Top Marketing Agencies in Minneapolis for Branding and Growth

This guide filters through the noise and presents the top marketing agencies in Minneapolis that consistently deliver. Whether you’re a founder looking for an outsourced growth partner or a marketing director in need of a fresh perspective, this list was built for the consideration phase of your decision-making process. 

1. Kōvly Studio

Kōvly Studio is a boutique marketing and creative agency based in Minneapolis, but its impact extends far beyond the region. Positioned as a strategic partner for brands that want a more hands-on, results-oriented experience, Kōvly fills the gap between large-scale firms with bloated retainers and freelancers who lack cohesive execution. Their sweet spot? Growth-minded brands that care about both aesthetics and performance

What They Do Best

Kōvly Studio offers a full stack of digital services with a strong emphasis on building long-term value. Some of their standout offerings include:

• Brand Identity & Messaging: From logos to tone of voice, Kōvly crafts cohesive, emotionally resonant brand systems designed to build recognition and trust.

• Performance Marketing: They manage high-performing SEO and paid media campaigns that consistently deliver return on ad spend (ROAS).

• Web Design & Development: Not just brochure sites—Kōvly builds conversion-focused digital storefronts with UX and SEO in mind.

• Email Marketing: Klaviyo-certified workflows that drive repeat purchases and build stronger customer relationships.

• Video & Content Production: Campaign assets tailored for performance, not just aesthetics.

Why Should You Choose Kōvly Studio

Kōvly is built for brands that want boutique service without sacrificing scale or ROI. They shine in creative execution and operational marketing strategy, making them ideal for growing brands that can’t afford to waste budget on fluff. Their Minneapolis roots show up in their pragmatic, collaborative style, but the work speaks for itself on a national level. 

Ready to explore working with Kōvly? Contact them today! 

2. Hook Agency

While some agencies aim for flash and polish, Hook Agency has a different approach: results. Founded in Minneapolis, Hook Agency has built its reputation on helping small to mid-sized service businesses improve their online presence and generate real leads. Moreover, If you're a roofer, HVAC installer, contractor, or similar, Hook Agency is probably already familiar with your pain points. Their team understands how long it takes to close leads, what questions your customers ask, and what it takes to dominate your local area online.

3. Periscope

Periscope is Minneapolis’ most well-known creative agency with a national footprint. Now a part of the Quad Group, Periscope combines decades of traditional advertising strength with a growing digital capability. They serve a wide range of Fortune 500 clients and are often called upon for campaign-level creative direction. Hence, if you have an established marketing budget and are looking to elevate brand perception or launch a mass-market campaign, Periscope can provide the strategic and creative muscle few others in Minneapolis can match.

4. Rocket55

Rocket55 serves mid-market and enterprise brands across healthcare, SaaS, B2B services, and consumer goods. They’ve helped scale companies from 7 to 8 figures through optimized acquisition funnels and cross-channel retargeting. Other than this, their web design team builds high-impact websites that not only look polished but guide users toward action. Every design choice is made with conversions in mind, resulting in faster paths to leads, sales, and revenue.

5. Olive & Company

Olive & Company brings a strong brand-first lens to digital marketing. Their focus is helping organizations tell better stories, especially when undergoing transformation or market repositioning. They’re particularly well-known in the higher education sector, where they’ve worked with St. Catherine University, the University of St. Thomas, and other major institutions. They are a solid choice if your organization needs to sharpen its identity and digital experience before diving into aggressive acquisition strategies.

Choosing the Right Fit: Comparison Table

When picking a marketing agency, it’s not about finding “the best” in general—it’s about finding the right fit for your goals, industry, and budget. Here's a quick overview of which Minneapolis agencies align with which business profiles:

Agency	Best For	Key Strengths	Typical Client Size
Kōvly Studio	DTC brands, hospitality, startups, boutique businesses	Brand identity, performance marketing, design + dev	Startups to mid-sized brands
Hook Agency	Local contractors, B2B services, lawyers, home improvement firms	SEO, web design, Google Ads	Local SMBs
Periscope	National brands, enterprise companies, CPG, retail, healthcare	Mass-market creative, campaign-scale branding	Enterprise + Fortune 500
Rocket55	SaaS, healthcare tech, high-growth ecommerce, B2B with funnels	Conversion-focused web, SEO, paid media	Mid-market to large orgs
Olive & Company	Higher ed, nonprofits, healthcare, mission-first organizations	Brand messaging, content, user-first design	Institutions + midsize orgs

How to Vet a Marketing Agency Before You Sign

Hiring a marketing agency isn’t just a vendor decision, as it’s a partnership that can shape your revenue growth, brand strategy, and customer pipeline. To avoid mismatched expectations or underwhelming results, here are six smart questions to ask during the evaluation process:

Who Will Be Working on My Account?

