Home >> Recent posts >> The 5 Best Advertising Agencies in Columbus for Strategic Ad Campaigns and Media Planning 

The 5 Best Advertising Agencies in Columbus for Strategic Ad Campaigns and Media Planning 

advertising-agencies-in-columbus
We extensively test and research all services we review. Here's why you can trust us.

Proven Track Record of Results: We were drawn to agencies with a solid history of helping clients grow through advertising. Be it increasing brand visibility, driving more leads, or creating memorable campaigns, our list features those that can actually deliver them.

Range of Services: Juggling multiple vendors to do your catchy slogan, your creative ad design, and all your media planning just isn’t practical. We favored agencies that handle it all, so you get the full package, managing every aspect of your brand in one place.

Client Feedback and Reputation: Agencies that earned trust for being reliable, communicative, and effective stood out to us. Our evaluation drew from what past clients have said in reviews, testimonials, and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Industry Expertise and Creativity: We highlighted firms that show real creativity in their work and a clear understanding of different industries. That way, whatever your needs and goals are, they know how to adapt their strategies accordingly.

Value for Investment: Cost alone doesn’t determine quality, but we know you want to make smart investments. We factored in agencies that balance expertise with fair pricing, giving you strong returns on your advertising spend.

Sometimes, great products don’t get the recognition they deserve because they aren’t marketed the right way. People can’t tell what it is at first glance, the message reaches the wrong crowd, and the ads look just like everyone else’s. 

Because of that, what could’ve been the next A-list brand ends up shut down, sold off, or wasted. And if anyone hurts the most, it’s the brilliant minds behind it, watching their life’s work be overlooked due to poor marketing. 

You don’t want that to happen to your business, do you? So here are the best advertising agencies in Columbus, ready with strategic ad campaigns and smart media planning to put your brand where it belongs—in the spotlight.  

How much does hiring an advertising agency cost in Columbus?

In Columbus, hiring an advertising agency typically costs $5,000 to $15,000 or more. The price depends on factors such as the agency’s specialization, your campaign’s scope, and payment structure (fixed fee, hourly rate, or an ad spend commission of 10% to 20%). 

1. The Media Captain 

the-media-captain

Address: 394 E Town St

Phone: +1 614 564 9313

Business hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM 

Website 

Facebook 

Instagram 

The Media Captain has worked with B2B companies, tennis clubs, beauty brands, and many more—helping them set sail toward their goals. Charting the course are their creative, results-driven website redesigns, Google Ads, social media, SEO, and email marketing. 

Every piece of content, strategy, and service is said to be marked by talent, professionalism, and efficiency. Clients often highlight how the team understands needs, meets deadlines, and shows genuine care—leading to growth in both audience reach and revenue. 

Start-ups and established businesses with one-off marketing tasks usually opt for the Proof of Concept Package, an initial engagement at $175 per hour. While most gain traction from campaigns crafted in these consultations, some see lower returns and switch agencies later. 

Fortunately, those who transitioned to an Ongoing Marketing Partnership ranging from $1,000 to $5,000+ per month continue to reap the rewards. Plus, with a customized Monday.com dashboard, business owners and project managers alike can easily keep track of progress. 

Pros

  • Wide industry experience 
  • Creative, results-driven approach 
  • Professional & efficient team 
  • Growth in reach/revenue 
  • Flexible package options 

Cons

  • Lower returns recorded
  •  Occasional client agency change 

Stepped-up B2B SEO—visibility and lead quality, a result of smart strategy  

“Before we relaunched our website with The Media Captain, we didn’t have any qualified digital leads in our pipeline. Our site wasn’t showing up where it needed to, and we knew we were missing real opportunities. Since partnering with their team, that’s completely changed. B2B SEO can be a challenge, especially in a niche industry like ours, but The Media Captain really stepped up. They took the time to understand our business, our audience, and how decision-makers in our space actually search. It wasn’t a cookie-cutter approach. They built a strategy that reflects how we work and what matters to our clients. The visibility and lead quality we’re seeing now didn’t happen by accident, it’s the result of smart strategy and real follow-through.”

Helped us grow our online presence and a reliable, talented team that truly cares

“The Media Captain has been an amazing marketing partner for Scarborough East Tennis Club. They’ve helped us grow our online presence, improve communication with members, and consistently deliver professional, on-brand content. Their team is responsive, creative, and easy to work with. We never feel like just another client. Jason truly care about results, and it shows.

