Singapore’s digital landscape is bustling. As more businesses lean into e‑commerce, social media, content marketing, and full‑funnel online campaigns, the number of digital marketing agencies here has grown rapidly. We’ve worked with many of them, studied the market, and helped clients choose the agency that fits best. In this piece, we’ll look at how many agencies there are in Singapore (or estimates thereof), what the trends tell us, then walk you through how to select the right one for your business.
1. Government & Market Context
To understand why there are so many agencies, we need to start with some context. According to Singapore’s Digital Economy Report 2024 from IMDA:
- 94.6% of Singapore firms have adopted at least one digital area. Infocomm Media Development Authority
- Among SMEs, adoption of digital solutions for general business functions has gone from 69% in 2021 to 82% in 2023, with digital marketing being one of the most common among those functions. Infocomm Media Development Authority
This maturity and demand among enterprises and SMEs create fertile ground for many service providers (agencies) to enter and thrive.
2. How Many Agencies Are There?
Exact numbers are tricky: definitions vary (what counts as a “digital marketing agency”?), many small firms offer overlapping services, some are branches of regional companies, etc. However, we can pull together estimates from various sources:
- An article on selecting agencies in Singapore suggests there are between 500 to 1,000 active digital marketing agencies. otaku.com.sg
- TechBehemoths lists 64 companies in Singapore that provide digital marketing services in their directory. techbehemoths.com
- When counting “advertising agencies” more broadly (which may include traditional, creative, media buying, branding plus digital), there are some 2,746 advertising agencies registered in Singapore as of August 2025. Poidata
Putting this together, a reasonable picture is:
- There are hundreds of agencies focused (or partly focused) on digital marketing in Singapore.
- If including broader firms, creative/advertising + digital, the numbers rise into the low thousands.
- The market is crowded, and many agencies overlap in services (SEO, content, social media, ads, analytic tracking) but differentiate in specialities, size, clients, or depth of capability.
3. Trends & Statistics That Matter
Here are some important statistics that show what clients are looking for (and what agencies need to deliver):
- 84% of Singapore companies are using digital marketing to advertise products and services, while 78% have a formal digital marketing strategy in place. HubSpot+1
- Among those companies, 35% are spending S$10,000 or more per month on digital marketing activities. HubSpot+1
- Digital ad spend in Singapore rose by 7.8%, totaling about US$2.60 billion in 2024, with digital channels making up roughly 74.6% of total ad expenditure. Meltwater
These numbers tell us: demand is strong; budgets are non-trivial; expectations of performance and accountability are high.
4. Why There’s Variation Among Agencies
We’ve worked closely with both small boutique shops and larger multi‑service firms. Some of the reasons agencies differ so much include:
- Specialisation vs Generalisation: Some focus purely on performance marketing (PPC, Google Ads, Facebook/Meta Ads, etc.), others specialise in content, branding, SEO, or influencer marketing. Many try to cover multiple areas but may lack depth in some.
- Scale & Resources: Larger agencies have bigger teams, more overheads, possibly better tools; smaller ones may offer more personalised service or lower cost, but capacity may be limited.
- Local vs Regional/National Reach: Some agencies focus just on local Singapore SMEs; others serve regional clients or international brands and might have additional capabilities (language, cultural adaptation, cross‑market campaigns).
- Measurement & Technology: Agencies differ in how well they track performance, attribution, ROI, use CRM tools, analytics dashboards etc. As you’ll see, many businesses struggle here, so agency capability in measurement is a key differentiator.
5. How to Choose the Right Digital Marketing Agency
Given there are so many options, here is how we guide our clients or would guide yours in selecting wisely.
a) Define Your Goals and KPIs Clearly
- What do you want: more leads? more sales directly online? brand awareness? entry into new market?
- How will you measure success: revenue uplift, costs per lead, lifetime value, ROAS (return on ad spend), etc?
- Make sure the agency you choose understands your industry and has experience with your type of goal.
b) Check Their Portfolio & Case Studies
- Ask for examples of campaigns similar to yours: same industry, similar budget, similar objectives.
- See whether their results are proven: did they increase traffic, conversion rates, engagement? How much?
- Ask for client references if possible.
c) Look into Their Strategy & Approach
- Do they conduct audience research, competitor research, and market analysis?
- What kind of creative strategy do they propose vs just channel execution?
- Do they integrate multiple channels (search, social, content, email) or do they work in silos?
d) Evaluate Technical & Measurement Capabilities
- Are they using tools for tracking (analytics, CRM, dashboards)?
- How do they approach attribution, reporting?
- What is their approach to optimizing campaigns? (A/B testing, landing page improvements, content optimization)
e) Consider Budget vs Value
- Low cost is tempting but often comes with compromises: weak measurement, fewer resources, less innovation.
- Ensure you understand what is included: ad spend vs agency fees, creative costs, reporting etc.
- Look for transparency in pricing and fees.
f) Communication, Culture & Fit
- How easy is it to reach them? How often will they report? What process do they follow?
- Can they work with your timelines, understand your brand’s tone, culture, internal resources?
- Cultural fit matters: the better the alignment, the faster things move, the fewer misunderstandings.
g) Scalability & Long‑Term Partnership Potential
- Can the agency grow with you as your budget rises, your campaigns broaden, or you enter new markets?
- Do they have a track record with ongoing optimization and adaptation, not just “one‑off campaigns”?
6. Summary & Recommendation
Putting this together:
- There are hundreds to low thousands of agencies in Singapore that offer digital marketing services, varying in size, capability, and focus.
- Demand is strong: most companies already use or want to use digital marketing, many allocate substantial budgets, and ad spending continues rising.
- The key to picking the right agency is clarity: of goals, of measurement, of strategy, and of what kind of partnership you want.
At EDM 33, we help clients by beginning all engagements with a goal‑setting workshop, ensuring we’re aligned on what success looks like. We show past results, propose specific strategies with measurable milestones, and maintain open communication so you always know how things are going. Contact us today to book a consultation!
References
- IMDA. Singapore Digital Economy Report 2024 Infocomm Media Development Authority
- HubSpot & LinkedIn survey (Milieu Insight), July 2024: Singapore companies using digital marketing, strategy adoption, budget allocation. HubSpot+2CXOToday.com+2
- MediaOne. Digital Marketing Statistics in Singapore: A Roadmap For 2025 And Beyond MediaOne
- Meltwater. Social Media Statistics in Singapore Meltwater+1
- Otaku article, “Choosing the Right Digital Marketing Agency in Singapore” otaku.com.sg