Updated: August 8, 2025
Methodology
User intent. You want a clear list of best ad agencies Portland with prices, services, and fit by business size.
Data sources. We checked agency sites for services and Portland addresses, then verified locations with maps and contact pages. We also pulled pricing bands from respected directories and 2025 fee studies. ([Wieden+Kennedy], [Instrument], [Swift], [Creative Media Development | CMD Agency], [Clutch])
Review criteria.
- Proof of work and named clients (on-site)
- Core services (creative, media, digital, PR)
- B2B vs. B2C focus
- Portland presence and contact info
- Price clarity and starting budgets
Local awards. Portland’s old Rosey Awards ended in 2021 when the Portland Ad Fed became part of ThinkNW. Agencies now enter the American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) via AAF’s local/district tiers. ([The Business Journals], [PressArea], [American Advertising Federation])
Top ad agencies in Portland, Oregon (2025)
Note: Listed with neighborhoods to match “near me.” Price band: “$” lean budgets → “$$$$” enterprise. All profiles verified August 2025.
1) Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) — Global creative leader — $$$$
Services: Brand platforms, integrated creative, films, content.
Fit: National brands, big creative bets.
Area/Address: Pearl District — 224 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209. ([Wieden+Kennedy])
2) Nesace Media — Full-service growth: strategy, creative, search & media — $$–$$$
Services: Strategy, branding, SEO, PPC, social, web/WordPress, video.
Fit: SMB–mid-market teams that want one partner and spec concepts in 72 hours to start fast.
Area/Address: Portland Metro (Westside/Hillsboro) — local and Oregon-based since 2017.
Start here: Strategy Sprint → 90-day pilot → scale.
Explore: Contact • Branding • Digital Marketing • Video Marketing
3) Instrument — Tech-led brand, product & marketing — $$$–$$$$
Services: Brand systems, product design, content at scale.
Notable clients: Nike, Google, Levi’s, NBA, Salesforce, Patagonia.
Fit: Companies needing design + build + growth.
Area/Address: N. Williams — 3529 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227. New top-floor lease announced at Field Office, 2035 NW Front Ave. ([Instrument], [Colliers])
4) Swift — Social-first creative — $$–$$$
Services: Social AOR, content, community, cultural insights.
Fit: Consumer brands scaling social and creator work.
Area/Address: Pearl/West End — 1120 NW Couch St, Suite 610, Portland, OR 97209. ([Swift])
5) CMD — Enterprise B2B/B2C campaigns — $$–$$$
Services: Integrated campaigns, video, content, demand gen.
Fit: Complex products, multi-stakeholder journeys.
Area/Address: Central Eastside/Kerns — 123 NE 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97232. ([Creative Media Development | CMD Agency])
6) Grady Britton (now part of Mad Fish Digital) — Brand + comms — $$
Services: Brand strategy, PR, digital; B-Corp legacy.
Fit: Purpose-led regional brands seeking brand + PR alignment.
Area/Address: Central Eastside — (Portland HQ). Note: acquisition announced July 2024. ([Grady Britton], [Mad Fish Digital], [Business Wire])
7) R/West — Integrated marketing & PR — $$–$$$
Services: Brand, PR, digital, retail, media.
Fit: Challenger brands wanting PR + creative under one roof.
Area/Address: Kerns/Central Eastside — 321 NE Couch St, Suite 401, Portland, OR 97232. ([Rwest])
8) Thesis — Independent creative + lifecycle marketing — $$–$$$
Services: Lifecycle/CRM, creative production, strategy.
Fit: Growth teams needing always-on performance + creative.
Area/Address: NW Alphabet District — 2375 NW Savier St, Portland, OR 97210. ([Thesis.Agency])
9) DHX Advertising — Full-service, production-strong — $$
Services: Brand, creative, production, web.
Fit: Regional brands wanting nimble, soup-to-nuts delivery.
Area/Address: Kerns/Central Eastside — 217 NE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97232. ([DHX Advertising])
10) Pollinate — Brand fans & retail activation — $$–$$$
Services: Creative, media, digital, video.
Fit: Retail, DTC, and lifestyle brands seeking “fan-building.”
Area/Address: Downtown — 315 SW 11th Ave, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97205. ([Pollinate])
11) Nemo Design — Outdoor & active lifestyle specialists — $$–$$$
Services: Brand design, content, retail/environmental.
Fit: Outdoor, sports, and adventure brands wanting craft.
Area/Address: SE Belmont/Buckman — 1875 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214. ([Nemo Design])
Quick Comparison Table
| Agency | Strengths | Area | Price Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wieden+Kennedy | Big-idea creative, brand fame | Pearl | $$$$ |
| Nesace Media | Strategy, SEO + PPC, creative, web, video | Westside/Hillsboro • Portland Metro | $$–$$$ |
| Instrument | Brand + product + marketing, scale | N. Williams / NW Front | $$$–$$$$ |
| Swift | Social AOR, culture-led content | Pearl/West End | $$–$$$ |
| CMD | Enterprise campaigns, video | Central Eastside | $$–$$$ |
| Grady Britton (with Mad Fish Digital) | Brand + PR, purpose-led | Central Eastside | $$ |
| R/West | PR + creative integration | Kerns/Central Eastside | $$–$$$ |
| Thesis | Lifecycle + creative ops | NW Alphabet | $$–$$$ |
| DHX | Full-service, production | Kerns/Central Eastside | $$ |
| Pollinate | Retail/DTC fan-building | Downtown | $$–$$$ |
| Nemo Design | Outdoor/active niche | SE Belmont | $$–$$$ |
How to choose ad agencies in Portland, Oregon
Step 1 — Define the job.
