Lena CaldwellOne of the toughest parts about managing a start-up is getting attention. My brother and I tried being the in-house social media manager for our parents’ company, but after tons of posts with fewer than five likes (two came from us), we decided to seek help from the pros.
So, I asked the rest of my team to help find the best creative agency in Charlotte that can get us eyes from everywhere, whether it be on the streets, the web, etc. There were plenty to choose from, and thankfully, my team helped narrow them down.
Since hiring an agency, we’ve been getting clicks, views, and best of all, sales! If you’re looking to experience the same with your business, continue reading to find the right creative agency in Charlotte that can help you build your brand.
What is the average cost of a creative agency in Charlotte?
The average cost of a creative agency in Charlotte is around $75 to $300 or more per hour, or $1,000 to $10,000 or more per project, depending on the services included, the scope of the deliverables, and the agency’s experience and reputation.
1. Moonlight Creative Group (MCG)
Services: Branding and rebranding, graphic and design, web design, marketing strategy, digital marketing
Location: North America
Contact: +1 704-332-9918
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Moonlight Creative Group was recommended to us by our respondents because of its extremely professional and kind team. For starters, our interviewees shared that the team consistently took their preferences into account during campaigns and completed deliverables on time.
They also shared how the team communicates effectively to ensure their vision is realized and offers professional insights, rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy.
MCG is also noteworthy for its long-standing presence in Charlotte, having been around for over 25 years! Furthermore, they offer discounted rates for non-profit organizations.
And although they’re a boutique-sized agency with limited experience in nationwide campaigns, what we saw in their portfolio still impressed us. Their works ranged from rebrandings, web design, and digital marketing, and based on our interviews, they all garnered engagement.
Lastly, previous clients shared how easy it felt to work with MCG, and that’s a huge plus for those who prioritize a stress-free creative process.
Extremely professional and timely
“We have used Moonlight Creative for our National Philanthropy Day program and invitation designs for years. The staff is extremely professional and timely. They work with you to ensure your vision is being captured and until your design is right.
I appreciate their patience as we had to work through multiple changes and drafts. I would recommend Moonlight for any of your nonprofit or business design needs. Their work is outstanding.”
Brittany Jenkins Shell, Google Review
Crafted something even better than I imagined
“I had a wonderful experience working with Moonlight Creative Group. They assisted me primarily with package and website design. They worked with me to articulate a vision for the products and the brand, then crafted something even better than I imagined.
Everyone on the team was responsive, and my deliverables were always delivered to me on time (or ahead of schedule). They were a pleasure to work with!”
Molly Bollier, Google Review
2. HAVEN Creative
Services: PR and advertising, design, brand positioning, strategic communications
Location: 1300 South Blvd B42
Contact: +1 704-885-1857
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
HAVEN Creative piqued our interest with its diverse portfolio, which features non-profit organizations, municipalities, and local businesses across different niches.
We spoke to business owners who were kind enough to show us the campaign HAVEN did for them, and we liked how it covered multiple aspects. Their works included copywriting, website design, and strategic communication.
Our interviewees also shared the effectiveness of their campaigns, showing how their website received more clicks and improved overall engagement.
We also appreciated how HAVEN Creative’s teams were professional and kind throughout their collaborations with their clients. They delivered output on time and were easy to reach for revisions and updates.
Clients also shared how the team approached each project as a partnership, as they always took their best interests into consideration.
Our confidence in them was further cemented when we saw that they were named “Best Ad Agency” by the Charlotte Magazine Best of the Best Awards.
The only downside is their limited availability of public feedback, which could deter potential customers.
Phenomenal job
“Haven Creative has done a phenomenal job for our City. Haven is attentive to our needs, and their work is highly professional as well. The Haven Mavens make our jobs at the City so much easier, and we know our public relations and marketing will be done exceptionally well!”
Jarod Dale, Google Review
Highly creative group
“I have used Haven Creative on a variety of marketing projects for the past 3 years, and they always deliver consistently great results.
The “Mavens” are a highly creative group of Marketing Professionals that understand the concepts of both brand and community. Haven Creative is the only firm that I have ever worked with that can handle both strategy and implementation and do them both equally well.”
Tom Bojarski, Google Review
3. Epic Notion
Services: Branding and digital strategy, SEO, paid media, social media marketing, web design, email, and marketing
Location: 307 W Tremont Ave, Suite 200
Contact: +1 704-817-3765
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
We wanted to include Epic Notion because of its full-service capabilities. Although we would’ve liked to see more emphasis on artistic branding, we still liked that they ticked all the boxes for a successful campaign, from branding to SEO, social media marketing, and web design.
