Advertising Agencies

Hiring An Ad Agency • Ad Managers • Ad Agents

An advertising agency is hired by a client to increase brand awareness, via print media, television, or radio.  Most advertising agencies offer a wide variety of services, including branding, marketing, design, and public relations.

The history of advertising really begins after the Great Depression, when families desired a return to normalcy and consumerism increased.  As more and more families bought cars, televisions, and other consumer goods, an entire industry sprouted up, designed to catapult certain brands into the public eye.  This was the advertising industry!

As technology advanced and the television was introduced, the advertising industry as we know it today really began to take shape.  By the 1960s and 1970s, memorable advertising surrounding brands like Alka-Seltzer, Pepsi-Cola, Volkswagen, and 7Up were as frequently watched by consumers as television programs.  Since the introduction of the television, advertising expenditures have continued to grow steadily.

As television advertising grew, the print media began to woo advertising agencies in the hopes that they would see magazines and newspapers as fair game in the advertising industry.  Time Incorporated, for example, was well-known for throwing lavish parties and inviting as many advertising agencies as possible, all in the hopes of selling them advertising space.

In the early days, advertising attracted slews of young entrepreneurs who wanted to get into the game.  There were thousands of advertising agents, all vying for the business of organizations who needed a way to promote their products and services.  Today, the advertising industry is much more consolidated.  While the industry still attracts the entrepreneur, and while there are still thousands of smaller agencies, most of these agencies attract smaller businesses.  Today, there are a few large, publicly-held agencies that handle the majority of advertising for America's biggest businesses.  There are very few medium-sized advertising agencies.

It's important for an organization seeking an advertising agency to choose one that suits their needs.  While smaller companies do just fine with the smaller agencies out there, the increase in the number of international trade agreements means there is a corresponding need for agencies with global capabilities.  For larger companies who are looking for international exposure for their products and services, an advertising agency with international reach is absolutely necessary.

While there are only a few major holding companies, they do continue to operate as individual agencies, mostly to avoid client conflict.  In other words, the manufacturer and distributor of a popular soft drink does not want its advertising campaign handled by an agency that's also handling the campaign of its competitor.  Because of this concern, holding companies are very careful to stress the separation between agencies, particularly those that might work for competing clients.

Take your time and learn more about advertising agencies, as well as the products and services they offer, by browsing AdvertisingAgencies.us.

Digital Ad Agency Concept

Major Advertising Agencies

• Omnicon Group - New York City.
• Interpublic Group - New York City.
• MDC Partners - New York City and Toronto.
• Sapient - Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• Digitas - Boston, Massachusetts.
• Microsoft Advertising - Redmond, Washington.
• HealthSTAR Communications - Woodbridge, New Jersey.
• George P. Johnson - Auburn Hills, Michigan.
• Epsilon - Wakefield, Massachusetts.
• TBA Global Events - Woodland Hills, California.
• Monster Worldwide - New York City.
• Doner - Southfield, Michigan.
• Richards Group - Dallas, Texas.
• Mosaic Sales Solutions - Irving, Texas.

Related Advertising Websites

• AdAge - source of news, views, and data for the advertising, marketing, and media industries.
• Adweek - a comprehensive look at advertising trends across all types of media.
• Website Advertising - online advertising overview, from advertisers and publishers perspectives.
• Advertising Displays - directory of advertising display providers in the USA.
• Advertising Signs - directory of advertising sign providers in the USA.
• Advertising Word Cloud - advertising information resources, news headlines, and bibliography.

Advertising Agencies