When a brand wants to ensure its message is not just seen by audiences, but truly felt, one of the best tactics to utilize is experiential marketing. The discipline goes beyond traditional means by focusing on engaging and communicating directly with individuals or groups of people, allowing them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a unique situation courtesy of the brand.
If executed correctly, experiential marketing gives brands the opportunity to create connections with consumers that are more organic and less dependent on directly showcasing products or services.
Given San Francisco’s propensity for forward thinking, it is only natural that some of the most intuitive agencies can be found in the city by the bay. Check out how these seven experiential marketing agencies are optimizing brand experiences in San Francisco.
Experiential Agencies In San Francisco to know
- Grow Marketing
- Jack Morton Worldwide
- MADE PR
- Manifold
- On Board Experiential
- TOP Agency
- WHISK CREATIVE
Founded: 2001
What they do: Grow adds an element of uniqueness when creating brand engagement campaigns for its clients, reaching both internal and external audiences by using strategic insights to power creativity and execution. The woman-owned and led agency has created a number of experiential and consumer interactive campaigns, like Airbnb and Mattel’s “Barbie Dreamhouse” and Google’s “Lending Library College Tour.”
Clients include: Google, Airbnb, Netflix, Uber, Visa, San Francisco Giants, Nike, Target and YouTube.
Founded: 1939
What they do: Jack Morton helps its clients become “experience brands” by investing in event and experiential marketing, integrated campaigns, digital content, sponsorship marketing, and employee engagement. The agency works to produce exceptional standalone pieces as well as holistic campaigns that include virtual and hybrid experiences, trade show exhibits, inventive technology and more.
Clients include: Ebay, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Nike, IBM, Buick, GMC and Samsung.
Founded: 2012
What they do: MADE is a PR agency dedicated to discovering media relations, social media, content, influencer, strategy, and experiential solutions for its clients. Pop-up shops and large-scale events are all within MADE’s wheelhouse, along with additional event planning capabilities.
Clients include: SKYY Vodka, Timbuk2, Indochino, Shinola, Clif Bar, Campari America and California Olive.
Founded: 2010
What they do: For Manifold, the belief stands that effective marketing is the result of mutual trust in a great idea. The agency works both digitally and in the physical space to build immersive activations that allow consumers to make memories with brands through unique experiences and meaningful gatherings.
Clients include: Uber, GitHub, Facebook, Intuit, Instagram, Linkedin, Target, GE, Zillow, Bumble and Microsoft.
Founded: 1995
What they do: OBE specializes in unrolling engagement management solutions for its clients, from consumer marketing events, B2B conferences and retail activations to pop-up installations, mobile tours and interactive experiences. Creating DNA-building brand experiences that are memorable and share-worthy allows OBE to strengthen consumer-brand relationships and make real impacts.
Clients include: Facebook, Tonal, Converse, Activision, National Basketball Players Association, Nike and Chase.
Founded: 2018
What they do: TOP Agency applies growth marketing principles, like systemic experimentation and measurement, throughout every service it offers. When it comes to experiential marketing, TOP Agency is an expert in setting the scene for product launches, live events, sampling activities, roadshows, exhibitions and festivals.
Clients include: Postmates, Laffy Taffy, Bowflex, Brainly and Freshbooks.
Founded: 2012
What they do: WHISK takes brand experience and strategy seriously, designing activations intended for employees that are both compelling and impactful. The agency brings brand conferences, offsites, and milestone events to life through engaging, high-touch experiences created for the people with the most interest in any brand — the people who maintain it.
Clients include: Airbnb, Twitch, Ebay, Zendesk, Medium, Thumbtack, Levi Strauss & Co., DDB and Dockers.
