Our directory of media buying agencies in the US is evaluated using five core ranking criteria and reviewed by a team of 12 industry experts, backed by more than 480 verified client reviews. This methodology provides a clear, credible way to identify the right media buying partner.
Discover the Best Media Buying Agencies Across the United States
19 Companies-Rankings updated: September 08, 2026
DesignRush vets each media buying agency based on professional qualifications and verified customer feedback to help you choose confidently. Some positions may be sponsored.
Reap Commerce runs paid media as one piece of a connected system alongside CRO, SEO, and lifecycle email, with every channel briefed from the same customer evidence. Clients can start with a fixed-fee diagnostic before committing to ongoing paid media management...
Top Services:
CRO
eCommerce Development
PPC
Email Marketing
Advertising
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Location
Dallas, Texas
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
13 Projects Listed
Reap Commerce Services
CRO
eCommerce Development
PPC
Email Marketing
Advertising
Media Buying
Digital Strategy
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
AON
Maggiano's
Cutco
Dave & Busters
Poo~Pourri
Cuvée Coffee
Ruff Greens
Melinda's
Supernatural
Ming Wang
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
Reap Commerce Reviews & Testimonials
Kate Ferguson
CEO at Flourish Plant
5.0★
eCommerce Review from Kate Ferguson
We hired Reap to help stand up our Amazon store and grow our sales. We worked together for a few months and they improved our overall branding on Amazon and setup our advertising.
Our experience with Reap has been good so far, and came highly recommended through the startup CPG community - with them having helped co-found the DFW CPG organization and also having taught the Winning In Ecommerce class in the SKU Accelerator program for brands like ours.
The Reap team are great partners- they are highly strategic, metrics focused and very responsive. We have access to a number of resources that can give us strategic insights about our campaigns, to fighting case logs and keeping us instated, to more ecomm strategy help from their Chief Strategist, Jason Roussos.
Because of the uniqueness of our product, we realize this requires a solution that isn't cookie cutter. We've been able to pivot and move pretty quickly as Reap is learning more about our industry and buyers. Each team member we've interacted with is professional and responsive. Overall, we're happy with the Reap team and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.
Jocelyn Payne Atkinson
CEO at Dermaflage
5.0★
eCommerce Review from Jocelyn Payne Atkinson
We hired Reap to optimize our ecommerce website and strategy. We worked together for over a year and they improved all aspects of our digital marketing: SEO, conversion rate optimization, email marketing and UGC advertising on Meta. Reap recommended platform changes and then helped us make the smooth transition from WooCommerce to Shopify and from MailChimp to Klayvio. Moving to these platforms has been one of the best decisions we have made! The Reap team are truly great partners- they are highly strategic, metrics focused and very responsive. On top of all of that, they are just really good people and a pleasure to know.
Michael Freed
President at Tanager Holdings, LLC
5.0★
eCommerce Review from Michael Freed
We have loved working with Reap. Knowledgeable, kind, efficient, creative - everything we needed to launch a company with 1 SKU and write a success story. Had it not been for regulatory issues beyond Reap's control, we would've exceeded our goal for 2024. Our group will continue to partner with Reap going forward. Strongly recommend!!!
Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
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YB Marketing builds Google Ads and paid social campaigns specifically for businesses competing in the Denver and Chicago markets. Community engagement and monitoring run alongside paid campaigns to keep organic and paid efforts working together...
Top Services:
Advertising
Branding
Social Media Marketing
Digital Marketing
Email Marketing
Show more
Location
Yakima, Washington
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$150/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
YB Marketing Services
Advertising
Branding
Social Media Marketing
Digital Marketing
Email Marketing
Graphic Design
Creative Services
Print Design
Web Design
Content Marketing
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Consumer Goods Industry
Wellness & Fitness Industry
Manufacturing Industry
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
YB Marketing Reviews & Testimonials
Amanda Kendrick
Owner at Retail Company
5.0★
Web Development Review from Amanda Kendrick
Adam and his team at Encite are absolutely exceptional in everything that they do. I know that I can reach out for anything at anytime and get an answer back right away. If ever there is something I want to change on our website, no matter how big or small, I know that Adam and his team will respond right away and make the changes with very little wait time. Not only are they great with site modifications, they also have saved the day on more than one occasion with graphics and other special projects. They really can help with just about anything and our company views them as one of our most valuable and utilized vendors. I would highly recommend Encite to anybody looking for help with Marketing and Websites.
