Explore and applaud the triumphs of Black-Owned Agencies that are reshaping and revitalizing marketing strategies for businesses of all sizes across the US and beyond.
These black-owned agencies can be a valuable addition to your C-Suite, contributing to the transformation of your growth strategy in harmony with the evolving marketing landscape. In fact, the research supports choosing diverse suppliers like agencies. For example, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) found that companies working with diverse suppliers, including Black-owned agencies, experience a 133% greater return on investment compared to those that did not prioritize diversity.
Additionally, a study by the Harvard Business Review revealed that diverse teams, which included representation from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, are 45% more likely to report that their firm’s market share grew over the previous year. This highlights the correlation between diversity and innovation, suggesting that working with Black-owned agencies can inject fresh perspectives and creativity into marketing strategies.
Following extensive research, we were astonished by the limited resources available for Black-owned marketing agencies and design firms. For over nine years, we have been tracking minority-owned agencies on our agency search platform, Agency Spotter. However, even in our own records, the representation of Black-owned agencies was minimal.
To address this gap, we leveraged our networks and sifted through numerous lists of freelancers and solopreneurs. The outcome is a meticulously crafted compilation of Black-owned agencies that you absolutely need to meet.
Delve into this thoughtfully curated collection of over 40 Black-Owned Agencies, showcasing excellence and creativity in the marketing arena. With your active involvement and leveraging our enterprise services management platform, SpotSource, we are dedicated to growing this list and fostering transparency around diversity and inclusion.
Authentique Agency
Atlanta, GA
In Atlanta, GA, The Authentique Agency stands as a full-service marketing consulting firm, leveraging the power of identity.. Certified Minority and LGBT owned, they are intentional about creating brand campaigns that genuinely reflect multicultural and LGBTQ life, voices, and viewpoints.
Beaman Inc.
Chicago, IL
Based in Chicago, IL, Beaman Incorporated is a full-service communications firm specializing in media relations, corporate communications, advertising, and community outreach. Their agency has a team of storytellers who take great pride in creating narratives that spark interest and engage. They have mastered the art of communicating effectively with the media and have the ability to develop and pitch story ideas that journalists want to write about.
Beyond 8
New York, NY
Beyond 8 challenges creative boundaries to execute authentic, diverse and interactive virtual + in person experiences across fashion, tech, art, music and lifestyle industries. Our mission is to cultivate meaningful partnerships, develop innovative strategies and execute high level events while promoting multicultural awareness and inclusivity.
b.ID Creative
Houston, TX
At b.iD, building clients’ brands is their top priority. They are a boutique agency whose aim is to deliver high quality and highly creative designs tied together with top-level service from conception to execution.
Black Digital
Washington D.C.
Black Digital is a Black-owned marketing agency founded in an effort to empower small businesses with a full range of marketing and advertising services. They are determined to provide you with a return that is greater than your initial investment.
Bliss Consulting Services
Atlanta, GA
Bliss Consulting Services, INC., is a full-service consulting agency servicing the metro Atlanta and Los Angeles markets. They were founded with a single mission, to offer strategic and creative services to minority businesses that result in blissful experiences. Bliss Consulting Services approaches each client with fresh eyes and develop custom-made strategies that address challenges while managing client expectations.
Blue Surge
Lindenhurst, NY
Blue Surge Marketing Agency is a premier, full-service digital marketing, website design, and consulting agency that generates explosive growth and revenue in businesses through creative strategy and optimization.
Burrell Communications
Chicago, IL
Burrell is a full-service marketing and communications agency. The agency is well-known for its creativity and strategic approaches. Burrell Communications is driven by innovation and is committed to deliver their clients results year after year. This is perfectly summed up in their mission statement, “consistently deliver innovative, creative, market-moving ideas.”
Carol H. Williams Advertising
Manhattan, NY
Carol H. Williams Advertising is a full-service integrated Black-Owned agency that specializes in broadcast, digital branding, print, and radio. They have helped many Fortune 500 companies craft award-winning multi-cultural campaigns. Carol H. Williams Advertising has worked with brands like AllState, Disney, Google, and so many more. The agency was founded over 20 years ago and has grown to be the largest, independent and female-owned, African American communications agency in the United States.
Consciously
Consciously is a branding + content agency helping companies become a larger part of the communities they serve by Connecting Value to Values™. They build purpose-driven and inclusive brand platforms that help companies nourish their business ecosystem. Founded in 2016 as a purpose-driven outsourced marketing department, Consciously has evolved their approach into a method that provides practical ways to codify, share and see results from business purpose.
Creative Theory
Washington D.C.
Creative Theory restores the balance by amplifying voices and telling necessary stories that overturn common narratives. They are boardroom advocates— a voice for the overlooked, from concept to completion. Creative Theory help brands understand who they are, so they can add to the conversation, not the noise.
duGard Communications
Nashville, TN
duGard Communications (dGC) is an award-winning, strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, marketing and business development services to a broad range of brands, companies and non-profit organizations. dGC has developed a highly successful track record of building strategies tailored for individual clients that articulate key value, enhance growth and improve business success.
