Kansas City stands tall as a powerhouse advertising hub, fueled by 11,000+ new tech jobs energizing the local agency ecosystem. Top ad agencies in Kansas City deliver standout results for major brands like Google, National Geographic, and Merck.
Performance metrics tell the real story – agencies regularly achieve 200% ROI on campaigns while maintaining perfect 5.0 client satisfaction scores.
This guide breaks down the 15 best advertising agencies Kansas City offers right now. Each agency profile covers its unique strengths, proven results, and service packages to help you pick the right partner for your business goals.
VML: Kansas City’s Digital Transformation Leader
VML leads Kansas City’s advertising scene through creative excellence. The agency earned a spot on Ad Age’s A-List Standout Agencies. Their global impact shows through second place in WARC’s rankings, with five VML offices making the top 50.
VML’s Award-Winning Campaign Portfolio
The agency’s creative strength shines in its 2024 awards. VML took home 17 Gold, 16 Silver, and 21 Bronze awards at The One Show. Their work at Clio Awards 2024 brought 3 Grand Prix, 10 gold, 23 silver, and 25 bronze awards.
Client Success Stories and ROI Metrics
VML tracks campaign results through detailed KPI frameworks. Their “Life Extending Stickers” campaign tackled food waste in Colombia, earning both a Green Pencil and a Sustainable Development Pencil.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: VML’s Approach to Integrated Marketing
The agency runs a Connected Media practice with 500+ specialists across four regions. VML excels at:
- Connecting awareness and loyalty channels
- Bringing together content, data, and technology
- Driving results through paid media
Pricing Structure and Service Packages
VML builds service packages around client goals:
- Marketing strategy development
- Brand identity creation
- Digital advertising
- Social media solutions
- Programmatic display and video
Their pricing focuses on ROI, adjusting campaign budgets to maximize impact. VML uses WPP’s Open marketing system to power its creative technology.
Bernstein-Rein Advertising: Legacy of Innovation
Bernstein-Rein has shaped advertising through entrepreneurial problem-solving since 1964. Their Retailigent™ method brings together consumer insights and brand purpose, pushing client growth forward.
Notable Campaigns That Shaped KC’s Ad Landscape
The McDonald’s “Make Life ‘Appen” campaign stands out among their work. This digital push drove app downloads using smart incentives, boosting both check sizes and app usage.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Bernstein-Rein’s Industry Specializations
The agency shows its strength through:
- Market research that uncovers real customer behaviors
- Retail know-how from running their own retail brands
- Customer journey mapping across digital and physical spaces
Bernstein-Rein holds a special spot as America’s only ad agency that started, owns, and runs its own retail brand. This hands-on experience helps them master loyalty programs, ticket values, and store traffic.
Client Testimonials and Case Studies
The numbers tell their story – 700 team members drive $100 million in yearly revenue. Their focus stays fixed on building real connections with customers.
Their work follows three key rules:
- Track metrics in real time
- Test different approaches to find what works
- Mix creative thinking with strong media plans
CEO Steve Bernstein and President Kelli Anstine keep pushing for new ideas instead of just following trends. This bold approach helps them build lasting brand connections that work better than quick promotions.
Barkley: One of the Best Ad Agencies in Kansas City
Barkley stands tall among Kansas City’s independent agencies. From small beginnings at a street corner, they’ve grown into a purpose-driven marketing force. The recent OKRP merger in 2024 pushed their growth and creative power even higher.
Barkley’s Creative Philosophy and Approach
Barkley builds their work around “Add Good” – making real change through smart solutions. They help brands stay strong for the future by really knowing today’s customers. The agency treats brands as actions rather than things, letting them test new ideas as markets change.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Notable Clients and Campaign Highlights
Their Ball Jar “Shine Through” campaign shows what Barkley does best – bringing in 3 times the money spent, growing Facebook fans by 40%, and boosting website visits by 30%. For Motel 6, they turned an $80,000 budget into 174 million views and 2,000 media spots.
