10 Top Advertising Agencies in Minneapolis for Creative Growth

This guide covers 10 top advertising agencies in Minneapolis and the surrounding market. Each profile explains where the agency shines, the type of client fit, and questions to ask during vetting. Use it as a short list, a conversation starter with your team, and a prompt for sharper RFPs.

How we evaluated the agencies

The table below highlights the evaluation criteria and how they apply when assessing advertising agencies in Minneapolis:

Evaluation Criteria	Description
Business Outcomes / Awards	Agencies were chosen based on proven impact for clients (e.g. growth, revenue), not just trophies.
Full-Service Capabilities	Coverage across strategy, creative, media, digital, and measurement, not just one-off services.
Experienced Teams & Stable Leadership	Demonstrated continuity in leadership and talent with relevant category expertise.
Distinctive Model or Category Specialization	Clear difference in how they operate—e.g. niche focus, agile model, or depth in a vertical.
Local Presence with National Execution	Based in or strongly tied to Minneapolis, but able to run multi-market or national campaigns.
Agency Type Diversity	Mix of integrated large firms, creative independents, and modular/modern teams.
Fit Based on Client Goal	Recommendation to start from business goals, then pick the agency model that matches best.

1) Kōvly Studio

Kōvly is built for brands that want clear positioning and a cohesive system that carries through web, content, and paid growth. The studio focuses on hospitality, health and wellness, and professional services, with teams in Minnesota and California serving clients nationwide. The emphasis is simple: sharpen the brand, then execute in a consistent way across every touchpoint. 

What they do well

• Strategy that ties to revenue. Kōvly’s programs put brand strategy first, defining audience, promise, and proof so creativity is grounded in outcomes.

• Identity and experience design. Cohesive identity, web design, and content so your story feels the same in sales decks and social posts. 

• Hospitality and service focus. If you sell experiences or services, the team speaks your language. 

Best fit

Founders and marketing leads who want a senior partner to position the brand, design the system, and plan performance channels without losing nuance.

Ready to align your brand and growth under one roof? Contact Kōvly today! 

2) Carmichael Lynch

Carmichael Lynch is a Minneapolis mainstay with national reach. The agency blends brand building and modern performance thinking, which makes it a steady choice for organizations that need integrated programs. Expect strong creative, seasoned account leadership and the ability to orchestrate many moving parts across channels and markets.

Best for

Established companies that need fully integrated creative, social, PR and media under one umbrella.

Strengths

• Clear brand platforms that translate into distinct campaigns.

• Robust production across film, digital and social.

• Teams that can support multi-market coordination and reporting.

Consider if you

Need a partner that can handle complex stakeholder environments or manage national calendars while still doing strong local work in Minneapolis.

3) Colle McVoy

Colle McVoy is known for relationship-driven brand building and high craft across design and storytelling. The team handles consumer and B2B brands, often serving clients that want thoughtful creative supported by content and digital activations. If you want a partner that cares about details without losing sight of the plan, this is a dependable pick.

Best for

Mid-market to enterprise brands that value strong creative standards and steady cross-channel support.

Strengths

• Design-forward campaigns with disciplined messaging.

• Digital experiences and content that extend the brand story.

• A culture that balances ambition and practicality.

Consider if you

Want an agency that can help you reset the brand platform, then execute it across a modern mix of web, social, retail and partner channels.

4) Martin Williams Advertising

Martin Williams brings a clear point of view on creativity tied to measurable outcomes. The agency has long roots in Minneapolis and supports clients that want accountable advertising: ideas that show up in performance dashboards, not only on mood boards.

Best for

Brands that want bold creative backed by a plan for attribution and iteration.

Strengths

• Paid and owned media programs with thoughtful testing structures.

• Campaign systems that scale into toolkits for internal teams.

• A senior bench that helps align stakeholders and keep work on track.

Consider if you

Care about brand lift and results in the same breath and need an agency that speaks to both without getting lost in jargon.

5) Designity

Designity operates on a flexible Creative-as-a-Service model. Instead of hiring a full in-house design team, you get a dedicated creative director who orchestrates vetted specialists. This model fits companies with ongoing asset needs, seasonal spikes or a backlog of design tasks that bog down marketing.

