In the creative, fast-moving world of advertising agencies, attracting and retaining the right talent is just as important as winning the next big pitch.
With industry turnover rates climbing and a sea of competing agencies offering similar perks, building a compelling employer brand is now a non-negotiable part of any effective talent acquisition plan.
Let's break down 7 proven employer branding strategies specifically tailored to advertising agencies - to stand out, hire faster, and build cultures people genuinely want to be a part of.
1. Lead With Employee Storytelling Through Vouch
Forget staged testimonials.
Today's top talent wants authenticity, and Vouch is the go-to tool to deliver just that.
Vouch lets your current employees record short, unscripted videos about their experiences at your agency.
Why Vouch video works:
- Real voices build trust with potential candidates
- Great for embedding in job postings, career pages, and social media platforms
- Boosts engagement across your recruitment marketing campaigns
Quick Statistics: According to LinkedIn, candidates trust employees 3x more than the company itself when it comes to insight into workplace culture (LinkedIn Talent Blog).
2. Craft a Clear and Human EVP
Your employee value proposition (EVP) isn't a slogan. It's your promise to the people who power your business.
In advertising, where career development paths can vary widely, your EVP should explain what your agency offers at every level.
What makes a great EVP:
- An honest reflection of your core values
- Career progression, internal training and mentorship at every stage
- Support for creative freedom and individuality
- A positive employee experience that's backed by data, not just buzzwords
Example: Powerhouse Talent Inc. specializes in EVP and talent marketing, offering frameworks to create memorable, differentiated employee messaging.
The AI-enabled workspace for talent teams.
- Unified workspace for talent teams
- Accelerate hiring with AI tools
- Auto-generate polished hiring and employer brand content
- Easily repurpose assets across all channel
3. Own Your Visual Identity—Inside and Out
You're in the business of storytelling and design; your employer brand should look the part.
From your job descriptions to your careers page to your social media management, every visual and voice touchpoint should be unmistakably yours.
How to align your visuals:
- Build a strong, highly recognizable identity for internal and external branding
- Reflect your organizational culture through tone, design, and messaging
- Align with the tone you use in client campaigns—because your brand should be your best case study
Pro tip: Agencies like Electric Humans do this exceptionally well by balancing personality with clarity.
4. Make Social Media a Talent Magnet
Your social media platforms aren't just for showing off client wins—they're your direct line to future hires.
Use them to humanize your agency, spotlight your team, and show what a real day at work looks like.
What to post on social media:
- "Behind-the-scenes" of creative campaigns
- Employee spotlights videos and workplace stories
- Real-time updates on career development opportunities, events, or culture wins
Quick Statistics: 79% of job seekers use social media in their job search, according to Glassdoor.
5. Turn Recruitment Into a Brand Experience
A polished, engaging recruitment process sets the tone for everything that follows.
From job descriptions to interviews, every touchpoint is a branding opportunity.
Steps to improve candidate experience:
- Write job ads that reflect your tone and values
- Use storytelling instead of jargon in job descriptions
- Maintain regular communication throughout the process
Insight: Agencies with a strong employer brand strategy see up to a 50% reduction in cost per hire (LinkedIn Business).
6. Empower Your Team as Employee Ambassadors
Want to make your brand feel real?
When employee engagement is high, people naturally become your most valuable brand advocates and are eager to tell people about your company and work.
How to empower your team:
- Launch internal ambassador programs with content-sharing incentives
- Let your team share day-in-the-life moments on LinkedIn or Instagram
- Highlight stories in blog posts and company updates
Why it matters: Engaged employees lead to higher retention and employee referral rates, both of which improve the quality of hires over time.
7. Use Data to Guide and Evolve Your Strategy
The best agencies don't guess; they measure.
Use a mix of Talent Intelligence, candidate feedback, company temperature checks, and market benchmarking to fine-tune your employer branding efforts.
What to track for your employer branding:
- Candidate experience ratings
- Performance of recruitment marketing content
- Application and acceptance rate by platform
- Team feedback on internal culture and communication
Tip: Build a custom employer brand dashboard to visualize your strategy and make it easier to share insights with leadership and creative teams.
Who Are The Top 20 Advertising Agencies Worldwide?
Below is a curated list of the top 20 advertising agencies in the world, based on global reach, reputation, revenue, and award-winning campaigns.
