Advertising is a $578 billion industry worldwide. With so much money at stake, choosing the right advertising agency for your company is crucial. These days, advertisements must do more than sell merchandise. Consumers expect more from the brands they do business with and need to learn about your company’s values, and they won’t tolerate mistakes. Failed marketing campaigns can result in devastating losses totaling millions or even billions of dollars. Even minor advertising faux pas can lead to companies losing 15-40% of their stock value. Rebounding from these mistakes is often difficult and time-consuming. That is why we recommend working with a skilled advertising agency that knows how to communicate to your target market.
The agencies on our list have their fingers on the pulse of society. They know what matters to your audience and will help your business develop a comprehensive marketing strategy that produces relevant and engaging advertising campaigns. 41% of viewers will block the ads they dislike. Don’t allow your marketing dollars to be wasted. Instead, go with one of the reputable agencies on our list and enjoy quality marketing that really speaks to your buyers.
Top 18 Best Advertising Agencies
- Ogilvy – Our Favorite
- Parrot Fish Studio – Most Innovative
- We Are Social – Best for Social Media Campaigns
- Dentsu – Best for Customer Engagement
- Publicis Groupe – Best for Enterprise
- Saatchi & Saatchi – Strong Storytelling
- TBWA – Best for Change Agents
- Hearts & Science – Best for Buyer/Brand Relationships
- Leo Burnett – Trustworthy Ad Agency
- Hakuhodo Global – Best Ad Agency in Asia
- Ideo – Best B2B Advertising Agency
- AlmapBBDO – Best Agency in South America
- Edelman – Best North American Agency
- Weiden & Kennedy – Lasting Brand Loyalty
- Bartle Bogle Hegarty – Memorable Visual Advertising
- 6 Degrees – Best for E-Commerce
- Concentric – Ads that Create Cultural Icons
- Observatory – Ads That Create Cultural Icons
1. Ogilvy – Our Favorite
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | Sea Containers House 18 Upper Ground London SE1 9RQ United Kingdom |
| Founded: | 1948 |
| Key Clients: | CDC, Burger King, Dove, IBM, IKEA, Vogue, Budweiser, Google, Coca-Cola, British Airways, Cadbury, United Nations, LEGO, Dole |
Ogilvy aims to make an impact on the audience, one they will always remember. If you’re ready for your brand to make its mark, Ogilvy has the talent and creativity you desire. Their attention-grabbing images and rousing content makes a lasting impression even after your customers look away. Ogilvy has represented many of the name-brand companies we see daily and crafted a number of popular campaigns which have remained subculture slogans even to this day. For imagery and influence that will keep your brand name forefront in your customer’s minds, Ogilvy is the right choice.
2. Parrot Fish Studio – Most Innovative
| Pricing: | $1,000+ |
| Location: | 9441 SW 146th Street Miami, FL 33176 United States |
| Founded: | 2001 |
| Key Clients: | Disney, Discovery Channel, Florida International University, Cleveland Clinic, Barbie, Aventura Animal Hospital, AMC Networks International, A&E, History Channel, Animal Planet |
Parrot Fish Studio knows how to spread a message. The agency has partnered with ubiquitous American brands like Disney and Barbie as well as with many television and film companies to ensure customers feel a real connection to the products and services they consume. Beautiful and innovative advertising makes your brand memorable and brings interested consumers back for more. Parrot Fish creates brand images that speak to the people you want to reach. The agency helps your company make a powerful first impression which results in a strong reputation and ever-increasing sales.
3. We Are Social – Best for Social Media Campaigns
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | Alphabeta, 14-18 Finsbury Square London EC2A 1AH United Kingdom |
| Founded: | 2008 |
| Key Clients: | Samsung, Netflix, Adidas, WWF, Domino’s Pizza, HBO, Animal Crossing, Kellogg’s, Doc Martens, FIFA, MLB, ACTi Vision |
Cheerful, friendly campaigns are what We Are Social is known for. The agency has worked with a variety of popular clients to craft advertisements which are both inspiring and appealing. As the name suggests, We Are Social narrows the focus to social media and gaming campaigns with the aim of reaching savvy young audiences who want to engage with the companies they do business with. Targeting millennials and “Gen-Z” enables We Are Social’s clients to form lifelong relationships and cement customer loyalty. The agency has locations in North America, Europe, and Asia.
