Top Pittsburgh Advertising Agencies

What Makes Pittsburgh Advertising Agencies Unique?

Pittsburgh, the county seat of Allegheny County, is a city in the state of Pennsylvania. It is the second-most populous city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and the most populous in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania.

Two Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) stations are located in Pittsburgh, making it simple to travel to San Francisco, Oakland and other locations. In fact, the "Fleet of the Future" vehicles for BART are made in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is a vibrant, close-knit community with a rich history and a diverse population that places a priority on safety and camaraderie. As a part of the Pennsylvania state, it is anticipated that Pennsylvania's advertising agencies will generate about $1.2 million in revenue by 2024.

For Pittsburgh advertising agencies, that means having continuous space for growth amongst some of the best-performing ad agencies.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) updated its estimates of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for each metropolitan area and county in the US. The value of the finished goods and services produced in a local or national economy is estimated by the GDP, a crucial economic metric. The Pittsburgh Metro Area's (PA) most recent measured GDP per capita was over $55,237 in that year.

This goes hand in hand with the fact that 10 Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in Pittsburgh, such as:

• Alcoa Corporation
• The Kraft Heinz Company
• Arconic Corporation
• WESCO International
• U.S. Steel Corporation
• Dick's Sporting Goods
• PNC Financial Services

As the market is competitive, Pittsburgh advertising professionals should focus on their experience and knowledge development. This means that your company or the upcoming project will get top-tier expert results.

What Do Ad Agencies in Pittsburgh Specialize In?

Different Pittsburgh advertising agencies support brands in using creativity in their campaigns and meeting the unique needs of a particular group of consumers. These organizations frequently serve as sources for innovative ideas.

Take a look at some of the major duties and specializations that ad agencies in Pittsburgh focus on:

Specialization #1: Extensive Research

Pittsburgh advertising firms are organized with teams devoted solely to conducting research and delivering the findings to the brands.

The most important and effective type of research ad agencies conduct is market research. The study offers significant insights into market trends and target audience preferences.

Monitoring the competition is a part of market research so you can learn from and analyze the strategies of all of market leaders. This enables you to better target your advertising and realize what appeals to a particular market.

Specialization #2: Content for Ads

The goal of the creative division is to create advertisements that the target market will watch on various media channels.

The operations of this division serve as the cornerstone of all Pittsburgh advertising services:

• Ad copy
• Film script writing
• Logo and poster design
• Tagline selection
• Ad production
• Campaign management
• And more

Since it entails the manifestation of concepts as advertisements featured on various platforms, this is the most imaginative and creative function of advertising agencies.

Specialization #3: Public Relations

Although it is not their primary function, some ad agencies in Pittsburgh go above and beyond by offering their clients assistance with public relations (PR).

A number of PR activities are aimed at establishing and preserving a positive perception of a company in the marketplace. Public relations, as opposed to aggressive sales of goods and services, emphasize selling the essence of the brand.

If you need robust and effective PR strategies, as well as access to a vast network of media contacts, it might be best to collaborate with a public relations firm instead.

Specialization #4: Media Buying

The media outlets you select to display your advertisements on will have a big impact and will best represent your brand.

This choice is made based on the objectives of your campaign, target audience, and your message, as this will help a brand gain the most traction.

These days, Pittsburgh ad agencies also plan and purchase space on online platforms. Ad spaces on Facebook, Google, Instagram, YouTube and other relevant platforms have grown in popularity as more and more consumers switch to digital media.

Additionally, the advertising agencies in Pittsburgh help you purchase time, space or slots on the selected media platforms according to the audience’s consumption patterns.

Specialization #5: Account Administration

Client management by the Pittsburgh ad agencies is done by account managers who bridge the communication gap between clients and every other department.

They set up client meetings and ascertain the objectives, demands and preferences. A marketing campaign is most often developed with the help of account managers' profiling work.

Account executives monitor all client needs from the point of the client acquisition through final follow-ups and solicit feedback regarding the ongoing advertising campaigns.

How Much Do Advertising Agencies in Pittsburgh Cost?

In most niche orientations, the average blended rate for the ad agencies in Pittsburgh in the current market is between $120 and $200 per hour. The hourly rate is closer to $250 per hour if the agencies have more experience and expertise.

Though not all do, the majority of media and advertising agencies do (between 3% and 15%), especially if they're playing the system and have their credit card on file with the media platform. As a result, they may take up to $150k of your media spend of $1 million.

Why Should You Hire Pittsburgh Advertising Experts?

The following is a list of reasons why you should explore and partner with some of the best-performing Pittsburgh advertising agencies:

Reason #1: Diverse Economy Means Rich Portfolio

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's economy is diversified and centered on high-tech services, healthcare, higher education, tourism, banking and corporate headquarters.

