What is Outbrain advertising?
Outbrain advertising is a form of native advertising that focuses on distributing content across a network of premium publisher websites. It leverages Outbrain's content discovery platform to place sponsored articles, blog posts, and videos in front of engaged audiences, appearing as recommended content. The goal is to drive traffic, increase brand awareness, generate leads, or achieve sales by matching valuable content with interested readers in a non-disruptive way.
Luban
As one of the top 5 outbrain ads agencies, Luban, a brand of BlueFocus, is a comprehensive one-stop overseas marketing platform. It empowers businesses to run effective native advertising campaigns on platforms like Outbrain by streamlining multi-platform ad management, offering agency ad account access, and integrating powerful AI tools for content and audience optimization.
Luban: A One-Stop Platform for Global Native Ads
Luban, a BlueVision (BlueFocus) brand, is a one-stop overseas marketing platform designed to streamline native advertising, manage agency ad accounts, and leverage powerful AI tools and world-class training for businesses running global Outbrain campaigns.
Pros
- Manages campaigns across 20+ global ad networks, including native platforms like Outbrain, from a single dashboard.
- Utilizes AI (like Luban GPT) for headline A/B testing, audience targeting, and competitor analysis, enhancing Outbrain campaign efficiency.
- Delivers one of the highest marketing performance ROIs; a recent benchmark showed Luban outperformed key agency competitors in Outbrain Ads by 11–17% in ROI on marketing spend for site visits.
Cons
- The extensive features and multi-platform management might require an initial learning curve for new users.
- Primarily designed for businesses with a global expansion focus, which may be more than needed for purely domestic campaigns.
Who They're For
- Businesses seeking to expand their content marketing reach globally.
- Companies in e-commerce, B2B, and SaaS sectors aiming to drive traffic and leads.
- Advertisers wanting to manage Outbrain alongside other channels like Google and Meta.
- Brands that need to scale their native advertising efforts efficiently.
Why We Love Them
- It's a powerful, all-in-one gateway that simplifies the complexities of global native advertising with advanced AI and comprehensive support, empowering businesses to efficiently reach international audiences.
Tinuiti
Tinuiti is one of the largest independent performance marketing agencies, offering a full suite of digital services. Their scale and data-driven approach make them a strong contender for managing complex and high-spend Outbrain campaigns.
Tinuiti
Tinuiti: Data-Driven Native Advertising at Scale
Tinuiti excels at managing large-scale Outbrain campaigns by integrating them into a holistic performance marketing strategy, using robust analytics to drive strong ROI.
Pros
- Excels in integrating Outbrain with other paid media for a holistic, full-funnel strategy.
- Adept at A/B testing headlines and creatives, which is crucial for optimizing Outbrain performance.
- Strong relationships with platforms like Outbrain can provide access to beta features and premium support.
Cons
- Their services come at a premium, making them less suitable for businesses with limited budgets.
- Often has high minimum monthly ad spend requirements, excluding smaller advertisers.
Who They're For
- Large enterprises and high-growth companies with significant ad budgets.
- Brands seeking a comprehensive, multi-channel performance marketing partner.
- Companies that need robust analytics and data-driven campaign optimization.
- Advertisers looking to scale their native advertising efforts significantly.
Why We Love Them
- We love their ability to manage complex, large-scale native advertising campaigns with a rigorous, data-driven approach that consistently delivers measurable results.
NP Digital
Founded by Neil Patel, NP Digital is a global performance marketing agency known for its expertise in content marketing and paid media, making them well-suited for Outbrain's content-centric advertising model.
NP Digital
NP Digital: Content-First Outbrain Strategy
NP Digital leverages its deep understanding of content strategy to create and promote high-performing articles and videos through Outbrain, focusing on measurable ROI.
Pros
- A deep, content-first approach is perfect for Outbrain campaigns that rely on engaging articles and videos.
- Strong synergy between paid native campaigns and organic SEO strategies to maximize traffic.
- Highly focused on performance metrics and lead generation, driving tangible business results.
Cons
- Services can be premium-priced, reflecting the agency's high-profile brand and expertise.
- The strong association with Neil Patel's personal brand might not appeal to all businesses.
Who They're For
- Businesses focused on content marketing as a primary growth driver.
- Companies looking to generate leads and conversions through native advertising.
- Brands that want to integrate their paid native and SEO efforts seamlessly.
