We selected the best-performing advertising agencies in Chicago that can help you increase your online sales through creative, comprehensive ad campaigns. Compare them by portfolios, reviews, awards, team size and more to find the right collaborator for your business.
When authentic brands need performance marketing that eliminates wasted spend, Disruptive Advertising audits campaigns and rebuilds Google Ads, Amazon, and Meta strategies with a no-contract guarantee. Founded in 2012 with 100-249 employees, the Pleasant Grove agency starts at $10,000 and earned 294 Google...
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eCommerce Review from Anonymous
Right after launching our campaigns with Disruptive, we saw results almost instantly. Our monthly revenue jumped from about $50,000 to over $70,000. Every key Google Ads metric improved, and by November, we were already nearing $550,000 in revenue, well on track to hit our $700,000 annual goal.
PPC Review from Anonymous
We’ve been working with Disruptive on a long-term PPC strategy, and they’re constantly optimizing campaigns and landing pages based on performance. They use Google Analytics to ensure accurate tracking, Unbounce for landing page testing, and run ads through Google and LinkedIn, with knowledgeable experts for each channel.
Digital Marketing Review from Jackie Arends
Disruptive Advertising is in charge of our online advertising, which includes PPC, social media marketing on Facebook, email marketing, and, more recently, Amazon marketing. They create content for the campaigns and manage them, create email templates, and automate [...] email marketing campaigns. Regarding our PPC efforts, we focus on Google Ads and Facebook Ads, and we recently started our Bing advertising efforts as well. Our ROAS is currently at about 4X5X. (Verified via email)
We create fully customized, scalable, easy-to-manage websites and apps with a creative twist. Everything we build for you at Design in DC is made with the future in mind. We are a full-service creative agency with a global and local mindset...
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Web Design Review from Mackenzie Shriner
I contracted design in DC to build me a custom website. they were accommodating of my budget, very responsive, and gave good insight on layout, content and design. the process was very straightforward and the final product is great!
Web Design Review from Jo Maney
DDC has been an excellent partner since we engaged with them in 2023. The DDC team worked with us to completely redesign our website and work to provide ongoing digital marketing services. The DDC team has been responsive, proactive, and thorough with their work. They are also very transparent about how they operate and how much time special projects will require. We have referred DDC to several clients and partners thanks to their outstanding process and product. DDC is a very professional, creative, and well-organized team.
Web Design Review from Sapna Doshi, Ph.D.
My experience working with Design in DC was incredible. Everyone was friendly, approachable, and seemed to genuinely care about helping create the best possible website for my business. They were also invested in making sure the process was one in which I enjoyed and felt taken care of. The regular meetings made me feel like I was a priority and that progress was continually being made. I so appreciated the attention to detail in regards to the user experience. The collaboration in understanding my wishes and desires for the website and user experience was met with patience and paying attention to detail on my behalf. Not only were they taking my suggestions but offering their own to help me maximize the potential of my website. The design and functionality is more than what I could have imagined. I know, undoubtedly, that the work that Design in DC did for me will help my business grow. After wasting money in years past on website designers, I was worried I'd be doing hte same here. I was wrong. I don't think I'll ever need to search for another website designer group again. I would recommend this group to anyone I know. Thank you, Design in DC! It was an absolute pleasure working with all of you!
Social Driver is a leading digital agency specializing in social media, digital strategy, content and video, websites, and brand design. Based in Washington DC, with teams in Seattle, Kansas City, Chicago, and Bellingham, WA, our culture focuses on partnership, creativity, stewardship, and service...
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Creative Services Review from Andy Blevins
Social Driver provided branding services for the merger of two national LGBTQ military & veteran nonprofits. They incorporated insight from two boards to produce a name, logo, and branding package. The deliverables have all earned high praise, with the logo and overall brand being versatile and simple. All deadlines were met and communication was a highlight. Their smooth and streamlined process helped us pull everything under the same umbrella to have a united front. I highly recommend them!
Social Media Marketing Review from David Sallee
Social Driver provided social media marketing workshops and advice for the departments on campus which were involved in social media marketing, such as alumni, athletics, and advancement.Their staff provided in-depth instruction for all appropriate staff and follow-up conversations to support their work.Social Driver has very strong technical skills. They also demonstrate a very high level of insight for applications of social media that go far beyond technical insights into human insights.
Web Design Review from Eileen Kessler
My company worked with Social Driver to redesign the UX/IA for a national scientific organization's extensive research resource that was moving from print to online. There was a tight deadline to conceptualize a new user experience and create a framework that our client could review iteratively. Our client was very pleased with the results of the new interactive framework and design. This design was used for the build of the web site which began immediately upon completion. Highly recommend!
