Choosing a media buying agency in New York City can seem like navigating Times Square at rush hour.
It takes precision, timing, and a real sense of where attention lives and where it’s about to move.
Every agency claims to hold the keys to unlocking the perfect media strategy.
But few can back it up with real results.
The city hosts more than 5,000 marketing agencies, making it one of the most competitive markets on the planet.
In the guide below we introduce fifteen agencies that elevate this discipline within all five boroughs.
Each firm is shaped by years of hyper-local insight, proprietary optimisation technology, and relationships that unlock placements unavailable through standard buying portals.
Inside this article you will discover:
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
- Profiles of 15 media buying agencies that operate at a high level in NYC
- Sectors and industries where these firms shine
- Examples of standout clients and campaigns
- Insights into their key services and offerings
- Quick insights to help you decide which firm fits your ambitions
Save yourself the headache and endless Google scrolling. Your ideal NYC media buying agency awaits below.
Let’s dive in.
P.S. Already thinking bigger than just media buying? Then you’ll want to explore our curated list of New York’s best digital marketing agencies too.
TL;DR: Top Media Buying Agencies in New York City
1. inBeat: The best overall pick. Combines paid media and influencer marketing with rare precision. They manage $3M+ monthly in ad spend, tap into elite creators (top 2%), and drive serious ROI with high-performing UGC, SEO, and email/SMS. A one-stop growth engine.
2. Ramp97: A senior-led shop where co-founders stay involved, and their media buying spans digital and traditional. They’ve driven major brand lifts and scaled DTC sales to 7-figures. Ideal for brands that want experience steering the ship.
3. The Charles NYC: They utilize creative and media to deliver data-driven insights. They deliver results like 920% ROI on search. And, they're known for sophisticated franchise and real estate growth strategies, with a global footprint.
4. 43 Oak: Transparent, Wall Street-style media buying with a focus on full-stack brand execution. From billboards to sports activations, they move the needle with digital and traditional reach, and track every dollar spent in real-time.
5. Branding NYC: They merge public affairs, multicultural branding, and paid media into conversion-focused omnichannel digital campaigns. Senior-led and nimble, they shine in fast-paced NYC markets.
What Is a Media Buying Agency?
A media buying agency handles the behind-the-scenes execution of paid advertising.
These specialists secure premium spots for your ads, handle negotiations, and analyze where your audience spends time.
Their work spans programmatic buys, direct deals, and custom integrations across screens and out-of-home boards.
In this video, you can learn more about how it works:
Whether it’s a podcast slot or a Times Square billboard, they know what delivers ROI and what’s a waste of cash.
So what happens when you hire one in a city like New York?
That brings us to the next point:
Benefits of Hiring a Media Buying Agency in New York City
Teaming up with the right agency here does more than fill ad space; it changes how your brand shows up, spends, and scales in this city:
You Reach Audiences Others Miss
NYC agencies know this market inside out. They tap into hyper-local data, micro-trends, and shifting audience segments that national players overlook. With a pulse on neighborhoods, events, and cultural moments, they know who your potential customers are, and target your message precisely.
This approach solves the generic reach problem: your ads show up in the right places to your potential customers, at the right times, instead of being lost in broad targeting.
The real-world difference is higher engagement, more qualified leads, and stronger brand resonance.
For example, mobile ads with local targeting get 32% more engagement.
National teams can guess, but local agencies deliver with an understanding that only someone on the ground can provide.
Ou Stay Compliant Without Tripping Over Legal Landmines
Advertising laws change constantly, and enforcement does not go easy on brands playing fast and loose.
A media buying agency with New York experience already knows the rules around data privacy, platform-specific guidelines, industry disclosures, and regulated verticals like healthcare (HIPPA) or finance (FINRA).
Whether it’s FTC ad disclosures, political ad restrictions during election windows, or platform bans on retargeting certain demographics, they already know where the lines are.
That means fewer flagged campaigns and fewer refund requests. That’s where these agencies pull ahead.
That level of expertise matters: in 2024 alone, FTC crackdowns on deceptive advertising forced companies to refund $337.3 million to consumers.
You Move Fast When It Matters Most
The New York pace demands speed and adaptability. Media buying agencies here know when to double down, pivot, or pull a campaign in hours, not days. They have the systems and team depth to make changes on the fly.
