Boston is steeped in history, culture, and innovation. It is home to some of the most prestigious universities, museums, and businesses in the world. But did you know that Boston is also a hub for advertising and marketing? The city has a thriving advertising industry with some of the best advertising agencies in the country calling Boston home.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the list of the top advertising agencies in Boston. We will examine their history, notable campaigns, strengths, and what sets them apart from other agencies. Whether you’re a business owner looking to hire an advertising agency or a marketing professional interested in learning more about the industry, this article will provide valuable information and insights.
How Do I Choose a Good Advertising Agency?
Choosing a good advertising agency is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the success of your marketing efforts. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting an advertising agency:
- Define your goals: Clearly identify your marketing objectives, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, improving email marketing, or launching a new product. Having clear goals will help you find an agency with the right expertise and capabilities to meet your specific needs.
- Experience and expertise: Look for an agency that has relevant experience in your industry or with similar brands. Assess their track record and success stories to gauge their expertise in delivering results.
- Services offered: Evaluate the range of services the agency provides. Determine if they offer the specific services you require, such as strategy development, graphic design, creative execution, PPC services, email marketing, digital marketing, or social media management.
- Creative capabilities: Assess the agency’s creative portfolio to see if their style aligns with your brand vision. Look for agencies that can generate fresh and innovative ideas that resonate with your target audience.
- Client references and testimonials: Request client references and testimonials to gain insights into the agency’s performance, reliability, and ability to meet deadlines. Contact current or former clients to get firsthand feedback on their experience.
- Communication and collaboration: Effective communication is essential for a successful agency-client relationship. Assess the agency’s responsiveness, willingness to listen, and ability to understand your brand values. Collaboration is key, so ensure they are open to collaboration and will work as an extension of your team.
- Budget considerations: Determine your budget and discuss it openly with potential agencies. Look for an agency that can provide value within your budget constraints while delivering high-quality work.
- Chemistry and culture fit: Meet with the agency team to assess their working style, culture, and whether there is good chemistry between your teams. A strong working relationship will contribute to better collaboration and results.
- Results and measurement: Inquire about the agency’s approach to measuring campaign performance and tracking results. A good agency will provide data driven insights and continually optimize strategies for better outcomes.
- Long-term partnership potential: Consider the agency’s capacity to grow and evolve with your brand. Look for a partner who can provide ongoing support and adapt to changing market dynamics.
By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision and choose an advertising agency that aligns with your goals, values, and vision for success.
Best Ad Agencies in Boston
In today’s highly competitive business landscape, effective advertising is crucial for companies to stand out from the crowd and reach their target audience. This is where advertising agencies come in. They specialize in creating innovative and effective advertising campaigns that help businesses achieve their goals. Boston’s advertising industry is no exception. From creative design to digital marketing, Boston-based advertising agencies have established themselves as leaders in the industry. Whether you’re a startup looking to make a splash or an established brand looking to stay ahead of the curve, these agencies have what it takes to help you succeed.
1. NoGood
NoGood has earned a reputation as one of the top performers in the marketing industry. This national agency sets themselves apart from others by prioritizing sustainable growth and employing an innovative approach to growth hacking. Their extensive client portfolio includes major brands like Nike, TikTok, and P&G, as well as startups such as Ghostery, Invisibly, and JVN. By seamlessly blending the art of creativity with the science of performance, NoGood has not only achieved successful outcomes for their clients but also helped them save a substantial amount of money.
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
- Crypto marketing
- Loyalty building
- Customer persona research
Here’s what Kevin Martin, CTO of Unspun, had to say about their experience working with NoGood:
“From our experience, we really felt like we had one generalist absolute world-class expert quarterbacking things from the NoGood side, and then they had the ability to loop in specialists as needed, which was a very powerful combo.”
Case Study: NoGood achieved a 1,109% increase in revenue from Google Ads and an 18% decrease in CAC on average per quarter on Meta ads. We have also worked with many startups, scaleups, and Fortune 500 brands such as TikTok, Nike, Amazon, Intuit and more. Check out our growth stories and successes.
Office Location: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
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. Arnold Worldwide
Arnold Worldwide (part of the Havas Group) is a global advertising agency with its headquarters in Boston. It was founded in 1946 by Ed Eskandarian and has since become one of the most successful agencies in the world. With a focus on creativity and innovation, Arnold Worldwide has produced some of the most memorable campaigns in advertising history. They have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Progressive, Chewy, and the CDC, producing campaigns that range from emotional and heartwarming to edgy and humorous.
Notable traits:
- Ability to create campaigns that resonate with consumers on a deep emotional level
- Known for their storytelling abilities and ability to create campaigns that tap into the human experience
- Push boundaries and take risks, leading to innovative and groundbreaking campaigns
Here’s what Arnold Worldwide has to say about their work:
“We build brands by creating work that is universal and personal all at once and we do this for a diverse portfolio of partners that includes both iconic brands and challengers.”
