20 Best Event Agencies in Chicago
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Event agencies can gather the attention of their audiences by organizing and planning the events to perfection with their team of skilled event organizers and producers.
Professionals, individuals, and companies can utilize the help of an event agency to organize private personal and celebratory events at beautiful venues within a budget.
Chicago has plenty of reputed agencies that can organize different corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, and marathons. These agencies can take care of the food and beverage, hospitality, lighting, and audiovisual services with customization options.
Find a list of the top event agencies in Chicago to choose the right agency for your organization or family to organize unforgettable events for your family or colleagues.
An email marketing agency is a specialized firm that helps businesses plan, create, and execute email marketing campaigns. These agencies use targeted strategies to send personalized and engaging emails to a company's subscriber list, aiming to increase brand awareness, drive customer engagement, and boost sales. Services typically include email design, content creation, list management, automation, analytics, and reporting to ensure that campaigns are effective and yield a high return on investment (ROI).
An email marketing agency offers a variety of services to help businesses effectively reach and engage their audience through email campaigns. Here’s what they typically do:
- Strategy Development:
- Create a tailored email marketing strategy based on your business goals, target audience, and industry best practices.
- Email Design:
- Design visually appealing and responsive email templates that align with your brand identity.
- Content Creation:
- Write compelling and relevant email copy, including subject lines, body content, and calls to action.
- List Management:
- Manage your email subscriber list by segmenting it based on demographics, behavior, and preferences to ensure targeted messaging.
- Automation:
- Set up automated email sequences, such as welcome series, cart abandonment emails, and re-engagement campaigns.
- Personalization:
- Use data to personalize emails with the recipient’s name, past purchase history, and other relevant information to increase engagement.
- A/B Testing:
- Conduct A/B tests to determine the most effective email designs, content, and send times.
- Campaign Execution:
- Schedule and send emails according to the strategy, ensuring they reach the right audience at the right time.
- Analytics and Reporting:
- Track and analyze the performance of email campaigns, including open rates, click-through rates, conversions, and ROI.
- Compliance:
- Ensure that all emails comply with legal regulations such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM, and follow best practices for email deliverability.
- Optimization:
- Continuously optimize email campaigns based on performance data to improve engagement and results.
By offering these services, an email marketing agency helps businesses effectively communicate with their audience, build relationships, and drive sales through strategic and well-executed email campaigns.
To better understand the distinction between an email marketing agency and a digital marketing agency, here’s a side-by-side comparison:
Email Marketing Agency vs. Digital Marketing Agency
Email marketing agencies specialize in creating, managing, and optimizing email campaigns to engage subscribers and drive conversions.
Digital marketing agencies offer a broader range of online marketing services to enhance overall digital presence and performance.
| Services | Email Marketing Agencies | Digital Marketing Agencies |
|---|---|---|
| Email Campaign Strategy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Email Design and Content | ✔ | ✔ |
| List Management | ✔ | |
| Automation and Personalization | ✔ | |
| A/B Testing | ✔ | ✔ |
| Campaign Execution | ✔ | |
| Analytics and Reporting | ✔ | ✔ |
| SEO | ✔ | |
| PPC Advertising | ✔ | |
| Social Media Marketing | ✔ | |
| Content Marketing | ✔ | |
| Web Design and Development | ✔ | |
| Influencer Marketing | ✔ |
In summary, while both types of agencies offer email marketing services, email marketing agencies focus exclusively on optimizing email campaigns and subscriber engagement. In contrast, digital marketing agencies provide a comprehensive suite of online marketing services, including SEO, PPC, social media, content marketing, and more, to improve the overall digital presence of a business.
So, you're curious about how much email marketing agencies charge? Let's break it down. The cost can vary widely depending on the type of service you need and the pricing model the agency uses. Here’s a detailed look at the numbers and what you can expect.
Average Cost Per Email
Email marketing agencies typically charge between $250 to $700 per email. This cost usually includes:
- Email Marketing Strategy
- Copywriting
- Design
- Implementation
Popular Pricing Structures
- Per Hour: Rates range from $120 to $250 per hour. This model is less common and can get expensive quickly.
- Per Project: Common for setting up automated email sequences. Costs can range from $3,000 to $6,000 for a set of automated emails like welcome series, cart abandonment, and post-purchase sequences.
- Retainer Service: Monthly retainer fees range from $2,500 to $7,500, usually covering 10-15 emails per month. Some agencies may also charge a setup fee.
- Revenue Share: Agencies may take a percentage of the revenue generated from email campaigns. This model aligns the agency's success with your revenue growth.