Pricing Models and Engagement Options
Barkley matches pricing to what clients need:
- Long-term retainer plans
- Single project costs
- Value-based fees tied to results
- Performance pricing based on success
Agency Culture and Team Structure
Employee ownership drives fresh thinking and teamwork. Right now, 20% of directors and above come from diverse backgrounds, aiming for 25% by 2025. Programs like Creative Accelerator, BarkleyOKRP Fellowship, and BLAC internships bring in new talent.
The mix of startup spirit and B Corporation values makes Barkley special. This setup helps them draw top people across retail, restaurants, healthcare, farming, and money management.
Signal Theory: Data-Driven Brand Development
Signal Theory brings science to brand building. Their behavioral science methods and human-centered design create strong bonds between brands and buyers.
Signal Theory’s Resonance Branding Methodology
The agency reads signals between brands and buyers like a code. They dig through purchase records, search data, social posts, and product feedback to spot what customers really want.
Their method works in three steps:
- Watch user signals to build understanding
- Team up with clients to create solutions
- Test ideas until they work perfectly
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Food and Agriculture Industry Expertise
Signal Theory rules the food and farm space. Major wins include:
- California Milk Advisory Board picked them to sell Real California Milk across America
- Agriculture Future of America trusted them with student outreach
- Certified Angus Beef chose them for sustainability stories
Client Success Stories
Numbers prove their success. Report prep time dropped from 4 hours to 30 minutes. One analyst now handles data for 10+ global clients.
Three dozen big names trust Signal Theory with their media, strategy, creative, PR, and project work. Top clients include:
- John Deere
- BOSE
- Michelin North America
- SONIC® America’s Drive-In
- Chili’s® Grill & Bar
Better reporting helps win client deals by showing clear value in project agreements. Their FoodThink research shows how Americans think about food, helping brands speak to the right people.
Trozzolo Communications Group: Among the Best Ad Agencies in Kansas City
Trozzolo Communications Group started small – just eight people doing publishing work in the 1990s. Today they rank among the Midwest’s top independent marketing firms. Their downtown Kansas City headquarters serves as command central for 100+ clients nationwide.
Trozzolo’s Public Relations Expertise
The PR team knows how to handle anything – from crisis control to media connections. Local business outlets trust Trozzolo’s strategists for news releases and spokesperson materials. Big names like Duvel USA, TeamSmile, and The Sader Law Firm picked them as their PR partner.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Digital Marketing Capabilities
Smart creative meets tech savvy in Trozzolo’s digital team. They excel at:
- Running ads across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
- Making email marketing work harder
- Testing search campaigns until they win
Notable Client Campaigns
The 2023 Media Mix Awards told Trozzolo’s success story:
- Agency of the Year title
- Media Buyer/Planner of the Year crown
- Campaign of the Year win for UMKC’s ‘Roos Do’ work
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Agency History and Evolution in Kansas City
Since 1989, Trozzolo has grown bigger and better through smart deals. The 2011 move put 50+ people in their new home – a 32,000-square-foot, four-story “Gee Whiz Factory”. Angelo Trozzolo leads three specialized teams:
- Prairie Dog for healthcare
- Proventus for legal marketing
- Carl Collective for student projects
T Talks keeps innovation flowing as team members teach the local business community. The agency solves real problems using strategy, creativity, and truth-seeking skills – that’s why they stay on top in Kansas City.
MMGY Global: Travel Marketing Specialists
MMGY Global rules travel marketing worldwide, pulling in $250 million yearly billings. Their 600+ marketing experts work from 13 offices around the globe.
MMGY’s Travel Industry Expertise
CEO Katie Briscoe leads MMGY Global’s work with hundreds of travel clients across five continents. Big names trust MMGY – Pure Michigan, Windstar Cruises, City Experiences, and Marriott International just joined their client list. MMGY TCI Research serves more than 150 clients with specialized knowledge.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Digital Marketing and Social Media Capabilities
MMGY masters digital marketing through:
- Studio-quality content creation
- Smart email systems
- Marketing tech solutions
- Social media expertise
- Real-world brand experiences
Research-Based Marketing Approach
MMGY Travel Intelligence knows travel data better than anyone. Their 2021 research broke new ground with studies about:
- LGBTQ+ Travelers in America™
- Vistas Latinas: Hispanic Traveler Study
- Portrait of Travelers with Disabilities™
Client Portfolio and Success Metrics
Early 2022 brought MMGY Global their best numbers ever. Four things drive their success:
- Smart choices backed by Travel Intelligence data
- Always tracking what works
- Research-powered planning
- Marketing that works together across channels
Top travel brands stick with MMGY because they get results. Forty years of experience taught them how to mix brand building with real action. MMGY Global shapes tomorrow’s travel marketing by bringing people together and helping communities grow stronger worldwide.