Abby Miller
CEO at Clubstore Outlet Owners
5.0★
Media Buying Review from Abby Miller
We recently opened a retail store in Parker, Colorado. Since we are not native to Colorado, we were in need of a way to get our name out there. Adam and his team have gone beyond our expectations of what an ad agency would provide for our business. They helped us understand our brand, learned our priorities and continue to implement them into our marketing and advertising. We have an on-going relationship with Encite and look forward to what we can accomplish together in the future.
Susan Settergren-Harman
Founder at Undisclosed
5.0★
Branding Review from Susan Settergren-Harman
My company has been working with Encite for close to 2 years. I am extremely impressed with their professionalism, prompt response time, expertise and creative solutions. I would recommend them to anyone looking to improve their marketing efforts. They have been amazing to work with!
Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
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Yael Consulting is a results-driven Google Ads and online marketing consultancy dedicated to helping businesses grow profitably through smarter, data-driven strategies. We partner with companies of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 firms, designing unique strategies tailored to your specific market...
Top Services:
Digital Strategy
Media Buying
PPC
Location
Commack, New York
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
16 Projects Listed
Yael Consulting Services
Digital Strategy
Media Buying
PPC
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Torque Fitness
Cleverly
Akian Plumbing
Accredited Drug Testing
American Language Services
Outdoor Kitchen Pro
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
Yael Consulting Reviews & Testimonials
Grady DiAntonio
Review from Google
5.0★
Grady DiAntonio's Review Sourced from Google
We are extremely happy with Lior and his team. Kailyn has been incredible.
I was asked recently what was the best decision we made this year for our business and without a doubt it was hiring Yael Consulting.
Jeremy Steinman
Review from Google
5.0★
Jeremy Steinman's Review Sourced from Google
I have been a client of Lior and Yael Consulting for 7 years, working on paid ads, SEO and marketing consulting for our small business. Yael Consulting is the most competent and personable company we have ever worked with.
The strategies Yael implements rely on common sense and creativity and to support a constantly changing industry. Yael is always price-conscious and fair and they are excellent communicators.
I would highly recommend Yael consulting for any of your digital marketing needs.
Ronald Vallone
Review from Google
5.0★
Ronald Vallone's Review Sourced from Google
Working with Yael Consulting feels like having an extension of my team. Lior’s quick, hands-on approach, deep expertise, and clear communication have built immediate trust. Unlike bigger companies, they prioritize collaboration and truly care about helping small businesses succeed.
Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
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Imagine Marketing is a pioneer in affiliate/consideration marketing, offering a service that helps brands own all in-market customers in their industry. Imagine uses levers in affiliate marketing, SEM media buying, and social whitelisting to empower customer acquisition for long term growth...
Top Services:
Affiliate Marketing
Media Buying
eCommerce
PPC
CRO
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Location
St. Petersburg, Florida
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
3 Projects Listed
Imagine Marketing Services
Affiliate Marketing
Media Buying
eCommerce
PPC
CRO
Public Relations
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Luma Nutrition
Wild Foods Co
MRM Nutrition
Chuga Shilajit
Natural Stacks
GOT Bag
Your Super
Alva Cookware
Fulton Insoles
Goldenerre
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
Imagine Marketing Reviews & Testimonials
Daniella Cohen
Head of Digital at WelleCo
5.0★
Affiliate Marketing Review from Daniella Cohen
Working with Imagine Marketing has been a transformative experience for WelleCos affiliate presence. They didn't just chase easy wins; they took the time to audit our program, removing low-value affiliates and coupons to ensure every dollar spent was truly incremental.