Even though Pittsburgh-based businesses like US Steel, Ampco Pittsburgh, and Allegheny Technologies own several operational mills in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, the city of Pittsburgh, once the hub of the American steel industry and still referred to as "The Steel City," no longer has any steel mills within its borders.

This type of rich business environment means that the advertisement professionals can acquire different clients and have extensive portfolios that lead to expert understanding of the niche.

Reason #2: Rise of Wages Motivates the Business Population

Due to businesses bidding up wages in order to compete for a limited number of workers, labor shortages have fueled wage growth across the U.S. Pittsburgh's economy has made an effort to match the state of the nation in this regard.

Through late 2021, Pittsburgh's average hourly wages across all private businesses increased by 3.8 percent, compared to 4.3% nationally and 4.8% for the entire state of Pennsylvania.

Reason #3: Business Community Is Supportive

The City of Pittsburgh is of the opinion that developing and maintaining a strong and favorable business climate is the best way to draw and keep businesses in a community.

The Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, Contra Costa Industrial Association, East Bay Leadership Council, East Bay Economic Development Alliance, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GoBiz), and Contra Costa Economic Partnership are just a few of the organizations the City maintains close ties within the business community.

The Economic Development Department collaborates closely with members of the business community, serving as a personal representative.

This motivates Pittsburgh advertising agencies to grow and network and get the support required to establish and maintain a prosperous business environment.

Reason #4: Strong Educational System Produces Top-Class Talents

University of Pittsburgh's ranking is National Universities number 62 in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges. This university has been recognized as the sixth-best community college in the nation thanks to its lovely 120-acre campus, numerous technology and study labs, and graduation/certification rate.

It is also the largest single employer in education with more than 10,000 employees.

Some of the top-tier non-profit colleges and universities ranked in the city are:

• University of Pittsburgh
• Community College of Allegheny County
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania

In addition, Los Medanos College, the nation's sixth-ranked community college, is located in the city, which is strategically situated close to a number of prestigious universities like UC Berkeley and UC Davis.

How To Choose the Best Agency for Pittsburgh Advertising?

Knowing how to choose your future business partner helps your business carve out a specific niche and establish itself as a pro in the market. You might find useful some of the following factors for searching and hiring ad agencies in Pittsburgh:

Factor #1: Innovative Solutions

For the best results, a top agency should be able to offer you fresh campaign concepts and inventive ways to carry them out.

However, you should bring some of your own ideas and plans to any meeting. Share your idea of the direction you want your brand to take before selecting your future business partner.

Factor #2: Clear Portfolio and Results

Take the initiative to learn as much as you can about the company’s partners, past clients, their successful or less successful campaigns, and any new trends or elements you'd like to incorporate into your own advertising.

You must rely on yourself to obtain the information you require to stay informed because not all agencies will be forthcoming. Feel free to ask the team openly about their previous experience.

Factor #3: Company Culture and Values

While clientele and work history are important, an agency's company culture will reveal a lot about the employees it attracts, its workflow and process, and its ability to adapt to your brand identity over the course of a campaign.

Take note of their workspace and the employees nearby, especially during face-to-face meetings and pitches. If they are upheld and in line with your company's values, you probably have a good chance of developing a productive working relationship.

Factor #4: Team Member's Individual Experience

When you invest in the recruitment process of Pittsburgh advertising professionals, you're actually hiring their team members rather than the actual company. Knowing exactly who will be collaborating with your brand and what they bring to the table is therefore crucial.

Ask for the names, areas of expertise, and prior campaigns of potential team members during the screening process. Depending on this, the agency as a whole will be able to foster growth and innovation, potentially increasing its value.

10 Questions to Ask Pittsburgh Ad Agencies

Following are a few things to take into account when looking for the ideal agency partner for your brand:

1. How will you research our audience to find out what they need and want?
2. What steps go into making a visually stunning yet powerful campaign?
3. How will your team members adapt their design sensibilities and contemporary styles to seamlessly fit our brand identity?
4. Which of your past campaigns addressed a problem and what methodologies did you use in solving it?
5. What campaigns have you developed in industries similar to ours? How well did they perform?
6. What tools or results are a factor in the final cost of the campaign?
7. What instruments and metrics will you employ to assess the campaign's success? How frequently will you monitor your goals?
8. What is your procedure or plan for getting the project back on track if a campaign is not performing as anticipated?
9. Can you provide us with the additional consulting hours after the campaign ends?
10. What would be your preferred payment structure?

Takeaways on Pittsburgh Advertising Agencies

Pittsburgh advertising agencies can help your company deliver the planned results through data-based ad creation, business, product and customer research, media planning and more.

Their hourly rates goe from $120 per hour to $200 per hour or more.

When it comes to decision making, it is important to take into account client and customer feedback before deciding on the next course of action.

Best of luck!

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