To the surprise of many, the city of Chicago has had a long history with the marketing industry. Chicago, also known as the Windy City or Chi-town, has been one of the epicenters of the advertising world for over a hundred and fifty years. The first agency founded in Chicago was back in 1850. Since then, Chicago has had a wave of marketing agencies and entrepreneurship penetrate the city, making it a powerhouse in the marketing industry.
The city currently has some of the most established agencies in the US and the world today. These agencies provide a unique blend of services across many verticles including digital marketing, UX/UI, digital media, growth marketing, branding, etc. This is great for brands and companies looking for outside partners to deliver on marketing efforts. To help you find the best agency for your business, we’ve researched and put together this list of the top agencies in the Chicago area. Read through company descriptions, former clients, and notable projects to find the best fit for your business.
Here are the 20 best marketing agencies in Chicago that you can partner with today:
- 97 Switch
- NoGood
- 1o8
- Mabbly
- Rise Interactive
- Solid Digital
- Marcel Digital
- Perfect Search Media
- Scube Marketing
- 222 Digital Marketing
- Bandwidth Marketing
- Theydo
- VisualFizz
- Gravity Labs
- Social Media 55
- Hangar12
- Launch Digital Marketing
- Digital Third Coast
- SoMe Connect
- Vokal
1.97 Switch
Description: 97 Switch is an agency that goes above and beyond to understand your goals. They look at your business objectives and find creative solutions to overcome all your challenges. The team has experience across all digital marketing and project management services. 97 Switch truly believes that every business is unique, and the strategies executed to help a business grow, needs to be personalized.
Year Founded: 2013
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Services: SEO, PPC, Web Design
Clients: MassVR, theWit, Mobile Doorman
Case Studies:
2.NoGood
Description: Through rapid experimentation and full-funnel marketing, NoGood executes true data-driven growth for both early-stage startups and enterprises. NoGood offers innovative marketing solutions across both established and emerging digital channels such as SEO, Facebook, TikTok, Spotify, and much more. The agency acts as a true extension of your team and works with each client to build long-term and sustainable growth.
Year Founded: 2017
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Growth Marketing, SEO, Performance Marketing
Clients: Nike, Fratelli Carli, Steer
Case Studies:
3.1o8
Description: 1o8 is a performance marketing agency that has a proven approach that puts brand stories at the center of innovation. The agency creates custom solutions and formulates ideas that go beyond the status quo. Its creative teams are highly skilled and all bring in a fresh perspective for each project. They are driven to find the right ingredients, which guarantees growth.
Year Founded: 2018
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Amazon Store Optimization, Social Media Marketing, PPC
Clients: Tio Gazpacho, SoCozy, Sweet Leaf Tea
Case Studies:
4.Mabbly
Description: Using data analytics, market research, and digital technology, Mabbly looks to build world-class digital experiences for companies. The agency excels at everything from brand strategy to digital marketing, and it looks to solve significant business challenges for all its clients.
Year Founded: 2013
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Digital Marketing, Visual Design, Brand Strategy
Clients: SafeRate, Okamura, Avenue
Case Studies:
5.Rise Interactive
Description: Rise Interactive is a digital marketing agency specializing in channel management and customer experience. The agency has a firm understanding of digital marketing challenges. They know companies are often overwhelmed by how and where to allocate marketing dollars. With this in mind, Rise Interactive helps companies streamline across all marketing channels and allocate budget appropriately to get the best ROI.
Year Founded: 2004
Team Size: 201-500 employees
Services: Paid Search, Analytics, Web & Mobile Development
Clients: Ulta Beauty, Grubhub, Pandora
Case Studies:
6.Solid Digital
Description: Getting meaningful and sustainable digital growth is no easy task for a company. But Solid Digital has taken it upon itself to help deliver exactly this to all businesses and companies they work with. The agency works across many services including web design and development, digital growth and marketing, UX/UI design, and much more. The agency holds strong values and wants to provide thoughtful, dependable, and creative services to all its clientele.
Year Founded: 2007
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Strategic Planning, UX/UI, Digital Marketing
Clients: Hilton, Deluxe, Redbox
Case Studies:
7.Marcel Digital
Description: Marcel Digital gets results. Its team consists of A+ players who understand the big picture for clients. All its strategies and projects are researched and delivered with the highest level of efficiency. Marcel Digital starts all engagements with a holistic digital strategy and then executes this strategy for clients across many different services. This includes SEO, paid search, conversion rate optimization, and much more.
Year Founded: 2003
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: SEO, Paid Media, CRO
Clients: LennoxPros, Rush University, Ziegler
Case Studies:
8.Perfect Search Media
Description: Perfect Search Media uses proprietary technology for businesses to help them get in front of the right people at the right time. The agency uses a five-step method: technology, testing, tracking, transparency, and team, to innovate for clients. Its team builds high converting marketing campaigns across channels to yield exceptional results.
Year Founded: 2010
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Social Media Marketing, PPC, Amazon Advertising
Clients: American Academy of Dermatology, Columbia University, Tracksmith
Case Studies:
9.Scube Marketing
Description: Scoop Marketing is a team of independent thinkers that are dedicated to helping businesses achieve growth. The agency has learned how to build and execute tactical marketing campaigns to achieve the most targeted KPIs for companies. The agency encompasses 6 traits that differentiate them from other similar services. These traits are adaptability, responsiveness, proactiveness, strategic mindset, and results-oriented.
Year Founded: 2009
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Services: Search Ads, Paid Social, Retargeting
Clients: Hoonigan, Brandable Box, Welding Store
Case Studies:
10.222 Digital Marketing
Description: 222 Digital Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency. The agency is determined to maximize profits for all its partners. 222 Digital Marketing provides services in paid search, web design, content marketing, conversion rate optimization, and much more. The agency finds the perfect combination of all these services and creates tailor-made marketing strategies to generate the most profit for its clients.