This solves the classic lag that comes from internal red tape or slow-moving partners. Your brand stays relevant and reacts to market shifts before competitors even notice.
In practice, this means capitalizing on news cycles, viral moments, or local trends instantly. Only a true media buying partner, can move with that kind of urgency for you.
In fact, 50% of companies believe outsourcing helps them bring new products or campaigns to market faster, which is a critical advantage in a city that never slows down.
You Gain Access to the Real Tech Toolkit
Agencies focused on media buying use software you won’t find in most in-house stacks.
They’re running enterprise-grade demand-side platforms like The Trade Desk or Mediaocean, custom analytics suites like Nielsen DAR, and media-tracking tools like MOAT or Pathmatics.
When you work with these teams, your campaigns tap into real-time bidding, detailed attribution, and spend analytics that let you see what’s actually working.
Regular marketing teams usually lack these systems or run lower-tier versions. These agencies invest in premium tools so your campaigns stay sharp.
And the impact is real: 46% of employees say using advanced digital tools significantly increases productivity. Which means that these platforms will be a serious advantage for your marketing performance.
With the benefits in mind, let’s get into the details on the agencies leading the charge in New York’s media scene.
A Deep Dive into Each Top Media Buying Agency in New York City
If you’re weighing your options, this rundown will give you the context, details, and quick facts you need to decide:
1. inBeat
inBeat is among New York City's leading media buying agencies, crushing performance targets across PPC and Google Ads.
They're masters at crafting ad campaigns that grab attention, drive clicks, and boost conversions, so your budget lands in the right channels, hits target reach/frequency, and cuts wasted impressions.
They turn your goals into a clear media plan and manage the buys end to end, so more of your spend turns into measurable results.
They monitor results and adjust the plan as it runs, so waste goes down, performance improves, and you can scale with confidence.
But media buying is just scratching the surface of what they excel at.
Their unique selling point lies in their dominance in influencer marketing. inBeat connects brands with the elite (the top 2% of content creators) and delivers authentic engagement and measurable growth.
Whether you're scaling up fast or building consistent momentum, inBeat orchestrates hundreds of influencer partnerships seamlessly, generating fresh, impactful content at scale.
Beyond influencers, inBeat agency leverages powerful user-generated content that converts, media mix modeling, SEO&AEO strategies that put your brand front and center, and compelling email and SMS campaigns designed for high engagement and real responses.
Their track record speaks volumes: For Unroll.Me, inBeat combined influencer marketing with performance-driven paid media to achieve over 7 million app installs across Android and iOS.
Managing a robust $3M+ paid media budget monthly and continually testing over 40 unique creative assets, they deliver results that consistently exceed expectations.
Industries: Beauty, Mobile Applications, CPG and DTC brands, Retail, eCommerce, Agencies, Fashion, Food & Beverage
Notable clients: New Balance, Deux par Deux, Linktree, Hopper, Nissan, Disney, Hurom
Key services:
- ABM Campaigns
- Link-Building
- Email Marketing
- Paid Media
- Social Media Marketing
- UGC Creation
- TikTok and Instagram Marketing & Advertising
- Micro-Influencer and Nano-Influencer Marketing
- SEO Solutions
- Content Marketing Services
- Creative Content Production
- Brand Development
- Product Marketing
Reason to work with inBeat: InBeat agency manages $3M+ in monthly paid media and taps into the top 2% of creators to deliver strategies that drive 7M+ installs.
2. Ramp97
Ramp97 stands out with a senior-led approach, keeping co-founders Brian and Heidi Leder hands-on from kickoff to results.
Ramp97 handles both traditional and digital buying, spanning display, video, social, and audio, plus the less-glamorous channels other agencies often skip.
Their combined 45+ years in media and communications mean that every client gets top-tier expertise.
With Microsoft Advertising, Ramp97 achieved a 56% lift in likelihood-to-purchase and a 40% jump in brand awareness by blending print cover wraps, targeted digital placements, and new messaging strategies.
For a DTC pet food client, they reworked email, social, and Amazon strategies, pushing sales to over $1 million per month in a year and a half.