Gragg Advertising: Performance-Based Marketing
Gragg Advertising knows numbers tell the real story. Since 1992, they’ve built their name on direct response marketing that works. Google sees their power too – naming them one of just three Kansas City Premier Partners for both Search and Mobile Advertising.
Gragg’s ROI-Focused Approach
Old-school impression counting doesn’t cut it anymore. Gragg tracks every dollar through full-channel attribution. Their research shows that 44% of TV ad responses move online, so they watch every step from TV to web clicks.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Digital Advertising Specialization
Gragg wins across digital channels:
- Social media plans to hit 43% open rates
- Email campaigns scoring 11% click-throughs
- Smart location targeting that finds buyers
Client Success Stories and Metrics
Numbers prove Gragg works. A Kansas City popcorn maker saw 43% open rates and 11% click-throughs on holiday emails. One Cyber Monday email broke their single-day sales record.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Service Offerings and Pricing Structure
Gragg builds everything around real results:
- PPC campaigns that perform
- Social media that sells
- Email systems that work
- Traditional media planning
- Out-of-home ads that grab attention
Darryl Mattox leads with a simple rule – understand goals first, then build plans that bring real returns. The team mixes old-school smarts with new tools like geofencing to find customers where they live.
EAG Advertising & Marketing: Small Business Champions
EAG Advertising & Marketing makes big-agency talent work for small businesses. Since 2003, they’ve helped 500+ clients grow from their Kansas City base. Small businesses get a full marketing team without the usual package limits or restrictions.
EAG’s Approach to Small Business Marketing
Small businesses need marketing that grows with them. EAG gives clients C-level marketing leadership for less than hiring one CMO. This works best when:
- Growth outpaces internal marketing resources
- DIY marketing stops working
- Brands need fresh positioning
- Teams want expert help without hiring costs
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Service Offerings and Specializations
Fifteen experts work as your complete marketing team, handling:
- Brand strategy and advice
- Media planning
- Creative design
- Content creation
- Channel oversight
- Lead finding
- Website building
- SEO mastery
Client Testimonials and Case Studies
The numbers speak loud – EAG managed $6.64M+ in ad spending and reached 1.73B+ impressions. They take big-brand thinking and make it work for smaller companies. Results show their power:
- 9.27M+ website visits
- Budgets that flex when needed
- Services that scale without long contracts
Perfect for businesses ready to move past freelancers or squeeze more from marketing dollars. Instead of paying $75,000+ yearly for one marketing manager, clients get a whole team of experts. Their managed service model puts top talent to work right away – no long hiring process is needed.
Lundmark: Versatile B2B and B2C Solutions
Lundmark stands strong after 75 years of design and marketing excellence. From their downtown spot at 104 W 9th St, they shape brand stories using hard data and smart strategy.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Lundmark’s Packaging Design Expertise
Package design sets Lundmark apart – they handle everything from global brands to fresh product launches. Smart planning starts with production checks, turning good ideas into real products that work. FDA rules, creative design, and digital mockups come together to make packages pop off shelves.
Digital Marketing Capabilities
The digital team knows their stuff – building mobile-friendly websites, running online stores, and hosting custom solutions. Their Cubestack tools keep sites safe, fast, and backed up. Social media goes beyond posts to full strategy guides that keep brands talking right to their audience.
Client Portfolio Highlights
Recent wins show what Lundmark does best. They rebuilt Measurabl’s website, making the ESG data leader easier to use and more engaging. Drug-Free Sport has a responsive site that plays nice with other tools.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Agency History in Kansas City
Burt Lundmark started something special in 1947. No shareholders mean quick choices and real teamwork with clients. Smart hosting tools and custom database filters help Lundmark stay fresh while keeping their old-school values – building relationships that last and getting results that matter.
