Kansas City stands out as a prime location for advertising agencies. The local tech sector added 11,000 new jobs recently, showing the market’s strength. The city offers clear advantages – residents earn $4,503 more than the national average income while enjoying 3% lower living costs compared to major cities.
Local agencies prove their excellence through measurable results. Gragg Advertising earned recognition on Forbes’ “Top 100 Agencies that Know Social Media and Google.”
These agencies charge between $125-150 per hour, with projects ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, making quality marketing accessible for any business size.
This guide lists the top Kansas City advertising agencies for 2025. Each agency brings specific strengths – from traditional marketing expertise to digital innovation. The list helps you pick the right partner based on your exact business needs.
Signal Theory
Signal Theory has led Kansas City advertising since 1971 through data-driven marketing excellence. The agency runs with over 100 professionals handling media, strategy, creative, PR, and project management for major clients.
Unique Approach to Brand Resonance
Signal Theory builds its work on a simple truth – every living thing signals. This insight powers their mix of behavioral science and data to create solutions that work for real people.
Their branding process looks at signals between brands and customers, making marketing messages clearer and more effective. This smart approach cut their report preparation time from 4 hours to 30 minutes.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Notable Clients and Success Stories
Signal Theory works with big names like John Deere, BOSE, Michelin North America, RTX Corporation, SONIC America’s Drive-In, and Chili’s Grill & Bar. Their “Can’t Wait to Read” campaign for Kansas Health Foundation earned top spots at the Kansas City Data Marketing Awards – taking both “Best in Show” and “Most Innovative” honors.
Industry Specializations and Expertise
The agency shows strong results in key areas:
- Brand development and creative strategy
- Media planning and analytics
- Consumer packaged goods
- Agriculture sector marketing
- Healthcare industry solutions
Stands Out Among Advertising Agencies in Kansas City
Signal Theory combines behavioral science with modern marketing methods. Their improved reporting helps win client deals by showing clear analytics value in project agreements. The agency’s focus on human-centered design helps them truly understand target audiences.
Ad Age named Signal Theory among Best Places to Work 2024. Their smart use of technology and data opens new business paths without adding staff. The agency blends behavioral science, data insights, and creative design to build lasting brand impact.
Barkley
BarkleyOKRP stands as Kansas City’s largest independent advertising agency. The recent merger with OKRP brought their team to 800 staff across the United States. Their mix of innovation and data-driven work puts them at the front of advertising excellence.
Innovative Campaign Strategies
BarkleyOKRP creates ideas that pull customers in naturally. Their work covers brand changes, business data, and custom research.
The Red Lobster campaign shows their skill – turning the restaurant into a “fun fancy” spot boosted same-store sales by 9.6% year-over-year.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Client Portfolio and Case Studies
Major brands trust BarkleyOKRP – Planet Fitness, Motel 6, and Red Lobster lead the list. The Motel 6 ski bum campaign proves its creative power, reaching 174 million views and 2,000 media spots on just $80,000. Their food expertise grew stronger after buying Smiths Agency, adding Premier Protein, NatureSweet Tomatoes, and Spangler Candy.
Technology Integration and Digital Capabilities
The agency upgraded its tech setup with Dell PowerScale and VxRail. This move cut recovery time from 30 days to 5 minutes and enabled real-time video work. Their digital tools cover:
- Campaign management and social media integration
- Performance optimization
- Advanced data analytics
- Public relations and media planning
Pricing and Service Packages
BarkleyOKRP keeps pricing simple – no contracts needed, no cancellation fees. New clients get 14 days to test their software solutions. The agency holds top partnerships with Google Marketing Platform, Google Premier, and Meta Business, offering complete digital marketing solutions.
Four times on Ad Age’s A-List and named “Best Places to Work” shows their success. Their B Corporation status proves their commitment to doing good, shown through the Creative Accelerator and BarkleyOKRP Fellowship programs.
Global Prairie: Advertising Agencies in Kansas City
Global Prairie takes a different path among Kansas City agencies. Since 2008, the agency has used business to create positive change. Their spot in the top 1% of Certified B Corporations worldwide shows their success at mixing purpose with profit.