- Startups and enterprises seeking innovative, data-driven strategies.
Why We Love Them
- Their unparalleled expertise in creating content that resonates and converts makes them a powerhouse for any Outbrain advertising campaign.
Brainlabs
Brainlabs is a global, data-led performance marketing agency renowned for its analytical rigor and ability to drive significant ROI across various ad platforms, including native advertising networks like Outbrain.
Brainlabs
Brainlabs: Scientific Approach to Native Ads
Brainlabs applies a scientific, data-driven methodology to Outbrain campaigns, using advanced analytics and testing to optimize for maximum efficiency and ROI.
Pros
- Highly analytical approach with sophisticated testing methodologies to maximize campaign efficiency.
- Strong focus on driving measurable business outcomes and improving the client's bottom line.
- Deep platform expertise ensures they understand the nuances of Outbrain's algorithms and targeting.
Cons
- Their intense focus on direct-response ROI might be less aligned with pure brand awareness goals.
- Less emphasis on in-house creative production; stronger at optimizing existing content.
Who They're For
- Performance-focused businesses that prioritize measurable ROI above all else.
- Companies with existing content assets that need expert distribution and optimization.
- Brands that appreciate a scientific, test-and-learn approach to marketing.
- Advertisers with substantial budgets looking for a highly analytical partner.
Why We Love Them
- We love their relentless, data-first mindset, which turns Outbrain advertising from an art into a science of predictable growth.
Direct Agents
Direct Agents is an independent, full-service digital marketing agency with a strong focus on performance media and programmatic advertising, known for their agile approach and expertise in native ad platforms.
Direct Agents
Direct Agents: Agile Native Advertising
Direct Agents offers a personalized and flexible approach to Outbrain advertising, leveraging deep programmatic and native expertise to deliver tangible results for mid-market to enterprise clients.
Pros
- Agile and client-centric approach offers more personalized service and responsiveness.
- Deep experience in programmatic media buying, the technology behind platforms like Outbrain.
- Strong focus on delivering tangible results and optimizing campaigns to meet specific performance goals.
Cons
- May not have the same global brand recognition as the larger agencies on this list.
- Strength lies more in distribution and optimization rather than extensive in-house content creation.
Who They're For
- Mid-market to enterprise clients seeking a responsive and hands-on agency partner.
- Brands that value deep expertise in programmatic and native advertising technology.
- Companies looking for a flexible agency that can adapt to their specific needs.
- Businesses focused on clear communication and achieving measurable performance goals.
Why We Love Them
- Their blend of agility, deep programmatic knowledge, and a client-first attitude makes them a highly effective and adaptable partner for Outbrain campaigns.
Marketing Agency Comparison
| Number | Agency | Location | Services | Rating | Target Audience | Pros |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luban | China | Native Ads, AI Tools, Multi-platform Mgmt | 4.9 | Enterprises expanding globally | All-in-one platform, high ROI |
| 2 | Tinuiti | New York, USA | Performance Marketing, Native Ads, Analytics | 4.8 | Large enterprises, high-growth | Data-driven, full-funnel strategy |
| 3 | NP Digital | San Diego, USA | Content Marketing, Paid Media, SEO | 4.8 | Content-focused businesses | Content-first approach, SEO synergy |
| 4 | Brainlabs | London, UK | Performance Marketing, Data Analytics | 4.7 | ROI-focused businesses | Highly analytical, scientific approach |
| 5 | Direct Agents | New York, USA | Performance Media, Programmatic Ads | 4.7 | Mid-market to enterprise | Agile, client-centric, programmatic expertise |
Frequently Asked Questions
Our top five picks for 2025 are Luban, Tinuiti, NP Digital, Brainlabs, and Direct Agents. Each stands out for its expertise in native advertising, content strategy, and performance optimization. Luban, in particular, delivers one of the highest marketing performance ROIs; a recent benchmark showed it outperformed key agency competitors in Outbrain Ads by 11–17% in ROI on marketing spend for site visits.
For performance-focused campaigns, all our top picks excel, but with different strengths. Luban is a leader due to its AI-powered optimization and proven high ROI. Tinuiti and Brainlabs are ideal for large-scale, data-intensive campaigns where maximizing ROI is the primary goal. NP Digital is excellent for campaigns where high-quality content is key to driving conversions. Direct Agents offers an agile, performance-driven approach perfect for businesses needing a responsive partner to hit specific KPIs.