97 Switch is an award-winning Chicago and Portland digital marketing agency that specializes in marketing, web design and strategy...
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Web Design Review from Christopher Calarco, D.C.
Our company had an excellent experience partnering with Jeremy and the 97 Switch team on our website and SEO. The initial build was on a tight timeline that was kept, and after the sites completion we saw a significant increase in new business coming our way. More medical professionals learned about us and wanted to join our network, which was an amazing bonus of working with 97 Switch. We've committed to work with 97 Switch for the next several years given they have been crucial in guiding our plan for growth.
Web Design Review from Justyna Chrupek
We hired them to build a new website. The website was quickly completed in just a couple months, and weve seen markedly positive results from 97 Switchs efforts. It's a new marketing feature that we use on a daily basis. The improved quality has facilitated our communication and made things much easier. Weve received great feedback from our vendors, investors, and customers who want to view our properties. Internally, our staff is excited to see what's going on in our company. We are definitely proud of our new platform. Our executive team is excited to be featured on the new website; previously, they didn't even want their picture shown. Before this redesign, we were almost embarrassed to send out the link. Now, we can comfortably share it with our investors, potential investors, and landlords so they keep track of our updates on a monthly basis. We love how this site presents the face of our company.
Web Design Review from Adam Greenberg
We've seen tremendous growth and exposure. The website has generated a number of new leads and weve received tons of cold calls from potential clients. This is thanks to 97 Switchs efforts to increase our digital exposure. We communicate primarily via phone and email and theyre highly responsive. I receive a response to emails within minutes and they get back to me within half an hour if I request a phone call. They're able to conduct face-to-face interactions in order to truly understand the goals and business culture of their clients. This allowed them to create a design that accurately represented our brand. I've had nothing but positive experiences with 97 Switch and Id recommend them to anyone.
Since 2008 we've been helping startups and small businesses around the world to deliver better, more relevant marketing strategies and tactics. Combining branding, messaging, design, SEO and CRO with a wide range of tactical marketing initiatives, we help you increase awareness, credibility, reputation, trust...
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Design Services Review from Guy Campo
We are extremely pleased with KEXINO's design of our hospital's website. From the initial consultation to the final launch, their team demonstrated exceptional creativity, professionalism, and attention to detail. They took the time to understand our goals and translated them into a visually appealing, user-friendly, and functional website that perfectly represents our brand.KEXINO's approach to responsive design ensures our site looks and performs flawlessly on all devices, providing an excellent user experience for our patients and visitors. The seamless integration of key features, such as appointment scheduling and patient portals, has greatly enhanced our online services, making it easier for users to access vital information.Their expertise in healthcare-specific design considerations, including accessibility and HIPAA compliance, was evident throughout the project. We highly recommend KEXINO to any healthcare provider looking for a modern, professional, and effective online presence.
thunder::tech is the leading, full-service marketing agency for midsize brands, known for delivering remarkable growth by blending creativity and technology...
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Aaron Newby's Review Sourced from Google
t::t has been a solid partner for us as we work to transform our digital presence. They have provided valuable strategic insights and their communication has been consistently prompt. I'd like to particularly call out James, Joe, and Xavier for their excellent work during our engagements. Thanks t::t team for being an excellent partner!
James Fashing's Review Sourced from Google
We've worked with Thunder::tech to replace our cooperative's website. They have delivered as promised and more than expected in a professional and timely manner. Their team members are creative, technical and professional experts. We're looking forward to working on a second phase of the project with them starting soon. T::T is big enough a agency that they have multiple experts on the team with overlapping knowledge to get the job done, but not such a huge company where one might get lost as a client. As a web and digital media pro with 20+ years of experience, I recommend Thunder::tech. - JF
Swetha Siripurapu's Review Sourced from Google
The most horrible people! They are very reckless, don’t show up to appointments. Not once, not twice but thrice. You call to ask they dodge your calls.Don’t expect call backs. I went to Derek and texted him several times about this and asked to call. Nothing! Figured a month would be long enough. Don’t waste your time on these people
NOVUS is an independent media agency that architects growth with purpose where every media decision is intentional, measurable, and built for impact...
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An award-winning boutique visual communications business that delivers solutions for nonprofits, community orgs and public-serving entities. The goal? To amplify good works for the greater good. Through graphic design and artistic partnerships, creativity and equity intersect...
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Growth Naavik is an AI-powered digital marketing agency committed to helping businesses achieve sustainable and measurable growth in the digital world. By combining advanced AI technologies with data-driven marketing strategies, the company delivers end-to-end solutions including SEO, lead generation, paid...