Best for

Marketing teams that need steady creative throughput, campaign asset support, and landing page or sales enablement design on tap.

Strengths

• Speed and scalability without permanent headcount.

• A production process that works well alongside a lead brand agency.

• Useful for rebrands that require large sets of collateral and content.

Consider if you

Want reliable monthly output and a partner who can adopt your brand system quickly and keep assets consistent.

6) Solve

Solve is an independent Minneapolis shop with a reputation for sharp strategy and effective work. The leadership team brings deep local experience and a national perspective, which shows up in focused briefs and ideas that travel well.

Best for

 Brands that want senior attention, clear strategic framing and creative that respects the buyer’s time.

Strengths

• Tight briefs that simplify decisions.

• Campaigns built on insight rather than gimmicks.

• Collaboration that moves fast without skipping the thinking.

Consider if you

Prefer a smaller, senior-heavy team that will push for clarity and outcomes from the first meeting.

7) Fallon Worldwide

Fallon is part of Minneapolis advertising history. The shop is known for brand storytelling that aims for cultural impact. If you want cinematic craft and a narrative that sticks, put Fallon on your longlist.

Best for

Ambitious launches and repositioning efforts where creative ambition is part of the brief.

Strengths

• High-end film and content production.

• Distinct platforms that help brands stand apart.

• Access to talent and partners that scale large ideas.

Consider if you

 Want a signature brand moment and the infrastructure to activate it across paid, earned and owned channels.

8) broadhead | HMH

broadhead focuses on categories that shape daily life, such as food, agriculture, health and transportation, and absorbed HMH to expand reach. That mix gives the team sector fluency and practical know-how for complex buyer journeys that involve distributors, providers and end consumers.

Best for

Category marketers with long sales cycles and multiple decision makers.

Strengths

• Industry knowledge that shortens onboarding.

• Integrated programs that move through trade, retail and digital.

• Content and creative that speak to technical buyers without losing the story.

Consider if you

Operate in regulated or technical environments and need a partner comfortable with detail and compliance.

9) Agency Squid

Agency Squid is a boutique brand and creative shop with Minneapolis roots. The team is known for clear positioning, identity systems and integrated campaigns that give lifestyle and challenger brands a sharper voice.

Best for

 Challenger brands that want to look and sound premium without overcomplicating the process.

Strengths

• Brand platforms that translate cleanly into packaging, web and campaigns.

• Nimble collaboration with founders and small marketing teams.

• Access to senior creatives who stay hands-on.

Consider if you

Want a boutique partner that will help refine the brand and move quickly from concept to rollout.

10) The Engine is Red

The Engine is Red combines brand, digital and content production with studios that include Minneapolis, which helps multi-location clients collaborate easily. The team balances strategy and build quality, making it a good fit for organizations that want a partner from planning through launch.

Best for

 Companies that need cross-functional support across brand, web and campaign assets with a consistent team.

Strengths

• Solid discovery and planning before the design phase.

• Modern web builds with content systems you can scale.

• Reliable campaign production for always-on programs.

Consider if you

Prefer a single partner that can handle the core brand work and the day-to-day content demands that follow.

Summary Table: Top Advertising Agencies in Minneapolis 

Agency	Snapshot	Best for	Strengths
Kōvly Studio	Brand clarity first, then cohesive rollout across web, content, and paid.	Founders and marketing leads needing a senior, end-to-end partner.	Strategy tied to revenue, consistent identity and UX, service and hospitality fluency.
Carmichael Lynch	Minneapolis staple with integrated creative, PR, social, and media.	Established brands with multi-market programs.	Clear platforms, strong production, complex coordination.
Colle McVoy	High-craft, relationship-driven work for consumer and B2B.	Mid-market to enterprise seeking steady cross-channel support.	Design-forward, disciplined messaging, digital depth.
Martin Williams Advertising	Creative linked to measurable outcomes and testing.	Brands wanting bold ideas with clear attribution.	Thoughtful test plans, scalable toolkits, senior stewardship.
Designity	Creative-as-a-Service with a dedicated creative director.	Teams needing reliable monthly asset production.	Fast scaling, complements lead agencies, rebrand throughput.
Solve	Independent shop known for sharp strategy and focused ideas.	Brands wanting senior attention and crisp briefs.	Insight-led work, fast collaboration, no fluff.
Fallon Worldwide	Narrative-driven, cinematic campaigns with cultural reach.	Big launches and repositioning.	High-end production, distinct platforms, scalable teams.
broadhead | HMH	Sector depth in food, ag, health, and transport.	Complex, multi-stakeholder categories.	Category fluency, integrated trade-to-digital, technical storytelling.
Agency Squid	Boutique brand shop for lifestyle and challenger labels.	Premium look and voice without heavy process.	Clear positioning, hands-on seniors, quick rollout.
The Engine is Red	Brand, web, and content under one roof, Minneapolis included.	Cross-functional builds from plan to launch.	Solid discovery, modern web systems, reliable production.