Project tracking keeps everyone in the loop about package designs. This open approach makes Lundmark the go-to partner for brands wanting marketing that works.
Global Prairie: Purpose-Driven Marketing
Global Prairie puts purpose first. This 100% employee-owned company makes real change for organizations working to build a better world.
Global Prairie’s B Corporation Status and Values
Global Prairie ranks fourth among 3,500+ B Corporations worldwide. They meet tough social and environmental standards as a Public Benefit Corporation. Their PurposeFirst method helps brands turn good intentions into better culture, happier teams, and stronger returns.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Mission-Driven Client Portfolio
The agency picks partners carefully – working with purpose-driven leaders in strict industries that help people and the planet. Their work spans healthcare, government, farming, food, green energy, schools, and giving-focused groups. Smart campaigns break boundaries to grab attention and drive action.
Integrated Marketing Approach
Creative talent meets data smarts to push real change. Global Prairie focuses on:
- Smart marketing plans for purpose-driven leaders
- Digital strategies that fit each client
- Stories that make purpose shine
- Data choices that show clear results
Community Impact Initiatives
Actions speak louder than words at Global Prairie. Their latest Philanthropy Week scored big:
- $34,000 raised for 160 global nonprofits
- 253 kind acts recorded
- 700 HOPE kits packed with care items
- Help drives run for abuse survivors
Ten percent of yearly profits go to community work – about $13 million so far. Staff get three weeks of paid time to help nonprofits. Add their babies-at-work rule and top benefits package, and you see how doing good makes good business sense.
Crossroads Communications: Creative Storytelling
Crossroads Communications tells stories that stick. They find the heart of each business story and turn it into something special that moves people to act.
Crossroads’ Brand Narrative Approach
Stories need time to grow right. Crossroads digs deep into company culture, systems, and technical details. This homework helps them craft brand stories that hit home with the right people. Smart planning comes before action, making sure every campaign drives business goals.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Video Production Capabilities
From their New England home base, Crossroads Productions handles every video need:
- Planning stories and writing scripts
- Running production with expert crews
- Polishing videos with perfect sound and color
Client Success Stories
The proof sits in their client wins. Zeeco trusted them for 15 years to keep their brand strong worldwide. The City of Coweta’s #SmallTownSummer campaign pulled in 14,197 organic views and 900+ real engagements. Scotfest got the full package – social media magic plus print materials that popped.
Agency Culture and Creative Process
Owner Mandy Vavrinak leads strategy sessions that spark fresh ideas and build solid communication plans. The team works differently:
- Solving problems step by step
- Building smart networks
- Bringing in different voices and views
Look at their work with Operational Sustainability® – brand storytelling that connects through design, websites, and technical writing. Every project shows how good stories drive real business wins.
Intouch Solutions: Healthcare Marketing Innovators (Ad Agencies in Kansas City)
Intouch Solutions rules healthcare marketing in Kansas City. Their pharma campaigns set industry standards and push boundaries other agencies won’t touch.
Intouch’s Healthcare Industry Expertise
CEO Faruk Capan keeps Intouch focused purely on pharma and healthcare work, handling major U.S. pharma accounts. Smart moves in regulated spaces set them apart – from consumer campaigns to doctor outreach to business deals.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Digital Innovation in Pharmaceutical Marketing
Amazon Web Services partnership makes compliance simple and workflows smooth. Smart AI tools track how brands perform across channels. Their tech toolkit shines with:
- AI that finds insights in data
- Content that moves faster
- Price and access tools that work
Award-Winning Campaigns
PM360 Trailblazer Awards 2024 proved Intouch knows its stuff:
- Marketing Team Gold with Corcept Therapeutics
- Consumer Website Gold with Sanofi
- Video Campaign Silver with Lundbeck
- Direct-to-Patient Campaign Silver
- Unbranded Campaign Silver with Sanofi
“Erase the Line” campaign grabbed gold twice – App and Philanthropy. This platform helps African American women fight breast cancer, tackling the 40% higher death rate head-on.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Agency Growth and Evolution
Since 1999, Intouch has grown from a startup to a powerhouse – now 1,800 experts work from eight offices. EVERSANA bought them in 2021, creating EVERSANA INTOUCH – mixing creative spark with business smarts. Four teams keep innovation flowing:
- EVERSANA INTOUCH Solutions
- EVERSANA INTOUCH Proto
- EVERSANA INTOUCH Seven
- EVERSANA INTOUCH International
Meers Advertising: Data-Driven Consumer Insights
Meers Advertising knows what makes people tick. Now part of Barkley, they turn research into results that matter.
