Thomson’s success was based on a simple idea: small brands could obtain honest reviews from micro-influencers in exchange for free products or a small fee, without the need for a large marketing budget or a dedicated team. This model has worked for many businesses, but as brands grow, or when their goals shift towards paid partnerships, e-commerce tracking, or long-term manufacturer relationships, Thomson’s simplicity may seem limiting.
If you are not satisfied with the features offered by Thomson, or if you want to compare it with other sites like Thomson before choosing a platform, here are seven tools you should consider. These tools are designed for various stages of influencer programs.
Intelfluence
Intelifluence, which Thomson originally proposed, operates on a “pay-per-task” and “credit-based” system. Through this platform, brands can access reviews and product information without requiring a large monthly subscription. The initial investment required to use the platform is relatively low, making it more suitable for smaller brands and individual creators compared to large-scale campaigns.
This is ideal for smaller brands that want to run review-based advertising campaigns similar to Thomson’s original model, but at a lower cost and with minimal effort.
2. Tribe/Group
Trib focuses on promotional campaigns for product samples and a “pay-per-performance” pricing model, similar to Thomson. Brands pay a fixed fee for each campaign, rather than a recurring subscription fee. The platform’s structure is so simple that it can be managed by a small team without specialized experience.
This feature is ideal for startups and small brands that need to quickly obtain product reviews without requiring any additional training.
3. Influencer/Personality
Influencers essentially function like a simple platform for businesses. Here, brands publish their advertising/promotional opportunities, and creators directly apply for those opportunities. The pricing for this service is comparable to standard software subscriptions, making it accessible even to smaller teams. This service is particularly well-suited for nano and micro-influencers, which aligns with Thomson’s existing expertise.
For brands that need a modern, user-friendly marketplace but also want to continue leveraging micro-influencers, this option is ideal.
4. Green
GRIN is significantly better than Tomoson. It’s a good option for e-commerce brands looking to grow their sales through influencer marketing. It integrates well with platforms like Shopify and Magento, and also offers easy management of discount codes. For brands that are committed to long-term influencer marketing strategies, this is an excellent choice.
The drawback is that it is both expensive and complex. GRIN operates on a subscription model, which is significantly more expensive than Thomson’s offerings. Furthermore, it requires more training to use effectively. In reality, GRIN functions much like a fully-featured creator CRM system, rather than a standard marketplace.
This is particularly suitable for e-commerce brands that want to maintain long-term relationships with their brand ambassadors, rather than relying on one-off promotional campaigns.
5. Espyr (formerly EspyrIQ)
Aspire focuses on long-term, community-based relationships, rather than short-term, transactional strategies. It provides brands with access to a diverse pool of creators and offers the tools and resources needed to manage collaborations effectively. This is an ideal solution for brands that have initially adopted strategies like those used by Thomson, and now wish to establish lasting partnerships with the same creators.
These prices are suitable for medium-sized and large businesses. Therefore, they are appropriate for teams that have sufficient budget for influencer marketing, but not for those that are just starting out or only do it occasionally.
This is particularly suitable for brands that want to establish ongoing and consistent relationships with creators, rather than relying solely on one-off reviews.
6. Influence
UpInfluence organizes influencer relationships within a CRM-like structure and directly connects with e-commerce platforms. This provides brands with real-time sales data and insights into influencer activities, making it ideal for teams seeking to accurately assess the return on investment.
This is particularly suitable for brands that require real-time purchase and revenue data; simply knowing the success of campaigns is not enough.
7. BuzzStream
BuzzStream was not specifically designed for influencer marketing, but many smaller groups use it to maintain contact and relationships with pre-selected individuals. It is less expensive than most dedicated influencer platforms and is also suitable for teams that need to track and manage conversations and follow-up in an organized manner, rather than relying on a comprehensive search database.
Best option: For small teams that already have a list of creators and want an easy way to manage their outreach efforts at a low cost.
Choose a platform that aligns with the actual location of your program.
The best way to understand this list is by looking at the features offered, rather than the individual platforms themselves. Intellifluence and Tribe, offered by Thomson, are similar to those already in use, focusing on lower costs and quick setup, with an emphasis on product reviews. Afluencer, with a similar target audience, falls into this category as a more modern option. GRIN, Aspire, and Upfluence are designed for brands that have moved beyond one-off campaigns and require e-commerce integration or long-term relationship management. BuzzStream is suitable for teams that have moved beyond the initial discovery phase.
If your program is still small and primarily focused on obtaining honest reviews from micro-influencers, using Thomson may not be necessary. However, if you require sales data, recurring collaborations, or a more organized workflow, then using one of the larger platforms listed in this document would be beneficial.
Final thought
There isn’t a single “best” platform for Thomson. The ideal choice depends on whether you’re currently running basic product review campaigns, or if you’re aiming to develop a more comprehensive program that includes sales data. Utilize the free trials or basic features offered by any platform to test its suitability for your current needs. Once you’ve run a real campaign, you can then decide whether to invest in further development.