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3Q Digital (now 3Q/DEPT) is a data-driven growth marketing and media-buying agency that helps ambitious brands scale through paid media, SEO, CRO, and analytics.
Pricing
$200+ / mo
Best for
Best for mid-market and enterprise brands seeking a deeply data-driven growth marketing agency to run complex, multi-channel media programs at scale.
Platforms
Web
Free trial
No
Free plan
No
Headquarters
Chicago, IL, USA
Company type
Acquired
The honest take
What reviewers love, and what to watch
A balanced view of 3Q Digital, drawn from public reviews and product research.
Pros
- Deep expertise in performance marketing across paid search, paid social, SEO, and programmatic channels, backed by industry recognition and platform partnerships.
- Highly data-driven culture with strong analytics, experimentation, and proprietary tools like Qontrol and Growth Labs to inform strategy and optimization.
- Strong relationships with major platforms such as Google (Premier Partner status) and Microsoft, providing early access to betas and elevated support.
- Ability to manage large, complex, multimarket media programs and significant annual ad spend for fast-growing and enterprise brands.
- Strategic advisory and digital due diligence offerings that extend beyond media execution to guide broader growth and investment decisions.
Cons
- Premium positioning and a stated minimum project size around $50,000 can put the agency out of reach for smaller or early-stage companies.
- Best suited to organizations with in-house marketing stakeholders and data infrastructure; engagements can be complex for teams without internal readiness.
- As part of a larger global group (DEPT), smaller clients may feel less prioritized compared to large enterprise accounts and global brands.
Where it fits
What teams use 3Q Digital for
- Performance media buying across search, social, programmatic, and CTV/OTT channels
- SEO and content-led growth to increase organic visibility and revenue
- Conversion rate optimization and experimentation to improve onsite performance
- Launching and scaling ecommerce or subscription businesses
- Digital due diligence and strategic advisory for investors and corporate development
Key strengths
- End-to-end performance marketing capabilities from media buying and SEO to CRO, analytics, and creative, reducing the need for multiple specialist agencies.
- Recognized by Google, Forrester, TechCrunch, Ad Age, Inc., and Adweek, signaling both strong execution and a positive employer brand that attracts talent.
- Proven track record helping disruptive companies (e.g., Square, GoPro, Warby Parker, Pinterest, Coinbase) grow into category leaders.
- Ability to manage very large media budgets and complex omnichannel programs, including programmatic, CTV/OTT, and international campaigns.
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Questions, answered
Frequently asked about 3Q Digital
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3Q Digital, now operating as 3Q/DEPT, is a growth-focused digital marketing and media-buying agency that helps brands become market leaders through paid search, paid social, SEO, programmatic, CRO, analytics, and strategic advisory services. Founded in 2008 and now headquartered in Chicago, it manages multi-channel campaigns and large media budgets for disruptive and enterprise brands across ecommerce, technology, fintech, and consumer verticals.
3Q Digital does not publish standardized pricing. Engagements are custom-scoped based on channels, markets, and media budgets, with directory listings indicating a typical minimum project size of around $50,000. Pricing is usually structured as a retainer or ongoing program rather than per-seat software licensing, so prospective clients should contact the agency directly to discuss scope, fees, and commercial terms.
Core capabilities include paid search, paid social, SEO, conversion rate optimization, programmatic and CTV/OTT advertising, data science and analytics, strategy and planning, creative services, digital due diligence, and ecommerce/marketplace marketing. 3Q Digital also offers proprietary Growth Model solutions, a centralized Growth Labs experimentation team, and the Qontrol performance-monitoring and predictive analytics platform, now integrated into DEPT's Ada martech stack.
On G2 and in the broader market for marketing strategy and performance media agencies, common alternatives to 3Q Digital (3Q/DEPT) include firms such as SmartSites, KlientBoost, WebFX, SmartBug Media, DashClicks, and other performance-focused digital agencies that provide multi-channel media buying, SEO, and analytics services.
3Q Digital is optimized for mid-market and enterprise organizations, as well as high-growth venture-backed companies with substantial digital budgets. Its minimum project size and custom-scoped retainers typically make it a better fit for brands investing heavily in digital media and analytics. Very small or local businesses with modest ad spend may find more cost-effective options with smaller agencies or self-serve ad platforms, while still benefiting from 3Q's thought leadership content and insights.
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