4. Dentsu – Best for Customer Engagement
| Pricing: | $5,000+ |
| Location: | 1-8-1, Higashi-shimbashi Minato-ku Minato City, 105-0004 Japan |
| Founded: | 1901 |
| Key Clients: | Nabisco, Kroger, Crayola, Royal Caribbean, Foot Locker, MINI, American Express, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Eurostar, Burberry |
Japanese advertising agency Dentsu knows the importance of making a statement. The agency’s client list is jam-packed with some of the most powerful companies in the world. Talented staff at Dentsu have the knowledge and experience to reach consumers across the globe, yet also understand local marketing and culture in many different regions. This allows them to artfully prepare advertisements which engage customers on different levels and to strengthen the personal connection they feel with your brand. Dentsu has locations in Europe, Israel, Asia, New Zealand, and the United States.
5. Publicis Groupe – Best for Enterprise
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | 133 Avenue des Champs-Elysees 75008 Paris France |
| Founded: | 1926 |
| Key Clients: | Whirlpool, Deisel, Tesco, Carrefour, Toyota, British Airways, Tinder, Mercedes-Benz, Holland America Cruise Line, Renault, Comic Relief |
At Publicis Groupe, consumer engagement is of the utmost importance. The agency understands that today’s customers want to do more than buy. They want to feel part of something larger than themselves. Creating interactive campaigns and social media presentations allows interested consumers to learn about your brand in a fresh, new way. Publicis Groupe understands how to provide customers with the feeling of value and purpose through innovative advertising that speaks to their heart. Their work with Comic Relief showcases their ability to combine a whimsical, spirited presentation with the important information your brand has to convey.
6. Saatchi & Saatchi – Strong Storytelling
| Pricing: | $25,000+ |
| Location: | 40 Chancery Ln London WC2A 1JA United Kingdom |
| Founded: | 1970 |
| Key Clients: | Tide, PepsiCo, London Film Academy, Visa, Toyota, Pampers, Cheerios, Royal Mint Australia, Global Women |
Saatchi & Saatchi is an advertising institution. The agency specializes in creating varied campaigns to reach a large market. Much of their work focuses on the need for progressive change and how business is leading the way. Displaying your brand’s efforts to become a positive force for good in the world allows you to capitalize on goodwill and customer enthusiasm while setting a precedent in your industry. Saatchi & Saatchi makes interesting ads people enjoy. Their storytelling abilities pull the viewer in and create a desire to know more about your company and products.
7. TBWA – Best for Change Agents
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | 488 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022 United States |
| Founded: | 1970 |
| Key Clients: | IKEA, Shanghai Pride, McDonald’s, Tourism New Zealand, Fortum, Nissan, ANZ Bank, Joburg Ballet, WWF, Gatorade |
TBWA prides itself on devising innovative campaigns that shake things up. Creating a buzz about your company is the agency’s primary goal. The agency has made a name for itself as “the disruption company”, one which delivers transformational advertising that challenges the status quo. Their portfolio is full of thought-provoking advertising text and concepts that linger even when readers turn the next page. Above all, the talented advertisers at TBWA want your company’s name to be recognized worldwide. The agency has branches across the USA as well as in Europe and Asia.
8. Hearts & Science – Best for Buyer/Brand Relationships
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | 1285 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019 United States |
| Founded: | 2016 |
| Key Clients: | Air France, Barclay’s, The New York Times, HBO, Intuit, AT&T, Amgen |
Innovation is key at Hearts & Science, an Omnicom company specializing in original advertising for big-name brands. The agency combines analytics with research into buyer personas to construct ads that speak to both individual consumers and business clients. This has resulted in accolades from the CMAs, Cannes, Comic-Con and Adweek. The agency remains laser-focused on reaching customers who show interest in your products or industry. Instead of casting a wide net, they narrow the focus to diverting competitor traffic your way. Hearts & Sciences has offices throughout the Americas, Western Europe, the Middle East, and India.
9. Leo Burnett – Trustworthy Ad Agency
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | 40 Chancery Lane London, WC2A 1JA United Kingdom |
| Founded: | 1935 |
| Key Clients: | McDonald’s, Fiat, Emirates MBD Bank, Proctor & Gamble, Pernod Ricard, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Aguila |
Leo Burnett makes the kind of advertisements you hear discussed at the watercooler for weeks after broadcast. Thought-provoking advertisements that bring about change is one of the goals of the talented agents at Leo Burnett. The agency helps your brand become a positive symbol for consumers. Their intricate and detailed campaigns take into account the social and political attitudes of the local and international market ensuring that your company speaks to the buyers you want most. Campaigns at Leo Burnett lead to buyer trust and long-term loyalty to your business.