We’ve seen real impact from their work, from website improvements to social media engagement and Google Ads performance. Highly recommend them to any business looking for a reliable and talented digital marketing team!”

2. Social Firm 

social-firm

Address: 1654 E Broad St 2nd Floor

Phone: +1 614 612 1874

Business hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM 

Website 

Facebook 

Instagram 

Businesses and brands see Social Firm as a marketing partner that makes their job easier. With a creative and highly committed team, owners report a steady rise in serious customers—and fewer headaches—thanks to stronger SEO, web design, campaign messaging, and ads. 

Behind the scenes, clients trust Social’s digital advertising to place products where audiences are—on Google searches, Facebook feeds, and even smart TVs. Operations managers also enjoy lighter workloads, thanks to the agency’s CRM support under digital marketing. 

Throughout the process, the creators are praised for being available and responsive. They need little direction, too, though sometimes outcomes can stray away from the requested concept, like an ad campaign focusing more on humor when the client asked for a professional tone. 

Still, those who’ve heard of their impressive work for Salon Lofts, The Boster Center, Moses Mouser, Patriot Air, and Libertas Wealth Management are drawn in. It’s worth noting that these names span industries from beauty and healthcare to HVAC services and financial consulting. 

Pros

  • Creative & highly committed team 
  • Reliable digital advertising & marketing 
  • Open, responsive communication 
  • Trusted across multiple industries

Cons

  • Occasional off-concept outcomes 
  • Humor-over-professionalism ad campaigns 

From design to SEO, handles projects with creativity and insanely responsive

“I’ve worked with three different digital marketing firms over the years, but none have come close to the level of strategy, execution, and sheer commitment that Social Firm brings to the table. They don’t just throw cookie-cutter solutions at you and hope something sticks.  Instead, they take the time to understand your brand, your audience, and your goals – then they build a plan that actually works, all while tracking KPIs and adjusting your marketing strategy along the way. From web design and branding to SEO and SEM, every project they touch is handled with precision, creativity, and a level of care that’s honestly hard to find in this space. The team is insanely responsive, ridiculously knowledgeable, and they’re just flat-out good people. They’re not just another digital marketing agency.  Quite frankly, they’re one of the best investments I’ve ever made in my business.” 

The partner every operations leader dreams of—responsive, proactive, and reliable

“Social Firm is the kind of marketing partner every operations leader dreams of. They’re responsive, proactive, and reliable – which means fewer headaches for me. From website updates to SEO and digital strategy, they handle everything seamlessly. If I need something fixed or improved, it’s done – fast and correctly. More importantly, they don’t just wait for direction; they bring solutions to the table. Marketing and operations have to work hand in hand, and The Social Firm makes that happen effortlessly. If you want a team that actually makes your business run smoother, you’ve found them.”

3. Sync Creative 

sync-creative

Address: 243 E Livingston Ave

Phone: +1 614 586 1671

Business hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 

Website 

Facebook 

Many clients consider Sync Creative as more than an agency, but also as true researchers, a trusted partner, and even a friend. Much of this comes from the team’s effort to understand each business and its people, paired with real dedication and enthusiasm. 

Campaign strategy, print advertising, brand messaging, and website design are just some of the projects Sync has delivered for businesses. Long-time collaborators are consistently impressed by their ability to exceed expectations while staying on time, on budget, and on brief. 

If you’ve seen the Telhio commercial for credit union banking or Primary Financial’s product videos, you already know what they can do. Operations managers vouch for their compelling storytelling through a short, authentic, and highly targeted approach. 

Although business owners appreciate the approval requests, others feel they slow progress and create a need for constant oversight. The good thing is that their marketing paths remain clear and easy to follow—like well-marked bike trails, guiding clients forward with confidence. 

Pros

  • Dedicated, enthusiastic team 
  • Deep & personalized business understanding 
  • History of long-time clients 
  • Strong storytelling & creativity 
  • Timely output 
  • Clear marketing paths

Cons

  • Dragging approval requests 
  • Constant oversight tendencies 

A trusted partner and friend—smart, dedicated, and ensures a clear path forward

“Choosing Sync to help us architect our new corporate website was a no-brainer. The team came to our initial meeting prepared, confident, and most importantly, ready to listen. We were in desperate need of a new website, but were suffering from total paralysis – we had no brand guide, no content strategy, and little internal alignment. Sync not only embraced the challenge, but took full responsibility to ensure we had a simple, clear path forward. Our initial project with Sync quickly turned into a full–blown digital strategy partnership. The team is smart, dedicated, and a pleasure to be around. My colleagues and I now view Sync as much more than an agency – they are trusted partner and friend.”