Factors Influencing Pricing
Several factors can influence how much an email marketing agency charges:
Company Size:
- Larger agencies with more resources charge more.
- Smaller agencies or freelancers may offer lower rates but might lack the same level of service.
Email Marketing Software:
- The choice of software can impact costs.
- Popular platforms and their starting prices:
- Klaviyo: $20/month
- Omnisend: $16/month
- Drip: $19/month
- Hubspot: $45/month
- ActiveCampaign: $9/month
- Mailchimp: $9.99/month
Email Campaign Frequency:
- The more emails you send, the higher the cost.
- Each email involves copywriters, designers, editors, and implementation teams.
Email List Size:
- Larger email lists require more management and higher software costs.
- The size of your subscriber list directly impacts the pricing.
Additional Services
Email marketing agencies often provide additional services which can affect pricing:
- Design: Customized email designs as your business grows.
- Other Digital Marketing Services: Social media marketing, full marketing strategy plans, SMS marketing, sales funnel creation, web design, etc.
Summary
Understanding the costs associated with hiring an email marketing agency helps you budget effectively and choose the right agency for your needs. Rates can vary based on the complexity of your project, the expertise of the agency, and your specific goals. By evaluating these factors, you can find an email marketing agency that fits your budget and helps drive your business growth.
Hiring an email marketing agency can provide numerous benefits for your business. Here’s why you should consider it:
Expertise and Experience
Email marketing agencies bring specialized knowledge and years of experience to the table. They understand the best practices for crafting engaging emails, segmenting lists, and optimizing campaigns for maximum effectiveness.
High-Quality Content
Creating compelling email content that resonates with your audience can be challenging. An email marketing agency has skilled copywriters and designers who can produce high-quality, persuasive emails that drive engagement and conversions.
Time and Resource Efficiency
Managing email campaigns can be time-consuming. By outsourcing this task to an agency, you free up your time and resources to focus on other important aspects of your business. The agency handles everything from strategy and design to execution and analysis.
Advanced Tools and Technologies
Email marketing agencies have access to advanced tools and technologies for email automation, personalization, and analytics. These tools can be expensive and complex to use, but agencies can leverage them effectively to improve your campaign performance.
Improved Deliverability
Ensuring that your emails reach the inbox and not the spam folder is crucial. Email marketing agencies are well-versed in deliverability best practices and can help maintain your sender reputation, ensuring your emails reach your subscribers.
Data-Driven Insights
Agencies use data and analytics to track the performance of your email campaigns. They provide detailed reports and insights, helping you understand what’s working and what’s not. This data-driven approach allows for continuous optimization and better results.
Personalization and Segmentation
Personalized and segmented emails perform better than generic ones. An email marketing agency can help you segment your list and personalize your emails based on customer behavior and preferences, leading to higher engagement rates.
Scalability
As your business grows, your email marketing needs will evolve. An email marketing agency can scale your campaigns up or down based on your changing needs, ensuring you always have the right level of support.
Compliance
Email marketing agencies are knowledgeable about legal regulations such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM. They ensure that your campaigns comply with these laws, helping you avoid potential fines and legal issues.
In summary, hiring an email marketing agency provides expertise, high-quality content, efficiency, advanced tools, improved deliverability, data-driven insights, personalization, scalability, and compliance. It’s a smart investment that can significantly enhance your email marketing efforts and drive business growth.
Choosing the right email marketing agency can significantly impact your business's success. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you find the best one:
- Identify Your Goals: Determine what you want to achieve with an email marketing agency, such as increasing open rates, improving click-through rates, or boosting overall conversions.
- Set Your Budget: Establish how much you can afford to spend on email marketing services each month. This helps narrow down your options and ensures you find an agency that fits your financial capabilities.
- Research Potential Agencies: Look for reputable email marketing agencies online, read reviews, and ask for recommendations from peers or industry contacts. Create a list of potential agencies to consider.
- Check Their Portfolio: Review the agency’s portfolio to see their past work. Look for diversity in projects and quality in design, creativity, and execution. Make sure they have experience in the areas you need help with.
- Evaluate Their Experience: Ensure the agency has experience in your industry. This ensures they understand your market and target audience, making their strategies more effective.
- Read Client Testimonials: Look at reviews and testimonials from past clients. Pay attention to feedback about their reliability, creativity, and results. This gives you an idea of what to expect.
- Understand Their Services: Make sure the agency offers the services you need, such as strategy development, email design, content creation, list management, automation, and analytics.
- Assess Their Creativity: Look at the originality and innovation in their work. A good email marketing agency should bring fresh ideas and unique solutions to the table.
- Check Their Process: Ask about their process from strategy development to execution and reporting. Ensure it aligns with your expectations and business needs.