10. Hakuhodo Global – Best Ad Agency in Asia
| Pricing: | $1,000+ |
| Location: | Akasaka Biz Tower 5-3-1 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo 107-6322 Japan |
| Founded: | 1895 |
| Key Clients: | Toyota, Unilever, Nissan Motors, Ezaki Glico, Rosette Company, Japan Philharmonic, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical, Sony, Coca-Cola, Honda, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi |
Hakuhodo Global understands how to make your company’s image shine. Their stylish and fashion-forward advertising campaigns demand attention while conveying powerful messages that bring buyers on the run. The agency dominates the Asian advertising market. They have offices in 20 countries and strongly represent in East and South Asia. Their ability to coordinate with overseas companies and reach local buyers has made them a favorite with international brands. They also appeal to local business interested in driving online sales and tourism.
11. Ideo – Best B2B Advertising Agency
| Pricing: | $1,000+ |
| Location: | 780 High Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 United States |
| Founded: | 1991 |
| Key Clients: | The Rockefeller Foundation, Swarovski, Ascensia Diabetes Care, Los Angeles County, City of Boston, Planned Parenthood, Kaplan, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
Generating enthusiasm and strengthening buyer trust are the goals of Ideo, a popular B2B advertising agency. Much of the agency’s work has been with companies in the fields of education, healthcare, governance, and philanthropy. The aim of Ideo is to find solutions to common problems and showcase your brand as the ideal solution. Communicating your brand’s values is of primary importance to the company. They know that corporate and consumer clients expect more than simply high-quality products and services. They demand relationships. Ideo is at the forefront of using marketing to promote the opportunity for business relationships and partnerships.
12. AlmapBBDO – Best Agency in South America
| Pricing: | $5,000+ |
| Location: | Avenida Roque Petroni Jr. Floors 3-7 São Paulo, SP 04707-900 Brazil |
| Founded: | 1993 |
| Key Clients: | Volkswagen, HP, PepsiCo, Visa, Heineken, WhatsApp, Johnnie Walker, Facebook, Frito-Lay, iFood, Quasar Ice |
AlmapBBDO creates strategies to improve your company’s visibility. Whether your company is a start-up or an established business, AlmapBBDO will get your name out there. The agency wants to generate interest from new buyers, making sales skyrocket. The staff at AlmapBBDO have many techniques for getting your brand noticed. These include visually stunning video, striking pictorial campaigns, and convincing text which appeals to a wide audience. Their familiarity with a Latin American audience helps your company discover solutions to appeal to niche and local markets locally and abroad.
13. Edelman – Best North American Agency
| Pricing: | $5,000+ |
| Location: | Aon Center 200 E Randolph St #63 Chicago, IL 60601 United States |
| Founded: | 1952 |
| Key Clients: | AstraZeneca, DoubleTree Hotels, IKEA, Samsung, eBay, Dove, Special Olympics, Axe, Advil, Arby’s, Mitsubishi, Asics |
For ads that communicate your values to customers, Edelman has you covered. The agency understands how crucial it is for your brand to forge connections with buyers. The talented staff at Edelman tackle this job from a variety of angles, allowing you to relax and concentrate on your product. Many industries are served by Edelman, including aerospace, finance, hospitality, technology, and education. Specific teams are assigned to each client, making sure that the agents who work with you understand the unique needs of your industry.
14. Wieden & Kennedy – Lasting Brand Loyalty
| Pricing: | $1,000+ |
| Location: | 224 NW 13th Ave Portland, OR 97209 USA |
| Founded: | 1982 |
| Key Clients: | HBO, Nike, Old Spice, Tokyo Olympics, Michelob Ultra, Sainsbury’s, Kraft, Impossible Foods, Fisher-Price |
Wieden & Kennedy prides itself on finding creative solutions to advertising problems. Their services include digital and influencer marketing, branding, and creating a media presence for your brand. The staff at Wieden & Kennedy will help your company identify your goals and communicate your culture to consumers and professional partners. Creating a deeper understanding of your brand and strengthening your image increases opportunities for customer engagement. The agency believes that loyalty and shared goals enable your brand and your clients to work together for the betterment of all.
15. Bartle Bogle Hegarty – Memorable Visual Advertising
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | 60 Kingly Street London W1B 5DS United Kingdom |
| Founded: | 1982 |
| Key Clients: | Jollibee, Riot Games, Google, Tinder, Vivo, Hulu, Audi, Marvel, Absolut, PlayStation, Refuge, Western Union |
British-based Bartle Bogle Hegarty has become internationally renown for their work delivering exciting ads for companies all across the world. The agency strives to overcome buyer hesitancy by indicating the opportunities and benefits of working with your company. One of their unique specialties is finding a memorable and impactful slogan that becomes a commonly used phrase in society. They’ve already achieved this for brands like Google and Johnnie Walker. Once your brand makes a splash, free word-of-mouth advertising is generated on a daily basis. The agency has offices in the USA, UK, China, India, Sweden, and Singapore.