Industries: eCommerce, B2B Technology, Healthcare & Pharma, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Retail, Non-profit & Education, Pet
Notable clients: Microsoft Advertising, Quench Gum, Printemps
Key services:
- Media Strategy
- Media Planning
- Social Media Marketing
- Media Buying & Activation (Digital, Programmatic, Traditional)
- Paid Search & Social
- Campaign Optimization & Reporting
Reason to work with Ramp97: Every campaign at Ramp97 is run by senior leaders who know how to deliver big brand results and significant sales jumps, even in tough markets.
3. The Charles NYC
Since 2011, The Charles has delivered full-service creative and media campaigns from its offices in New York, London, and Chicago.
Their media planning covers programmatic, paid social, search, digital OOH, and branded content.
When Hard Rock Hotels needed a fresh creative and paid media overhaul, The Charles engineered data-driven tests across display, social, and search. The outcome: 920% ROI on search, 540% on display, and 300% on social, driving a 40% increase in revenue year-over-year by January 2020.
In real estate, The Charles helped Corcoran roll out digital media and analytics for more than 25 new franchises. They used Google lead-gen for sellers and multi-channel strategy for buyers and renters. This led to high-intent traffic and consistent outperformance of industry standards, even in competitive markets like NYC and Florida.
Industries: Luxury & High‑end Fashion, Lifestyle Brands (beauty, wellness, retail), Hospitality & Travel (hotels, experiential venues), Cosmetics & Beauty, Premium Consumer Goods
Notable clients: Hard Rock Hotels, Corcoran, One Park Tower
Key services:
- Data-Driven Insights & Research
- Analytics & Measurement
- Media Strategy & Planning
- Programmatic Buying
- Paid Social & SEM
- Digital Out‑Of‑Home
- Sponsored Content & Creative Integration
Reason to work with The Charles NYC: They helped Hard Rock Hotels hit a 920% ROI on search and powered 25+ successful franchise launches for Corcoran with dual-track paid media.
4. 43 Oak
Sitting right on Wall Street, 43 Oak acts as your buyer’s agent in the media market, focusing on real connections with major media outlets and tracking real-time rates on a daily basis.
Their team manages media transactions worth millions and handles planning across TV, radio, billboards, SEO, SEM, social, creative production, PR, and even sports brand activations.
Every buy gets explained: what you’re getting, why it matters, and how it moves your business goals forward.
Over 10 years, they’ve chalked up more than 50 major client projects and earned 12 industry awards for consistency.
For Neon Lights, 43 Oak took on a full digital overhaul, revamping everything from brand to website. That work delivered a 9.5% drop in bounce rate, 22.5% longer sessions, and a 130% jump in page views.
Industries: Legal & Professional Services (e.g. law firms), Fintech & Financial Services, Food & Wellness & Retail Brands, Automotive & Auto Retail, Specialty Goods (e.g. lifestyle, experiential offerings), Food & Beverage
Notable clients: Neon Lights, Pond Lehocky, Garces Grabler Lebrocq, Malamut Law, Eat Clean Bro
Key services:
- Media Strategy Planning & Buying Across TV, Radio & Billboard
- Digital Marketing (search engine optimization, PPC, web development)
- Social Media Development & Community Management
- Public Relations: News Features, Media Relations & Brand Management
- Creative Direction, Video Production & Visual Design
- Sports Marketing And Brand Activation (experiential strategy & partnerships)
Reason to work with 43 Oak: They’ve closed 50+ media projects and helped Neon Lights drive a 130% spike in page views with a single full-stack brand revamp.
5. Branding New York City
Founded in 2007, Branding NYC offers strategic media buying, branding, digital marketing, and public affairs, all under one senior-led roof.
Their campaigns run across Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, SEO, display, and owned media channels, building full-spectrum media coverage that stretches well beyond borough lines.
Reports are clear, the team is lean and experienced. And strategy is driven by a mix of analytical precision and creative risk, all built to drive conversions without waste.
They put it plainly:
“We are a leading multi-cultural strategic branding agency specializing in creating a brand’s digital footprint, innovative communication engagements, and comprehensive public affairs strategies.”