Year Founded: 2017
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Services: Digital Marketing, Website Development, Content Marketing
Clients: Cathie’s Escape, Tone Up Club, Allen Restoration Group
Case Studies:
11.Bandwidth Marketing
Description: Bandwidth Marketing sees itself as a creative consultancy. The agency investigates all aspects of your business including business objectives, buyer personas, brand, budget, etc. These early findings help the agency organize the right strategic and creative solutions that are unique to each client.
Year Founded: 2005
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Services: Digital Marketing, Print, Radio & TV Advertising, Website Design
Clients: Tropicana, Infasurf, Chicago Wolves
Case Studies:
12.Theydo
Description: Theydo is a digital design and marketing agency that helps clients excel. As a strong strategic partner, Theydo takes its time and does its homework to deliver the most value. The agency understands each company offers something different to consumers based on factors such as business model, size, and value prop. With this in mind, Theydo ensures to deliver custom solutions that can be experimented with and scaled for each client.
Year Founded: 2018
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Services: Content Marketing, PPC, Brand Strategy
Clients: Hellowater, Better You Spas, Tickety
Case Studies:
13.VisualFizz
Description: VisualFizz looks at each new partnership as an opportunity to showcase its own skills and abilities. As a full-service digital marketing agency, VisualFizz works across a variety of clients, including midsize and Fortune 500, to deliver memorable marketing campaigns. VisualFizz wants to help clients dominate online and helps them do so by implementing well-rounded digital tactics and techniques.
Year Founded: 2016
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Social Media Marketing, Brand Strategy, Graphic Design
Clients: Toyota, Topco, Orderly
Case Studies:
14.Gravity Labs
Description: Gravity Labs is an integrated ad agency that delivers world-class services and teams to the clients they work with. The agency takes old school advertising strategies and blends them with the new-age digital marketing tactics, to deliver high-end service. Gravity Labs has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world including Sprint, McDonald’s, Toyota, and many more.
Year Founded: 2016
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Media Planning & Buying, Content Marketing, Analytics
Clients: Ocean Spray, Borden Cheese, Irvine Company
Case Studies:
15.Social Media 55
Description: Social Media 55 offers an array of marketing services that are built for all business needs. The agency executes for businesses of all sizes. It even offers niche-specific marketing services for industries such as real estate, healthcare, politics, trade shows, etc. Social Media 55 is an expert in delivering results that are unparalleled and highly effective.
Year Founded: 2014
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Social Media Management, Digital Design, Advertising
Clients: Top Maui Hotels, Studio Cody Caissie, JIVAGO
Case Studies:
16.Hangar12
Description: Hangar12 is a consumer-first marketing agency that primarily focuses on CPG brands. In 2020, they were ranked as one of the top 200 marketing agencies by Chief Marketer. The agency understands that the consumer wants and needs are constantly changing. Because of this, Hangar12 constantly stays ahead of the curve by talking, studying, and researching buyer habits and personas. This puts clients that work with Hangar12 at a great advantage. The agency wants to help companies build brand equity and loyalty with customized digital solutions.
Year Founded: 2000
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Consumer Promotion
Clients: Columbia Fruit, Perdue Farm, Saputo Cheese USA
Case Studies:
17.Launch Digital Marketing
Description: Launch Digital Marketing is a creative agency that builds unique digital-first experiences that are business, industry, and audience-specific. Its highly skilled team of copywriters, designers, videographers, and web developers offer high-end digital strategies to help businesses establish their brand. Launch Marketing understands how to incorporate all things digital, such as website and marketing campaigns, to drive memorable customer experiences.
Year Founded: 2011
Team Size: 51-200 employees
Services: Video Production, Social Media Marketing, SEO
Clients: F.I.R.M., Beef Shack, Dealer Inspire
Case Studies:
18.Digital Third Coast
Description: Digital Third Coast is an award-winning digital search agency. The agency’s specialty is in the medium of search including SEO, SEM, and digital PR. Digital Third Coast makes highly data-driven solutions for every client and wants to create long-term relationships with all partners. Since its inception, Digital Third Coast has worked with over 300+ clients and continue to grow this clientele list every year.
Year Founded: 2007
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: SEO, Paid Media, Digital PR
Clients: Bedside Manor, Intelligentsia Coffee, US Foods
Case Studies:
19.SoMe Connect
Description: SoMe is an insightful full-service digital marketing agency that uses science and creativity together to deliver solutions. Services include everything from social media management, content marketing, paid media, and brand strategy. SoMe makes informed marketing decisions to deliver the best ROI for its clients.
Year Founded: 2011
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Services: SEM, Social Media Marketing, Paid Media
Clients: Byram Healthcare, TransUnion, Hammacher
Case Studies:
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20. Vokal
Description: Vokal is a growth consultancy that combines product development, growth marketing, and optimization. For their clients, they achieve growth by making strategic plays to find the right growth levers, gain market share, and strengthen their business’s position, while maintaining a strong cash position, and efficiency. They chart a path forward by applying a venture lens to define key metrics at each stage of the product lifecycle to begin proving unit economics and achieve rapid, scalable growth.
Year Founded: 2009
Team Size: 50-200 employees
Services: Growth Marketing, Technology Consulting, Growth Optimization
Clients: Bosch, Whole Foods Market, Groupon
Case Studies:
There is a wealth of options of marketing agencies in the Chicago area to choose from, and hopefully, this post has helped provide insight into some of the best options. At the end of the day, every marketing agency will be different, and you want to find the one that is best designed to achieve your business’s goals. When you hire an agency to become part of your business’s marketing wing, you need to have clear goals, mutual trust, and understanding to succeed.
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