Jake Langley
Founder at Luma Nutrition
5.0★
Affiliate Marketing Review from Jake Langley
Josh is professional and knowledgeable. He has grown our affiliate program to over 6 figures per month. He is always bringing new ideas to the table.
Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
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Empowering Companies To Effectively Engage Their Target Audiences And Bridge Gaps To Achieve Impact
At B3 Media Consulting, we are committed to leveraging digital expertise to consult on and create integrated marketing for growth minded businesses. We are digital marketing experts who have experience working at Google and can accelerate. your digital marketing needs and drive up ROI quickly...
Top Services:
Digital Services
Branding
Digital Strategy
eCommerce Development
CRO
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Location
New York City, New York
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$125/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
5 Projects Listed
B3 Media Consulting Services
Digital Services
Branding
Digital Strategy
eCommerce Development
CRO
Media Buying
SEO
PPC
eCommerce
Digital Marketing
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Natural Cure Labs
Madbury Road
Sway Outdoor
Content Bacon
IAmThomasCole
Cheer MixALot
Snoot
Dashing Solutions
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
B3 Media Consulting Reviews & Testimonials
Bryan Ruiz
Owner at Cheer Mix A Lot
5.0★
Digital Services Review from Bryan Ruiz
Our partnership with B3 has been transformative for our business. Their data strategy has not only driven remarkable business growth but also empowered us to make data-informed decisions. The precision targeting and personalized marketing campaigns have been instrumental in attracting and retaining customers. We are thrilled with the results and look forward to continuing our collaboration with B3.
Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
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We help consumer services companies drive profitable growth and prove it through fast testing, smart strategy, and media and SEO built for revenue impact...
Top Services:
Digital Marketing
Media Buying
SEO
PPC
Advertising
Show more
Location
Reston, Virginia
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Silverback Strategies Services
Digital Marketing
Media Buying
SEO
PPC
Advertising
Content Marketing
CRO
Creative Services
Graphic Design
Digital Strategy
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Strategic PR And Media Relations For Global Brands
ZECOMMS is a global tech PR and strategic communications agency helping startups, scale-ups, and venture-backed companies gain international media visibility. Specializing in media relations, startup PR, and thought leadership, the agency secures coverage in leading business and technology publications...
Top Services:
Public Relations
Media Buying
Market Research
Location
San Francisco, California
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$25/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
3 Projects Listed
ZECOMMS AGENCY Services
Public Relations
Media Buying
Market Research
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Social Media & Paid Ads That Turn Followers Into Customers Not Just Vanity Metrics
VAW Media is a small (team of 3) full-service social media & paid advertising agency building strategy-first systems for real growth not vanity metrics. We manage organic content, Meta & Google Ads, and lead generation for businesses nationwide, turning followers and clicks into paying customers...
Top Services:
Social Media Marketing
Advertising
Content Marketing
Digital Marketing
Video Marketing
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Location
Brentwood, Tennessee
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$100/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
6 Projects Listed
VAW Media Services
Social Media Marketing
Advertising
Content Marketing
Digital Marketing
Video Marketing
Media Buying
Digital Strategy
Email Marketing
eCommerce
Digital Services
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Born in Floridas competitive hospitality scene, J. Oliver Advertising now drives data-first growth for service businesses, e-commerce brands, and professional firms such as law firms, medical clinics, wellness brands, and beyond...
Top Services:
Advertising
Digital Marketing
SEO
PPC
Media Buying
Show more
Location
Pompano Beach, Florida
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
3 Projects Listed
J. Oliver Advertising Services
Advertising
Digital Marketing
SEO
PPC
Media Buying
eCommerce
AI Development
CRO
Social Media Marketing
Direct Marketing
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Unique Image is an award-winning creative solutions firm with over 25 years of expertise empowering brands and driving positive change for corporate and Fortune 500 enterprises. Our end-to-end campaign tactics push multimedia and design limits to offer new chances for immersive marketing. We work with brave...