Meers’ Consumer Research Methodology
Smart research sets Meers apart. They mix surveys, focus groups, and data tools to see the full picture. Their research covers:
- Finding exactly who needs to see your message
- Understanding what people care about
- Spotting trends before they hit
- Tracking what makes people buy
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Digital Marketing Capabilities
Phone calls tell stories – Meers listens and learns using AI tools. They focus on:
- Making more people click
- Watching who buys
- Measuring what works
- Proving marketing pays off
Client Success Stories
Sam Meers grew the agency by helping healthcare groups serve patients better. Smart moves cut costs while keeping quality high. Everything gets tracked – they show exactly how marketing drives results.
Agency Culture and Team Structure
Joining Barkley in 2017 gave Meers big-agency muscle while keeping their startup spirit. The team believes in:
- Learning something new every day
- Letting data point the way
- Planning with purpose
- Working across teams
Meers knows when to change gears. Their hiring model puts experts to work fast – no long waits. Creative minds plus data brains mean campaigns that work and prove their worth.
Walz Tetrick Advertising: Strategic Media Planning
Walz Tetrick Advertising makes media work harder from their Mission, Kansas base. Smart data drives their campaigns, bringing results clients can count on across industries.
WTA’s Media Buying Expertise
Blair leads the media team to peak performance, finding ways to grab attention without wasting dollars. WTA shines at:
- Planning campaigns from local to national
- Building partnerships that last
- Getting more from media deals
- Making every platform count
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Creative Campaign Development
Smart risks pay off at WTA. Their “Fanatical Evolutionaries” push brands past today’s limits into tomorrow’s wins. Just ask Olathe Health – WTA turned them from another healthcare name into something special.
Sports Marketing Specialization
The sports and entertainment team knows how to fill seats and build fans. Their playbook includes:
- Numbers that show what works
- Media spending that follows ticket sales
- Messages that work everywhere
- Creative that wins worldwide
Client Testimonials and Case Studies
Big names trust WTA – like the Kansas City Royals, bringing home five CLIO Awards. The Salvation Army saw Red Kettle awareness soar. Kansas Athletics picked WTA to handle their FLIGHT program, showing new ways to work with college sports.
Client mix shows their range:
- Healthcare leads at 30%
- Advertising services take 20%
- Digital marketing claims 20%
- SEO/SEM grabs 20%
- Social media rounds out 10%
Sitting on the American Association of Advertising Agencies – Kansas City Board of Governors helps WTA shape what’s next. Meanwhile, they keep delivering for clients like the State of Kansas, Dairy Queen, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Novella Brandhouse: Boutique Brand Development
Novella Brandhouse runs things differently from their Crossroads spot in Kansas City. They stand alone as the WBE-certified brand shop that both plans strategy and makes it happen right away.
Novella’s Brand Strategy Process
Big company thinking works for growing businesses too. Novella takes Fortune 500 brand methods and makes them fit smaller teams. Discovery workshops dig into what makes companies tick. Whiteboard sessions and creative reviews shape brand voices that mean something.