Case study: One of Arnold Worldwide’s most notable campaigns was the “Truth” anti-smoking campaign for the American Legacy Foundation. The campaign aimed to educate young people about the dangers of smoking and used bold, eye-catching imagery to drive home its message. The campaign was hugely successful, helping reduce youth smoothing rates and winning numerous awards. Check out more of their notable case studies.
Location: Boston
Year founded: 1946
Team size: 538 employees
Key services: Creative concepting, broadcast, digital advertising, brand promotions, brand strategy, print, analytics, social media strategy, mobile and tablet application design, integrated campaigns, content strategy and development.
Industries served: Healthcare, finance, consumer packaged goods, retail, hospitality, and more
3. Hill Holliday
Hill Holliday is a full service marketing agency in Boston. It was founded in 1968 by Jack Connors and Alan Holliday. Over the years, the agency has grown to become the 18th largest agency in the United States, with a focus on creating integrated campaigns that leverage multiple channels and platforms. Hill Holliday has also worked with a range of high-profile clients, including BMW and Fireball.
Notable traits:
- Known for their emotional resonance and their ability to tap into the values and beliefs of their target audience
- Commitment to social responsibilities and creating positive change through their work
- Strong ability to adapt to new technologies and trends, staying ahead of the curve and leveraging new platforms and channels to reach audiences in innovative ways
Here’s what Clean Harbors had to say about choosing Hill Holliday as their lead agency:
“Throughout the agency selection process and the creative development phase, Hill Holliday proved that they deeply understand our core values and the valuable work that we do for customers and the environment. We’re excited to be working with them.”
Case study: Hill Holliday created a five part docu-series called “Heritage Road” to introduce the BMW R 18 to America. The series follows Paul Stringer, known as “Beemer” and Rob Griffiths, known as Son of Beemer or “S.O.B.,” members of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club. This club honors the legacy of the original Buffalo Soldiers of the U.S. Military. The “Heritage Road” campaign tells a story of connection and unity during a cultural moment. By following Beemer and S.O.B., passionate BMW owners, Hill Holiday captured their brand loyalty and moved the conversation into a story that documents the passion of American riders and how the BMW brand is embedded into their lives. Check out more successful case studies.
Location: Boston
Year founded: 1968
Team size: 350
Key services: Creative, marketing communications, strategy, media, innovation and technology, content, social media marketing, integrated production, analytics, consumer and business intelligence
Industries served: healthcare, financial services, retail, travel and tourism, automotive, technology, and more
4. MullenLowe
MullenLowe is a global advertising agency that was founded in Boston in 1970 as Mullen Advertising. The agency has since expanded to include offices around the world, including London, New York, and Singapore. MullenLowe provides creative, media, and digital services to clients across various industries and is known for their award winning campaigns. MullenLowe’s focus is on creating campaigns that inspire, provoke, and challenge convention. Their work has won 9 Effies in the United States.
Notable traits:
- Take a holistic approach to advertising, working closely with clients to understand their business goals and develop campaigns that align with these goals
- Highly adaptable to changing trends and technologies, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in advertising
- Willing to take risks and experiment with new approaches
Here’s what Kelsey Gill, director of marketing at Yasso, had to say about working with MullenLowe:
We were impressed by the MLPR team’s strategic thinking and their tenacity for results, proven via their remarkable track record of effective consumer campaigns for a range of clients. And their culture and values are synergistic with Yasso Inc, which is an important part of our partner selection criteria.
Case study: MullenLowe’s work with Midol in their Comfort is Power campaign was a standout campaign that helped shine light onto women’s strength during their menstrual cycle. MullenLowe worked to recognize those who experience periods, but also recognize the power in taking a break when needed and seeking comfort instead of enduring the pain. Check out more of their case studies.
Location: Boston
Year founded: 1970
Team size: 6,400 employees
Key services: Strategic planning, channel planning, advertising, retail marketing, digital, public relations, creativity
Industries served: Automotive, retail, technology, media and entertainment, nonprofit and social impact, hospitality and tourism, healthcare, financial services, consumer goods
5. Digitas
Digitas is a global marketing and technology agency that was founded in 1980 as Directech. The agency was later acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2006 and rebranded as Digitas. With headquarters in Boston, the agency has since expanded to over 25 offices around the world, serving a diverse range of clients across industries. The agency’s focus on data driven insights and customer behavior allows it to create personalized and relevant experiences for consumers, while its creative storytelling expertise helps build strong emotional connections between brands and their audiences. This unique blend of data and creativity has earned Digitas numerous awards and accolades.
Notable traits:
- Ability to leverage data and technology to create personalized and impactful marketing
- Strong focus on digital marketing, social media, and mobile marketing, allowing Digitas to stay ahead of industry trends and deliver cutting-edge solutions for clients
- Offer fully integrated services
Here’s what one of their clients, a Senior Manager, Digital and CRM, had to say about their experience working with Digitas:
“Digitas is one of our most strategically important vendors, covering a wide ranging scope including website development and maintenance, audience orchestration, customer journey design and implementation, social media community management and search. Within each discipline there is a deep level of subject matter expertise and a culture of driving continuous improvement.”