These agencies consistently work with top brands and push creative boundaries across digital, traditional, and experiential media.
1. Wieden+Kennedy
Independent and famously creative, W+K has produced iconic campaigns for Nike, Old Spice, and Coca-Cola.
🔗 wieden.com
2. Ogilvy
Founded by David Ogilvy, this global powerhouse blends creativity, strategy, and PR across 120+ offices.
🔗 ogilvy.com
3. BBDO Worldwide
A top-ranking network in terms of awards, BBDO excels in “The Work. The Work. The Work.”
🔗 bbdo.com
4. DDB Worldwide
With a history of innovative and culturally relevant work, DDB serves global brands like McDonald's and Volkswagen.
🔗 ddb.com
5. Leo Burnett
A legacy agency behind brand icons like Tony the Tiger and the Marlboro Man—famous for human-centric storytelling.
🔗 leoburnett.com
6. McCann Worldgroup
Known for award-winning campaigns like “Fearless Girl,” McCann's global influence is massive.
🔗 mccann.com
7. TBWA\Worldwide
The “Disruption” agency behind Apple, Gatorade, and Nissan, TBWA consistently ranks among the top creatives.
🔗 tbwa.com
8. Publicis Groupe
A French multinational holding company with agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett under its belt.
🔗 publicisgroupe.com
9. Saatchi & Saatchi
Global influence with a knack for emotionally-driven campaigns, from Toyota to Procter & Gamble.
🔗 saatchi.com
10. Grey Global Group
A WPP agency known for “Famously Effective” campaigns, Grey has clients like Febreze, Gillette, and Volvo.
🔗 grey.com
11. VML (formerly VMLY&R)
Blending creative with tech and commerce, VML is part of WPP and leads in customer experience design.
🔗 vml.com
12. FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding)
One of the oldest agencies, FCB delivers behavioral insight-led work for top consumer brands.
🔗 fcb.com
13. Droga5 (Part of Accenture Song)
Known for bold storytelling and brand innovation, this NYC agency redefined what it means to be creative.
🔗 droga5.com
14. R/GA
Famous for integrating design, digital products, and marketing, R/GA works with brands like Google and Nike.
🔗 rga.com
15. AKQA
Blending art and science, AKQA builds digital-first experiences and campaigns for Nike, Volvo, and more.
🔗 akqa.com
16. MullenLowe Group
Known for challenger brand campaigns and award-winning creativity, part of Interpublic Group (IPG).
🔗 mullenlowegroup.com
17. Cheil Worldwide
Based in South Korea, Cheil services Samsung and operates globally with bold experiential ideas.
🔗 cheil.com
18. Havas Worldwide
Part of Havas Group, this agency is strong in health, entertainment, and digital transformation.
🔗 havas.com
19. 72andSunny
Based in LA, this youthful agency delivers fresh, culturally tuned campaigns for Adidas, Coors, and Google.
🔗 72andsunny.com
20. The Martin Agency
Creators of Geico’s iconic advertising legacy, known for clever, humorous, and high-performing campaigns.
🔗 martinagency.com
FAQs
What is employer branding in advertising?
It's how agencies position themselves as the place creative and strategic talent wants to work.
Why is Vouch great for recruitment?
Vouch shows real people and real stories, building trust with job seekers.
What makes a strong EVP for an agency?
Clarity, career progression, work-life balance, and values that match your culture.
How do I use social media for employer branding?
Share team stories, show your culture, and highlight your purpose—not just your client work.
What's the ROI of employer branding?
Lower cost per hire, higher engagement, and a more qualified pool of candidates.
Can small agencies compete with big networks?
Absolutely—authenticity, flexibility, and culture often matter more than size.
How often should we update our employer brand strategy?
At least annually—especially if your hiring goals, culture, or values evolve.
In the high-stakes world of advertising, great work starts with great people.
These employer branding strategies are built for agencies with soul—places where culture, creativity, and career development intersect.
Create A Remarkable Employer Brand With Vouch
Loved by companies like Canva, Nike, Cisco, Stryker, HubSpot, Amazon, and more, tools like Vouch make employer branding in your business remarkably easy.
Book a Vouch demo today and chat with an employer branding expert about your business needs.
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