To the surprise of many, the city of Chicago has a long history with the marketing industry. Chicago, also known as Windy City or Chi-town, has been one of the epicenters of the advertising world for over one hundred and fifty years. The first marketing agency in Chicago was established back in 1850. Since then, Chicago has seen a wave of marketing agencies and entrepreneurship invade the city, making it a powerhouse in the marketing industry.
Today, the city is home to some of the most established agencies in the US and the world. These agencies offer a unique blend of services in many areas including digital marketing, UX / UI, digital media, growth marketing, branding, etc. This is great for brands and businesses looking for outside partners to implement their marketing efforts. To help you find the best agency for your business, we’ve researched and compiled this list of the top marketing agencies in Chicago. Read their descriptions, past clients, and notable projects to find the best fit for your business.
Best marketing agencies in Chicago that you can partner with in 2023
- NoGood
- 97 Switch
- 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
- Kin + Carta
- The Motion Agency
- Agency EA
- Rule29
- Stevens & Tate
- Coming of Age
- Laughlin Constable
- Straight North
- JumpFly
- Arc Worldwide
- Cramer-Krasselt
- Bounteous
- Eight Bit Studios
- Nerdery
- Codal
- 10twelve
1. NoGood
Services: Growth Marketing, SEO, Performance Marketing
Year Founded: 2017
Team Size: 51-100 employees
Clients: Nike, Fratelli Carli, Steer, Intuit
Case Studies:
Description: Through rapid experimentation and full-funnel marketing, NoGood realises true data-driven growth for startups and early-stage companies. NoGood provides innovative marketing solutions across established and emerging digital channels including Facebook, TikTok, Spotify and more. The agency acts as a true extension of your team, working with each client to build long-term, sustainable growth.
2. 97 Switch
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: SEO, PPC, Web Design
Year Founded: 2013
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Clients: MassVR, theWit, Mobile Doorman
Case Studies:
Description: 97 Switch is a marketing agency in Chicago that goes above and beyond to understand your goals. They look at your business goals and find creative solutions to overcome all your challenges. The team has experience in all areas of digital marketing and project management. 97 Switch strongly believes that every business is unique and that the strategies executed to help a business grow must be personalized.
3. 1o8
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Amazon Store Optimization, Social Media Marketing, PPC
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:
Description: 1o8 is a performance marketing agency in Chicago with 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. The creative teams are highly skilled and bring a fresh perspective to each project. They are driven to find the right ingredients, which guarantees growth.
4. Mabbly
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Digital Marketing, Visual Design, Brand Strategy
Year Founded: 2013
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: SafeRate, Okamura, Avenue
Case Studies:
Description: Mabbly uses data analytics, market research, and digital technology to create world-class digital experiences for businesses. The agency excels in everything from brand strategy to digital marketing and strives to solve significant business challenges for all of its clients.
5. Rise Interactive
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Paid Search, Analytics, Web & Mobile Development
Year Founded: 2004
Team Size: 201-500 employees
Clients: Ulta Beauty, Grubhub, Pandora
Case Studies:
Description: Rise Interactive is a Chicago digital marketing agency specializing in channel management and customer experience. The agency has a deep understanding of digital marketing challenges. They know companies are often overwhelmed by how and where to spend their marketing dollars. With this in mind, Rise Interactive helps businesses streamline all marketing channels and allocate budget appropriately to achieve the best ROI.
6. Solid Digital
Type: Web Design Agency
Services: Strategic Planning, UX/UI, Digital Marketing
Year Founded: 2007
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Hilton, Deluxe, Redbox
Case Studies:
Description: Achieving meaningful and sustainable digital growth is no easy task for a company. But Solid Digital is on a mission to help all the businesses and companies they work with do just that. The agency works across many services including web design and development, digital growth and marketing, UX /UI design, and much more. The agency has strong values and aims to provide thoughtful, reliable, and creative services to all its clients.
7. Marcel Digital
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: SEO, Paid Media, CRO
Year Founded: 2003
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: LennoxPros, Rush University, Ziegler
Case Studies:
Description: Marcel Digital gets results. The team consists of A+ players who understand the big picture for clients. All strategies and projects are researched and implemented with the highest level of efficiency. Marcel Digital begins all projects with a holistic digital strategy and then implements it for its clients across many different services. The services include SEO, paid search, conversion rate optimization, and much more.
