As the epicenter of the advertising world, New York City is home to some of the industry’s most creative and innovative advertising agencies. With the rise of digital marketing, it’s more important than ever for businesses to partner with an agency that can create effective campaigns that connect with their target audience.
In 2024, the competition is fierce, and the top advertising agencies in New York combine strategic thinking with cutting-edge creativity to deliver measurable results for their clients.
In this article, we’ll examine some of the top advertising agencies in New York City in 2024 and explore what sets them apart from the rest.
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What are the top advertising agencies in NYC?
1. NoGood
2. Wieden+Kennedy
3. BBDO
4. Ogilvy
5. Grey
1. NoGood
NoGood is a renowned marketing agency that focuses on sustainable growth. They have gained a reputation as a top performer in the digital marketing industry. Their innovative approach to growth hacking, performance branding, and creative methodology sets them apart.
They have worked with major brands such as Nike, TikTok, and P&G, as well as startups like Ghostery, Invisibly, and JVN. By blending the art of creativity with the science of performance, they have helped their clients save significant money while achieving extraordinary outcomes.
NoGood noteworthy traits:
- Specialize in marketing for long-term growth
- Have helped companies like Lark Suite, ByteDance’s collaboration software company, break into the US market
- Work in tailored growth squads to help you achieve rapid, consistent growth
- Experimentation approach that educates customers and builds trust in your brand
NoGood specialties:
- Untraditional growth marketing that takes new approaches
- Loyalty building
- Customer persona research
Here’s what Laura Vestal, Head of Marketing and Invisibly, had to say about her experience working with NoGood:
“The squad feels like a true extension of my own marketing team.”
Office Location: New York, NY
Year Founded: 2016 New York, NY
Team Size: 50+ employees
Key Services: Growth marketing framework, idea validation, rapid experimentation, landing page building, competitor & market analysis, performance branding, customer persona research, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), content marketing, performance marketing
Industries Served: B2B, consumer, fintech, SaaS, retail, healthcare, crypto
2. Wieden+Kennedy
Wieden+Kennedy is widely considered one of the top ad agencies in the United States and globally for several reasons. They have a long history of creating some of the industry’s most memorable and effective advertising campaigns.
They are known for pushing boundaries and taking risks in their creative approach, resulting in marketing campaigns that stand out and get noticed.
Noteworthy traits:
- Adventurous and entrepreneurial stories
- Stable network of clients, sports stars, and ad budget
- Strong, provocative relationships between clients and their customers
Wieden+Kennedy created an ad for OkCupid in which they reclaimed a digital dating acronym.
Here’s what AdWeek had to say about it:
“Striking ads that are like little works of art.”
Case Studies: Wieden+Kennedy boasts an impressive portfolio of clients, including Delta, Coca-Cola, Converse, and HP. Check out some of their notable case studies.
Office Location: New York, Portland, London, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Tokyo, Delhi, Sao Paulo
Year Founded: 1982, Portland, OR
Team Size: 1500
Key Services: Advertising campaign development, branding agency, social media marketing, data-driven strategies, experiential marketing
Industries Served: Retail industries, SaaS, commerce
3. BBDO
BBDO is an award-winning, world-renowned advertising agency for its branding, advertising efforts, and digital marketing expertise. The agency’s focus on data-driven strategies and innovative, creative services has earned it a reputation as one of the industry’s most respected agencies.
Businesses across various industries seek to work with BBDO because of their ability to deliver effective marketing campaigns that resonate with segmented audiences and achieve measurable results.
BBDO combines creativity with a deep understanding of consumer behavior and trends, allowing them to create campaigns for clients that look great and drive results.
Noteworthy traits:
- Recognized with several awards, including Most Effective Network in the World, Network of the Decade, and Most Strategic Network in the World
- Develop a deep understanding of the client’s business goals, target audience, and competitive landscape before developing a campaign, ensuring effective and measurable results
- A cross-disciplinary approach involving teams of experts in strategy, creative, and technology ensures each campaign is designed with a holistic and integrated approach
Here’s what Liz Fled, President of Autism Speaks, had to say about her experience working with BBDO:
“Our ongoing partnership with the Ad Council and BBDO New York has been highly instrumental in raising awareness.”
Case Studies: See how several other clients have benefited from BBDO’s creative services.
Office Location: New York, NY; over 200 locations around the world
Year Founded: 1891
Team Size: 15,000 employees
Key Services: Advertising, brand strategy, customer engagement, digital marketing
Industries Served: Consumer goods, healthcare, financial services, automotive, technology, and more
4. Ogilvy
Ogilvy, a full-service digital agency headquartered in New York City, has been a leading brand since 1948. With its extensive reach, expertise, and reputation, Ogilvy is among the top advertising agencies in NYC. They have a strong track record of working with prominent brands across various industries, from technology and healthcare to financial services and automotive.
Their focus on borderless creativity, data-driven insights, and innovation enabled them to create integrated campaigns that drive measurable results. With their presence in 93 countries, Ogilvy is an excellent choice for businesses looking to enhance their advertising efforts.
They offer a wide range of services, from digital strategy development and brand building to creative campaign development and digital marketing. Ogilvy’s commitment to creativity, strategic thinking, and the latest technologies and industry trends sets them apart from other ad agencies in NYC.
