The Top 12 Social Agencies You Need to Know in 2023

Aug 24, 2023 | Ad Targeting, Custom Audiences, Custom Segments, Google Marketing Platform, Instagram, Platforms, Skydeo Insights, The Trade Desk, TikTok, Uncategorized

If you want to dominate in the game, you’ve got to understand the players. 

In today’s ever-changing world of digital marketing, there are those who pave the way, and then there are those who create entirely new roads. At Skydeo, we are lucky enough to work with some of the best digital marketing and social agencies in the world. The ones that rise above the noise, innovating, inspiring, and reshaping our understanding of what’s possible in social marketing. Agencies that aren’t just about likes and shares; but about real, tangible, impactful strategies that move the needle. Those who don’t follow the trends, they set them.

Here are 12 Top Social Agencies you need to know, follow, work with, and go work for who are crushing it by not just changing the rules, but by rewriting them.

Influential

Started in 2013, Influential has a decade-long collaboration with IBM Watson which helps them employ advanced AI to link brands with the perfect influencers from their expansive network of over 3.5 million unique creators. This precision has propelled Influential to amass $500M+ in campaign revenue, driving an impressive $2.5B in customer sales, ensuring unparalleled campaign success.

Clients include: Audible, Hilton, McDonalds, Venmo, Wells Fargo, Ab inBev, American Express, Amazon, Doordash, Pepsi, NFL, Google, Disney, General Mills, Bumble, TIIA and Dennys.

Mediahub

Established in 2005, MediaHub Agency stands as a globally recognized, award-winning media agency, specializing in data-driven strategies and insights for diverse brands. Honored as Ad Age Media Agency of the Year in 2019 and 2020, MediaHub operates under the expansive IPG Mediabrands umbrella, a segment of the global advertising powerhouse, Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG). This affiliation grants MediaHub a vast reach spanning North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM. Among their acclaimed campaigns are Netflix’s Black Mirror, New Balance’s fun run challenge with Fortnite gamer Jack “Cizzorz” Cizek, and innovative strategies linking NASCAR drivers with Fortnite’s leading personalities.

Clients include: Netflix, FOX, FOX Sports, Western Union, Twitch, New Balance, Pinterest, Celebrity Cruises, Chipotle, NBA, LiveWire, JetBlue, L.L. Bean, Lyft, Staples and Patrón.

Initiative

Initiative, a NYC-based global media agency part of IPG Mediabrands, has achieved significant recognition in the industry, boasting over 50 major clients like Amazon, Liberty Mutual, and T-Mobile. With a footprint in over 90 markets, their robust team of 6,000+ has garnered a slew of awards, including Adweek’s Global Media Agency of the Year and Ad Age’s A-List Media Agency of the Year in 2023. Their innovative “Fame & Flow” proposition has reeled in $1.6 billion in new business, solidifying their position with double-digit revenue growth. In 2022, COMvergence ranked them #1 in new global business, and they have been honored by multiple programs, underscoring their commitment to delivering media solutions that promote brand growth and reflect cultural diversity.

Clients include: Nike, Amazon, Merck, LEGO, and T-Mobile, Calvin Klein, Bayer, Continental Tyres, Dixons, Ferrero, France Telecom, Johnson & Johnson, Patek Philippe, Powergen, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ricoh.

Jellyfish

Recently acquired by The Brandtech Group, Jellyfish was established in 2005 by visionaries outside the traditional advertising world. Now spanning 38 global offices with over 2,200 staff, the company defies traditional classifications: while it has an intense dedication to performance marketing, it stands apart from media, consultancy, adtech, and advertising agencies. Notably, its expertise in Google ad products has been so profound that it once dubbed itself “Google Services Limited.”

Clients include: Disney, TikTok, ESPN, eBay, Netflix, Nike, Nestlé, Snap, LinkedIN, Samsung, Spotify, Playstation, Meta, Salesforce, LiverRamp and Uber.

Starcom Agency

Founded in 2000 in Chicago, Starcom is globally acclaimed as the Human Experience Company. With a vast workforce of over 7,000 employees worldwide, they deftly blend media, technology, and data to curate brand experiences that resonate with audiences and prompt meaningful action. Their distinctive HX approach underpins their strategy, which has solidified their reputation, earning them the title of Adweek’s US Media Agency of the Year.

Clients include: Samsung, Kellogg’s, WWF, Mead Johnson, Cadbury, Visa, McDonald’s, Bank of America, Axis Bank, Vans, The North Face and AB InBev.

Havas

Established in 1835 in Paris by Charles-Louis Havas, Havas stands as one of the globe’s most expansive communication networks, boasting a workforce of over 22,000 across 100+ countries. Committed to profoundly impacting brands and individuals, Havas, now under the Vivendi umbrella since 2017, flourishes through its integrated model represented in 70+ Havas Villages worldwide. The synergy of its three business units—Havas Creative Network, Havas Media Network, and Havas Health & You—enables the delivery of innovative, custom solutions for clients. Their diverse service offerings span from business consultancy to content production, underlining their recent strategic investment in creative agency, Uncommon, highlighting their belief in human creativity’s superiority over AI.

Clients include: adidas, Progressive Insurance, Uber, Coca Cola, Amnesty International, Hyundai, Canal+ and Vans.

