Ad agencies in KC stand out as a powerhouse advertising hub. The numbers tell the story – $70,215 median household income beats national averages, while 11,000+ new tech jobs fuel agency growth.
Major brands shape the local agency landscape. Cerner, H&R Block, and Hallmark headquarters create unique opportunities for agencies to build diverse expertise. Bernstein-Rein Advertising leads the pack, generating $30 million in advertising revenue with competitive rates from $125 to $150 per hour.
This guide helps you pick the right Kansas City agency partner. Each featured agency brings proven success with local audiences plus strong vendor relationships – key ingredients for effective marketing campaigns.
Signal Theory: Award-Winning Brand Development
Signal Theory builds brands differently than other Kansas City agencies. Their “Resonance Branding” process matches brand signals with what customers need, using behavioral science to create real connections.
Signal Theory’s Unique Approach to Resonance Branding
Signal Theory knows marketing works best when brand signals match consumer signals. Their belief shapes everything they do: “When we really listen to and observe people, that leads to understanding. That understanding creates empathy. And empathy, when shared, creates trust”.
The agency follows four key steps:
- Building empathy with users
- Working directly with clients on outcomes
- Testing ideas through prototypes
- Using feedback to improve results
Ad Agencies in KC: Notable Clients and Success Stories
Signal Theory works with major brands across industries. John Deere picked them to handle Agricultural products marketing in North America. Michelin North America trusted them with B2B marketing across U.S. and Canadian commercial markets.
Their client list includes:
- Merck Animal Health
- Cargill Protein-North America
- SONIC Drive-in
- The American Pecan Promotion Board
- Bekaert
Service Offerings and Specializations
The agency focuses on food industry marketing—” from the farm and animal health to the processor, grocery store and through the drive through”. They also offer:
- Creative content production
- Digital marketing strategy
- Employee engagement
- Corporate relations
- Social media marketing
As part of AMIN Worldwide, Signal Theory taps into resources from 50+ independent marketing firms across six continents.
Pricing Structure and Investment Range
Signal Theory uses different pricing models based on what clients need. Most work splits between project-based (50%), retainers (44%), hourly rates (30%), and value-based pricing (10%).
The agency runs from Kansas City and Wichita offices with 99 full-time staff, making it the sixth-largest advertising agency in Kansas City.
Bernstein-Rein: Legacy Advertising Excellence: Ad Agencies in KC
Bernstein-Rein started in 1964, pioneering retail-focused marketing in Kansas City. Their six decades of work changed how agencies approach retail advertising.
History and Evolution of Bernstein-Rein
Bob Bernstein and Skip Rein built this agency from local roots into a national force. Their mission stays clear: “To impact the future of retail, one idea at a time”. CEO Steve Bernstein leads with this same spirit today, pushing for change instead of just responding to it.
Ad Agencies in KC: Core Competencies and Service Areas
Retailigent™ powers everything Bernstein-Rein does. This unique approach combines consumer insights, brand purpose, and retail experience. The agency:
- Uses data science to understand customers
- Places messages where they work best
- Builds lasting brand loyalty
- Creates complete brand strategies
Most uniquely, Bernstein-Rein actually launched and ran their own retail brand – something few agencies can claim.
Notable Campaigns for Major Brands
The McDonald’s Happy Meal stands as their biggest win. Created in 1977 and launched in 1979, it now sells billions yearly. Other major successes include:
- The “Make It A Blockbuster Night” campaign
- Early brand work for Walmart
- Hostess Brand’s comeback campaign
- New brand revival work for Shoney’s
Why Brands Choose Bernstein-Rein
Brands pick Bernstein-Rein for proven retail results. Fayette Industrial says it best: “Bernstein-Rein brings a wealth of knowledge within our industry, as well as proven strategies that drive qualified leads”.
The agency focuses on real connections and measurable outcomes. Under President Kelli Anstine’s leadership, they blend creative thinking with hard data to deliver business results.
Trozzolo Communications Group: Integrated Marketing Solutions
Trozzolo Communications Group tells clients the truth. Since 1989, this downtown Kansas City firm shapes marketing differently. Their team of 75 associates blends marketing know-how with business sense.
Ad Agencies in KC: Trozzolo’s Full-Service Capabilities
Trozzolo puts all marketing services under one roof. They believe “it takes more than one tactic to move the needle and more than one medium to move a message”. Their work covers:
- Strategic planning and research
- Brand and identity work
- PR and crisis help
- Website and digital marketing
- Media planning
- Content and social media
Three specialized teams handle specific needs – Prairie Dog Healthcare, Proventus legal marketing, and Carl Collective student division.