Mission-Focused Advertising Approach
The agency picks partners who share their values – organizations working on human health, animal welfare, environmental sciences, sustainability, philanthropy, and education.
Their method blends strategy, creativity, and tech to help global companies through big changes like mergers and acquisitions.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Sustainability Initiatives and Social Impact
Global Prairie puts their values into action. The agency gives 10% of yearly profits to community projects. Each team member gets three weeks of paid volunteer time every year.
They worked with the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation to create a special program – every employee runs their own donor fund.
Notable Campaigns for Mission-Driven Organizations
The agency works with purpose-driven clients:
- Evergy – Making energy sustainably
- Women Leaders in College Sports – Building gender equality
- Local civic organizations – Building stronger communities
Their skills cover customer research, design, brand work, and full marketing campaigns. The work matches 13 UN Sustainable Development Goals, showing real global impact.
Global Prairie’s Unique Team Structure
Every employee owns part of Global Prairie, creating a true entrepreneurial spirit. The team includes 202 people across nine offices in three countries. Like a prairie ecosystem, their flat structure lets leadership grow naturally at all levels.
This setup works well – during the 2008 crisis, employee-owned companies like Global Prairie saw 11.1% sales growth while others managed just 0.61%. Clients come through word-of-mouth, impressed by both work quality and business philosophy.
The agency stands out with family-friendly policies like bringing infants to work, top-rated benefits, and Public Benefit Corporation status. Employee owners work smarter and take pride in growing the business through strategic thinking.
Gragg Advertising
Gragg Advertising proves marketing success through data and measurable results. Forbes named them among the world’s “Top 100 Agencies that Know Social Media and Google” for their skill at building strong market connections.
Gragg’s Data-Analytics Capabilities
The agency turns complex data into clear marketing plans. Their team studies website visitor patterns to make marketing work better. A Kansas City popcorn brand shows its email marketing skill – reaching 43% open rates and 11% click-through rates in 2023.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Premier Google Partner Status Benefits
Gragg stands among just three Kansas City agencies with Premier Google Partner status for Search and Mobile Advertising. This status gives clients key advantages:
- Expert analysis from skilled teams
- First look at new Google marketing features
- Direct support from Google Agency specialists
Integrated Marketing Methodology
The agency mixes old and new marketing channels for the best results. They track how different media work together to reach customers. Their mobile-ready email templates show this approach works – 43% of all emails open on mobile devices.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Client Success Metrics and ROI Focus
Gragg focuses on real results:
- Weekly reports show sales and leads
- Deep analysis of customer value
- Marketing returns six to seven times the investment
Their data-focused work helped build companies worth up to $500 million. SEO solutions bring strong results across many business types. Each client gets personal attention and regular updates on their campaign progress.
The agency knows email marketing rules like the CAN-SPAM Act inside out. They keep improving campaigns as marketing trends change, making sure clients get the most from their spending.
Gragg cuts through digital noise with their complete marketing approach. Premier Google Partner status plus strong analytics help them beat client goals while following all rules.
EAG Advertising & Marketing
EAG Advertising & Marketing knows small business marketing. Since 2003, the agency picked one focus – helping small, fast-growing companies succeed. This specialty fills a key market gap for growth-stage businesses.
Tailored Strategies for Growing Businesses
The agency builds custom marketing plans for companies earning up to $100 million. Each project starts with deep market research to create smart, cost-effective campaigns.
EAG’s track record shows success – nearly 400 growing businesses chose them for brand building and digital marketing.
EAG’s Collaborative Process
The agency keeps client relationships simple:
- Skip long contracts and monthly minimums
- Get a full marketing team without extra payroll
- Receive custom plans, not cookie-cutter solutions
EAG studies business goals and online presence before creating marketing plans. This smart approach earned Wall Street Journal coverage and multiple Business Marketing Association awards.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Budget-Friendly Options for Startups
Small businesses appreciate EAG’s Kansas City market rates – $70 to $150 per hour. The agency learned from the Kauffman Foundation’s Entrepreneurial Growth Venture program, helping them scale solutions for any business size.