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Krupa Ghevariya's Review Sourced from Google
Very satisfied with Growth Naavik's services. Their dedicated team understood our goals and delivered impressive SEO results. Highly recommend their expertise.
Vinisha Kalal's Review Sourced from Google
After comparing a few agencies, I decided to work with Growth Naavik for Amazon listing support. They reorganized our product pages and suggested clearer product descriptions. The process was smooth, and I appreciated how organized everything was.
Aauj Mahervani's Review Sourced from Google
Working at Growthnaavik has been a valuable experience in my career journey. The work environment is dynamic and encourages continuous learning and growth. I appreciate the supportive team culture and the trust given to employees to take ownership of their responsibilities. It has been a great place to develop skills, gain new experiences, and work with talented people.
MBuy, a division of Mediaocean, combines everychannel media expertise and the best advertising technology in the industry - providing advertisers with superior media buying and planning services that reach and engage the right audience, in the right channels...
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This agency excels in providing dynamic marketing solutions quickly, ensuring client needs are met with unprecedented timelines. By blending both digital and traditional media, they focus on creating compelling brand experiences that drive tangible results...
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Top advertising agencies in Chicago bring outside expertise and fresh perspectives to enhance brand visibility and customer engagement. They develop strategic campaigns based on deep market insights and consumer behavior, helping companies connect more effectively with their target audience. Through data-driven strategies and creative execution, these agencies help businesses drive higher customer acquisition and gain a stronger position in the local market.
Partnering with a Chicago advertising company unlocks several advantages to businesses:
To showcase the results a top Chicago advertising company can achieve for a business, our researchers highlighted this case study:
Chicago advertising companies offer a range of services to help businesses promote their brands and reach their target audiences. The most common services include:
In addition to their primary services, some Chicago advertising companies provide additional support, including influencer marketing, experiential marketing, event sponsorships, and direct mail campaigns.
It's challenging to identify the exact number of advertising agencies in Chicago. However, estimates suggest several hundred such firms are operating in the city. For instance, AdForum’s database lists around 190 agencies in the city, while recruitment platform Built In Chicago identifies 375 AdTech (advertising technology) companies. These figures indicate a thriving and diverse advertising sector in Chicago.
There are more than 5,400 advertising companies listed on DesignRush, with 130 agencies based in Illinois, and 104 located or have offices in Chicago. The companies vary in size, as shown by the following data:
| Company size | Number of agencies |
| Small (under 49 employees) | 73 |
| Mid-sized (50-249 employees) | 20 |
| Large (250+ employees) | 8 |
| Enterprise (1000+ employees) | 3 |
Many Chicago advertising companies charge hourly rates between $100 and $200, though some accept lower rates of $30 to $50. Small businesses typically spend $10,000 to $50,000 on annual advertising, and many also separate their budgets for online and offline channels.
The top 50 advertising agencies in Chicago featured on DesignRush charge approximately $138 an hour. About 6.8% of agencies accept projects with a minimum budget of less than $1,000 for basic services like local business listings or PPC campaign audit. Meanwhile, 8.7% require $50,000+ minimum budget for full-service digital advertising campaigns or omnichannel marketing strategies.
Browse our directory to explore these Chicago agencies. Use our advanced filters to sort them by industry focus, hourly rate, reviews, and other relevant criteria.
Follow these steps to choose the best advertising agency in Chicago:
If you need expert recommendation, visit our Marketplace and submit your project details. Our team will suggest the top five agencies that meet your requirements, free of charge.
For an effective campaign execution, advertising agencies in Chicago follow a well-defined, structured process that typically involves the following stages:
Chicago advertising companies cater to clients from different industries, and these are the top five:
Beyond these top sectors, advertising agencies in Chicago also work with businesses in software and SaaS, automotive, hospitality, and finance. Browse our directory to learn more about these companies and use our advanced filters to narrow your search by budget range, industry, specializations, and more relevant criteria.
Consider asking the following questions when assessing a Chicago advertising company:
Explore these top 10 best-rated Chicago advertising companies:
Rated 4.8 on Google and 4.7 on Trustpilot, DesignRush Agency Directory is a reliable resource for finding top advertising agencies in Chicago. We owe this to our executive selection team, which follows a strict screening process when featuring agencies on the platform, assessing key performance indicators, like portfolio, client reviews, and industry reputation.
Learn more about DesignRush Agency Ranking Methodology.
DesignRush sustains a directory of over 30,000 agencies categorized by service category, location, expertise, and reviews. We build our database in two ways:
Agencies can also reach out to DesignRush and must go through the verification process prior to being listed.
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