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In the pre-digital days, a select number of ad and other agencies dominated the list of the biggest and the brightest marketing agencies. The ranking did change from year to year – but only slowly.

With the rise of digital advertising, a bunch of young, energetic agencies is upsetting the old order.

afaqs! Top 50 Marketing Agencies, a new annual ranking, will capture the shifting contours of India's most dynamic marketing agencies.

This is the first such complete listing of the Top 50 marketing agencies in India.

FAQs
How will the afaqs! Top 50 Marketing Agencies ranking help marketers and agencies?

It will help in the following ways:

1.  For marketers: Advertisers will get a quick and comprehensive overview of which are India’s largest marketing agencies. Even better, they will know which are the biggest by specialisation. The ranking will help marketers make a shortlist of agencies to work with.

2.  For agencies: Being part of the Top 50 will ease the process of entering a pitch. It will also give agencies a good sense of how well they are doing compared to the competition.

Remember: This is the 1st edition and the ranking will get richer with more details about the agencies as the years go by.

What is the basis for this listing?

The afaqs! Top 50 Marketing Agencies ranking is entirely objective. Agencies will be ranked on the basis of their revenue for 2021-22 (ending March) or calendar year 2021 (ending December).

What is the source of this information?

afaqs! Top 50 Marketing Agencies is being compiled on the basis of information gathered over months from the ROC (Registrar of Companies) as well as financial services databases such as Toffler and others.

We already have the financial details of most large agencies. However, we realise there are other agencies which deserve to be in the ranking but of which we are unaware.

That is why we are inviting agencies to share their financials if they believe they can make it to the Top 50.

What proof will agencies need to submit to be considered in the Top 50?

Agencies can either

1.  Mail their annual report for either 2021-22 (ending March) or for the calendar year 2021 (ending December) to top50@afaqs.com OR

2.  Mail a certificate from their CA certifying the company’s revenue for the above period and the year before that. Providing two years’ figures is mandatory.

What kind of marketing agencies can participate?

While most agencies have core specialisations, they also offer a diverse range of services.

Creative agencies, media agencies, fully integrated agencies, digital agencies, social media agencies, public relations agencies, influencer marketing agencies and content marketing agencies can participate. Agencies whose primary business is out of home and brand activation will not be a part of the first ranking.

We may include or drop certain categories over time.

Is this a ranking of companies or of agency brands?

Company financials are the basis for ranking marketing agencies.

Eg, a company with several brands nestled within it will be treated as a single entity.

On the other hand, if there is more than one company with the same prefix (Dentsu, for instance) they will each be listed separately.

However, we will attempt to create a separate listing of agency groups so that readers get a better sense of their combined strength.

By when should agencies send documents to the afaqs! team?

March 31, 2023 is the deadline to send in proofs by e-mail to top50@afaqs.com.

If you want to know more, fill in the form below and we will get back to you.