Local Market Expertise
EAG runs as a small business too, giving them real insight into Kansas City markets. They help the community grow by:
- Creating jobs at EAG and client companies
- Giving 13% of work free to local nonprofits
- Opening doors for local service providers
Award-winning design and targeted digital ads help clients stand out in busy markets. The agency leads community growth through free services and active leadership. Smart use of customer data lets EAG build plans that match each client’s audience and location.
Trozzolo Communications Group
Trozzolo Communications Group runs from a historic 32,000-square-foot building in downtown Kansas City. Their workspace, the “Gee Whiz Factory,” shows how they think about client challenges.
Multi-Channel Campaign Development
The agency masters many skills – advertising, branding, PR, media planning, digital work, and video production. Their teams use data to run digital projects, from email marketing to social media campaigns. Smart A/B testing helps them make campaigns work better.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Public Relations and Brand Management
Trozzolo’s 75+ team members deliver strong PR results. Crisis management runs all day, every day, with quick response plans ready. Their “Spokespower” program teaches clients how to handle media and crisis situations.
Trozzolo’s Creative Process
The agency finds truth first, then solves problems. Their work includes:
- Growth plans that change business results
- Decisions backed by real data
- Content that works on many platforms
- Brand messages that stay consistent
Industry Recognition and Awards
Trozzolo swept the 2023 Media Mix Awards, winning:
- Agency of the Year
- Media Buyer/Planner of the Year
- Campaign of the Year for “Roos Do”
They also took home two Gold PRISMs at the 2023 PRSA-KC awards for work with Vine Street Brewing Co. and the Kansas City Aviation Department. The agency serves over 100 clients through three divisions – Prairie Dog for healthcare, Proventus for legal marketing, and Carl Collective for student projects.
Novella Brandhouse
Novella Brandhouse shows what small agencies can do. The boutique agency helps growing businesses reach their goals through personal attention. Senior team members work directly with clients, understanding their exact needs.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Women-Owned Business Certification Advantages
The WBE certification sets Novella Brandhouse apart. This opens paths to government work and corporate partnerships. Clients gain extra credibility and special networking chances when working with a certified women-owned business.
Specialized Services for Scaling Companies
Think of Novella as your marketing department – at the cost of one marketing executive. The agency delivers:
- Digital marketing and SEO
- Content strategy and development
- Brand architecture development
- Website design and UX implementation
Creative Design Portfolio
Great design tells stories. Novella’s award-winning team proves this across every customer touchpoint. Top design groups praise their work:
- American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
- Business Marketers Association (BMA)
- International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
- PRINT Magazine Regional Design Annual
Client Testimonials and Results
The team brings 100 years of combined experience. Big Biscuit and FlutterHabit show what Novella can do. Each project starts with discovery workshops, moves to strategy sessions, and then creative reviews. Their brand strategy, built from Fortune 500 methods, brings real business results and industry awards.
Novella University shows their extra value – giving clients ready-to-use marketing courses within 30 days. Twelve years of partnership-focused work proves they build brands that work, connect, and bring results.
Lilo Social
Lilo Social proves what social media marketing should do. The agency brought in $44 million in tracked revenue for their clients. Client businesses grow fast – averaging 230% yearly growth.
Platform-Specific Strategy Development
The agency knows each social platform’s sweet spot. Their smart targeting pushed ad returns up 90% over what clients saw before. Facebook, Instagram, and Google ads work harder because Lilo Social matches messages to exactly who needs to see them.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Paid Social Media Campaign Management
Numbers tell the story of Lilo’s success:
- Clicks hit 2.5% – way above normal
- Sales convert at 3.5%
- Email campaigns boost revenue by 50%
Email Marketing Integration
Lilo Social makes email marketing work harder. They build smart systems for after-purchase messages, teaching content, and selling related products. Furniture companies love their welcome emails, trade programs, and cart recovery – because they work.
Performance Metrics and Analytics Reporting
The agency shows clients exactly how campaigns perform:
- Live dashboards track everything
- Weekly and monthly deep-dive reports
- ROI numbers for all marketing work
Top brands pick Lilo Social – from weighted blanket makers to Kjaer Weis cosmetics. The agency works like part of your team, not just another vendor. Their close ties with major ad platforms keep them leading Kansas City’s digital marketing scene.
