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Digital Advertising Agencies in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS OD5889

Revenue

$52.4bn

2024

$52.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

186k

Businesses

54,216

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry analysis

The Digital Advertising Agencies industry in the US has been driven by the shift from traditional print advertising to digital advertisements. In particular, strong demand for digital advertising from the retail, financial services, automotive and telecommunication sectors has sustained industry revenue. As more consumers generate website traffic through smartphones and tablets, many businesses have purchased digital advertising services to build brand awareness across multiple screens and platforms. To the industry's benefit, the rise in remote arrangements stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic caused more people to surf the internet while at home and reduced exposure to other forms of advertising. This motivated many companies to change their platforms and switch to digital advertising. Consequently, industry revenue is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 17.1%, including an expected 10.3% jump in 2024 to reach $52.4 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • More businesses now rely on digital advertising services to strengthen their online presence. The shift from desktop to mobile, in particular, has fueled spending on digital ads.
  • Businesses across all sectors of the economy use digital advertising services. Digital advertising agencies rely on retail, finance, automotive and telecommunications corporate clients.
  • The Southeast accounts for the largest proportion of digital advertising agencies. However, businesses located within the region are smaller than competitors in the Mid-Atlantic.
  • The most prevalent barrier for new entrants is the brand awareness of key advertisers. While these agencies have a low market share, they still have brand awareness and can use their global operations to provide in-house services.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 17.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $52.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Tools that measure the effects of online advertising campaigns have proliferated

  • Digital advertising agencies have offered various pricing models to attract and retain clients.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Digital Advertising Agencies in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Retailers will spend more advertising dollars online

  • According to Forrester Research, by 2024, e-commerce sales will account for 17.0% of all US retail sales, causing retailers to recognize the importance of digital ads in driving sales.

Biggest companies in the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Wpp Plc
2,496.2
-417.1
-16.7
Interpublic Group Of Companies, Inc.
1,721.7
267.3
15.5
Omnicom Group Inc.
1,570.1
225.3
14.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Digital Advertising Agencies in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Search engine optimization, Banner advertising and Video advertising. Search engine optimization is the largest segment of the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US.

Trends and Insights

Digital display advertising makes up the largest share of revenue

  • This segment includes various forms of advertising. Banners make up 19.8% of total revenue, followed by video (28.8%), rich media (3.2%) and sponsorship (1.9%).
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Businesses in this industry create advertising campaigns and place the advertisements across digital media outlets. Through in-house capabilities or subcontracting, the agencies provide advice, creative services, account management, production of advertising material, media planning and buying.

What's included in this industry?

Search engine optimization (SEO)Digital display advertisingMobile advertisingSocial media management

Companies

Wpp PlcInterpublic Group Of Companies, Inc.Omnicom Group Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PAY-PER-CLICK (PPC)TRADITIONAL MEDIA NEW MEDIAVIRAL MARKETINGSTREAMING

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 54181 - Digital Advertising Agencies in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

More businesses now rely on digital advertising services to strengthen their online presence. The shift from desktop to mobile, in particular, has fueled spending on digital ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Businesses across all sectors of the economy use digital advertising services. Digital advertising agencies rely on retail, finance, automotive and telecommunications corpora...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Southeast accounts for the largest proportion of digital advertising agencies. However, businesses located within the region are smaller than competitors in the Mid-Atlan...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The most prevalent barrier for new entrants is the brand awareness of key advertisers. While these agencies have a low market share, they still have brand awareness and can u...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The digital advertising industry constantly evolves with new technologies and shifting consumer behavior. This opens the door for newer agencies to carve out their niche and ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Wpp Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Interpublic Group Of Companies, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Omnicom Group Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Wpp Plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Interpublic Group Of Companies, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Omnicom Group Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Similar to the broader advertising industry, digital advertising is largely self-regulated. Regulation primarily comes in the form of industry association guidelines.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry is highly dependent on skilled labor, electronics and the internet. So these three make the largest share in cost structure with over 80.0%.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States is $52.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in 2024?

There are 54,216 businesses in the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 14.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 17.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Digital Advertising Agencies market in United States are Wpp Plc, Interpublic Group Of Companies, Inc. and Omnicom Group Inc.

What does the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US in United States include?

Search engine optimization (SEO) and Digital display advertising are part of the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Wpp Plc.

How competitive is the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Digital Advertising Agencies in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Advertising Agencies in the US

Complementors

  • Graphic Designers in the US
  • Internet Service Providers in the US
  • Search Engines in the US

International industries

  • Global Advertising Agencies
  • Advertising Agencies in Canada
  • Advertising Agencies in Australia
  • Advertising and Market Research Services in New Zealand
  • Advertising Agencies in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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