8. Perfect Search Media
Type: Digital Marketing & Advertising Agency
Services: Social Media Marketing, PPC, Amazon Advertising
Year Founded: 2010
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: American Academy of Dermatology, Columbia University, Tracksmith
Case Studies:
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 approach: technology, testing, tracking, transparency, and team to innovate for clients. The team creates high-converting marketing campaigns across channels to deliver exceptional results.
9. Scube Marketing
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Search Ads, Paid Social, Retargeting
Year Founded: 2009
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Clients: Hoonigan, Brandable Box, Welding Store
Case Studies:
Description: Scube Marketing is a team of independent thinkers whose mission is to help businesses grow. The agency has learned how to build and execute tactical marketing campaigns to achieve the best KPIs for businesses. The agency embraces 6 traits that set them apart from other similar agencies. These traits are adaptability, responsiveness, proactivity, strategic mindset, and results-oriented.
10. 222 Digital Marketing
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
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:
Description: 222 Digital Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency striving to maximize profits for all of its partners. They offer 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 customized marketing strategies to generate the most profit for their clients.
11. Bandwidth Marketing
Type: Creative Consultancy
Services: Digital Marketing, Print, Radio & TV Advertising, Website Design
Year Founded: 2005
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Clients: Tropicana, Infasurf, Chicago Wolves
Case Studies:
Description: Bandwidth Marketing considers itself a Chicago creative consultancy. The agency explores all aspects of your business, including business goals, buyer personas, brand, budget, etc. These early insights help the agency organize the right strategic and creative solutions that are unique to each client.
12. Theydo
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Content Marketing, PPC, Brand Strategy
Year Founded: 2018
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Clients: Hellowater, Better You Spas, Tickety
Case Studies:
Description: Theydo is a digital design and marketing agency that helps its clients excel. A strong strategic partner, Theydo takes its time and does its homework to deliver the most value. The agency understands that every business offers something different to consumers based on factors such as business model, size, and value proposition. With this in mind, Theydo ensures to deliver customized solutions that can be experimented with and scaled for each client.
13. VisualFizz
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Social Media Marketing, Brand Strategy, Graphic Design
Year Founded: 2016
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Toyota, Topco, Orderly
Case Studies:
Description: VisualFizz sees each new partnership as an opportunity to showcase its skills and capabilities. As a full-service digital marketing agency in Chicago, VisualFizz works with a variety of clients, including mid-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies, to create memorable marketing campaigns. VisualFizz aims to help clients dominate online and helps them do so by implementing well-rounded digital tactics and techniques.
14. Gravity Labs
Type: Advertising Agency
Services: Media Planning & Buying, Content Marketing, Analytics
Year Founded: 2016
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Ocean Spray, Borden Cheese, Irvine Company
Case Studies:
Description: Gravity Labs is an integrated advertising agency that provides world-class services and teams to the clients they work with. The agency takes old-school advertising strategies and mixes them with 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.
15. Social Media 55
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Social Media Management, Digital Design, Advertising
Year Founded: 2014
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Top Maui Hotels, Studio Cody Caissie, JIVAGO
Case Studies:
Description: Social Media 55 offers a range of marketing services to suit all business needs. The agency executes for businesses of all sizes. It even offers niche-specific marketing services for industries like real estate, healthcare, politics, trade shows, etc. Social Media 55 is an expert at delivering results that are unmatched and highly effective.
16. Hangar12
Type: Marketing & Advertising for Consumer Brands
Services: Digital Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Consumer Promotion
Year Founded: 2000
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Columbia Fruit, Perdue Farm, Saputo Cheese USA
Case Studies:
Description: Hangar12 is a consumer-first marketing agency that focuses primarily on CPG brands. In 2020, they were ranked as one of the top 200 marketing agencies by Chief Marketer. The agency understands that consumer wants and needs are constantly changing. For this reason, Hangar12 stays ahead of the curve by talking, studying, and researching buyer habits and personas. This gives clients who work with Hangar12 a huge advantage. The agency aims to help businesses build brand equity and loyalty with custom digital solutions.