Industries: Real Estate, Retail And Consumer Goods, Fashion & Beauty, Finance, Education, Medical & Dental Services
Notable clients: n/a
Key services:
- Strategic Paid‑media Planning & Negotiation Across TV, Digital Display, Social and Print
- Target‑audience Profiling Using Demographics & Behavior Analytics
- Creative Campaign Asset Development Matched To Ad Placements (video, motion, banner)
- Conversion‑rate Optimisation & A/B Tests Across Landing‑pages and Ad Units
- Programmatic Reporting Dashboards with Real‑time KPI Tracking
- Integrated Marketing Support Including Influence, Organic Social, PR and Public‑affairs
Reason to work with Branding NYC: Their senior-led team blends branding, digital, and public affairs into tightly executed omnichannel campaigns that drive both reach and conversions across NYC markets.
6. Corinthian Media
Founded in 1974 as an independent alternative to large holding companies, Corinthian Media has stayed true to its boutique roots.
They offer a media-neutral approach across cable, broadcast, digital, OOH, print, barter, and promotions, everything tightly tracked from start to finish.
For a martial arts chain, they ran a full audit and repositioned the target demo to focus on young families. That shift led to 262% more calls, a 52% drop in CPL, and 35% higher sales, even in weak markets. Print spending was trimmed, high-cost networks were finally in reach, and over-the-air TV came into play for the first time.
Another project with a national credit service added TV to an online-only strategy. Within months, volume jumped 82%, and the client sold the business at a strong profit.
Industries: Retail & Pharmacy Chains (local franchise pharmacies, quick‑serve retailers), Consumer Durables and Seasonal Products (above‑ground swimming pools), Fitness & Martial Arts Training (youth‐focused karate centers), Financial and Credit Services (web‑based national credit providers), Travel & Leisure (corporate image and branding for ShopRite and other consumer segments)
Notable clients: n/a
Key services:
- Strategic Media Planning Grounded in Audience Research
- Media Buying and Campaign Implementation (broadcast, cable, print, OOH, digital)
- Negotiation Of National, Spot And Barter / Trade Deals
- Sponsorship Evaluation And Coordination Of Event-based Promotions
- Programmatic And Traditional Buying Blended To Optimize Reach And Frequency
- Campaign Tracking With Real-time KPI Dashboards And Post‑flight Analysis
Reason to work with Corinthian Media: They’ve delivered 262% more inbound calls and 82% higher volume by reworking local and national campaigns with full channel control.
7. Ironpaper
Founded in 2003, Ironpaper operates as a senior-taught B2B agency out of NYC, with a 30+ team of strategists, creatives, and technologists who collaborate on every project.
Ironpaper merges account-based media buying, marketing automation, SEO-friendly content, and lead-gen into a single demand engine that runs on PPC, programmatic social, retargeting, and content-driven nurturing.
Сlients have seen lifts in demand generation from 400% up to 1,600%, and that’s paired with an uptick in lead quality.
Take Goddard Technologies as an example. Ironpaper drove over $3.5 million in influenced pipeline, shortening sales cycles with precise lead handoffs and audience-specific LinkedIn ad campaigns. One highlight: LinkedIn Carousel ads delivered leads at $42.11 each, nearly half the $75 industry benchmark.
Industries: B2B Companies, SaaS & Software, IT & Technology Solutions, Heavy Industry & Manufacturing, Energy Sector, Cybersecurity, Professional & Business Services, Healthcare (B2B)
Notable clients: Goddard Technologies, Ambi Robotics, Lightning Step
Key services:
- Paid Media Strategy and Execution (PPC, programmatic, social media ads)
- Account‑Based Marketing (ABM) & Demand Generation
- Marketing Automation and Remarketing Campaigns
- Content Marketing and Inbound Lead Nurturing
- Conversion‑focused Website and Technical Strategy
- Sales Enablement & Marketing/sales Alignment
- Social Media Marketing
Reason to work with Ironpaper: Ironpaper built $3.5 million in pipeline and delivered LinkedIn leads for Goddard Technologies at $42.11, beating industry averages by a wide margin.
8. DCW Media
Independent and family-run since 1973, DCW Media has spent over 50 years fine-tuning a no-retainer, on-spec model that prioritizes ROI and real accountability.
Their long-standing media relations power full-funnel campaigns across TV, radio, print, OOH, programmatic, social, and CTV, And, everything is backed by proprietary audience targeting and analytics.
How does that translate into outcomes?
When Popular Bank re-entered the market after a two-year break, DCW’s mix of radio, digital, and OOH drove a 68% increase in Florida users, 79% more site traffic, and 24,000 new engaged sessions.
