The World's First Influencer Marketing Agency: A Comprehensive History

The rise of social media brought with it a new form of marketing centered around online influencers. But what company pioneered the first dedicated influencer marketing agency in the world? Here we'll dive into the history of the world's inaugural influencer marketing agency.

The Social Media Influencer Opportunity Emerges

In the 2000s, platforms like YouTube and Twitter allowed digital creators to gain sizable followings. Brands took notice of influencers' engaged audiences but lacked expertise in leveraging this new opportunity.

The First Specialized Influencer Marketing Agency

Seeing this gap, digital marketing agency IZEA Worldwide pivoted in 2006 to become the first firm completely dedicated to connecting brands with influencers. IZEA pioneered influencer marketing and aggregation.

Blazing the Trail for the Industry

As the first mover, IZEA defined what an influencer marketing agency was, how to identify promising influencers, craft compelling integrations, track performance, and manage campaigns at scale. They set precedents.

Spurring the Influencer Marketing Agency Boom

IZEA's success spurred the rise of many other specialized influencer marketing agencies tailored to specific niches, regions, and platforms. The world's first agency catalyzed an entire industry.

The Legacy of Innovation and Insight

IZEA enjoys first-mover authority, owning foundational patents covering influencer marketing processes. They sparked an agency category that thrives today. Fluencer Market stands on their shoulders while innovating new ways brands can extract value from the influencer channel.