Horizon Media

Established in 1835 in Paris by Charles-Louis Havas, Havas stands as one of the globe’s most expansive communication networks, boasting a workforce of over 22,000 across 100+ countries. Committed to profoundly impacting brands and individuals, Havas, now under the Vivendi umbrella since 2017, flourishes through its integrated model represented in 70+ Havas Villages worldwide. The synergy of its three business units—Havas Creative Network, Havas Media Network, and Havas Health & You—enables the delivery of innovative, custom solutions for clients. Their diverse service offerings span from business consultancy to content production, underlining their recent strategic investment in creative agency, Uncommon, highlighting their belief in human creativity’s superiority over AI.

Clients include: adidas, Progressive Insurance, Uber, Coca Cola, Amnesty International, Hyundai, Canal+ and Vans.

Merkle

Established in 1835 in Paris by Charles-Louis Havas, Havas stands as one of the globe’s most expansive communication networks, boasting a workforce of over 22,000 across 100+ countries. Committed to profoundly impacting brands and individuals, Havas, now under the Vivendi umbrella since 2017, flourishes through its integrated model represented in 70+ Havas Villages worldwide. The synergy of its three business units—Havas Creative Network, Havas Media Network, and Havas Health & You—enables the delivery of innovative, custom solutions for clients. Their diverse service offerings span from business consultancy to content production, underlining their recent strategic investment in creative agency, Uncommon, highlighting their belief in human creativity’s superiority over AI.

Clients include: adidas, Progressive Insurance, Uber, Coca Cola, Amnesty International, Hyundai, Canal+ and Vans.

Wavemaker

Wavemaker, evolving from its previous entities MEC and Maxus, has solidified its reputation as the second-largest media agency network globally. Being a proud member of GroupM and WPP, Wavemaker is intricately designed to spur growth for its clientele, encompassing renowned names like Vodafone. Their expansive offerings, ranging from media planning and buying to content, analytics, ecommerce, and programmatic solutions, mirror the agency’s commitment to navigating the rapidly changing consumer landscape. With an impressive ensemble of over 7,200 experts dispersed across 90 markets, Wavemaker holds the distinct expertise, confidence, and audacity to drive growth for some of the world’s most prestigious brands and businesses.

Clients include: Audible, Netflix, Square, Loreal, Henkel, Doordash, Xerox, Coinbase, Danone, Bungie, Oreo, Colgate-Palmolive, Cadbury, Tommy Hilfiger, Burger King and Paramount.

Mindshare

Mindshare, honored as the Cannes Lions Media Network of the Year 2023, is a global media agency network with a workforce of 10,000 professionals distributed across 86 countries. As a pioneering entity established by WPP, Mindshare is dedicated to fostering “Good Growth” in this transformative era, defining it as sustainable business growth that positively influences society. By leveraging “Precisely Human Intelligence,” which blends data and behavioral science, they gain a profound understanding of consumers and their driving motivations. This insight facilitates intentional media planning, ensuring brands resonate with consumers on shared values. Their strategy utilizes media as a catalyst to bolster sales and optimize marketing investments, ensuring lasting growth for clients, their community, the industry, and the world at large.

Clients include: Nike, Dove, Tyson, Honest Eggs Co., Ford, Booking.com, Rolex, Unilever, Volvo, IBM, General Mills, Nestle, Lufthansa, Yum, Kimberly-Clark and Pepsi.

Spark Foundry

Spark Foundry, the celebrated global media agency operating under the umbrella of Publicis Media and part of the influential Publicis Groupe, boasts a robust presence in over 50 countries with more than 3,000 employees and 60 offices situated in key markets such as the USA, UK, MENA, Poland, Australia, and China. Embodying the vibrancy of a startup and the prowess of an industry titan, Spark Foundry offers comprehensive solutions ranging from data analytics and content creation to commerce and strategy. Their forward-thinking approach and vast capabilities have earned them significant recognition, including Ad Age’s “Media Agency of the Year” and Adweek’s “U.S. Media Agency of the Year” awards for 2022.

Clients include: Meta, Humana, Logitech, KFC, Dreyer’s, H-E-B, Labcorp, Regal, Sally Beauty, WGN America and Wingstop.

EssenceMediaCom

EssenceMediacom, the latest and most expansive arm of GroupM, is a groundbreaking media agency that revolutionizes the traditional media, creative, and analytics paradigms. Operating across 120 global offices with a dynamic team of 10,000 professionals, and boasting over $22.7 billion in managed media, this agency, under the leadership of Global CEO Nick Lawson, is the fusion of Essence’s renowned data-driven performance and MediaCom’s broad multichannel strategic expertise. Being a part of the WPP conglomerate and GroupM network grants EssenceMediacom unparalleled access to the world’s most rich and diverse datasets. Their commitment to continual learning and holistic employee development positions them at the forefront of marketing breakthroughs. Their broad spectrum of services includes integrated media solutions, predictive analytics, creative futures, frictionless commerce, and specialized B2B marketing strategies, all anchored in data-driven decision-making and innovative approaches.

Clients include: Google, adidas, eBay, Coca-Cola (TCCC), Dell, Hasbro, Mars, NBC Universal, P&G, Richemont, Shell, Sony and Uber.

In the digital marketing landscape, there are many players, but few true leaders. These 12 agencies have demonstrated not just competence, but mastery in their craft. They understand the intersection of technology, human behavior, and meaningful storytelling. Their work isn’t about fleeting internet fame, but about building lasting, impactful connections between brands and their audiences. For anyone serious about understanding or competing in today’s market, keeping an eye on these agencies is not just recommended; it’s essential.

Here’s to the best of the best, from all of us at Skydeo. 

Hats off to you, we can’t wait to see what you create next.