Top Services:
Branding
Creative Services
Advertising
Media Buying
Video Production
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Location
Los Angeles, California
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$400/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Portfolios Count
1 Project Listed
Unique Image Services
Branding
Creative Services
Advertising
Media Buying
Video Production
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
At GoDRTV, we know that the days of simple "spray and pray" marketing are long gone. Consumers have become so used to seeing ads everywhere they look, it's no longer enough to simply pour money into mass advertising. Chances are, people won't even notice. It takes a smarter approach when investing in...
Top Services:
Media Buying
Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Video Production
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Location
Glendale, California
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$300/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
GoDRTV Services
Media Buying
Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Video Production
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Life Alert
BHCosmetics
DirecTV
ABC
World Gym
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
GoDRTV Reviews & Testimonials
Jennifer Birdsall
Review from Google
5.0★
Jennifer Birdsall's Review Sourced from Google
I cannot give a higher recommendation to Shervin, Danny, and the rest of the GoDRTV production team. My organization and I have worked with GoDRTV on numerous videos, from company leadership (about) commercials, to using actors to record various behavioral health education content. We have shot in numerous locations from our company office, GoDRTV's studio, to off site locations. At every turn they are the ultimate professionals and creative experts with a full team and technical set up for the most incredible final products. They have a team of experts to support the entire creative planning, filming and production process from initial video-planning, to script support, to scene/location planning, to amazing production oversight during shooting, to the best lighting, sound, and camera crew - capturing the best angles (yes they contort themselves into all positions even on the ground to get the best shots and creative B-roll), to off the charts post-production skills to create best in class, creative, and incredible (better than you imagined) final videos. The team is warm, positive, high energy, motivating and inspiring. If you are looking for a production team to produce your next film - look no further. We will continue to use them for our projects to come and I recommend them with the highest regard.
Artin Yarijanian
Review from Google
5.0★
Artin Yarijanian's Review Sourced from Google
GoDRTV is our go to for video marketing!
The friendly team is super fun to work with and is a nice reminder that professionalism doesn't have to be dull or boring. They always deliver grade A results and they're a blast to work with!
Lucy Janoyan
Review from Google
5.0★
Lucy Janoyan's Review Sourced from Google
GoDRTV has a team of exceptional and talented professionals who have helped us with our multiple internal and external marketing video production needs. We started working with them several years ago to produce corporate training videos and most recently multiple educational videos catered directly to consumers via various media channels. I highly recommend this company for any size project or video production need. Shervin and Danny are amazing!
Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
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Ketamine Marketing and Ketamine Lead Generation Experts
Ketamine Lead Gen is a boutique marketing agency that works with Ketamine Clinics and Wellness Clinics to attract new patients for services such as Ketamine IV, IM Ketamine, Sublingual Ketamine, Esketamine (Spravato), TMS Therapy, MeRT for Autism, NAD Infusion Therapy, Nutritional IV, and more...
Top Services:
PPC
Web Design
WordPress Website Design
Digital Marketing
SEO
Show more
Location
Ramona, California
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$100/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Ketamine Lead Gen Services
PPC
Web Design
WordPress Website Design
Digital Marketing
SEO
Social Media Marketing
Media Buying
Content Marketing
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Marketing Industry
Advertising Industry
Small Business Idustry
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile
Ketamine Lead Gen Reviews & Testimonials
Jon Kraus
Review from Google
5.0★
Jon Kraus's Review Sourced from Google
Ketamine Lead Gen has been a phenomenal asset to helping manage the digital marketing components of our business. From running ads to their mastery of SEO, having a team that is knowledgeable about the ketamine/TMS space is a tremendous help and a great group to partner with.