How to Choose Among the Top Minneapolis Advertising Agencies

With so many capable agencies in the Twin Cities, finding the right fit isn’t about who has the flashiest website or the longest list of awards. It comes down to how well an agency’s approach aligns with your specific goals, team dynamics, and operational constraints. Whether you're looking to launch a new brand platform, scale lead generation, or enter a new market, these steps will help you evaluate agencies based on how they actually work—not just how they present themselves.

Start with the Problem to Solve

Before approaching any agency, take time to define the problem clearly. Outline one specific business goal, one audience segment you need to reach, and one constraint that cannot change. For example, you may need to grow qualified leads for a premium service while maintaining strict brand guidelines. This framing gives agencies the right context to tailor their approach and helps you filter out proposals that don’t align with your priorities.

Check the Working Model

Ask how the agency operates day to day—specifically, how strategy, creative, media, and analytics teams collaborate. You’re looking for a clear process with shared ownership, not siloed departments that hand work off in stages. Clarify who will be on your account, how often you’ll meet, and whether senior leaders will participate in planning and reviews. This tells you how involved and responsive they’ll be once the project begins.

Ask for Proof That Maps to Your Use Case

Instead of focusing on awards or big-name clients, ask for two case studies that reflect your challenge. Whether it’s lead generation, a brand refresh, or a market entry, look for examples that explain the full process—how the team developed audience insights, chose channels, shaped messaging, and measured results. The best agencies will share not only what worked, but what they adjusted along the way and why.

Align on Measurement Early

Before signing a scope of work, agree on how success will be measured. Choose two to four metrics that reflect your core objective—whether that’s brand lift and site engagement for awareness campaigns or lead quality and sales conversion for performance efforts. Ask how these metrics will be tracked, how often they’ll be reported, and whether you’ll receive analysis alongside the data. Clear alignment on this up front avoids confusion later.

Pilot with Purpose

Rather than locking into a long-term contract from the start, propose a 90-day pilot with a defined scope. For example: use month one for strategic positioning and creative direction, month two for updating the website and messaging, and month three for launching paid and organic campaigns. This gives you a chance to evaluate how the agency collaborates, meets deadlines, and responds to feedback—all while producing tangible results you can build on.

A 30-Day Selection Plan

This 30-day plan breaks the selection process into manageable weekly steps—from narrowing your shortlist to testing how each team thinks and works. By the end, you’ll have a partner who not only understands your challenge but is ready to deliver.

Week	Focus	Actions
Week 1	Define Scope and Shortlist	Finalize business goal, target audience, and non-negotiable constraints. Shortlist 3 agencies that align with your needs and industry focus.
Week 2	Intro Calls and Materials	Share a one-page brief. Ask each agency for two relevant case studies, a sample project timeline, and a staffing plan with named roles. Request a light credential deck tailored to your category.
Week 3	Working Session	Host a 60-minute workshop with each agency. Give them a simplified challenge (e.g., positioning tweak or landing page test). Observe how they think, respond, and collaborate.
Week 4	Decision	Request a scoped proposal detailing deliverables, meeting cadence, team structure, and budget. Speak with one client reference per agency. Choose the partner that combines clarity, chemistry, and competence.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Working with an Advertising Agency

Even with the right agency partner, strong results can be derailed by internal missteps, unclear roles, or poor planning. Many projects lose time, money, or momentum not because of bad creative—but because of operational blind spots on the client side. 