In another campaign for Two Kings Casino, DCW’s strategy delivered 544,792 clicks, a 1.03% CTR, and 13,257 new reward-program signups in a single wave, across channels from Google Search to Cable TV and outdoor.
Industries: Finance & Banking, Healthcare & Hospitals, Higher Education & Vocational Training, Retail & Consumer Goods, Hospitality & Gaming, Non‑profit & Cultural Organizations, Food & Beverage
Notable clients: Two Kings Casino, Popular Bank
Key services:
- Media Strategy, Planning & Negotiation Across Local and National Markets
- Traditional Media Buying: TV, radio, out‑of‑home, print, direct mail, guerilla activation
- Digital Media Execution: programmatic, search (SEM/SEO), video ads, programmatic audio & podcast, CTV/OTT, social platforms
- Audience Planning & Market Research: people‑based targeting, persona build-out, competitive audits, continuous SWOT analysis
- Analytics & Reporting: 24/7 client dashboard, KPI‑driven insights, ROI attribution, A/B testing and funnel modeling
- Campaign Optimization & Live-flight Adjustments to Align Performance to Business KPIs
Reason to work with DCW Media: They’ve driven a 68% rise in target users and delivered 544,792 clicks with a single omni-channel push.
9. Metro Valley Advertising
Metro Valley Advertising centers every campaign around lead generation: plain and simple.
Led by industry vet John Sadowski, whose resume includes CBS, Time Warner, and Clear Channel, the agency operates on high-level oversight and in-the-weeds execution.
They build campaigns across TV, radio, OOH, and digital, tracking calls and scoring leads in real time.
Clients get full visibility into CPL and pipeline activity, with constant optimization as campaigns run.
Or as one long-time partner put it:
“We’ve been a client for more than 10 years. John understands the media landscape and has continued to make recommendations that have helped our business grow.”
Industries: Personal Injury Law Firms, Healthcare Practices & Medical Providers, Automotive Dealerships & Service Centers, Local Retail & eCommerce Businesses
Notable clients: Friendly Auto Group, Genesis Fertility, Tesoro
Key services:
- Bespoke Lead‑generation Media Planning Across Digital, TV, Radio, Print And Out‑of‑home
- Negotiated Media Buying & Social Media Management
- Ongoing Campaign Optimization Informed by Real‑time Reporting Dashboards
- Audience and Competitive Market Analysis to Refine Targeting and Messaging
- Flexible Contract Structure: Month‑to‑month Commitments And Open Budgeting
Reason to work with Metro Valley Advertising: They’ve kept clients for over a decade while delivering real-time lead tracking and consistent performance across TV, radio, OOH, and digital.
10. M+C Saatchi Performance
Launched in 2006, M+C Saatchi Performance brings together the buying power of a 10-office network, including New York City. They deliver finely tuned digital campaigns across search, social, programmatic, streaming, retail, affiliate, and influencer media, all under one coordinated marketing plan.
Their proprietary research and OneView measurement platform handle attribution, incrementality, and media mix modeling. This allows the team to adjust spend across creative, channels, and verticals with real data-driven insights.
Let’s get specific:
- For SEGA’s Football Manager 2024, their global campaign drove a 102% player jump over the previous year while slashing Cost Per Download by 21%, raising sales 6%, and dropping CPM by 28% and CPC by 26% through tight cohort targeting.
- They also reinvented Beam Suntory’s Auchentoshan whisky for the “Everyday Moments” campaign, delivering over 50 video and display ads. As result, a 165% jump in sales and a 7.5x increase in click-through rates across four Asian markets within just three months.
Industries: eCommerce, Mobile Gaming & Entertainment Platforms, SaaS, Creative Tools, Music, Media & Streaming Services, Sports, Fitness & Betting, Consumer Goods & Beverage Brands, Food & Beverage
Notable clients: SEGA, Beam Suntory, Amazon, SoundCloud
Key services:
- Strategic Media Buying & Planning Across Digital, Search, Programmatic and Streaming
- Ongoing Market Insight and Channel/platform Analysis
- Negotiating Premium Pricing and Access Worldwide
- Content And Creative Support Synced with Media Slots
- Real‑time Analytics, Dashboards, Campaign Reporting
- Display Advertising
- Social Media Marketing
Reason to work with M+C Saatchi Performance: They powered a 102% rise in SEGA player counts while cutting download costs 21% and generated a 165% sales surge for Beam Suntory in Asia.