Duma Collective
Johannesburg, South Africa
Duma Collective a creative communications agency that services FMCG brands, event productions, agencies, performing artists as well as government departments in South Africa and the rest of Africa.
Era Bright
Atlanta, GA
Formed in 2016, EraBright specializes in lead generation via SEO, content marketing, paid advertising, website design and more. They have a wide range of experience, expertise, and tools to create and implement strategic marketing campaigns developed to generate leads and sales for your business.
First and Last PR
Jersey City, NJ
First and Last PR is a highly regarded, award-winning, Independent Beauty Public Relations and Digital Media Marketing Firm providing services to leading luxury and consumer product goods companies, mid-sized beauty firms, and the next generation of innovative beauty and lifestyle brands.
Fuse3 Advertising
St. Louis, MO
Fuse3 Advertising is a full-service integrated marketing agency that creates digital, broadcast, print, and experiential marketing programs. Since 1997, this agency has been committed to being smarter and reaching higher. This black-owned agency has worked with a number of familiar brands such as Obama for America, St. Louis Baseball Cardinals, and Gillette.
Gilbreath Communications, Inc.
Houston, TX
For more than a quarter of a century, Gilbreath has produced marketing and communications solutions and campaigns that have helped launch and transform brands, grow businesses and engage audiences throughout the U.S. Their expertise covers five key areas: strategy; advertising and creative services; marketing; digital media and technology; and communications and public relations.
Kin
Brooklyn, NY
Kin is a new breed of creative companies using kinship to unleash business and culture as forces for good in our world. They partner with the most progressive individuals, organizations, and brands to innovate initiatives, experiences, services, and products that create a lasting impact.
Kurieo
Kurieo’s diverse team has a unique and fresh perspective, infusing each project with ingenuity and passion. Through thoughtful design, their team crafts your story into a comprehensive narrative that seamlessly blends your online presence with the physical world to create a well-rounded, immersive experience for your audience.
Lemonade Stand
Riverside, CA
Lemonade Stand is a full-service digital marketing agency that excels in providing clients around the world with tangible, measurable results for their online business and presence. They specialize in Website Development, Search Engine Optimization, Pay-Per-Click, Social Media Marketing, Analytics, and Video Production.
M-Squared PR
Atlanta, GA
M-Squared Public Relations is an independent public relations firm with offices in Atlanta and Charlotte, NC. The firm specializes in hotels, resorts, tourism, hospitality, food and beverage, real estate, luxury, retail, and the government industries.
MVD
Los Angeles, CA
MVD Inc is an innovative boutique creative agency specializing in strategic positioning, immersive experiences and integrated marketing. Founded in 2002 MVD Inc boasts an impressive roster of A-list clients and Fortune 500 companies in the music, film, fashion and technology industries.
M16 Marketing
Atlanta, GA
M16 Marketing is an award-winning web design and digital marketing firm based in Atlanta. On average, companies who work with M16 increase their conversions and/or revenue by more than 250%. The company partners with forward-thinking startups, small businesses, and major brands helping them to Achieve Sustainable Success™.
Palette
Brooklyn, NY
Founded in 2014, Palette Group is a commercial creative agency focused on producing content for campaign activations both online and offline. Their experience is rooted in producing, directing, and developing products, lifestyle photography, and video production.
Pop N’
Atlanta, GA
Pop N’ is a Multicultural Marketing Collective focused on digital and social content creation and experience design. They craft campaigns and content that give people a reason to genuinely care about your brand. In addition to this, Pop N’ listen both socially and culturally and build strategies to create the right experiences for the right audiences.
Philly Reps
Philadelphia, PA
Philly Reps is a Marketing and Consulting House. They partner with commercial photographers to offer targeted marketing support and consulting services to ensure their work and brands get the exposure they deserve.
Sanders\Wingo
Austin, TX
Located in El Paso and Austin, Sanders\Wingo is a creative agency that provides multicultural advertising and public relations services. The agency is known for reaching beyond industry clichés to deliver bold ideas and real results. They have worked with clients such as AT&T, the American Heart Association, and Shell.
SATURDAY MORNING
Atlanta, GA
Saturday Morning creates ideas that bring awareness to and shift perceptions on racial bias and injustice. They feel so fortunate to work with leading companies and brands who understand they have a role and the power to be a voice for real change.
Shared Vision Marketing
Atlanta, GA
Shared Vision Marketing is a full service, multi-discipline, marketing collective, headquartered in Atlanta with offices in Tampa Bay. Independently owned and established in 2006, they are industry agnostic with a roster of diverse clients. Shared Vision Marketing offers a fresh approach, holistic thinking, and new ideas.
Spike DDB
Brooklyn, NY
SpikeDDB, a joint partnership between filmmaker Spike Lee and Omnicom Group’s DDB Worldwide, opened its doors in 1997. Now headquartered in the creatively burgeoning D.U.M.B.O. area of Brooklyn, the agency focuses on fully integrated communications targeted at trendsetter, transcultural and millennial audiences.