Industry Specializations and Expertise
Trozzolo knows many industries inside out. They serve clients in finance, transportation, construction, retail, healthcare, hospitality, nonprofits, manufacturing, and tech. Healthcare stands out with over 300 projects across 28 years.
Chief Strategy Officer Angelo Trozzolo and CMO Josh Brewster keep the family feel while pushing growth. Josh runs five key projects that boost client success and strengthen community ties.
Client Testimonials and Case Studies
Big names trust Trozzolo – Children’s Mercy, Westlake Ace Hardware, McDonald’s, and Kansas City Aviation Department. For Durrie Vision, they created fun stories showing happy customers living without glasses.
Their work with small influencers for EOS and Glossier shows they know how to reach young buyers.
Ad Agencies in KC: Pricing and Engagement Models
Trozzolo speaks plainly: “You might not like us. We will push you, challenge you, force you to look at your organization and how to solve problems in different ways”.
This straight talk carries into their pricing. They match costs to project value, offering both project-based and monthly options.
Since 1989, more than 500 clients picked Trozzolo for smart strategy, creative work, and business results.
Global Prairie: Purpose-Driven Marketing
Global Prairie does marketing differently. This B Corporation ranks in the top 1% of nearly 10,000 B Corps globally. Every employee owns part of the company, making success personal.
Ad Agencies in KC: Mission-Focused Approach to Advertising
Global Prairie starts with “Why you exist.” Their belief runs deep: “Purpose is not a trend…it is who you are at your very best; the highest value you bring to the world”. The agency mixes creative work, data analysis, and consulting to create real change.
They pick partners who want to make things better. Their focus stays on healthcare, government, agriculture, food, sustainability, energy, education, and philanthropy.
Sustainability Initiatives and Social Impact
Global Prairie puts good work into action:
- Gives 10% of profits back to communities each year
- Offers staff three weeks of paid time for volunteer work
- Sets up giving funds for every employee through Kansas City Community Foundation
- Let new parents bring babies to work
These efforts help reach thirteen UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Service Offerings for Mission-Driven Organizations
The agency builds marketing plans that matter. Their work creates “business-building solutions that help clients drive impact and cultivate a healthier world”. Each project starts by finding a client’s true purpose.
Ad Agencies in KC: Client Success Stories
BASF Agricultural Solutions picked Global Prairie to run its brand communications, marketing, PR, trade events, and media planning.
O-I Glass needed better sustainability reporting. Global Prairie created “a compelling narrative through an interactive report, video, and social assets”. This work showed glass packaging benefits versus plastic and paper, setting “a higher standard for conducting environmental impact assessments”.
Started in 2008, Global Prairie keeps growing – 13 straight years of bigger numbers and happy employees who stay. Good work pays off in both impact and profit.
Barkley: Innovation-Led Advertising
Barkley stands out with “Whole Brand Thinking™” and data-backed innovation. This independent creative powerhouse shapes brands differently than other Kansas City agencies.
Ad Agencies in KC: Barkley’s Modern Approach to Brand Building
“Whole brands” define Barkley’s work – companies that make every action part of their brand. The numbers prove it works. Whole brands charge 11X higher prices and sell 3X more in their categories. They grab twice the market share and earn 50% more recommendations.
Tim Galles, Chief Idea Officer, puts it simply: “Whole brands firmly believe that every action they take is one more reason to choose them, or not”. Their Whole Brand Index predicts market success with 70% accuracy.
Technology Integration and Digital Transformation
Barkley just got stronger. Buying Adlucent added 250 media and data experts. This move scales up their tech and media muscle.
The agency rebuilt everything from scratch. A new Cisco 10-gigabit network lets video teams work with 4K content instantly. Strong tech powers great creative work.
Creative Process and Methodology
The “red thread” ties everything together at Barkley. This core idea guides both marketing plans and business choices. Method co-founder Eric Ryan explains: “So much of creating a whole brand is making sure you have a consistent experience through every touchpoint”.
Ad Agencies in KC: Award-Winning Campaigns
Barkley’s “Homeless Listing” for Veterans Community Project just won gold at advertising’s Oscars. Big names trust them – Planet Fitness, Motel 6, Premier Protein, AMC Theaters, Smoothie King.
Red Lobster picked Barkley recently, one of seven new clients in the summer of 2023. Planet Fitness came back too, leaving Publicis. Four AdAge A-List appearances prove Barkley ranks among America’s top independent agencies.
Voltage: Digital-First Creative Agency
Voltage keeps digital marketing simple. This specialist agency skips traditional advertising to focus purely on web development and digital marketing that delivers real ROI. They solve specific client problems instead of trying to do everything.