It’s common for senior strategists or agency founders to lead the pitch—but they may never touch your account after the contract’s signed. That is why you want to make sure the people doing the work have the skills and experience to execute, not just present well. Ask specifically:

• Who will manage the day-to-day?

• What are their qualifications and relevant experience?

• Can I review their bios or LinkedIn profiles?

How Do You Measure Success?

Beware of buzzwords. If the agency talks in vague terms like “increased visibility” or “better engagement” without connecting those to revenue, leads, or clear ROI, that’s a red flag. A solid agency should:

• Align metrics with your business goals

• Explain how they track performance (e.g., cost per lead, ROAS, pipeline growth)

• Set realistic benchmarks for success

What Reporting and Communication Will I Receive?

Transparency builds trust. You don’t want to chase down updates or interpret confusing dashboards. In other words, a good agency doesn’t just report data; they interpret it, diagnose issues, and suggest next moves.

• What cadence can I expect (weekly, monthly, quarterly)?

• What will be included in reports (KPIs, analysis, next steps)?

• Who will walk me through the results?

Do You Have Experience in My Industry?

Some sectors demand more than creativity; they require compliance, nuance, and insider knowledge. If you're in a regulated space like finance, healthcare, or law, it's important that the agency:

• Understands your industry’s language and audience

• Has case studies or past clients in your field

• Can navigate relevant regulations or restrictions

That said, don’t rule out fresh thinking from adjacent industries, but just ensure they can ramp up quickly and responsibly.

Can I Speak to One of Your Current or Past Clients?

Case studies show curated wins. References show real-world relationships. A reputable agency should have no issue connecting you with a past or existing client who can speak to:

• Communication style and responsiveness

• Long-term results (not just campaign peaks)

• What it’s like to work with the team day-to-day

What Happens If Results Don’t Come?

No agency can guarantee success, but good ones back up their promises. You want a partner who sees your success as mutual and not one who disappears when things get tough. Look for signs of accountability, such as:

• Performance-based clauses or flexible contracts

• A willingness to review scope or adjust strategy mid-way

• Transparency when things aren’t working

Local vs. National Agencies: What’s Better?

If you’re a Minneapolis-based company, you may be debating whether to work with a local team or cast your net nationally.

Face-to-Face Access

Local agencies make in-person meetings easy. Whether it's a kickoff session at your office or a quick check-in over coffee, face-to-face collaboration helps build trust and alignment. National agencies, by contrast, operate primarily through virtual channels. While many are efficient over Zoom or Slack, the lack of physical presence can make communication feel more transactional, especially during project pivots or troubleshooting.

Understanding of the Local Market

Agencies based in Minneapolis often bring a sharper understanding of local trends, customer behavior, and regional nuances. They know what resonates with Twin Cities audiences and can factor in seasonal changes, competitive landscapes, and even cultural references. National firms may offer broader market experience, but they often lack the on-the-ground insight that can elevate hyper-targeted campaigns.

Response Time and Flexibility

Smaller, local teams tend to be more nimble. With fewer internal layers and closer proximity to clients, they’re often quicker to adjust creatively, respond to feedback, or troubleshoot unexpected issues. National agencies typically have more structured processes and longer lead times. While this can lead to consistency, it may slow things down and especially for businesses that need fast turnarounds.

Cost Considerations

Local agencies are generally more budget-friendly. Lower overhead and leaner teams often translate to more accessible retainers or project pricing. In contrast, national agencies, such as those in large cities, command higher fees, partly due to their size, reputation, or specialized resources. If cost control is a priority, local options usually offer more value per dollar spent.