11. Kraus Marketing
With offices in New York and Morristown, Kraus Group takes media buying deeper by building it into their Sharkbite Method™, a system that aligns creative, organic, paid, and AI-driven tactics in one unified strategy.
They coordinate placements across display, CTV/OTT, programmatic, social, PPC, print, and out-of-home. Everything is in sync with branding and content teams so each dollar delivers real, lasting value.
For Reno’s Appliance, their integrated approach drove a 283% surge in organic traffic, lifted impressions by 114%, and cut the cost per landing-page view by 69% through social and SEO.
Kraus Group’s work has picked up honors from Inc 5000, NJBIZ Best Places to Work, American Inhouse Design, GDUSA, and the NJ Ad Club.
Industries: Automotive, Aviation, CPG marketing, Education, Food & Beverage, Health and Wellness, Hospitality & Hotel, International Marketing, Logistics, Luxury Spirits, Manufacturing, Non‑Profit, Professional Services, Real Estate, Retail, Renewable Energy, Sports & Entertainment, Sustainability
Notable clients: Reno’s Appliance, Verizon, Valley Bank
Key services:
- Programmatic and Traditional Media Buying (digital, CTV/OTT, social, display, print, OOH, radio)
- Audience Profiling and Channel Diagnostics (sharkbite strategic planning)
- Live‑flight Dashboards with KPI Tracking and Mid‑campaign Optimization
- A/B Testing Across Creative and Media Placements to Maximize Engagement
- Seamless Coordination with Web Development, Search Engine Optimization, Email and Video Production Teams
- Performance‑centred Media Strategy Focused on Conversions and ROAS
Reason to work with Kraus Marketing: They engineered a 283% jump in organic traffic and slashed landing-page costs by 69% with a single campaign.
12. Hawke Media
Founded in 2014 and serving Manhattan’s East Coast crowd, Hawke Media steps in as “Your Outsourced CMO®”, with senior strategists at the wheel for every project.
Campaigns run through the proprietary HawkeAI engine, connecting paid social, search, programmatic, CTV/OTT, Amazon, and LinkedIn, optimized down to the pixel for conversion and scale.
Their hybrid model merges creative testing, audience intelligence, and a full-funnel strategy, so clients get campaigns built to outperform benchmarks.
Take The Sill’s Google Shopping work. Campaigns shifted from a −23% ROAS to +403% year-over-year, cost per acquisition dropped 38%, total sales shot up 8.3x, and spend scaled more than 10x. This was achieved with bidding strategies and split targeting across platforms.
Industries: eCommerce & Retail Brands, Consumer Lifestyle & CPG, Tech, Robotics & SaaS, Entertainment, Gaming & Pop Culture, Museums, Attractions & Cultural Institutions
Notable clients: The Sill, Crocks, Red Bull, HP
Key services:
- Full‑funnel media buying: facebook & instagram, google ads, linkedin, amazon retail ads, programmatic display, social media marketing
- Advanced consumer touchpoint targeting with ai‑powered retargeting flows
- Brand messaging and campaign storytelling tailored to segmented buyer audience
- Performance campaign structure: Audit → Plan → Implement → Analyze Personnalisée
- Real‑time roi dashboards, weekly optimization cycles
- Expert negotiation with premium media platforms as part of overall partnership
Reason to work with Hawke Media: They took The Sill from –23% to +403% ROAS and lifted sales 8.3x by scaling spend with segmented creative and bidding strategies.
13. Socium Media
Launched in 2019 out of New York, Socium Media brings a performance-first mindset to every campaign, treating paid social as a blend of art and science, especially for ecommerce and direct-lead brands.
Their service stack covers paid social, paid search and shopping/feeds, performance creative, SEO, and analytics.
To date, they’ve managed $100M+ in ad spend across more than 15 platforms.
Here, there’s no set-and-forget: campaigns get daily oversight, weekly creative refreshes, and ongoing fine-tuning with granular tests across formats, audiences, and bid strategies.