Voltage’s E-commerce and Web Design Expertise
The agency builds websites that work harder. Their team mixes developers, strategists, and creatives who push digital growth. Web services include:
- Basic hosting and maintenance
- Brand-new site development
- Enterprise corporate sites with custom functionality
- Powerful integrations
Every project combines smart strategy, clean design, and practical problem-solving.
Ad Agencies in KC: Digital Marketing Capabilities
Search marketing leads their work, but Voltage thinks about the full sales funnel. Their skills cover:
- SEO Excellence: Technical, on-page, and off-page SEO work together, including new AI tools
- Paid Search Marketing: Google Partner status helps them target ads that convert
- Email Marketing: Smart email programs connect with CRM data
- Analytics & Measurement: Numbers prove what works
Content Strategy and Development
Strategy comes first at Voltage. Four steps guide each project:
- Setting clear goals
- Finding needed resources
- Building action plans
- Testing and improving
Client Portfolio and Results
Numbers tell the Voltage story: 9.8% longer sessions, 70% more conversions, 13% more leads, and 22% more sales. Clients say Voltage feels “like an extension of our team”.
The Man Registry’s Chris Easter proves the point: “I’ve hired them to redesign a large e-commerce site as well as run our digital marketing program. Both initiatives have been successful and we continue to grow the partnership”.
Gragg Advertising: Direct Response Specialists
Gragg Advertising masters direct response marketing. For three decades, this specialist agency has turned prospects into customers through smart relationship building. Their leadership team proves marketing works through real numbers.
Ad Agencies in KC: Gragg’s Data-Driven Methodology
The “sweet spot” guides Gragg’s work – where feeling meets logic, creativity meets strategy, and art meets science. Four principles drive success:
- Think critically, execute digitally
- Master data collection
- Track every result
- Keep creativity strong
This method makes sure “every strategic marketing action generates an intended consumer reaction” with proof to back it up.
Performance Marketing Expertise
Numbers tell the Gragg story. One Kansas City popcorn brand saw 43% of email opens and 11% of click-throughs during the holiday of 2023. Regular industry rates stay at 10% opens and 2% clicks.
Industry Focus and Specializations
Gragg started traditional but grew into a direct response experts. Today they run full campaigns across digital and traditional channels. Key services include:
- Strategic email campaigns
- Local SEO work
- Paid search control
- Social media marketing
- Attribution modeling
Smart attribution shows how different marketing channels help each other, making every dollar work harder.
Ad Agencies in KC: ROI Measurement and Analytics
ROI rules at Gragg. Return on Investment guides both daily decisions and “long-term strategic planning”.
The agency blends brand building with response tactics. Results stay “memorable and measurable”. Brands wanting clear proof of marketing success find it in Gragg’s numbers-first approach.
Attane: Senior Living Marketing Experts
Attane knows senior living marketing better than anyone else. Started in 1987, this Kansas City agency tackles the unique challenges of senior housing marketing head-on.
Ad Agencies in KC: Specialized Marketing for the Senior Living Industry
First, to focus purely on senior living marketing, Attane built a team that thinks differently. Marketing experts work alongside tech engineers, data scientists, and digital specialists. This mix helps them lead the industry with fresh ideas for senior communities.
End-to-End Occupancy Solutions
Attane solves occupancy problems for senior living operators. Their work includes:
- Market studies and product testing
- Brand development and competitor research
- Writing and design services
- Lead programs that fill buildings
Big names trust Attane – Plantation Village, Heron’s Key, Friendship Village Tempe, and Harrogate.
Market Research and Competitive Analysis
Smart research sets Attane apart. They help communities stand out in their markets and handle the long senior living sales process. Kyle Crocker, their Marketing Automation Director, explains it clearly: “Senior Living is a long sales process. Getting initial leads in and nurturing them is critical”.
CRM and Marketing Automation
Attane built special tools for senior living sales. Their systems plug into senior living CRMs and keep leads warm through long decision periods. One community in Bentonville, Arkansas proved it works – more digital leads and move-ins while spending marketing dollars smarter.
The agency now focuses more on tech solutions, though some in senior living take time to adopt new tools.
Graphicmachine: Professional Services Marketing
Graphicmachine masters marketing for professional firms. Since 1999, this agency has helped architects, engineers, construction firms, and lawyers stand out.
Specialized B2B Marketing Approach
An architect started Graphicmachine, giving them real insight into professional service challenges.