Relationship and Collaboration Style

Working with a local agency often means working directly with senior team members. The relationship tends to feel more personal, with clearer communication and a greater sense of partnership. National firms may segment client services into tiers, meaning your day-to-day contact could be a junior account manager rather than the strategist who pitched the campaign. This tiered structure can create a sense of distance, especially for small or mid-sized clients.

Bottom Line

If speed, cultural alignment, and hands-on service matter most to your business, a local Minneapolis agency offers an ideal balance. You'll get strategic expertise, faster communication, and people who understand your market and your goals. That said, if you’re expanding into national markets, require advanced technical execution, or need a broader industry lens, a national firm may be worth the investment.

How to Prepare Before Working with an Agency

To get the most out of your agency partnership, prep your internal assets and align on 

expectations.

Preparation Step	What It Involves	Why It Matters
Clarify Your Business Goals	Define what success looks like: more MQLs, better conversion rates, increased traffic, or brand growth.	Helps the agency tailor strategies to measurable outcomes that align with your priorities.
Share Past Marketing Data	Provide access to historical performance data—Google Ads, Meta Ads, email campaigns, CRM, SEO reports.	Gives the agency a clear view of what’s worked, what hasn’t, and where the biggest opportunities lie.
Assign an Internal Point Person	Choose one stakeholder to serve as the primary contact for communication, feedback, and approvals.	Streamlines decision-making, reduces delays, and prevents conflicting input.
Get Your Backend in Order	Ensure your CMS, analytics tools (GA4, HubSpot, etc.), email platforms, and website access are ready.	Speeds up onboarding and lets the agency begin audits, tracking, and implementation without obstacles.
Gather Branding Assets	Collect logos, style guides, product photos, brand messaging, and tone-of-voice documentation.	Maintains brand consistency and saves time on back-and-forth over design and content direction.
Define Your Target Audience	Create or share buyer personas, ICPs, and segmentation data if available.	Enables more accurate targeting and messaging across campaigns.
Confirm Access + Permissions	Grant user access to ad accounts, analytics dashboards, CMS logins, and shared drives.	Prevents delays during setup and gives the agency the tools they need to work effectively.

Conclusion

From large-scale creative shops like Periscope to performance-driven teams like Rocket55 and SEO specialists like Hook Agency, there’s no shortage of smart partners to choose from. But if you’re looking for a team that delivers the strategic thinking of a national agency with the hands-on care of a boutique studio, Kōvly Studio deserves serious consideration.

They don’t offer cookie-cutter packages or one-size-fits-all playbooks. What they do offer is clarity, creativity, and campaigns built around real business outcomes—from stronger branding to better conversion rates and sustained growth.

Ready to turn your brand into a growth engine? Contact them today and see what’s possible when creativity meets performance.

FAQs

What are the Big 5 marketing agencies?

The Big 5 refers to the largest global advertising holding companies: WPP, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, Interpublic Group (IPG), and Dentsu. These groups own well-known agencies like Ogilvy, BBDO, Leo Burnett, and McCann. They focus on massive, multinational campaigns for Fortune 500 clients. While they dominate the global stage, boutique agencies like Kōvly Studio offer a more personalized, agile alternative for businesses that want creative work with direct strategic input.

What are the Big 4 marketing agencies?

The Big 4 includes WPP, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, and Interpublic Group—powerhouses in advertising, media, and brand strategy. They work with major global brands and run large-scale, integrated campaigns. However, many growing businesses now seek smaller teams that move faster and offer more tailored attention. Agencies like Kōvly Studio provide that hands-on approach, combining branding and performance marketing without the overhead or complexity of a holding company.

What are the top 5 advertising agencies?

Globally, the top five advertising agencies by scale and legacy include Ogilvy, BBDO, Leo Burnett, McCann, and DDB. These firms lead massive creative campaigns and have offices around the world. For brands that don’t need a multinational agency but still want award-worthy creative and results-focused marketing, boutique agencies like Kōvly Studio offer a modern alternative, especially for DTC, hospitality, and startup brands.

What are the top 10 marketing companies?

The global top 10 includes giants like WPP, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, Interpublic Group, Dentsu, Accenture Song, Deloitte Digital, IBM iX, Havas, and VML. These companies span advertising, digital consulting, and customer experience design. But for growing brands looking for a more collaborative partnership, firms like Kōvly Studio stand out for their balance of strategy, design, and measurable execution—without the layers of complexity found in larger firms.