17. Launch Digital Marketing
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: Video Production, Social Media Marketing, SEO
Year Founded: 2011
Team Size: 51-200 employees
Clients: F.I.R.M., Beef Shack, Dealer Inspire
Case Studies:
Description: Launch Digital Marketing is a creative agency that develops unique digital-first experiences tailored to businesses, industries and audiences. The highly skilled team of copywriters, designers, videographers and web developers provide high-end digital strategies to help businesses establish their brand. Launch Marketing understands how to integrate everything digital, such as websites and marketing campaigns, to create memorable customer experiences.
18. Digital Third Coast
Type: Digital Marketing Agency
Services: SEO, Paid Media, Digital PR
Year Founded: 2007
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Bedside Manor, Intelligentsia Coffee, US Foods
Case Studies:
Description: Digital Third Coast is an award-winning digital search agency. The agency specializes in the medium of search, including SEO, SEM, and digital PR. Digital Third Coast creates highly data-driven solutions for each client and aims to build long-term relationships with all partners. Since its inception, Digital Third Coast has worked with over 300+ clients and this client list continues to grow each year.
19. SoMe Connect
Type: Full-Service Marketing Agency
Services: SEM, Social Media Marketing, Paid Media
Year Founded: 2011
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Byram Healthcare, TransUnion, Hammacher
Case Studies:
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. At SoMe, they make informed marketing decisions to deliver the best ROI for their clients.
20. Kin + Carta
Type: Technology, Data & Experience Consultancy
Services: SEO/SEM, UX Design & Research, Paid Media
Year Founded: 1981
Team Size: 1,000 – 5,000 employees
Clients: The Jockey Club, London North Eastern Railway, Lexus
Case Studies:
Description: Kin + Carta is a consulting firm that provides end-to-end digital services through three integrated pillars: Kin + Carta Advise, a tech-centric management consultancy, Kin + Carta Create, a next-generation software engineering studio, and Kin + Carta Connect, a digital marketing agency. They design, develop and optimize connected experiences to create long-term value for their clients by integrating service offerings across business strategy, technology, innovation, and customer engagement.
21. The Motion Agency
Type: Creative Agency
Services: Digital Marketing, Strategic Creativity, Content Development
Year Founded: 2006
Team Size: 51-200 employees
Clients: Home Depot, Exelon, National Louis University
Case Studies:
Description: The Motion Agency is a full-service marketing firm that specializes in building relationships with consumers through experiences. The Chicago-based agency prides itself on using research, creative strategy, public relations, and digital branding to create messages that stand out. The agency works closely with B2C and B2B industries to gain new insights recognizing the ever-changing nature of industries.
22. Agency EA
Type: Brand Experience Agency
Services: B2B Events, Mobile Marketing, Digital Integration
Year Founded: 1999
Team Size: 51-200 employees
Clients: Hilton, Intuit, GitHub
Case Studies:
Description: Agency EA is a full-service brand experience agency focused on connecting brands with consumers through strategic marketing campaigns, digital engagements, and virtual events. Founded in 1999 as Event Architects, the agency relies on creative innovation and strategic approaches to ensure unique brand experiences. Some of their recognized clients include Hilton, Intuit, Google, Samsung, Molson Coors and Obama Administration.
23. Rule29
Type: Creative Agency
Services: Brand Strategy, Brand Management, Design, Advertising
Year Founded: 2000
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Fellowes, McDonald’s, American Red Cross
Case Studies:
Description: Rule29 is a strategic creative agency and Certified B Corporation helping businesses clarify and develop their brand, communicate their story, and connect with the right audiences through strategy, design, and making creative matter. Their approach is based on mutual collaboration, commitment, and caring. The make sure that they always get clients that value design thinking, appreciate design’s role as a competitive advantage, and embrace teamwork.