Ad Agencies in Kansas City: Design and Creative Capabilities
The design team wins awards by telling stories through pictures. Top names notice their work:
- American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
- Business Marketers Association (BMA)
- International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
- PRINT Magazine Regional Design Annual
Client Portfolio Highlights
Big Biscuit and FlutterHabit show what Novella does best. Their tool kit fixes any brand problem:
- Building brand frameworks
- Creating campaigns that work
- Planning marketing moves
- Running websites that perform
Pricing and Engagement Models
Novella packages their smarts to fit your needs:
- Brand Strategy Kit: Messages that tell your whole story
- Logo Design Kit: Logos ready for anything
- Social Media Kit: Three months of planned content
- SEO Enhancement Kit: Search tips that work
Bond+House team-up with Bond Moroch means Novella handles everything – brands, marketing, and PR. One hundred years of combined know-how means they know what works. They treat brands like living things, not just assets, helping them grow and change with the market.
Comparison Table: Ad Agencies in Kansas City
| Agency | What They Do Best | Big Names They Serve | Core Services | Big Wins | Team Facts |
| VML | Digital Transformation | Google, National Geographic, Merck | Creative Tech, Media, Brands | 17 Gold, 16 Silver, 21 Bronze at One Show 2024; #2 WARC rank | 500+ media pros, 4 regions |
| Bernstein-Rein | Retail Marketing | McDonald’s | Smart Market Data, Retail Smarts, Customer Paths | Only agency running own retail brand | 700 people, $100M yearly |
| Barkley | Purpose-Driven Marketing | Ball Jar, Motel 6 | Brand Updates, Future-Ready Plans | Ball Jar: 3x money back, 40% more Facebook fans | 450+ after OKRP deal |
| Signal Theory | Food & Farm Marketing | John Deere, BOSE, Michelin, SONIC | Brain Science, Brands, Data | Picked for California Milk Board | Three dozen big clients |
| Trozzolo | Full-Service Marketing | Duvel USA, TeamSmile, UMKC | PR, Crisis Help, Digital | 2023’s Top Agency | 50+ team members |
| MMGY Global | Travel & Tourism | Pure Michigan, Windstar, Marriott | Travel Marketing, Content, Research | $250M yearly billing | 600+ across 13 offices |
| Gragg | Results-Based Marketing | Not listed | Direct Response, Digital Ads, Email | Google Premier Partner | Not listed |
| EAG | Small Business Help | Not listed | Brands, Media, Leads | $6.64M+ ad spend, 1.73B+ views | 15 experts |
| Lundmark | B2B and B2C Solutions | Measurabl, Drug Free Sport | Packaging, Digital, Web | 75 years strong | Not listed |
| Global Prairie | Purpose-Driven Marketing | Not listed | Strategy, Digital Plans | #4 B Corp worldwide | 100% employee-owned |
| Crossroads | Story-Based Marketing | Zeeco, City of Coweta | Videos, Brand Tales, Planning | #SmallTownSummer: 14,197 organic views | Not listed |
| Intouch Solutions | Healthcare Marketing | Sanofi, Lundbeck, Corcept | Pharma Marketing, Digital New Ideas | 5 PM360 Awards 2024 | 1,800+ across 8 spots |
| Meers | Consumer Insights | Healthcare Groups | Research, Digital, Numbers | Part of Barkley Now | Not listed |
| Walz Tetrick | Media Planning | KC Royals, Salvation Army, DQ | Media Buying, Sports, Healthcare | 5 CLIO Awards | Not listed |
| Novella | Brand Building | Big Biscuit, FlutterHabit | Brand Work, Design, Marketing | WBE-certified, AIGA honors | 100+ years combined |
Conclusion
Kansas City knows how to build brands. These 15 agencies each master their own piece of the advertising puzzle – VML rules digital change, MMGY Global owns travel marketing, Intouch Solutions leads healthcare, and Bernstein-Rein dominates retail.
The numbers back up their success stories. VML grabbed 54 One Show awards in 2024. Barkley turned every dollar into three for Ball Jar.
MMGY Global bills $250 million worldwide. Smart data moves, creative talent, and deep market knowledge make these wins happen.
Real results drive every client partnership. Each agency brings its own tools, methods, and tech tricks to turn good ideas into business wins. Their work shows why Kansas City keeps growing as a powerhouse of advertising talent and tech skills.
These agencies stay true to their Kansas City roots while pushing what’s possible in advertising. They prove something special about the heart of America – world-class advertising talent lives here, serving everyone from global giants to local shops with the same dedication to results.
