advertising agencies in Des Moines, IA

1. 01 on the list · Des Moines, IA

   Flynn Wright

   Since 1984 · 51–200 people

   Flynn Wright is a full-service advertising agency headquartered in downtown Des Moines with offices in Sioux Falls and Portland. Its 101 staff cover research, strategy, creative, in-house media planning and buying, direct marketing and PR, and the agency produces broadcast, digital and out-of-home campaigns for clients in telecom, equipment, energy, retail, agriculture and tourism.

   Why it’s hereThe largest locally owned advertising agency in Des Moines, in business since 1984 with an in-house media department and accounts such as Mediacom, Bobcat and the Iowa Lottery.

   Who leads itPaul Schlueter, CEO.

   Work they can showSouth Dakota Corn. Research-led ethanol promotion campaign; sales of Unleaded 88 rose more than sixfold on Unleaded 88 Day.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $10,000–$40,000, typical for Des Moines advertising retainers; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   full-service advertising · media planning and buying · broadcast creative · research · public relations

2. 03 on the list · Des Moines, IA

   Lessing-Flynn

   Since 1907 · 11–50 people

   Lessing-Flynn is an advertising, creative and digital agency in Des Moines' East Village that has operated continuously since 1907. It develops brand positioning and campaigns for established and emerging brands, with recent case studies for Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas, Champion Seed and DCI Group. It has been named an Iowa Top Workplace for seven consecutive years.

   Why it’s hereFounded in 1907, it is one of the oldest continuously operating advertising agencies in the United States.

   Who leads itTom Flynn, President & CEO.

   Work they can showChampion Seed. Brand positioning and messaging built around the company's commitment to independent seed dealers. Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas. Trade show, facility opening, product launch, media, social and dealer marketing programs.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $10,000–$40,000, typical for Des Moines advertising retainers; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   brand campaigns · creative · digital strategy · video · event marketing

3. 04 on the list · Des Moines, IA

   ZLR Ignition

   Since 1987 · 11–50 people

   ZLR Ignition is a full-service advertising and branding agency in downtown Des Moines that began in 1987 as Zimmerman, Laurent & Richardson. It handles brand planning, creative development, media strategy, PR and digital, with much of its work for healthcare, financial services, education, public-sector and nonprofit clients. It is a Google Premier Partner and a member of the ICOM independent agency network.

   Why it’s hereNearly 40 years in Des Moines with named public-sector and healthcare accounts such as the Iowa Clinic, UnityPoint Health and the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau.

   Who leads itXan McNelly, CEO and President.

   Work they can showGovernor's Traffic Safety Bureau (Iowa). Behavior-change safety campaign built on personal consequences; the case study reports impaired-driving fatalities down 33%. Cemen Tech. Brand strategy and public relations engagement. The Iowa Clinic. Marketing campaign for the clinic's vasectomy service.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $10,000–$40,000, typical for Des Moines advertising retainers; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   brand planning · creative · media strategy · public relations · healthcare

4. 06 on the list · Des Moines, IA

   Two Rivers Marketing

   Since 2000 · 51–200 people

   Two Rivers Marketing is a B2B advertising and marketing agency in Des Moines' East Village that works with manufacturers and brands selling through dealer and distributor networks. Its 110-plus associates handle full-funnel strategy, campaign creative, media, content and sales enablement. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of The VGM Group, an employee-owned company in Waterloo, Iowa.

   Why it’s hereA 110-person B2B specialist with 25 years of campaign work for manufacturers that sell through channel partners.

   Who leads itBrad Olson, President.

   Work they can showPioneer. Integrated marketing strategy for the launch of Pioneer's winter canola to drive farmer adoption. DEVELON. Organic social media and content syndication program that helped DEVELON dealers build brand awareness. Miller Electric Mfg. LLC. Produced Real Garage, a 12-episode YouTube show for Miller's social audience.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $10,000–$40,000, typical for Des Moines advertising retainers; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   B2B advertising · channel and dealer marketing · content · media · sales enablement

5. 08 on the list · Des Moines, IA

   Mills Marketing

   Since 1975 · 11–50 people

   Mills Marketing is an advertising and marketing agency that works only with banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. Founded in 1975 by Becki Drahota, it has grown from a one-person operation to more than 20 staff across offices at 400 East Court Avenue in Des Moines and in Storm Lake, Iowa, and runs research, planning, campaign creative, digital execution and staff training aimed at deposit growth and loan production.

   Why it’s hereFifty years of advertising work for financial institutions from Iowa offices, with a Des Moines office in the East Village.

   Who leads itBecki Drahota, CEO and Founder.

   Work they can showDecorah Bank & Trust (greenpenny.com). Built the brand, business plan, website, onboarding flow and launch advertising for a digital-only bank that finances energy projects.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $10,000–$40,000, typical for Des Moines advertising retainers; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   financial services advertising · brand strategy · deposit and loan campaigns · digital execution · training

6. 12 on the list · Des Moines, IA

   TRIO

   1–10 people

   TRIO is a full-service marketing communications agency at 400 SE Gateway Drive in Grimes, northwest of Des Moines, founded and led by president Renee Schneider. Its seven-person team organises work into broadcast, creative, digital and strategy, executing campaigns through radio and TV, design, printing and mailing. It cites work for clients in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, retail, real estate, biotechnology, tourism and financial services.

   Why it’s hereA small Des Moines-metro agency with a dedicated broadcast practice, listed by Expertise.com among Des Moines advertising agencies.

   Who leads itRenee Schneider, President & Founder.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $10,000–$40,000, typical for Des Moines advertising retainers; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   broadcast advertising · creative · digital · direct mail · agriculture and renewable energy

7. 13 on the list · Des Moines, IA

   Group C Digital

   Group C Digital is a digital media and consulting firm at 1821 High Street in Des Moines that plans, buys and measures paid campaigns across search, social, video, OTT and connected TV, targeted email and programmatic display. It cites more than 20 years of digital marketing experience and works through platform partnerships with Google, The Trade Desk, YouTube, Instagram and Bing, and also offers media training and offline attribution.

   Why it’s hereA Des Moines media-buying specialist focused on OTT, connected TV and programmatic placement, listed by Expertise.com among the city's advertising agencies.

   Estimated cost

   Estimated: $10,000–$40,000, typical for Des Moines advertising retainers; not a quote.

   Typical industry estimate, not a quote from any firm on this list.

   digital media buying · OTT and connected TV · search and social advertising · attribution · media training

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