Steve Suntala
Review from Google
5.0★
Steve Suntala's Review Sourced from Google
We have been using Ketamine Lead Gen for 8 months with our clinic- New Pathways Clinic. Right away we were impressed with their knowledge and expertise in the Ketamine/Spravato space. They have helped us navigate this complex marketing/advertising space and have fantastic ad copy for those who need it. Really appreciate what the owners Jake and Steve have done for our practice!
Robert Miller
Review from Google
5.0★
Robert Miller's Review Sourced from Google
We have tried several marketing agencies and these guys are hands down the best. Their communication, suggestions, and professionalism is unlike any other company. Jake and Steve are great to work with! They have nearly doubled our conversion rate.
Reviews verified by DesignRush and sourced from the agency's profile
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Getting You MORE Business Through Digital Marketing
We are NOT a super creative, cutting edge, fancy pants marketing agency. We focus on tried and true strategies proven to get our client partners results in their local market. We stick to what works. We only care about getting our partners an ROI. If that's what you want, you know what to do...
Top Services:
Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing
PPC
CRO
Media Buying
Show more
Location
St. Paul, Minnesota
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$150/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
BOOM Digital Marketing Company Services
Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing
PPC
CRO
Media Buying
Advertising
Email Marketing
CRM Consulting
Phone Answering Services
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Forge One Marketing is a performance-driven PPC agency based in Washington State, specializing in paid media strategies that drive real business growth. We help product-based eCommerce and service brands scale through smart campaign management across Meta, Google, and more, combining data-backed decisions...
Top Services:
PPC
Social Media Marketing
Media Buying
Digital Marketing
CRO
Show more
Location
Stanwood, Washington
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Forge One Marketing Services
PPC
Social Media Marketing
Media Buying
Digital Marketing
CRO
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
EARY Digital is a San Antonio, TX digital marketing agency built for businesses that refuse to be ignored. We specialize in custom website design, search engine optimization (SEO), video production, drone tours, content creation, and full-scale digital marketing all under one roof...
Top Services:
Digital Services
Branding
Web Design
UI/UX Design
Web Development
Show more
Location
Boerne, Texas
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$150/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
EARY Digital Services
Digital Services
Branding
Web Design
UI/UX Design
Web Development
WordPress Website Design
Media Buying
Digital Marketing
SEO
Social Media Marketing
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
The Only Agency That Built Two INC 500 #1 Brands From Zero
Digital marketing agency powering record-breaking growth for standout brands. Were the driving force behind multiple INC #1 fastest-growing companies, with a laser focus on paid media, email marketing, and creative strategy. Relentlessly curious, radically transparent, and obsessed with your results...
Top Services:
Digital Marketing
PPC
Media Buying
Social Media Marketing
Video Marketing
Show more
Location
Franklin, Tennessee
Number of Employees
Under 49
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Sweat Pants Agency Services
Digital Marketing
PPC
Media Buying
Social Media Marketing
Video Marketing
Email Marketing
Advertising
eCommerce
Direct Marketing
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Notorious Creative Agency builds client acquisition systems. Paid ads on Meta and Google, conversion-focused landing pages, a fully configured CRM, automated nurture and retargeting, and AI appointment setting that contacts every lead in under five minutes, 24/7 assembled into one owned pipeline...
Top Services:
Advertising
Social Media Marketing
Media Buying
PPC
CRO
Show more
Location
Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$150/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
Notorious Creative Services
Advertising
Social Media Marketing
Media Buying
PPC
CRO
CRM Consulting
Business Consulting
Content Marketing
Reputation Management
UI/UX Design
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
Done-with-you marketing for Pensacola and Gulf Coast businesses. We build the engine that captures, nurtures, and retains your customers, then hand you the keys...
Top Services:
Web Development
Web Design
Social Media Marketing
SEO
Media Buying
Show more
Location
Pensacola, Florida
Number of Employees
Under 49
Average Hourly Rate
$125/hr
Minimal Budget
$1,000 - $10,000
OmniQode Services
Web Development
Web Design
Social Media Marketing
SEO
Media Buying
AI Development
Business Consulting
eCommerce
Email Marketing
Data sourced from the agency's DesignRush profile, its website, and other relevant accounts
What services do media buying agencies in the United States provide?
