From Psychology Roots To Influencer Agency Pioneer

Sinan Sahin’s path to founding one of the UK’s leading influencer marketing agencies wasn’t a linear one. With an honors degree in psychology and experience in recruitment and production casting, Sinan was always drawn to understanding human behavior and working with people. 

“My dissertation delved into how media can influence people, which solidified my interest in the power of communication and persuasion,” SinanSahin said. “As social media evolved, I witnessed its profound impact on society and consumer behaviour.”

Recognizing influencer marketing’s potential to drive e-commerce and positive societal change, Sinan decided to combine his expertise to launch Sintillate Talent in 2019. “It became a means to leverage the voices of influencers for both commercial and societal impact,” he explained. “Merging my knowledge of human behavior, recruitment skills and the rise of social media allowed me to create something truly unique.”

Overcoming Isolation Through Teamwork

One of the initial hurdles Sintillate Talent faced was shifting mindsets in an industry where influencers traditionally worked independently. “There were implications of isolation and a sense of being judged, with the focus often solely on individual success,” Sinan noted. 

To combat this, Sintillate Talent implemented a teamwork-centric, values-driven approach. “We fostered a sense of community and belonging among our talent, emphasizing collective success over individual achievement,” Sinan said. “Through forums, campaigns, and events, we cultivated an environment where talent could share experiences, exchange ideas, and support one another.”

This strategy has paid off. In just four years, Sintillate Talent has expanded its influencer and brand network across 20 countries, secured major partnerships, delivered successful campaigns generating millions of reach in earned media value, and won seven global awards for its innovative approaches and commitment to ethics.

“Receiving that level of industry recognition validates our model and motivates us to keep raising the bar,” Sinan said. “It’s vital we maintain our integrity as we scale our impact.”

Streamlining Influencer-Brand Relationships  

At its core, Sintillate Talent’s business model revolves around facilitating authentic, impactful partnerships between influencers and brands. The agency offers services to streamline collaboration, from rigorous talent assessments ensuring reliability and brand commitment, to transparent tracking and reporting processes.

“Central to our approach is managing relationships between influencers and brands,” Sinan said. “We prioritize clear communication, transparency, and mutual respect to foster productive partnerships.”

Sintillate Talent also encourages ongoing, “always-on” relationships between talent and brands beyond individual campaigns. “This approach enhances campaign success while strengthening the overall influencer-brand ecosystem within our network,” SinanSahin explained. “It creates lasting value for all stakeholders involved.”

The agency leverages robust screening processes to vet both talent and brand partners. “We have high standards for joining our network on either side,” Sinan noted. “This quality control protects our reputation and ensures strong alignment for successful collaborations.”

Major Campaign Success with SHEIN

One prime example is Sintillate Talent’s recent partnership with SHEIN, the ultra-fast-fashion e-commerce giant, for its Black Friday campaign spanning multiple countries and involving 20 influencers, which is an average number per campaign.

The campaign’s success stemmed from Sintillate Talent’s talent selection process ensuring diversity and brand alignment, combined with dedicated campaign management. “Our approach maximized efficiency and productivity during the busy Black Friday period,” Sinan said. “By fostering a collective team focus and setting clear deadlines, we drove strong results in a period of the year with the strictest of deadlines.”

“This campaign exemplified our ability to deliver tangible results through strategic planning, collaboration and data optimization during congested periods,” Sinan said. “It solidified our value to SHEIN through consistent, reliable performance securing us a fourth annual contract for 2024.”

Adapting to Constant Change

“By attending conferences with thought leaders, staying informed through podcasts and publications, gathering insights from brand partners and influencers themselves, we can anticipate upcoming trends,” SinanSahin said. “Remaining proactive positions us to continue leading this dynamic industry.”

The agency also prioritizes diversity and cultural relevance for its global clientele spanning the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and APAC. “Leveraging my multicultural background, I’ve been able to bridge cultural gaps and ensure our approach resonates across different contexts,” SinanSahin said.

With new social platforms and content formats continually emerging, agility is key. Sintillate Talent closely tracks rising channels like BeReal and Mastodon to assess integration into future campaigns. The agency also carefully studies usage trends and shifting audience behaviors across mainstream apps like TikTok and Instagram.  

“Paying attention to where audiences are engaging allows us to meet our partners where their communities thrive,” Sinan  explained. “We aim to be early movers capitalizing on new opportunities.”

A Teamwork-First Culture

Sintillate Talent’s success is built on a culture emphasizing teamwork, innovation, and inclusion. “Our mantra is that our work represents not just ourselves, but others as well,” Sinan said. “We win and lose as a team.”  

Open communication, empowerment, and collective celebrations are core tenets. The agency encourages a “spirit of mutual support and respect,” where every team member, talent, and partner feels heard and can contribute to decision-making.

“We believe in empowering each other to succeed and in sending positive messages to society based on our collective experiences,” Sinan noted. This focus on collaboration and positive impact guides Sintillate Talent’s interactions and processes.  

To nurture this ethos, the agency invests significantly in professional development opportunities for staff. From intensive skills training to personal coaching and wellbeing, Sintillate Talent aims to provide tools for personnel to thrive.

“Our people are our biggest asset,” Sinan said. “Equipping them with the right resources ensures we maintain an innovative, motivated team aligned with our vision.”

Best Talent Management Agency 2023 – Prestige Awards – London & South East England, United Kingdom

Looking to the Future  

Over the next five years, Sintillate Talent aims to drive further innovation and global growth in the influencer marketing space. Expansion into new regions and industries is planned, along with investing in advanced analytics, AI optimization, and talent development.

“As the world shifts towards AI and new technologies, we’re committed to leveraging emerging tools to enhance our services and meet our clients’ evolving needs,” Sinan said. The agency recognizes AI’s potential to dramatically shape influencer marketing in years to come.

Sintillate Talent will also prioritize technology and data analytics to optimize campaign effectiveness and efficiency. “By leveraging advanced analytics and AI insights, we aim to deliver even greater value and performance for brands,” Sinan stated.

The agency’s growth roadmap includes expanding its team’s capabilities through comprehensive training and development initiatives. “It’s vital we empower our people with the skills to thrive amidst rapid industry changes,” Sinan  said.   

Ultimately, Sintillate Talent’s motivation remains to deliver innovative, impactful campaigns that resonate worldwide while contributing to positive societal change.

“I find immense fulfillment in people’s growth and evolution, whether professional or personal,” SinanSahin said. “Establishing global connections and fostering cross-cultural impact is incredibly rewarding. Those inspirations drive me to keep achieving new heights.”