For Amanda Uprichard, Socium Media orchestrated a full paid media overhaul across Facebook and Instagram, netting a 590% increase in orders, a 340% rise in ROAS, and a 60% cut in CPC within three months.
Industries: eCommerce (including Fine Linens, Apparel, Accessories), Direct‑to‑Consumer (DTC) Lifestyle & Consumer Brands, Fashion, Jewelry & Luxury Goods, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), B2B / Lead Generation Verticals, Global Campaign Deployments (e.G. North American, Latin American Targeting)
Notable clients: Amanda Uprichard, IGAP, Fine Linens
Key services:
- Daily‑monitored Paid Social Management (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
- eCommerce, DTC & B2B ad campaigns optimized by channel and funnel stage
- Lead Generation & CPG ad strategies using persona‑based targeting
- Meta creative audits and headline / asset split testing methodology
- Full‑funnel workflow: detailed audit → campaign launch → live iteration
- International rollout consulting via Google IGAP global insights and execution
Reason to work with Amanda Uprichard: They generated a 590% rise in orders and a 340% ROAS lift while cutting CPC 60% for Amanda Uprichard in just three months.
14. Jives Media
Jives Media opened its doors in 2012 and has driven over $680 million in media-influenced revenue across Google, Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.
Its senior strategists combine paid media buying with search engine optimization, email marketing and brand strategy all under one roof. This approach ensures that every dollar aligns across channels.
The team has completed more than 5000 projects around the globe, wiring campaigns directly into real-time dashboards and CRM integrations so cost-per-lead ties back to closed sales through daily optimizations.
In a recent Oracle engagement they unified messaging across social, email and web, generating an 82% lift in marketing-qualified leads, a 426% increase in social followers and a 136% rise in user retention.
Industries: eCommerce, Technology & SaaS, Healthcare & Pharma, Law Firms & Government, Retail, & Hospitality, Financial Institutions & Real Estate,
Notable clients: Oracle, Poshmark, Langley Federal Credit Union, Parallel Advisors
Key services:
- Media Planning and Paid Advertising (PPC, social media marketing, retargeting)
- Media Buying Campaign Development
- Organic Search & Search Engine Optimization Strategy
- Conversion‑driven Web and Landing‑page Design
- Email & SMS Lead Nurturing Campaigns
- Marketing Consulting & Performance Analytics with Live Reporting Dashboards
- Brand Strategy, Social Content Planning, Reputation Management & CRO
- Social Media Management
Reason to work with Jives Media: Choose Jives Media for senior-led, fully integrated campaigns that have produced $680 million in influenced revenue.
15. MAXBURST Web Design
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in NYC with a Long Island hub, MAXBURST integrates media buying into a full-stack offering spanning web design, SEO, and digital marketing.
Every ad gets mapped to a conversion-focused user experience, sidestepping disconnected placements and putting results front and center.
Campaigns run internationally, nationally, regionally, and locally, with planning and buying across TV, radio, print, OOH, and programmatic digital.
Their approach is summed up in their own words:
“All effective media is efficient, but all efficient media may not be effective.”
What does that look like for clients?
Feedback consistently highlights MAXBURST’s fast response, strong integrity, and campaign value.
Clients often link their redesigns to double the traffic or conversions right after launch, tying performance directly back to the agency’s all-in approach.
Industries: Travel & Tourism, Education & Higher Education, Finance & Fintech, Food Services & Entertainment, Healthcare & Medical, Retail & Fashion, Telecommunications, Automotive, Health and Wellness
Notable clients: GKD, CropKing, ERWYN Products
Key services:
- Tailored media planning & buying across international, regional, national and local outlets
- Fee‑free placement negotiation to maximize ad budget without hidden planning costs
- Traditional media execution: broadcast TV, cable, radio, outdoor display, print, direct mail
- Programmatic/digital integration aligning with audience segmentation and landing page design
- Live‑flight KPI tracking with continuous optimization for reach, frequency and ROI alignment
Reason to work with MAXBURST: They’ve combined web design and media buying to deliver a 2x increase in traffic and conversions for redesign projects.
What You Should Look for When Choosing a Media Buying Company in NYC
If you want real value, pay attention to these details when sizing up your options:
Prioritize Proven Local Experience
As we mentioned before, local market experience translates into better deals, smarter placements, and faster campaign launches.