- Meet the Team: Get to know the team members who will be working on your project. Assess their expertise, creativity, and how well you communicate with them.
- Request a Proposal: Ask for a detailed proposal outlining their strategies, timelines, and expected outcomes. This will give you a clear idea of what to expect and how they plan to achieve your goals.
- Evaluate Their Tools: Inquire about the tools and technologies they use for email automation, personalization, and analytics. Ensure they have access to the latest and most effective tools.
- Check Their Reporting: Make sure they provide regular updates and reports on your campaigns. These should include detailed analytics and insights to measure performance and inform strategy adjustments.
- Understand Their Pricing Structure: Clarify their pricing model. Whether it’s a monthly retainer, project-based fee, or performance-based pricing, ensure it fits your budget and provides good value.
- Look for Transparency: Ensure the agency is transparent about their processes and results. They should be open to discussing their strategies, sharing insights, and addressing any concerns you may have.
- Schedule a Consultation: Have a consultation call to discuss your needs and expectations. This is a good opportunity to assess their communication style, responsiveness, and enthusiasm for your project.
- Evaluate Their Cultural Fit: Ensure the agency’s values and working style align with yours. A good cultural fit can lead to a more productive and harmonious partnership.
- Ask About Long-Term Strategy: Ensure the agency is committed to long-term optimization and continuous improvement. Ask how they plan to evolve your strategy as your business grows.
- Consider Their Flexibility: Make sure the agency can adapt to your changing needs and provide scalable solutions as your business evolves.
- Review Their Contract: Carefully read the contract terms. Ensure there are no hidden fees and that the terms are favorable to you. Clarify any points before signing.
By following these steps, you can find an email marketing agency that will help you achieve your business objectives and enhance your email marketing efforts.
Relevant Background
- Do you have experience working in our industry?
- Can you provide case studies or examples of your work with similar clients?
Services and Processes
- What specific email marketing services do you offer?
- How do you develop your email marketing strategies?
- Which tools and technologies do you use for email automation, personalization, and analytics?
- Do you offer related services like content creation, list management, or CRM integration?
The Project
- Who will be working on our project, and what are their roles?
- How will you identify the key areas that need improvement in our current email marketing strategy?
- What is your approach to creating and executing email campaigns?
- How do you incorporate data and analytics into your strategy?
Communication and Reporting
- How often will we have meetings to discuss progress and strategy?
- What are your preferred communication channels (email, phone, video calls)?
- How often will we receive performance reports, and what information will be included?
Pricing and Contract
- What is your pricing structure?
- Are there any additional costs we should be aware of?
- Can you provide a detailed proposal outlining your services, timelines, and costs?
Client Relationship
- How do you ensure your work aligns with our business goals and brand values?
- Can you provide references from current or past clients?
- What is your process for handling feedback and revisions?
Long-Term Strategy
- How do you plan for long-term optimization and continuous improvement?
- What do you see as the most significant opportunities for improving our email marketing efforts?
By asking these key questions, you can ensure that you choose an email marketing agency that aligns with your goals, has a proven track record, and can deliver the results you’re looking for.
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Our Rating Guidelines
Ranked: The Best Event Agencies In Chicago
We've shortlisted the best ones for you and made it easy to only contact AAA or AA-rated agencies.
However, before you decide to go with anyone I recommend 2 things:
Either use our agency finder above. Use our expertise and let us help you find the ideal agency for you, from our worldwide contact database.
Or, if you are sure you'd like a local agency, set up meetings with the highly-rated agencies on this list, and test them for clear expectations from you/clear customer qualifications, clear onboarding process, clear long-term focused objectives, and clear communication.
And most important, don't fall for short-term hacks some poor quality agencies try to sell you on.
Look for long-term strategy, protecting your brand and clear timelines.
1. Absolute Production Services
Founded Year: 1995
Website: absolutepros.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Absolute Production Services is a top event agency in Chicago with over three decades of experience in organizing and managing different events.
The company has a team of event managers and planners who can organize corporate and personal events by conceptualizing and designing within your budget.
They organize virtual events, award-winning events, experiential events, press events, and trade shows by offering labor management, general equipment, contracting AV installation, video production, marketing, and creative technology.
Case Studies: Pending submission
2. Impact365
Founded Year: 2003
Website: impact365.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Impact365 is a leading event agency in Chicago, organizing corporate, charity, and community events within your budget and customized ideas.
They have a team of experienced event organizers who can take care of organizing different events of all sizes to create lasting impressions on your audience.
The company specializes in organizing creative events with different backgrounds, banners, signage, and lighting to make them a success.
