earning potential, it may be worth exploring. However, if you’re confident in your ability to handle these aspects independently and prefer to maintain full control over your career, you may choose to forgo hiring an agent.

Do I need an agent as an Influencer?

The decision to partner with an influencer agent is a significant one and not one to be taken lightly! It’s an exciting time and whenever I hear of someone who is starting to explore an Influencer talent manager, I get super jazzed up, like when my friend Nick Rowley commented on my Linkedin post about this article.

Pro tip : If you’ve loved this article, sign up for my weekly newsletter HERE. It’s full of industry insights, brand negotiation tips and scripts, events I’m attending, perspective on how to grow your Influencer business and more. I keep it pretty scrappy and real – would love you to join us over there! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.

Should I get an agent as an Influencer FAQs

How many followers do you need to be an Influencer?

Great question. There’s no set number or threshold at which someone becomes an influencer. What I do think is really important to remember is that it’s not based on your follower count but on what you’re an expert on. What do you share about that people continually come back to your profile page? You could have 3488 followers who absolutely ADORE the educational content you put out about homeschooling while living in a Yurt. 

I wrote more about it in this article, “The Magic Numbers : How many followers to become an Influencer?”

Can I hire someone to help me become an Influencer?

I mean…….not really. Can you hire someone to help you increase your follower count? Sure. But to be an influencer (and really, check out the question above), you’ve got to be super knowledgeable about something. Can you outsource that? No. 

Here’s an article I wrote about the 12 best influencer habits. If you want to be a full time influencer, these habits are a great way to build your influencer business. 

How much do influencer agents make?

We make 10-20% of the brand deals we close. If our roster has done $100k worth of brand projects, then we earn $20,000 for those of us who earn 20%. Our success as a talent manager is intrinsically tied to yours as the talent. We don’t win if you don’t win, you know what I mean?

Do Influencers have agents?

Yes, they sure do. Not all of them have agents tho. It’s really a personal decision based on the things I’ve outlined above. I know a number of really large sized (by follower count) uber successful influencers who keep talent management in-house vs hiring someone to do it for them. 

How to work with brands as a micro influencer?

This is a hard question to answer quickly. In fact, I wrote a longer article here about it “How to work with brands as a micro influencer” but I can tell you that it requires a lot of work before you start pitching to brands. You’ll need to figure out your niche, identify what sort of content will you create, how you deliver value and what your aesthetic looks like to name a few key items.