Jives Media: Advertising Agencies in Kansas City
Jives Media tops Kansas City SEO rankings five years running. The agency makes search, paid ads, and content work together for real business results.
Search Engine Optimization Methodology
SEO success needs many pieces working together. Jives Media’s team picks the right keywords, builds quality backlinks, and optimizes every page.
Smart technical SEO puts the right content, tags, and links in place, helping websites grow naturally in search rankings.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: PPC Campaign Management Approach
Google named Jives Media a Premier Partner for both Search and Mobile Advertising. The agency watches ad spending closely to make every dollar count. Their Google Ads work brings big numbers – email clicks pass 2.5% and sales hit 3.5%.
Content Marketing Strategy
Words matter – Jives Media writes content people want to read. Their content plan focuses on:
- Creating resources readers actually use
- Building websites search engines love
- Getting quality sites to link back
Jives Media’s Client Communication Process
Clients see exactly how campaigns perform on custom dashboards. Monthly reports show SEO ranking progress, keeping everyone informed. One-on-one consulting helps clients stay ahead of competitors.
The agency’s complete digital approach brings back six to seven times what clients spend. From banks to healthcare companies, Jives Media builds plans that fit each industry. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs help find keywords that bring in buyers ready to convert.
Dobies Health Marketing
Dobies Health Marketing knows healthcare inside out. Since 1992, the agency has put strategy first in healthcare marketing. Joining Onspire Health Marketing made them even stronger across healthcare fields.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Specialized Healthcare Marketing Solutions
The agency built soviews+ to give healthcare groups smart market data. Dobies works with everyone in healthcare – hospitals, device makers, medical boards, doctor offices, and health tech companies. Every marketing plan ties straight to business growth goals.
Compliance and Regulatory Knowledge
Healthcare rules matter – Dobies knows them cold. The team mixes marketing skill with deep healthcare compliance knowledge. Each project starts with research, sets clear goals, and checks operational readiness.
Patient Engagement Strategies
Dobies connects patients and providers through:
- Smart appointment and medication reminder systems
- Special campaigns for different patient groups
- Building trust before visits
- Following up aftercare
Case Studies in Healthcare Marketing
Big names trust Dobies – Kansas Hospital Association, Liberty Hospital, and Sunquest Information Systems. Health data experts track every campaign result. The agency stays 100% focused on healthcare, splitting work across branding (40%), digital marketing (30%), digital strategy (20%), and search marketing (10%).
Healthcare marketing experts, creative teams, and tech specialists work as part of client teams. The maps+ service brings all marketing pieces together in one smart plan.
Graphicmachine: Advertising Agencies in Kansas City
Graphicmachine brings architectural thinking to market. Started by an architect in 1999, the agency helps architecture, building materials, and construction companies win online. Their professional services knowledge helps firms of all sizes stand out digitally.
B2B Marketing Expertise
Professional service firms face unique marketing challenges. Graphicmachine solves them – finding leads, hiring talent, building brands, and growing markets. The agency builds sales funnels that work with client CRM systems, uncovering fresh opportunities.
Content Strategy for Complex Services
Technical stuff needs clear words. The agency turns expert knowledge into content clients want to read. Architecture firms show their work without bragging. Building material companies reach architects, owners, and builders with messages that sell.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Website Development and UX Design
Websites should work better than competitors. A graphic machine makes that happen. Their sites offer:
- Easy paths for users to follow
- Perfect mobile viewing
- Connected analytics and CRM tools
Analytics and Performance Tracking
Smart numbers guide smart decisions. Clients see:
- Who visits their site right now
- How many leads come in
- Where sales funnels work best
The founder’s architecture background helps Graphicmachine get into professional firms. They make sure client websites show up in AI searches too. Clients trust them because they understand both marketing goals and business needs.
ER Marketing: Advertising Agencies in Kansas City
ER Marketing knows building industry marketing. Twenty years serving construction companies earned them top honors – including the Building Systems Council (BSC) Jerry Rouleau Award for Marketing Excellence.