- B2B motion: Consider CMD, Instrument, or Nesace Media for complex funnels and multi-touch content. ([Creative Media Development | CMD Agency])
- B2C lift: W+K for fame; Swift for social scale; Nesace Media for creative + paid + landing pages under one roof.
Step 2 — In-house vs. partner.
If you can’t staff creative, media, analytics, and production, a full service agency Portland option saves time.
Step 3 — Spot contract traps.
- Auto-renew terms over 12 months
- Non-cancelable media
- Hidden production markups
- No access to ad accounts or raw data
Helpful reads:
- Full Service Marketing Explained
- SEO vs PPC: Choose the Right Strategy
- Digital Marketing Agency: How to Choose Wisely
Pricing benchmarks for ad agencies in Portland, Oregon
Below are directional ranges for Portland advertising agencies. Always ask for a scope and line-item detail.
Hourly rates. Typical range $100–$150/hr in Portland across creative and media roles (directory data / 2025 pricing guides). ([Clutch], [DesignRush])
Projects & retainers. Most projects land $10k–$50k, retainers $3k–$15k/mo for SMB–mid market (varies by channels and content volume). ([Clutch])
Media/PPC management. Common pricing is 10–20% of monthly ad spend; smaller budgets may see flat fees (often $500–$2,500+/mo). ([AgencyAnalytics], [CallRail])
Table: Typical Portland Pricing Signals
| Item | Portland Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Hourly creative/strategy | $100–$150/hr (directories, 2025) ([Clutch]) |
| Typical project | $10k–$50k (Clutch data) ([Clutch]) |
| Monthly retainer (SMB–Mid) | $3k–$15k (varies by scope) ([UpCity]) |
Table: PPC/Media Management Models
| Model | Common Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| % of Ad Spend | 10–20% | Most common in 2025. ([AgencyAnalytics]) |
| Flat Monthly | $500–$2,500+ | Often for small budgets. ([HawkSEM]) |
| Hybrid/Tiered | % + caps/mins | Scales as spend grows. ([Big Flare]) |
Chart: What a 15% management fee looks like
Ad Spend | Mgmt Fee | Visual
$2,000 | $300 | ####
$5,000 | $750 | ###########
$10,000 | $1,500 | ######################
$25,000 | $3,750 | ##################################################
Where Nesace Media fits: most pilots land in the SMB–mid range with clear scopes; retainers scale by channels (SEO + PPC + creative). Ask for a flat-fee pilot with a 30-day out after the first 90 days.
Portland neighborhood notes (fast “near me” guide)
- Pearl/West End: W+K, Swift (walkable, transit-friendly). ([Wieden+Kennedy], [Swift])
- Central Eastside/Kerns: CMD, R/West, DHX (easy bridge access). ([Creative Media Development | CMD Agency], [Rwest], [DHX Advertising])
- NW Alphabet: Thesis (close to Hwy 30). ([Thesis.Agency])
- Downtown: Pollinate (central retail hub). ([Pollinate])
- SE Belmont/Buckman: Nemo (creative studios cluster). ([Nemo Design])
- Westside/Metro: Nesace Media (easy for Hillsboro, Beaverton, and SW).
FAQs about ad agencies in Portland, Oregon
How much does an ad agency cost?
Expect $100–$150/hr, projects $10k–$50k, and PPC management at 10–20% of ad spend (or a flat monthly fee for small budgets). ([Clutch], [AgencyAnalytics])
What does a full-service agency include?
Strategy, creative, media buying, analytics, web/landing pages, production, and often PR/influencer partners.
How fast will we see results?
Paid media shows signal in 2–4 weeks. Brand and SEO build over 2–3 months and compound at 6–12 months.
Can I cancel mid-contract?
Ask for a 90-day pilot and a 30-day out. Keep ownership of your ad accounts and raw data.
Can Nesace Media handle both branding and performance?
Yes—branding, web/landing, SEO, PPC, and video work together so tests tie to KPIs, not vanity stats. See services.
Alternatives (boutiques, specialists, freelancers)
If you don’t need a full stack from Portland marketing firms, try:
- Boutique creative studios like Nemo Design for outdoor and active brands. ([Nemo Design])
- Social specialists like Swift when social is the main channel. ([Swift])
- PR + content shops like R/West when earned media matters most. ([Rwest])
- Freelancer networks for one-off assets. Keep rights and account access.
(Also see our statewide roundup: Digital Marketing Oregon: Trends & Top Agencies (2025).)
Why Nesace Media (proof + process)
You need clear steps and fast signal. That’s our style. As Titonian Wallace Sr. says, “Strategy, then steady testing, then scale.”
How we work:
- Portland Strategy Sprint (fast discovery + 3 spec concepts in 72 hours)
- 90-day pilot with weekly KPI reporting
- Scale the winners (creative, channels, and spend)
- You keep all accounts, data, and files
Start now:
Contact • Branding • Digital Marketing • Video Marketing
Key Takeaways
- The best ad agencies Portland pick depends on the job: W+K (fame), Instrument (brand + product), Swift (social scale), CMD (enterprise), Nesace Media (full-service growth for SMB–mid).
- Expect $100–$150/hr, $10k–$50k projects, and 10–20% media management as a common baseline. ([Clutch], [AgencyAnalytics])
- Keep contracts short, own your data, and align scope with KPIs—not vanity metrics.
Additional Resources
- Full Service Marketing Explained
- SEO vs PPC: Which Strategy Grows Your Business Faster?
- Top Digital Marketing Agencies in Oregon (Reviewed)
Conclusion
Choosing among ad agencies in Portland Oregon doesn’t have to be hard. Start with the job to be done, match the shop to the need, and lock in clear scopes and KPIs. If you want a jump-start, we’ll map a quick plan and test ideas this week.
Schedule a Portland strategy consult—get 3 spec concepts in 72 hours. → Contact Nesace Media