Noteworthy traits:
- Named #1 network for effectiveness in the 2023 WARC Effective 100 rankings
- 131 offices in 93 countries
- Strong reliance on emotional campaigns that connect with the audience
- Pioneers of information-rich “soft sell” ads
Here’s what Devika Bulchandani, Global CEO of Ogilvy, and Liz Taylor, Global Chief Creative Officer had to say about earning a spot on the World’s Most Innovative Companies list:
Our inclusion on Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies is a testament to Ogilvy’s belief that data, technology, and emerging tools like AI can be the ultimate enablers of modern creativity and drivers of brand impact. This recognition is for all the people around our global network whose innovations and big ideas continue to make a difference for our clients and their businesses.
Case Studies: Ogilvy has an impressive list of case studies, including work with Puma, Dove, Netflix, and Burger King. Check out their successful campaigns.
Office Location: New York, NY
Year Founded: 1948, New York
Team Size: 17,500 employees
Key Services: Digital strategy development, brand building, creative agency, digital marketing services, social media marketing, email marketing, display advertising
Industries Served: Retail, technology, healthcare, financial services, automotive, and more
5. Grey
Grey Advertising is one of the top full-service marketing communications agencies based in New York City, with a global reach across more than 96 countries. With over a century of experience in the industry, Grey Advertising has established a reputation for delivering highly effective and innovative campaigns for clients across diverse sectors.
Their unique ability to blend creative ideas with data-driven insights has made them a preferred growth partner for many leading brands. They have won several awards for their work, including Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, and Clios.
With an advertising approach focused on being “famously effective,” Grey prioritizes creativity, innovative solutions, and digital strategies that produce measurable results. Grey’s commitment to excellence has earned them a reputation as one of the industry’s most successful and respected advertising agencies.
Noteworthy traits:
- Recognize cultural value as a powerful driving force that propels people, brands, and the world forward
- Proficient in a range of areas, including product design, experience design, visual identity, and communications strategy
- Demonstrated success in creating effective campaigns across diverse industries, such as medical, health, and wellness
Here’s what critically acclaimed music producer, Porter Robinson, had to say about Grey’s ad for SoundCloud, “Sound Bar of Bullets”
This is one of the most beautiful and eerie uses of the internet that I’ve ever seen.
Case Studies: Grey Advertising is responsible for successful campaigns for companies like Pringles, Pantene, Applebees, SoundCloud, and more. Check out their successful work.
Headquarters: New York, NY
Year Founded: 1917
Team Size: 2,400 employees
Key Services: Range of advertising strategies, experience design, digital marketing agency, digital experience personalization, communication strategies
Industries Served: Automotive, beauty, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, media and entertainment, retail, technology, and telecommunications, and more
Best Advertising Agencies NYC: Final Thoughts
In the heart of the advertising world, New York City hosts numerous full-service advertising agencies known for their creativity and innovation. As digital marketing evolves and advertising dynamics change, the partnership between businesses and these agencies becomes more vital.
In 2024, amidst fierce competition, New York’s premier advertising agencies stand out for their strategic prowess and revolutionary creativity.
What is the role of an advertising agency?
The role of a full-service advertising agency is to create, plan, and execute advertising campaigns on behalf of clients to help them reach their target audience, promote their products or services, and achieve their marketing objectives.
This involves conducting market research, developing creative concepts, designing advertisements, selecting appropriate social media campaign channels, and measuring the effectiveness of campaigns for clients. Ultimately, the goal is to generate awareness, interest, and demand for the client’s offerings.
What are the benefits of working with an advertising agency?
- Expertise in advertising: Agencies have specialized knowledge and experience in various aspects of advertising and marketing.
- Creative teams: They provide fresh and innovative ideas to effectively communicate with the target audience.
- Efficiency: Full-service agencies streamline the advertising process, saving time and resources for the client.
- Objective perspective: Agencies offer an external viewpoint, bringing insights and digital marketing strategies that may not be apparent internally.
- Measurable results: They utilize analytics and metrics to evaluate the success of advertising campaigns, allowing for data-driven decision-making.
- Scalability: Agencies can adapt to the client’s needs, whether a small-scale local campaign or a large-scale national initiative.
- Focus on core business: Outsourcing advertising tasks allows businesses to focus on their core competencies and strategic objectives.
- Access to tools and technologies: Agencies invest in industry-leading tools and technologies for research, analytics, and successful campaign management.
- Long-term partnerships: Building a relationship with an agency can lead to ongoing collaboration, fostering growth and continuity in marketing efforts.
How much does it cost to use an ad agency?
The cost of working with an advertising agency can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the agency’s size, reputation, location, and the scope and complexity of the project. Some agencies charge a flat fee for their services, while others may charge hourly rates or a percentage of the total ad spend.
Additionally, the cost may vary depending on the specific services required, such as market research, creative development, media planning and buying, and campaign management. It’s important to discuss pricing and fees with the agency upfront to avoid any surprises and ensure that the project remains within budget.
Working with advertising agencies offers many benefits to your marketing strategy, so it’s best to find one that understands your business and works with your budget.
How to choose a full-service ad agency
We evaluated the full-service digital agencies on this list based on the following to determine the top performers. Ultimately, the agency best suited for you and your business will depend on your needs and goals.
- Innovative approach – The agency should have a track record of creating unique and successful campaigns that stand out in a crowded marketplace.
- Strategic thinking – The agency should be able to develop campaigns that align with the client’s business objectives and effectively reach the target audience.
- Results – The agency should be able to demonstrate measurable results for their clients, whether it’s increased sales, brand awareness, or engagement.
- Reputation and awards – The agency should have a strong reputation in the industry and have won awards for their work.
- Industry experience – The agency should have experience working with clients in a specific industry or niche and be knowledgeable about the latest trends and best practices.
- Client satisfaction – The agency should have high client satisfaction, as evidenced by testimonials, reviews, and long-term relationships with clients.
