Data & Creativity, an Amalgam for Advertising Success  

Initially, it might not sound like a big deal to announce that a company has made it onto a list with 4,999 other companies. Consider, though, that in Florida alone there are over 500,000 private sector firms. Pan out to consider the entire United States, and the number grows to over 7,000,000. To be among the 5,000 fastest-growing private firms in the U.S. is, indeed, quite an accomplishment. More than three, let’s give 3,000 cheers to McKay Advertising + Activation for making Inc. 5000’s 2017 List of the Fastest-Growing Companies in America.

MA+A came in at number 1,710—clearly no small feat. In fact, talking numbers, the agency reported revenue of $2.8 million and their three-year growth is an astounding 229%. It’s a client-centric approach, however, that helped catapult them to such exponential growth. In fact, it was a client who first encouraged the agency to apply for the prestigious list. Bob McKay, MA+A’s president and CEO, explains the root of the agency’s goals: “Our goals are more technology and capability based. If we can continue to solve our customers’ problems of taking them from a traditional marketing model and moving them into the era of ROI marketing, we are fulfilling a huge need.” ROI marketing is just what you think it is: a company’s way of measuring that their marketing endeavors yield a return on their investment. And, while there is a formula to calculate ROI, the various confounding variables potentially needing consideration complicate it. MA+A exists to bridge the gap between traditional and digital media, making data-driven decisions along the way, so that clients can experience a verifiable return on their marketing investment. For McKay, success occurs when he and his team deliver a “tangible performance.”

McKay founded MA+A in 2005, and he has demonstrated himself as a forward thinking entrepreneur. Beyond developing a strong acumen with platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google AdWords, in the interest of MA+A clients, the team continues developing its own technologies. That sort of creator mindset and action taking is what Inc. 5000 honors in its annual list. Committed to helping younger entrepreneurs and those studying the advertising and marketing fields, McKay advises that, in looking to create value for a new organization, it’s important to “Find a need that is not being served, fulfill that need, and optimize every day to improve service through customer focus and technology.” The trajectory of continuous growth MA+A is on is achieved by their intentionality in countering both the status quo and stagnancy.

While MA+A is most certainly a creative agency, the team’s success has been realized through a mixture of right and left brained thinking. McKay explains that, though they are “creative and experimental,” they apply math to their approach—helpful in ensuring clients’ ROI. McKay’s team uses data to scaffold their creative strategy: “Our tactics and practice are based on objective evidence and reasoning while also exercising creativity.” No doubt the MA+A team is flexing serious cerebral muscle.

In October, Inc. 5000 will host a conference and gala honoring companies like MA+A and offering them a chance to learn from other entrepreneurs (as well as dance with them at swanky parties). More than recognition on lists and at gala events, the McKay Advertising and Activation team is focused on clients: “We strive for clients, who are true fans, and the awards are less of a goal,” shared McKay. MA+A is empowered to help create solutions for clients by activating marketing and advertising efforts that provide an ROI and successfully disrupt the standard.

Team Elevate asks you to join us in giving MA+A many well-deserved and earned cheers on their 1,710 spot on Inc. 5000’s List of the Fastest-Growing Companies in America. Cheers!

Categorized in: Work

This post was written by Elevate, Inc.