24. Stevens & Tate Marketing
Type: Full-Service Marketing & Advertising Agency
Services: Marketing Strategy, Brand Development, Inbound Marketing
Year Founded: 1992
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: NeoGrid, Aldi, Taco Bell
Case Studies:
Description: Stevens & Tate is a full-service marketing and advertising agency servicing clients nationwide. They specialize in broadcast advertising, interactive advertising, package design, media buying, and more. They have a solid client base, mainly in B2B, the Real Estate, Hospitality, Food Retail, Healthcare, and Senior Living. Their motto is that they always “Make Things Happen” for their client partners.
25. Coming of Age
Type: Full-Service Marketing Agency
Services: Brand & Image Advertising, Media Planning & Buying, Analytics & Evaluation
Year Founded: 1991
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: AT&T, AARP, Humana
Case Studies:
Description: Coming of Age is a full-service marketing agency specializing in helping clients connect with people over the age of fifty through online and offline advertising. As an agency with a niche specialty in reaching 50+ markets, they are experts into improving connections with these target audiences and their influencers. Their clients range from healthcare providers, senior living facilities, automotive companies, financial institutions, insurance providers, retailers, and more. This broad experience has provided them deep insights into how these audiences make decisions, what their needs are, and what is important to them.
26. Laughlin Constable
Type: Full-Service Advertising Agency
Services: Video Production, Digital Marketing, Public Relations
Year Founded: 1976
Team Size: 201 – 500 employees
Clients: ASPCA, SentrySafe, Hoosier Lottery
Case Studies:
Description: Laughlin Constable is an independent, full-service ad agency with office in Milwaukee and Chicago. They tap into their Midwestern roots to take brands to the next level. They aspire to spark a change to every business that they work with. They’ve continually evolved their services to include all disciplines, from design to mobile and analytics. They strive to create a culture that allows them to produce the best work and in turn, the best results for their clients.
27. Straight North
Type: Full-Service Internet Agency
Services: Custom Web Design, PPC Management, Email Marketing
Year Founded: 1997
Team Size: 51 – 200 employees
Clients: Go Fan Yourself, Premiere Works, Diamond Solutions, Inc.
Case Studies:
Description: Straight North is a full-service internet marketing company specializing in SEO, PPC, website design and development, email marketing, and graphic design. With more than 100 full-time marketers, they help B2B and B2C brands generate sales, leads, and revenue in the digital marketing space. They have the depth and breadth to manage complex, multi-front campaigns that deliver continuously satisfactory results.
28. JumpFly
Type: Full-Service Marketing Agency
Services: Amazon Advertising, SEO, Paid Social
Year Founded: 2003
Team Size: 11 – 50 employees
Clients: Jura, Window Design Group, Battery Mart
Case Studies:
Description: JumpFly helps their clients develop, implement, and manage advertising channels such as Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, Amazon Ads, and Facebook Ads, that enable the, to maximize internet advertising results. Their full-service approach enables clients to focus on their core business while achieving the best possible results from their digital marketing efforts. As an agency, it is a Premier Google Partner, Facebook Marketing Partner, Microsoft Select Partner, Snapchat Certified and has a A+ rating from the BBB.
29. Arc Worldwide
Type: Shopper & Retail Agency
Services: Experiential Events, Omnichannel programs, Customer-Specific Marketing
Year Founded: 2001
Team Size: 5,001 – 10,000 employees
Clients: Clorox, Dunkin’, Unilever
Case Studies:
Description: Arc is the lead shopper and retail agency within Publicis Groupe. Everything that they do is in service of making any brand irresistible, calling it Irresistible Commerce. It starts by employing insights and data to uncover what’s standing in the way of growth, and then they deploy irresistible creative solutions to build connected shopping experiences that are personal, valuable, and delightful for their clients. The results from these approach drive brand sales and love. This approach has helped them become WARC’s #1 Specialty Retail Agency with groundbreaking work recognized by Adweek, Effies, and more.