Integral part of our strategy, an enthusiastic team, and a partner who understands

“When Sync brought the concept of the Telhio Challenge to us, it was just what we had been looking for. Sync’s ability to increase the awareness of Credit Unions and their vested interest in the communities has been vital to our success over the past two years. Sync has been an integral part of realigning our business strategy. An enthusiastic and energetic team who is much more than a branding and creative firm, Sync is a partner who takes the time to understand the mindset of our members and how they are impacted by our decisions.”

4. Kow Abundant 

kow-abundant

Address: 1071 Fishinger Rd #109

Phone: +1 614 230 2308

Business hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM 

Website 

Facebook 

Instagram 

Recognized as one of the “Best Rated SEO Agencies” by Social Apps HQ and a “Best Digital Marketing Agency” by Expertise.com, it’s no wonder Kow Abundant keeps clients happy. More website traffic, higher search rankings, and better click-through rates explain why. 

Their pricing plans are divided into: Google Ads PPC Management at $599 per month, Social Media Management Consulting at $699, SEO at $799, and Google & SEO at $1,299. All come with no contracts, allowing you to pause campaigns any time, plus online Zoom meetings. 

Kow’s owner, Ted, handles most projects himself. His timeliness, clear communication, and thoughtful support lead many, especially small local businesses, feeling they’re in good hands—or that their search for the best company is over. 

A concern some clients raised is the lengthy process, with initial strategy sessions, creative approvals, and multiple rounds of revisions sometimes stretching a campaign launch over several weeks. Others don’t mind the wait, particularly when the results are worth it. 

Pros

  • Recognized by industry experts 
  • Increased traffic & rankings 
  • Flexible, no-contract pricing 
  • Personalized attention from owner 
  • Clear communication & support 

Cons

  • Lengthy campaign launch process 
  • Multiple revision rounds 

Excellent advice and my rankings and clicks continue to improve each month 

“I’ve worked with Ted for about 8 months and have really seen progress in how my site is ranking. It definitely takes work on both sides–you need to follow Ted’s excellent advice about creating content to capture top keywords. It’s been really rewarding to see how my rankings and clicks continue to improve each month!”

Incredible SEO/SEM management and has heart for small businesses  

“An incredible source for all SEO/SEM management needs. Ted is a God-send to any size business, but his heart for small business development is what truly sets him apart. I HIGHLY recommend him.”

5. New Day Creative  

new-day-creative

Address: 875 N High St Ste 300

Phone: +1 614 212 2073

Business hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 

Website 

Facebook 

Instagram 

Businesses in the healthcare, banking, and manufacturing industries aren’t the only ones relying on New Day Creative—non-profit organizations do, too. Teams are impressed by the agency’s quality of work, often reflecting the vision of the company or the requested concept. 

Ohio Health, Park National Bank, Ohio Business Roundtable, and Covert Manufacturing, Inc. are some of the clients they’ve collaborated with. New Day’s support came through multiple national TV ads, promotional videos, radio spots, website redesigns, and hiring campaigns. 

Project managers, together with the brand’s employees, are grateful for how they make meetings and consultations comfortable. Those who choose to meet in person also note the inspiring views of the Columbus skyline, which add a creative energy to every discussion. 

Let’s not forget the patient assistance provided throughout, from strategy to the final output, thoughtfully incorporating all ideas. That said, there’ve been occasions when revisions weren’t implemented correctly the first time or responses to emails were slow. 

Pros

  • Diverse industries 
  • High-quality, vision-aligned work 
  • Experienced with multiple media 
  • Comfortable meetings & consultations 
  • Patient assistance throughout

Cons

  • Occasional revision errors 
  • Slow email responses

Marketing strategies and video and web design—cutting edge and worth checking out

“New Day Creative rocks! From marketing strategies to cutting edge video and web design,  these guys are the best! Check them out!”

Professional pictures of our non-profit for our primary marketing materials 

“Not only does New Day Photography capture incredible photographs, but their service to the community is unparalleled. Catalyst is a non-profit service for enhancing the quality of life for all individuals. New Day Photography provided professional pictures of our organization for our primary marketing materials!”