Sumnu Marketing
Las Vegas, NV
Sumnu Marketing is a family-owned marketing firm that focuses on providing permanent marketing communications solutions for small businesses. However, over the years the company has become the go-to firm for “grassroots” marketing and community outreach for corporations and non-profit organizations.
Studio B
Chicago, IL
Studio B is a diversity-driven, woman-owned brand experience agency that specializes in producing consumer, influencer and retail customer experiences
for women, by women.
Team Epiphany
New York, NY
Team Epiphany is a full-service creative agency that has worked with brands such as Nike, HBO, Cadillac, and more. Through the power of business-proven personal relationships, Team Epiphany makes magic happen for their clients. The agency has garnered acclaim on Inc. Magazine’s elite list of “Fastest-Growing Private Companies” annually since 2009.
The JDot. Agency
New York, NY
Since its inception in 2007, The JDot. Agency has quickly become one of the hardest working PR firms in the fiercely competitive New York market. Their goal is to devote unrelenting ideas and energy to each and every project.
The Official Maleeka Group
Atlanta, GA
As the go-to agency for small business owners, entrepreneurs, personalities, and growing brands, The Official Maleeka Group pulls all the strings they need to gain you trustworthy and earned media attention. They anticipate the excitement and execute on your vision to become a household name.
The Sax Agency
Los Angeles, CA
SAX is a multidisciplinary, boutique-style marketing, media, branding and advertising agency. They create solutions that blend structured business, fluid creativity, and cutting-edge innovation.
The Sayles Group
Las Vegas, NV
The Sayles Group is a unique consulting firm that is often referred by its clients as the emerging leader in community relations, business development, and events due to its great success with using creative and colorful ideas when designing strategies specifically to enhance clients’ bottom line.
Translation
New York, NY
Translation is an agency of creative entrepreneurs actively engaged in the culture in which we work. The common thread in all of their work is a firm commitment to transformative engagements that get powerful business results for their clients. Translation is the bridge between true consumer insight and brand aspiration.
TwentyFirstCenturyBrand
San Francisco, CA
TwentyFirstCenturyBrand partners with founders & CEOs of the world’s most innovative companies to realize transformational growth through excellence in marketing. Founder Jonathan Mildenhall and his co-founders Alexandra Dimiziani and Neil Barrie have assembled a team of the world’s best left and right brain thinkers: CMOs, Strategists, Data-Geeks, Storytellers. This agency knows what it takes because they’ve built some of the world’s best brands.
Twice Media Productions
Houston, TX
Twice Media Productions produce compelling videos to help bring your vision to life. When you need help communicating a message visually, Twice Media Productions is here for you. This agency gives you that extra push to take your marketing campaign to the next level.
UWG
UWG, a leader in thought, creativity, and innovation, has carved its legacy in the multicultural advertising space for fifty years. As a trailblazer and cultural vanguard, UWG connects brands to multicultural audiences beyond the construct of race and ethnicity. UWG’s work will continue to be cemented in history for years to come.
Walton Isaacson
Culver City, CA
Founded in 2006, Walton Isaacson is an independently held, certified minority-owned full-service agency. Aaron Walton and Cory Isaacson have built a world-class agency that has helped numerous brands build their relationship with consumers. The employees at Walton Isaacson spend each day with the goal of becoming your brand’s most valuable partner. A few of their clientele includes Lexus, Whirlpool, Dove, and so many others.
Whit PR
Union, NJ
WhitPR is a New Jersey-based boutique strategic communications firm offering public relations, social media, and experiential marketing services. With more than 15 years of experience and a decade as Founder & CEO of WhitPR, a boutique public relations firm she’s been crafting narratives for some of the biggest movements and moments we’ve seen.
Zora Digital
Chicago, IL
Zora Digital is a minority and women owned digital marketing consulting firm based in Chicago. They’ve worked at and developed strategies for Fortune 500 companies. Today, Zora Digital helps healthy lifestyle brands with a spirit of innovation navigate the digital landscape and create significant ROI at a great value.
19TH & PARK
New York, NY
With a passion for transforming business objectives into creative content experiences, 19TH & PARK has been turning ideas into masterpieces for the last 10 years. As a creative agency, their goal is to create content that not only resonates with your target audience but leaves a lasting impact is top of mind.
510.media
Oakland, CA
510.media helps brands listen deep and build their stories and share their experiences. They use these vehicles to help authentic brands show up in the right way at the right time to stimulate emotions and build lasting connections.
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Take a minute and share this article with your network. Since our goal here at Agency Spotter is to aid in your search for the perfect agency partner, we want to make sure that this list reaches as many people and brands as possible.
If you are or know of a Black-owned agency that should be added to this list please let us know. Keep in mind the agency should have at least two employees and provide a service that is listed on our site. To see if you’re qualified to be added to the article, you can contact the author at melissa@agencyspotter.com.
References
¹ All information regarding the agencies was found on websites and company LinkedIn profiles
- Peak Performance: Black-Owned Agencies Shaping the Marketing Horizon - February 1, 2024