Agencies that work the city daily know the best channels, have publisher connections, and have already solved quirks like subway WiFi or high CPMs in Midtown.
Your ROI jumps when you pick a team with real NYC case studies and media wins.
Look for proof: recent campaigns in your vertical, testimonials from local brands, or direct contacts at New York publishers.
A team with zero local references or a portfolio full of out-of-state work raises a big red flag.
And here’s the data to back it up: location-based marketing efforts can increase ROI by around 20%.
Ask for Transparent Pricing and Reporting
Hidden fees and murky reporting destroy trust and eat into your returns fast.
Clear, up-front pricing and detailed breakdowns for every dollar spent give you full control and let you spot waste before it grows.
Good agencies walk you through cost structures line by line and deliver reports showing exactly where your money goes.
Watch for agencies that answer questions directly, share dashboards, and provide access to raw campaign data.
Today, 42% of marketers identify opaque fees as the leading hurdle in programmatic media buying, making transparency non-negotiable.
If all you get is a PDF summary and vague promises, keep moving.
Look for Deep Channel and Platform Knowledge
A top agency knows each platform’s quirks, rules, and strengths, whether that’s social, DOOH, connected TV, or classic display.
This matters because platforms change constantly, and what works on TikTok in Queens may fail on out-of-home screens in SoHo.
Remember: Your outcomes depend on the team’s technical depth and training.
Ask for certifications, campaign examples, or direct platform partnerships (like with The Trade Desk or Google Marketing Platform).
Red flags include teams who offer everything to everyone or who hesitate when you ask for channel-specific case studies.
In fact, in Q1 2025, nearly 49% of media buying requests specifically sought hyper‑local targeting. Detailed platform and geographic knowledge is crucial for driving performance via outcome‑driven campaigns.
Wrapping Up
This list pulls together the best media buying agencies working in New York right now, each with its own approach and strengths. You have everything you need to size up the options and compare what matters.
Choosing one of these teams puts you in expert hands and leads to sharper targeting, smarter spending, and bigger results. You see stronger reach, cleaner data, and campaigns that move your business forward.
If you're looking for a team that moves fast, brings deep platform expertise, and backs it all with real performance metrics, inBeat Agency is built for you. They handle the work with precision, respond fast, and keep your budget working hard across every channel.
Pick the agency that matches your goals, your brand, and your growth targets. You now hold a shortlist that makes it easier to act.
New York rewards the brands that move with purpose, so go ahead and take the next step.
P.S. Looking for social-first strategies? Our top picks for NYC’s social media agencies will help you find the perfect match.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does media buying services cost in New York?
Rates swing from $2,000 per month up to six figures, all depending on your spend and campaign needs. Some agencies charge a flat retainer, others take a percentage of your media budget, often around 10-20%. Your costs include both strategy and buying power, so ask what’s included before you commit. Higher budgets usually get access to more premium placements and better data. Ask for full breakdowns before signing anything.
Why should you hire a media buying agency in New York?
Because specialized agencies get you better results, faster. They know NYC’s ad market and optimize your spend for maximum audience reach. With proven local networks and advanced tools, they secure better placements and lower costs. You get quicker campaign launches, fewer errors, and compliance peace of mind. In-house teams rarely match this efficiency.
Are media buying agencies worth it?
Yes, if results matter to your business. Good agencies stretch your budget, improve targeting accuracy, and deliver measurable ROI. You avoid expensive mistakes from poor ad placements or legal compliance issues. They offer advanced analytics to continuously refine campaign performance. If improving your market presence and campaign’s impact is your goal, they're valuable.
What’s the difference between hiring a generalist agency and hiring a media buying agency in New York?
Generalists handle multiple tasks but rarely master media buying specifically. NYC media buying agencies specialize solely in purchasing and optimizing ad placements. They have deeper relationships with publishers, better pricing, and advanced channel-specific expertise. Generalists deliver broader strategies but weaker execution in media placement. If precision and ROI are priorities, specialists win.
How do I choose the best media buying agency in New York?
Start by clarifying your budget and business goals. Prioritize transparent pricing, local experience, and proven outcomes. Ask directly about campaign results and request NYC-specific case studies. Check if they respond quickly and proactively optimize campaigns. Agencies like inBeat meet these criteria consistently and deliver real impact.