The agency fixes specific problems – helping firms beat competitors, launch services, enter new markets, and handle leadership changes. Technical firms get stronger professional profiles and sales tools that work.
Content Marketing and SEO Expertise
Technical knowledge becomes powerful content that clients actually want. Three SEO approaches work together:
- Traditional SEO makes services easy to find
- AI SEO puts clients in front of AI tools
- Human-first content speaks to real needs
Content ranks high and helps real customers, not just search engines.
Ad Agencies in KC: Web Development and Design Services
Graphicmachine builds websites that beat the competition. Services scale from basic hosting to custom enterprise sites. Professional firms get exactly what they need – lead forms, portfolio displays, and CRM connections that make sense.
Analytics and Performance Tracking
Numbers drive decisions at Graphicmachine. Clients see exactly how marketing grows business and proves ROI. Smart lead tracking gives instant business insights. Architecture and construction firms especially benefit – they see marketing impact across long sales cycles.
Projects start at $5,000, monthly retainers at $2,000. Technical firms get a marketing partner who speaks their language.
ER Marketing: B2B Brand Building
ER Marketing knows how to build industry brands. For 20 years, this B2B specialist has shaped how construction companies tell their story. Their work since 2001 proves they understand what builders need.
Construction Industry Expertise
Building and construction companies face unique marketing challenges. ER Marketing solves them through deep channel knowledge. Construction firms moving to digital marketing get strategies that work. The agency speaks the language of regulations, specs, and market positions that general agencies miss.
Ad Agencies in KC: B2B Lead Generation Strategies
B2B leads need multiple tools working together:
- Email campaigns that beat industry numbers
- Content that teaches prospects
- SEO built for technical businesses
- Social media focused on LinkedIn and Facebook where buyers decide
Construction clients get lead systems that match their longer sales cycles and group decision-making.
Brand Development Process
ER Marketing starts with the full picture – competitor research, client strengths, and audience needs. They check every brand piece – names, logos, colors, type, and messages. This work spots industry opportunities and builds strategy foundations. Branding works as the “glue that holds everything together” in marketing plans.
Digital Marketing for Technical Industries
Technical companies need special online approaches. ER Marketing builds websites that sell and inform. They mix construction-specific SEO, local listings, and expert content marketing. This keeps building industry clients visible where professional buyers look for answers.
Lundmark: Versatile B2B and B2C Solutions
Lundmark has shaped brands for 75 years. This hands-on agency masters both B2B and B2C marketing, crafting solutions across every channel businesses need.
Lundmark’s Comprehensive Service Offerings
Smart marketing starts with freedom to choose. Lundmark skips cookie-cutter plans for real solutions. Campaign creation, traditional media, trade shows, video production – everything works together. Digital mastery in websites, social media, and content rounds out their toolkit for client success.
Ad Agencies in KC: Campaign Development and Execution
Numbers prove every Lundmark campaign works. Clear goals and consumer data drive each project. Sport Shake shows the results – sponsorships, promotions, and live events boosted sales across six months.
Packaging Design Specialization
Package design sets Lundmark apart. CPG brands trust their expertise in:
- Brand story-telling through packaging
- FDA label compliance
- 3D product visualization
- Store displays that grab attention
Hostess proves the point – their packages stand out in every store while keeping brand power strong.
Ad Agencies in KC: Event Marketing Expertise
Live marketing must create real connections. Lundmark mixes product sampling, giveaways, and smart data collection to prove ROI. Their “fish where the fish are” rule puts brands exactly where their customers gather.
Since 1947, Lundmark has brought creativity, passion, and value to every client relationship.
Emfluence: Digital Marketing Platform Innovators
Emfluence builds something different. This Kansas City agency created its own marketing automation platform, making it both a service provider and a software pioneer.
Proprietary Marketing Platform Features
The influence platform works the way marketers think – “made by marketers, for marketers”. Users get 250 data fields for personal touches, drag-and-drop email tools, and built-in image editing. Microsoft Power Platform plugs right in, powering custom workflows, automation, and clear campaign data.
Ad Agencies in KC: Email Marketing and Automation
Email powers emfluence’s success. Every email looks perfect across all major platforms. Their Workflow Canvas lets marketers draw customer journeys with simple drag-and-drop tools. Smart drip campaigns and triggered emails hit customers with the right message at the right time.
Cross-Channel Marketing Strategies
The platform reaches beyond email. Marketing teams track everything – email metrics, social posts, campaign results, and website visits. Messages stay consistent while each channel plays to its strengths, from social scheduling to landing pages.