16. 6 Degrees – Best for E-commerce
| Pricing: | $1,000+ |
| Location: | 121 Bloor St. E. Suite 300 Toronto, ON M4W 1A9 Canada |
| Founded: | 2004 |
| Key Clients: | Tim Hortons, Green Giant, Jamieson Laboratories, LCL Market Division, Henkel |
6 Degrees provides marketing services for B2C businesses throughout North America. Their emphasis is on retailers, assisting companies in developing good rapport with buyers through innovative displays, signage, and packaging. The agency provides in-depth research into the psychology of shoppers, which can help your brand make decisions about how products are developed, presented, and sold. E-commerce businesses and traditional retail will benefit from the knowledge and experience 6 Degrees provides. Whether your business is large or small, if you need to reach people where they shop, 6 Degrees will make it happen.
17. Concentric – Best for E-Commerce
| Pricing: | $10,000+ |
| Location: | 500 East Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28203 United States |
| Founded: | 2000 |
| Key Clients: | Minerva Dairy, InnovAsian, Feline Pine, Parla Pasta, OMB, Respect Burgers, Front Porch, Industrial Timber, Smith Bros., Easter Seals |
Concentric offers marketing solutions for small business and startups. The team at Concentric understands that growth is paramount. They will work with your brand to accelerate growth and transform the way customers interpret your image. The agency knows the value of trust. Their effective campaigns convey authenticity, values, and purpose to reach buyers who crave a personal connection with your brand. Reaching customers and establishing trust ensure life-long loyalty and generate increased sales.
18. Observatory – Ads That Create Cultural Icons
| Pricing: | Fees are negotiable, please enquire. |
| Location: | One World Trade Center – 62nd Floor 285 Fulton Street New York, NY 10007 United States |
| Founded: | 2006 |
| Key Clients: | Netflix, Ben & Jerry’s, Busch, Masterclass, Chipotle, Mariott, ModCloth, Dolby, Keurig, Revlon, Virgin, Maserati, Mattel, Fender Guitars |
Observatory believes in telling a story to generate interest and enthusiasm about your brand. Some of their clients have become cultural icons thanks to creative, carefully-crafted advertisements which connect brands to buyers. Fans who keep coming back and recommending your company to their friends are the result of powerful, disruptive advertising. The agency is also on the forefront of cultural change, able to understand social movements that affect buyer choice. Observatory will work with you to craft a marketing strategy which harnesses the power of social change to form strong bonds with buyers.
FAQs
What exactly is an advertising agency?
An advertising agency is a professional company which provides advertising and marketing services for your company.
What does an advertising agency do?
An advertising agency works with your company to develop a marketing strategy which will get your company noticed and generate sales and/or web traffic.
What are the functions of an advertising agency?
Ad agencies do many things, including devise effective print, visual, and online marketing campaigns. They figure out what your brand represents and how to communicate this to shoppers or professional clients. An ad agency will provide your company with advertising resources and polished campaigns that move product.
What are the types of advertising agencies?
There are many different types of advertising agencies. Many of those on our list are full-service ad agencies, which means they provide both digital and traditional marketing services as well as branding. Here are some more:
- Digital agencies provide only online campaigns. This is ideal for companies with no brick-and-mortar location, or who want to expand their e-commerce sector.
- Social media agencies understand how to reach consumers through platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. They arrange for influencers to market your products or services and they promote your business through ads on social media pages.
- Traditional ad agencies are the opposite of digital agencies, as they offer only traditional forms of marketing like signage, displays, and radio or television ads. These agencies serve companies who don’t sell online, or who are already satisfied with their e-commerce marketing.
- Boutique agencies specialize in one or several methods of advertising. A boutique agency may provide just one service such as a video campaign, print media, or store signage. These agencies are a good fit if just one area of your marketing strategy needs improvement.
- Branding agencies focus on developing your brand image. This is helpful if your company is moving in a new direction or needs to bounce back after a problem. Branding services include choosing a corporate identity, defining company goals, and creating products such as packaging that reflects your new image.
How much does an advertising agency cost?
There are three ways advertising agencies get paid. Some agencies operate on commission, taking an average of 15% of your company’s media budget. Others are paid by the hour, with costs ranging from $25-500+/hour depending on the agency’s location, expertise, and reputation. Paying per project is also a popular way to work with an ad agency. Instead of paying an hourly rate, you agree upon a flat fee. Project fees can be as low as $1,000 and go to $250,000 or higher depending on the services required.