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.
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.
Performance Media by MUFASA® is an exclusive concierge programmatic media service that delivers Executive level biddable buying intelligence. This service was strategically designed to offer flexible, on-demand and limited commitment programmatic expertise...
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Energy BBDO is a creative powerhouse building memorable brands through tailored branding solutions. With a focus on energizing people and brands, the agency harnesses creativity to drive business growth and cultural relevance. Its team lives by core values of positivity, diversity, and ambition, ensuring...
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The Kitchen is Kraft Heinz's in-house creative agency, dedicated to building culturally relevant campaigns and brand experiences for one of the world's largest food and beverage companies. The agency combines creative strategy, content production, design, and integrated marketing to develop ideas that...
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Shay Smith Designs helps small businesses and entrepreneurs bring their creative visions to life through bold branding, strategic design, and engaging visuals...
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The highest praise we've ever received? These are the guys you actually want to hang out with on set. No egos, no drama. Were about telling awesome stories with awesome people. So, whether you're looking for a killer video, a memorable ad, or something entirely out of the box, we've got you covered from the...
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Resolute is a global agency specializing in paid media, performance marketing and measurement...
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We are a boutique, full-service advertising agency targeting English and Spanish speaking consumers with media and analytic specialties in television (linear and OTT/Advanced), print and radio (terrestrial, digital and podcast). We also have full video, print and radio creative service capabilities...
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Based in New York City, THE CHARLES was founded by sibling duo, Aaron Edwards and Samantha Edwards in 2011. Driven by their respective passion for culture, creativity, strategy, finance and technology, they sought to create a digital-first agency that would do things differently...
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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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