Case Studies: Pending submission
3. Liven It Up Events
Founded Year: 2008
Website: livenitup.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Liven It Up Events is a renowned event agency in Chicago specializing in organizing different events, meetings, conferences, experiential events, virtual events, and hybrid events at cost-effective prices.
The company also specializes in organizing full-service weddings and partial planning to meet the expectations of clients. They have a team of experienced event planners who can create engaging events to attract your audience.
Case Studies: Pending submission
4. Chicago Events
Founded Year: 2008
Website: chicagoevents.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Chicago Events is a dependable event agency in Chicago that organizes marathons, award functions, festivals, and other popular events in and around the city.
They have decades of experience organizing events at different venues and attracting a massive crowd. The company has plenty of good relationships with different organizations, and their professional team can help in organizing different events within your budget.
Case Studies: Pending submission
5. Star Events
Founded Year: 1996
Website: starevents.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the Agency: Star Events is a reliable event agency in Chicago, helping professionals, individuals, and businesses organize grand events showcasing their product services and celebrating important events in a grand way.
The company has a team of highly experienced professionals who can arrange corporate events for different reputed brands. They can also plan private events, such as private gathering festivals, to attract a large audience.
Case Studies: Pending submission
6. Bliss Events
Founded Year: 2000
Website: blisseventschicago.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Bliss Events is a distinguished event agency in Chicago that specializes in organizing beautiful weddings and high-quality corporate events at cost-effective prices.
The company helps celebrate milestones, product launches, company events, and experiential events for small and large businesses in the city. They also help the public organize private weddings with personalized design and decor to impress their family and friends.
Case Studies: Pending submission
7. Total Event Resources
Founded Year: 2012
Website: total-event.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Total Event Resources is a reputed event agency in Chicago that engages your audiences by planning grand events to deliver memorable experiences.
The company specializes in planning different strategies and sourcing the best staff for creating events at your favorite venues.
They can take care of the logistics, creative interactions, registrations, food and beverage management, and speaker and vendor services to impress your audience.
Case Studies: Pending submission
8. Nora
Founded Year: 2017
Website: mynoraevent.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Nora is an innovative event agency in Chicago, creating and guiding events to perfection with their team of talented event managers and producers.
The company excels at planning events to create unforgettable moments for your guests by organizing unique designs and vendor teams. They can also transform the spaces into beautiful artistic venues to conduct weddings and other celebrations to impress your friends and family.
Case Studies: Pending submission
9. Chicago Event Management
Founded Year: 1996
Website: cemevent.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Chicago Event Management is an esteemed event agency in Chicago that connects the community by organizing unforgettable events and building lasting relationships between the audience and the clients.
The company specializes in creating high-quality event experiences such as marathons, parties, private gatherings, and festivals.
Case Studies: Pending submission
10. Clover
Founded Year: 2014
Website: acloverevent.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Clover is an experienced event agency in Chicago that excels in conducting corporate events and weddings to impress audiences. The company chooses the best venues, decor, themes, and vendor team for organizing heartfelt celebrations.
They have a team of highly talented event organizers and managers who can make customizations according to your interest in celebrating with your friends and family.
Case Studies: Pending submission
11. Ivan Carlson
Founded Year: 1972
Website: ivancarlson.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Ivan Carlson is a creative event agency in Chicago that creates beautiful events to make them a special experience for guests. The company specializes in creative ideation, theme development, custom fabrication, floral design, intricate lighting staging, and audio services.
They have experienced event developers who can organize birthday parties, corporate events, experiential events, fashion shows, festivals, non-profit events, even religious events, trade shows, weddings, and sporting events with unique customization.
Case Studies: Pending submission
12. Artroom Events
Founded Year: 2016
Website: artroomevents.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Artroom Events is a credible event agency in Chicago offering venue rental, party planning, and team building services at cost-effective prices to impress your audience.
They have a team of experienced event organizers and producers who can impress your colleagues by helping you organize corporate events with plenty of customizations within your budget.
The company can also help individuals organize parties at home or at private venues with their friends and family to make them unforgettable events.
Case Studies: Pending submission
13. Ravenswood Events
Founded Year: 1988
Website: ravenswoodevents.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Ravenswood Events is a unique event agency in Chicago offering events development, event management, logistics, site plan design, venue management, beverage operations preparation, staffing, storage, transport, budget management, and permitting services.
The company can exceed your expectations by organizing beautiful events that attract a huge crowd.
Case Studies: Pending submission
14. Magnificent Events
Founded Year: 2000
Website: magevents.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Magnificent Events is a stylish event agency in Chicago that provides custom event solutions and entertainment services using celebrities at private corporate events, weddings, and festivals.