Sector-Specific Marketing Strategies
Building brands need special care. ER Marketing brings twenty years of construction knowledge to every project. The agency works with everyone – from century-old companies to local lumber yards.
B2B Lead Generation Techniques
Building industry experience meets content marketing skills. ER Marketing brings leads through:
- Marketing campaigns that build strong brands
- Search words builders actually use
- Paid ads that push visibility up 80%
Trade Show and Event Marketing
Trade shows matter in construction. ER Marketing makes them work better through smart booth design and pre-show marketing. Their “30-minute rule” keeps trade show time productive.
Digital Transformation for Traditional Industries
Old-school builders need new-school tools. ER Marketing makes digital change pay off:
- Faster work through automation
- Better customer connections using smart data
- Business growth through IoT tools
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recognizes their work. Companies like Feeney Inc., who make cable railings, show what ER Marketing can do. The agency helps traditional builders grow online while staying true to their roots.
Advertising Agencies in Kansas City: Comparison
The table below shows how Kansas City’s top agencies stack up. Each brings unique strengths to specific marketing challenges.
| Agency | Main Focus | Key Clients | Core Services | Top Awards | Team |
| Signal Theory | Data-driven marketing | John Deere, BOSE, Michelin, SONIC, Chili’s | Brand development, Media planning, Analytics | Ad Age’s Best Places to Work 2024, KC Data Marketing Awards “Best in Show” | 100+ professionals |
| Barkley | Full-service creative | Planet Fitness, Motel 6, Red Lobster | Campaign management, Social media, Performance optimization | Ad Age A-List agency (4x), Certified B Corporation | 800+ staff |
| Global Prairie | Purpose-driven marketing | Evergy, Women Leaders in College Sports | Customer insight, Experience design, Brand strategies | Top 1% of Certified B Corporations globally | 202 professionals across 9 offices |
| Gragg Advertising | Direct response marketing | Not listed | Data analytics, Email marketing, Digital advertising | Forbes “Top 100 Agencies that Know Social Media and Google” | Not listed |
| EAG Advertising | Small business marketing | Companies under $100M | Brand development, Digital marketing | Wall Street Journal profile, Business Marketing Association awards | Not listed |
| Trozzolo Communications | Integrated marketing | 100+ nationwide clients | PR, Media planning, Crisis management | 2023 Media Mix Agency of the Year, Gold PRISMs | 75+ associates |
| Novella Brandhouse | Boutique branding | Big Biscuit, FlutterHabit | Digital marketing, Brand architecture, Website design | AIGA, BMA, IABC awards | Not listed |
| Lilo Social | Social media & e-commerce | Not listed | B2B marketing, Content Strategy, Website development | $44M+ revenue, 230% yearly client growth | Not listed |
| Jives Media | SEO & digital marketing | Not listed | SEO, PPC, Content marketing | Best KC SEO agency (5 years running) | Not listed |
| Dobies Health Marketing | Healthcare marketing | Kansas Hospital Association, Liberty Hospital | Strategic planning, Patient engagement, Brand development | 100% healthcare focus | Not listed |
| AIGA, BMA, and IABC awards | Professional services marketing | Architecture & construction firms | Graphics machine | Not listed | Not listed |
| ER Marketing | Construction & building industry | Feeney Inc. | B2B lead generation, Trade show marketing, Digital transformation | BSC Jerry Rouleau Award | Not listed |
What Makes Advertising Agencies in Kansas City Stand Out
Kansas City agencies know their specialties. Signal Theory masters data, Barkley creates powerful campaigns, Global Prairie drives purpose, while others excel in healthcare and construction marketing.
Smart pricing makes these agencies work for most businesses. Expect to pay $125-150 per hour, with projects running $1,000 to $10,000. Results speak through Forbes features, Ad Age awards, and millions in client revenue.
Kansas City helps agencies succeed. Higher local incomes and lower living costs create room for marketing innovation. Local firms prove this daily – using data, creative work, and deep industry knowledge to deliver results.
Business owners find exactly what they need here. From startup logos to national campaigns, KC agencies handle it all. Traditional ads, digital marketing, PR, and industry expertise come together, helping companies grow their market share.