Clients also shared that aside from the diversity, the services they offered were also results-driven. For instance, the team offers monitoring services to ensure that they retain their best customers rather than just attracting eyes to their business.
We also liked how Epic Notion’s teams were collaborative, tailoring their strategies to clients’ needs rather than offering a cookie-cutter approach.
Our interviewees shared that this process led to in-depth conversations, during which the team identified their best interests and created measurable results.
We were also impressed by Epic Notion’s portfolio, which includes work with clients across various industries. For instance, they won industry awards from the W³ Awards and the Davey Awards for their UX and web design.
Exceeded our expectations
“Epic Notion has built a team of very knowledgeable people specializing in each area of the digital landscape. They make us feel like a partner, helping us achieve our digital goals in the most effective ways.
Our account representative always listens and then comes up with creative solutions, resulting in metrics that exceed our expectations. We recommend the Epic Notion team for organizations or businesses in any industry looking to grow or creatively connect with specific audiences.”
Matthews UMC, Google Review
Knowledgeable, responsive, and consistent
“I’ve worked with Epic Notion for the past seven years, and they’ve been outstanding. They’re knowledgeable, responsive, and consistently support us with whatever we need as we grow.
Thanks to their expertise and hard work, we’ve seen an exceptional return on our investment. I highly recommend them.”
Dustin Namirr, Google Review
4. Omni Creative Agency
Services: Branding and design, growth marketing, creative studio, website, and development
Location: 15720 Brixham Hill Ave, Ballantyne One
Contact: +1 980-270-6187
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Omni Creative Agency had one of the most impressive portfolios in our research, so we included it in our review. Right off the bat, we noticed from their previous projects that the company has a distinct creative identity.
This creativity also sold our interviewees on their services, as they saw their ability to craft compelling brand narratives and eye-catching deliverables.
For instance, when we reached out to clients who underwent rebranding, they shared that Omni didn’t just create an aesthetically pleasing logo for them. Instead, Omni asked about their story and integrated elements of it into their design.
We also liked the variety of their creative and digital services, which include website designs and creative studio work, as well as growth marketing.
The team’s professionalism was also highlighted in the feedback we received. Many previous clients added that Omni delivers on time and quickly responds to concerns.
Our only gripe is that their website requires you to make a short proposal to get a rough estimation for their services.
Consistently delivered excellent results
“I’ve worked with the Omni team for several years across multiple businesses, and they’ve consistently delivered excellent results.
From brand development to complete rebranding projects, they bring a strategy, professionalism, and an amazing customer experience. Loved the journey with OMNI.”
Michael Billson, Google Review
Has set a standard of client service
“The Omni team has set a standard of client service that I will aspire to achieve in my business. Thank you guys!”
Shane Prinsloo, Google Review
5. Black Wednesday
Services: Campaign management, marketing, branding and design, social media, branding and designs
Location: 529 Briar Creek Rd.
Contact: +1 704-344-5818
Black Wednesday became one of our top picks because their relatively small team has created some impressive campaigns with great storytelling.
We’ve seen their work for companies in multiple industries, and we like how their visual narratives always coincided with the company.
Speaking with some of their clients, many also praised the effort the team made to tell their stories via social media marketing, which helped catapult their engagement stats.
Previous partners also highlighted the team’s accessibility, as they consistently responded to inquiries promptly and offered updates without being asked. Add to that the team’s collaborative and approachable demeanor, and you’ve got results that truly reflect the brand.
Black Wednesday also offers a myriad of both digital and marketing services, and each team member specializes in a specific area. For instance, they have pros working on marketing consultancy, while also offering a group in charge of branding and design.
As mentioned earlier, however, Black Wednesday features a relatively small team, which sometimes leads to capacity constraints.
Content creation has been exemplary
“Black Wednesday has managed our social media accounts since our opening in 2018. Their responsiveness to requests, organization and planning, management of engagements, and content creation have been exemplary.
BW has been invaluable in creating continuity in our branding and helping us create the vision of what our digital footprint should be.”
Mike Davis, Google Review
Efficient, understanding, and incredible to work with
“Corri and her team are efficient, understanding, and incredible to work with in each area of their offerings. Before we engaged with Black Wednesday, our reach in the PR space was slim to none.
Her team was able to knock out our goals of local and national press in a few months’ time. Corri’s can-do, will-do attitude is something you don’t find with many “agencies”. Would strongly recommend working with Black Wednesday in any facet that your business may need.”
Viva Chicken, Google Review