They have a premier team of experienced event planners who have a great reputation for organizing beautiful events for both individuals and organizations.
Case Studies: Pending submission
15. PRA
Founded Year: 1981
Website: pra.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: PRA is a vibrant event agency in Chicago offering digital, creative, production, themed, destination, and team-building event planning and execution services.
The company has a sophisticated team of creative event managers who can design one-of-a kind events according to your budget and customized requirements.
Case Studies: Pending submission
16. Next Level Event Design
Founded Year: 2009
Website: nextleveleventdesign.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: Next Level Event Design is an excellent event agency in Chicago, specializing in organizing wedding social events and parties to make it an unforgettable experience for your guests.
The company focuses on creating unique events with different personalities and aesthetic decor with their team of specialized event organizers.
They have the experience to make your special occasions an impeccably memorable event by planning, designing, and executing them to perfection.
Case Studies: Pending submission
17. JA Events
Founded Year: 2016
Website: jenniferandersonevents.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: JA Events is a top-notch event agency in Chicago, inspiring your guests with exciting events by using their expectations in planning and organizing events at beautiful venues.
They have expertise in organizing corporate and social events such as weddings, parties, and other festivals by building beautiful, pleasing decor and themes.
Case Studies: Pending submission
18. OnDemand Events
Founded Year: 2022
Website: ondemandevnts.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: OnDemand Events is a popular event agency in Chicago, elegantly planning and organizing beautiful events with their team of perfect organizers, stylists, and producers.
They create lasting impressions on your audience by planning relaxed experiences. The company can organize baby shower birthdays, bridal shower engagements, and wedding events in a grander way within your budget.
Case Studies: Pending submission
19. NSWE Events
Founded Year: 2011
Website: nsweevents.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: NSWE is a professional event agency in Chicago that plans luxury events at unique venues according to your customized needs and guest interests.
They have beautiful creativity and innovation to organize even, sir, with great hospitality experience to provide an experience for your audience.
The company also organizes dinner parties, barbeque events, holiday parties, and home events for intimate dinners with unique themes and decorations.
Case Studies: Pending submission
20. CEI
Founded Year: 1987
Website: corpevent.com
Reputation Score: AA
About the agency: CEI is a skilled event agency in Chicago that organizes engaging corporate events, charitable events, and team-building events for different successful brands around the world.
They have a team of highly talented event producers and organizers who create lasting impressions on your audience by meeting their individual leads and elevating the ambience of the events.
The company has great experience in customizing beautiful events for different companies at cost-effective prices.
Case Studies: Pending submission
Conclusion
Event agencies help in planning, organizing, and executing different events within your budget. These companies can organize small or large corporate events and take care of the food and beverage transport logistics and audiovisual facilities to impress your audience.
They can also organize private events like parties, weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers to impress your family and friends through customizations and beautiful decor and lighting.
Choose a reputed event agency from our list to organize beautiful events in Chicago and make them a grand success by creating an unforgettable experience for your guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hire an event agency?
An event agency is a specialized company that has experience organizing different events at the perfect location to help you save money and time.
They can perfectly plan the concepts, themes, decor, and other hospitality services. These companies plan different celebrity entertainment, fun, and food and beverage services at the events to create lasting impressions on your audience.
What are the benefits of working with event management?
An event management agency can provide you with creative ideas to organize your corporate, social, and private events beautifully and excitingly. They have a team of experienced organizers and producers who can choose the perfect location date and venue to organize your events.
They take care of the legal requirements and supply you with all the resources to make it a grand success.
Why should a startup company hire an event agency?
Startup companies need to get more new customers and sell their products and services to a wider audience. They can work with an event management agency to develop an event to showcase their products and services and attract a huge crowd.
The agency can help pick the right location and take care of the legal matters for the smooth conduct of the event. Startup companies can save their time and money by organizing corporate events through an event planning agency.
What are the services provided by an event agency?
An event management agency can help in planning, organizing, and executing an event to perfection by taking care of the conceptualization of the design. They have access to technology for developing audiovisual and lighting effects for attracting the audience.
These companies can help save time and money by choosing venue technicians and performers according to the client's interests. They also manage your budget and make it a successful event by providing safety and security services.
How much do event agencies charge?
Event agencies can charge individuals and companies in two different ways. If it is a private event, such as a wedding or birthday party, they can charge you depending on the food and beverage, theme, decor, venue, location and timings, etc.
If it is a corporate event, such as a product launch or a meeting, they will provide an estimate for all the expenses for your events and can charge you on a daily, monthly, or annual basis, depending on your contract.