Below are five common pitfalls that tend to surface during the early stages of collaboration, along with specific ways to avoid them. Addressing these early can keep your campaigns focused, efficient, and on track to deliver.

Jumping Straight to Tactics

It’s tempting to start with execution—ads, social posts, or media spend—especially when deadlines are tight. But campaigns without a clear strategy often end up looking busy but feeling generic. Messaging gets diluted, audiences are mismatched, and creative may not resonate. Avoid this by carving out time for a strategy phase that sets the message, audience, and objectives. Ask the agency to guide this process before you touch media budgets or creative production.

Overlooking Internal Capacity

Agencies don’t operate in a vacuum—they need feedback, decisions, and approvals from your team. Without internal ownership, even well-designed campaigns stall. Assign clear roles: who will review copy, approve designs, and attend check-ins? Be realistic about time commitments. If you know internal bandwidth is limited, let the agency suggest a lighter review rhythm that still keeps quality high. Fewer, more structured touchpoints often work better than constant back-and-forth.

Fragmenting the Brand

Splitting work across multiple vendors—one for web, one for social, one for design—can lead to mixed signals and a fractured brand. Without central coordination, you risk inconsistent tone, visuals, and messaging across touchpoints. Either designate an internal brand lead who has final say across all work, or hire an agency that can own the full system. Even if the work is distributed, the direction shouldn’t be.

Underfunding Measurement

Many teams underestimate what’s required to measure impact properly. Conversion tracking, analytics dashboards, and attribution models need time and setup—especially if you’re integrating across CRM, web, and ad platforms. Don’t leave this to the final weeks. Define your success metrics early, and make sure both your team and the agency know who’s setting up the tracking infrastructure. Allocate budget for it. Good campaigns show value; great ones prove it.

Dragging Decisions

Slow approvals can kill momentum. When feedback is vague or decision-makers go silent, timelines slip and creative weakens. Set decision gates at key points—messaging approval, design sign-off, media launch—and name specific approvers. Define turnaround times. Ask the agency to help you manage these checkpoints by facilitating meetings or bundling decisions into one session. Projects that move fastest are those where decisions come clearly and on time.

Conclusion

Choosing the right advertising agency in Minneapolis is about fit, clarity, and how well a team can translate your goals into smart, scalable campaigns. From defining your brief to stress-testing collaboration in a pilot, a structured selection process helps you avoid missteps and move with confidence. But even the best strategy needs the right partner to bring it to life.

At Kōvly Studio, they work closely with brands to build clear messaging, cohesive creative, and performance-backed campaigns that deliver. If you’re looking for an agency that balances sharp strategy with hands-on execution, they are the perfect choice for you.

Let’s build something great—Contact Kōvly Studio today!

FAQs

What types of services do the top advertising agencies in Minneapolis offer?

Most full-service teams cover strategy, brand identity, campaign creative, content, web design and development, media planning and buying, and analytics. Boutique firms often focus on brand strategy and identity or on a specific channel such as digital content and performance creative. Flexible production partners provide design and content at scale to support your calendar.

How long does a rebrand and website project take?

A focused rebrand with identity guidelines typically takes 8 to 12 weeks. A mid-size website project ranges from 10 to 16 weeks depending on integrations, content volume and approvals. Timelines shorten when decision makers are available and the team agrees on a weekly cadence for reviews.

How should I budget for a first engagement?

Think in phases. Fund strategy and brand system first, since everything else depends on it. Allocate a website or landing system next, then commit to a 90-day campaign pilot across two or three channels. This structure turns into useful feedback quickly and informs future spend.

What makes the top advertising agencies in Minneapolis different from national options?

Many Minneapolis teams combine national standards with a grounded, collaborative approach. You often get senior attention and practical delivery without layers that slow decisions. If you need a vast international network, consider larger global shops. If you want clarity, speed and accountable work, the Minneapolis roster competes well with anyone.

How do I compare proposals fairly?

Normalize the scope and deliverables. Ask each agency to price the same milestone plan, list named roles and weekly cadence, and show what success reporting includes. Then compare not only price but confidence that the team can ship. Shortlist two or three agencies from this guide, run a focused workshop with each, and select the team that shows clear thinking and a working model you can trust. If you want a partner that aligns strategy, design and growth into one operating system, start a conversation with Kōvly today.