These types of agencies help brands with:
Performance-focused digital campaigns: High-demand campaigns across Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Search, and CTV, prioritizing short-form video and measurable, creative-led performance.
Full-funnel paid media tied to creative-led campaigns: Roughly 60% to 70% of clients bundle creative and media for faster cycles, fewer handoffs, and performance-built creative.
Programmatic and CTV packages: Growing rapidly, with challenger brands investing $15K to $150K per month for scalable reach, automated targeting, and measurable lift.
Paid social advertising: Cross-platform campaigns delivering 1% to 2% average conversion rates, with top performers exceeding 3% on Meta and TikTok.
Audience & competitive analysis: Audience research and competitor benchmarking to guide budget allocation and identify the highest-ROI channels.
Analytics & performance reporting: Real-time KPI tracking, A/B testing, and optimization across impressions, CPM, CTR, conversions, ROAS, and attribution paths.
How much do media buying services in the US cost?
Most media buying agencies charge between $100 and $150 per hour. They rely on a mix of retainers, spend-based fees, and setup costs, depending on scope and complexity.
These numbers are based on industry research and expert insights from Colormatics:
Fee Type
Typical Cost Range
Notes
Monthly retainer
$1,500 to $10,000
Based on complexity and channel mix
% of media spend
10% to 20%
Scales with spend and performance scope
One-time setup fee
$1,500 to $3,000
Tracking, pixels, dashboards, QA
Hourly rate
$100 to $150+
Specialized strategy or audits
Beyond agency fees, overall campaign budgets vary significantly based on scale, channels, and timelines. The table below outlines common budget ranges for different types of media buying engagements.
Campaign Type
Budget Range
Typical Scope
Pilot campaigns
~$25,000
1 to 2 platforms, short run
Integrated campaigns
$50,000 to $300,000
Multi-channel, performance tracking
Large/national campaigns
Up to $500,000
12 to 24 weeks, heavy media mix
When can clients expect ROI from paid media campaigns?
ROI timelines vary by channel based on learning cycles, inventory dynamics, and optimization requirements. This table outlines when early performance signals usually appear and when results tend to stabilize.
Channel
Early Signals
Stable Performance
Paid social
7 to 21 days
30 to 45 days
Google Search
3 to 10 days (with volume)
8 to 12 weeks
YouTube
5 to 10 days
3 to 4 weeks
CTV/Programmatic
4 to 8 weeks
10 to 12 weeks
What are the typical timelines for media buying projects from planning to launch?
Project timelines depend on campaign scale, creative complexity, and channel mix. These are typical expectations from strategy and setup through launch and ongoing optimization.
Campaign Size
Planning & Setup
Build & QA
Optimization Cadence
Total Timeline
Small-scale
1 to 2 weeks
3 to 5 days
Weekly
4 to 8 weeks
Mid-size
2 to 3 weeks
1 week
2-3× weekly
8 to 12 weeks
Large/Multi-channel
3 to 5 weeks
1 to 2 weeks
Daily
12 weeks to 6 months
What KPIs should your business track when working with these agencies?
When working with a media buying agency in the US, KPIs should be selected to reflect both media efficiency and business impact, ensuring performance is measured beyond surface-level engagement.
Key KPIs to monitor include:
Impressions, reach, frequency, and CPM to assess delivery efficiency and audience exposure
Click-through rate (CTR), cost per click (CPC), engagement rate, and video completion rate to evaluate creative and audience relevance
Conversion rate, cost per acquisition (CPA), return on ad spend (ROAS), and customer acquisition cost (CAC) to measure profitability and scalability
Attribution coverage, assisted conversions, and incrementality to understand paid media’s true contribution across channels
Budget pacing, spend utilization, and testing velocity to gauge operational discipline and optimization effectiveness
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