30. Cramer-Krasselt (C-K)
Type: Marketing, Advertising, & Communications Agency
Services: Brand Strategy, UX, Digital Strategy
Year Founded: 1898
Team Size: 201 – 500 employees
Clients: Naked, Porsche, Tropicana
Case Studies:
Description: Cramer-Krasselt (C-K) is one of the largest independent agencies in the US with over $500 million in billings and 69% of revenue from digital media. With a mission to “Make friends, not ads”, they have built a reputation for changing perception and behaviors leading to purchasing actions for brands. That’s how they helped Porsche achieve 11 years of consecutive record-breaking growth, and how Corona became the #1 import in a single year. They’ve achieved these results through interconnecting an ever-expanding range of disciplines from strategic branding to digital, media/programmatic, PR, and more.
31. Bounteous
Type: Digital Branding & Experiences
Services: Strategy & Insights, Design & Build, Promote & Engage
Year Founded: 2003
Team Size: 501-1,000 employees
Clients: Coca Cola, Domino’s, Shake Shack
Case Studies:
Description: Co-innovating with the world’s most ambitious brands to create transformative digital experiences, Bounteous is a leading digital experience consultancy that helps brands compete and win. Through technology partnerships and their expertise, the agency delivers solutions to clients all over the world, attracting leading talent on a global scale. Bounteous will help you drive success with their end-to-end strategy that crafts experiences that your audiences will love.
32. Eight Bit Studios
Type: Web & Mobile App Development
Services: iOS & Android Mobile Apps, Brand Strategy, UX
Year Founded: 2008
Team Size: 11-50 employees
Clients: Groupon, Hasbro, Guggenheim
Case Studies:
Description: A people-friendly, technology, design, and mobile innovation partner, Eight Bit Studios is a Chicago-based marketing agency that prides itself on its world-class product UX, design, and delivery. Formed to be a place where collaboration turns ideas into reality, the agency develops astounding apps and websites for the clients they work for. Partnering with Eight Bit Studios means partnering with an immensely interactive and supportive agency with a culture of talented individuals.
33. Nerdery
Type: Digital Product Consulting
Services: Strategy & Innovation, UX & Design, Insights & Analytics
Year Founded: 2003
Team Size: 201-500 employees
Clients: Google, Mayo Clinic, Verizon
Case Studies:
Description: More than just consultants, Nerdery is a premier digital product consultancy that allies with its clients on their digital journey. With more than 15 years of experience in hands-on strategy and execution, the agency bridges the gap between strategy and execution to create digital experiences that take businesses to the next level. Through a diverse team of “nerds” with vast talent and expertise, Nerdery will help your brand achieve its digital breakthrough, allowing you to thrive within your industry like no other.
34. Codal
Type: UX & Consulting
Services: Product Design & Development, eCommerce, Service Design
Year Founded: 2009
Team Size: 201-500 employees
Clients: Samsung, Pepsi, United Airlines
Case Studies:
Description: Designing and developing digital solutions that modernize and scale businesses quickly, Codal is a UX design and development agency that helps brands grow through their cutting-edge services. Partnering with top brands and enterprise organizations, the agency seeks to develop solutions that are tailored to each of its clients’ unique challenges and needs. Codal empowers companies through their state-of-the-art strategies and solutions that their clients and their respective audiences will love.
35. 10twelve
Type: Creative Advertising
Services: Graphic Design, Web Design & Development, Brand Identity
Year Founded: 2006
Team Size: 2-10 employees
Clients: Walmart, Target, Ford
Case Studies:
Description: Founded by an entrepreneur who prides himself on “failing forward”, 10twelve is a consultative, creative, and coaching agency that serves startups, service providers, consultants, local businesses, and top brands. Entrepreneurial in spirit and simplifying the most complex ideas for their clients, the agency loves to experiment and test out new technologies to deliver the most amazing results for their clients. Understanding that every brand is different and requires distinct solutions, 10twelve develops unique strategies tailored to each of their clients’ needs and goals.
There are plenty of options for marketing agencies in the Chicago area to choose from, and hopefully, this post has helped provide some insight into some of the best options. At the end of the day, every marketing agency is going to be different, and you want to find the one that is best suited to achieve your company’s goals. When hiring an agency to become part of the marketing wing of your business, you need to have clear goals, mutual trust, and understanding in order to be successful.
This article was very helpful for me, Thanks for sharing that with us.
I’m sure this list will be a valuable resource for businesses in the Chicago area. Thanks for sharing!