Case study: The Sephora “The Beauty of Blackness” ad campaign by Digitas was a powerful and impactful campaign that aimed to celebrate the diversity and beauty of Black women. The campaign was a feature-length film that explored the history of Black cosmetics by following the relaunch of Fashion Fair, one of the largest and most important Black-owned beauty brands of the 20th century. The feature film sparked cultural conversation. Digitas was able to create a powerful and emotional campaign that resonated with audiences and helped drive positive change. Check out more of their successful campaigns.
Location: Boston
Year founded: 1980
Team size: 5,500
Key services: Connected campaigns, social marketing, brand experience, CRM, loyalty, marketing transformation
Industries served: Consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, retail, technology
6. Connelly Partners
Connelly Partners is a full-services advertising agency based in Boston that was founded in 1999. The agency’s mission is to create meaningful connections between brands and their audiences through innovative and effective campaigns. Over the years, Connelly Partners has worked with a diverse range of clients across industries. They won the Best Agency Culture award at the 2023 A-List & Creativity Awards.
Notable traits:
- Strong creative team that can craft compelling messaging and visuals that capture the essence of a brand and its values
- Excellent collaboration skills with clients, ensuring campaigns are aligned with business objectives and deliver measurable results
- Build long term relationships with clients and establish themselves as a trusted partner in a brand’s growth and success
Here’s what Connelly Partners had to say when they picked up the creative account for the National Transport Authority (NTA) following a competitive three-way pitch.
“We are delighted to be appointed Creative Agency for the NTA at such an exciting time. We’re so looking forward to the opportunity of bringing our defiantly human approach to the NTA and their brands.”
Case study: Connelly Partners worked with Liberty Bank to create a campaign that aligned with their vision of building the community bank of the future. The campaign, called Be Community Kind, focuses on the idea that small acts of kindness can have a big impact. In the second year of the campaign, Connelly Partners developed TV spots, out-of-home boards, streaming audio, and social media graphics to encourage community members to join the mission and spread kindness. The campaign aims to engage customers and demonstrate Liberty Bank’s commitment to communities. Check out more of their work.
Location: Boston
Year founded: 1999
Team size: 100+
Key services: Brand strategy, creative services, media planning and buying, digital marketing, content creation, analytics and measurement
Industries served: Healthcare, retail, technology, financial services
7. Boston Digital
Boston Digital is a full-service digital marketing company based in Boston Massachusetts. With a strong focus on delivering exceptional digital experiences, the agency helps businesses create meaningful connections with their target audiences and drive measurable results. Boston Digital offers a wide range of services, including web development and design, digital strategy, search engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, and more. Their team of experts combines creative thinking, technical expertise, and data driven insights to develop effective marketing solutions. Their portfolio includes Liberty Mutual, Cambridge Trust, and Harvard Medical School. Boston Digital regularly publishes insights, case studies, and industry updates on their website, providing valuable resources for businesses seeking to enhance their digital marketing strategy..
Noteworthy traits:
- Ability to create user-centric and visually appealing websites that are optimized for performance and conversions
- Leverage the latest technologies and design trends to deliver seamless user experience across various devices and platforms
- Place importance on thought leadership and knowledge sharing
Here’s what the Manager of a Healthcare Company had to say about their experience with Boston Digital:
“The main reason we picked Boston Digital is that they were based in the same area as us. The other major consideration was that they had had a lot of clients in the healthcare space. We felt that because they had so much experience with pharmaceutical companies and nonprofits, they would be the best partner for our niche.”
Case study: Collaborating with Harvard Medical School, Boston Digital embarked on a transformative journey to craft an immersive digital experience that showcased the institution’s esteemed status as a prominent leader in biomedical research. Boston Digital successfully adapted Harvard Medical School’s new branding style to establish a unified digital brand across their microsites. By facilitating consensus among different departments, they effectively communicated the institution’s expertise within the new digital ecosystem. Check out more of their successful case studies.
Location: Boston
Year founded: 1999
Team size: 45
Key services: Strategy, digital experiences, digital marketing, technology services, insights, activation, design, metaverse
Industries served: Construction, energy, senior living, life sciences, non-profit, consumer products, financial services, healthcare, higher education, medical device, professional services, technology.
Top Advertising Agencies Boston: Final Thoughts
Boston is home to a vibrant advertising landscape, with a multitude of top-notch agencies that have showcased their creativity, expertise, and ability to drive results. From the innovative campaigns of Arnold Worldwide to the impactful storytelling of Hill Holliday, the industry is brimming with talent and potential. However, if you are seeking an advertising agency that not only delivers outstanding results but also prioritizes sustainable growth, look no further than NoGood. With their proven track record, team-focused approach to growth hacking, and their commitment to creativity and performance, NoGood is a world class agency that will take your marketing efforts to new heights. In the competitive world of advertising, choosing the right agency makes all the difference. Contact NoGood today to elevate your brand.