Analytics and Reporting Capabilities
“What gets measured, gets done” drives emfluence’s thinking. Reports show both big-picture and tiny details, counting visits, clicks, sales, and traffic sources. Brands see exactly how marketing drives results, helping shape smarter strategies.
J29 Creative: Full-Service Creative Group
J29 Creative helps smaller businesses win. Started in 2015, this boutique agency picks clients under $20 million in revenue and 100 employees. Like a “Swiss Army knife” for digital marketing, their tight team delivers big agency results on smaller budgets.
Ad Agencies in KC: J29’s Branding and Identity Services
Vision drives branding at J29 Creative. The team listens first, then turns the client’s dreams into measurable reality. Old websites become fresh brand experiences. Established companies get complete makeovers with new logos. Every brand piece works together to connect with audiences.
Web and App Development Expertise
J29 builds websites that work. Their developers master WIX, Square Space, WordPress, Shopify, and custom PHP. Beautiful design meets smart function, guiding visitors toward buying. Clients get:
- Custom solutions that fit their needs
- Help even after the launch
- Quality work at fair prices
- SEO and maintenance support
Video Production Capabilities
The video became part of J29 in 2016. They don’t just make videos – they make videos that sell. Their rule: “A video is only good if someone sees it”. Smart placement puts videos where they work best, especially on social media where 80% of video content tops engagement charts.
Social Media Management
Social media needs teamwork. J29 makes it simple and affordable. Clear monthly fees cover everything businesses need – no surprises, just results. Clients focus on growth while J29 powers their social presence.
Comparison Table: Ad Agencies in KC
| Agency | Main Focus | Key Clients | Core Services | Special Edge | Started |
| Signal Theory | Brand Development | John Deere, Michelin, Merck Animal Health, SONIC Drive-in | B Corp status; Gives 10% to the community | “Resonance Branding” using behavior science | Not listed |
| Bernstein-Rein | Retail Marketing | McDonald’s, Walmart, Hostess, Shoney’s | Data science, Brand strategy, Customer journeys | Retailigent™ method; Created Happy Meal | 1964 |
| Trozzolo | Integrated Marketing | Children’s Mercy, Westlake Ace Hardware, McDonald’s | Strategy, PR, Digital, Media | 300+ healthcare projects; Healthcare/legal teams | 1989 |
| Global Prairie | Purpose-Driven Marketing | BASF Agricultural, O-I Glass | Strategic marketing, Sustainability reports | Web, SEO, Paid Search, Email | 2008 |
| Barkley | Innovation-Led Advertising | Planet Fitness, Motel 6, Red Lobster, AMC | Brand building, Digital change | Whole Brand Thinking™; 250+ media pros | Not listed |
| Voltage | Digital-First Marketing | The Man Registry | 20+ years of building expertise | Google Partner; ROI focus | Not listed |
| Gragg | Direct Response Marketing | KC local brands | Email, Local SEO, Paid search | Data-driven tracking | 30+ years |
| Attane | Senior Living Marketing | Plantation Village, Heron’s Key | Market research, Leads, CRM | First senior living specialist | 1987 |
| Graphicmachine | Professional Services | Architecture, Engineering firms | Content, SEO, Web | Architect-founded; Tech focus | 1999 |
| ER Marketing | B2B Construction | Building industry | Brands, Leads, Digital | 20+ years building expertise | 2001 |
| Lundmark | B2B/B2C Solutions | Sport Shake, Hostess | Campaigns, Packaging, Events | 75+ years; CPG mastery | 1947 |
| Emfluence | Digital Platform | Not listed | Email, Automation, Analytics | Own marketing platform | Not listed |
| J29 Creative | Small Business | Under $20M companies | Brands, Web, Video | Small business specialist | 2015 |
Conclusion: Ad Agencies in KC
Kansas City shapes advertising differently. From Bernstein-Rein’s retail mastery to Voltage’s digital innovation, each agency adds unique power to the market. Signal Theory brings behavior science, Global Prairie leads with purpose, Barkley thinks the whole brand – proving Kansas City knows modern marketing.
Smart specialization sets these agencies apart. Attane owns senior living while ER Marketing rules construction. Graphicmachine speaks to professional firms as Trozzolo masters healthcare. Deep industry knowledge creates real results.
Numbers drive success across Kansas City agencies. Gragg tracks attribution, Emfluence builds platforms, and Voltage proves ROI. Creative work meets measurable outcomes.
Pick your agency partner carefully. Match your needs against their strengths. Look at industry experience, tech skills, and past wins in your field. The right agency gets your market and your goals.
Kansas City agencies keep growing stronger. They mix Midwest values with fresh thinking, ready to push brands forward through 2025 and beyond.
