54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

541810 Advertising Agencies

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in periodicals, newspapers, radio and television, or other media. These establishments are organized to provide a full range of services (i.e., through in-house capabilities or subcontracting), including advice, creative services, account management, production of advertising material, media planning, and buying (i.e., placing advertising).

Purchasing advertising space from media outlets and reselling it directly to advertising agencies or individual companies are classified in Industry 541830, Media Buying Agencies;

Conceptualizing and producing artwork or graphic designs without providing other advertising agency services are classified in Industry 541430, Graphic Design Services;

Creating direct mail advertising campaigns are classified in Industry 541860, Direct Mail Advertising;

Providing marketing consulting services are classified in U.S. Industry 541613, Marketing Consulting Services.

Selling media time or space for media owners as independent representatives are classified in Industry 541840, Media Representatives.

541820 Public Relations Agencies

541830 Media Buying Agencies

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in purchasing advertising time or space from media outlets and reselling it to advertising agencies or individual companies directly.

Selling time and space to advertisers for media owners as independent representatives are classified in Industry 541840, Media Representatives.

Creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in media are classified in Industry 541810, Advertising Agencies.

541840 Media Representatives

This industry comprises establishments of independent representatives primarily engaged in selling media time or space for media owners.

Illustrative Examples:

Newspaper advertising representatives (i.e., independent of media owners)
Radio advertising representatives (i.e., independent of media owners)
Publishers' advertising representatives (i.e., independent of media owners)
Television advertising representatives (i.e., independent of media owners)

Purchasing advertising time or space from media outlets and reselling it directly to advertising agencies or individual companies are classified in Industry 541830, Media Buying Agencies.

Creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in media are classified in Industry 541810, Advertising Agencies.

541850 Outdoor Advertising

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating and designing public display advertising campaign materials, such as printed, painted, or electronic displays; and/or placing such displays on indoor or outdoor billboards and panels, or on or within transit vehicles or facilities, shopping malls, retail (in-store) displays, and other display structures or sites.

Providing sign lettering and painting services are classified in Industry 541890, Other Services Related to Advertising;

Printing paper or paperboard signs are classified in Industry 32311, Printing;

Erecting display boards are classified in Industry 238990, All Other Specialty Trade Contractors.

Manufacturing electrical, mechanical, or plate signs and point-of-sale advertising displays are classified in Industry 339950, Sign Manufacturing.

541860 Direct Mail Advertising

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) creating and designing advertising campaigns for the purpose of distributing advertising materials (e.g., coupons, flyers, samples) or specialties (e.g., keychains, magnets, pens with customized messages imprinted) by mail or other direct distribution and/or (2) preparing advertising materials or specialties for mailing or other direct distribution. These establishments may also compile, maintain, sell, and rent mailing lists.

The direct distribution or delivery (e.g., door-to-door, windshield placement) of advertisements or samples are classified in Industry 541870, Advertising Material Distribution Services;

Distributing advertising specialties for clients who wish to use such materials for promotional purposes are classified in Industry 541890, Other Services Related to Advertising;

Creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in media are classified in Industry 541810, Advertising Agencies;

Compiling and selling mailing lists without providing direct mail advertising services are classified in Industry 511140, Directory and Mailing List Publishers.

Publishing or broadcasting exclusively on the Internet are classified in Industry 519130, Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals.

541870 Advertising Material Distribution Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the direct distribution or delivery of advertisements (e.g., circulars, coupons, handbills) or samples. Establishments in this industry use methods, such as delivering advertisements or samples door-to-door, placing flyers or coupons on car windshields in parking lots, or handing out samples in retail stores.

Creating and designing advertising campaigns for the purpose of distributing advertising materials or samples through the mail are classified in Industry 541860, Direct Mail Advertising;

Publishing newspapers or operating television stations or on-line information services are classified in Sector 51, Information.

Distributing advertising specialties (e.g., keychains, magnets, or pens with customized messages imprinted) to clients who wish to use such materials for promotional purposes are classified in Industry 541890, Other Services Related to Advertising.

541890 Other Services Related to Advertising

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advertising services (except advertising agency services, public relations agency services, media buying agency services, media representative services, display advertising services, direct mail advertising services, advertising material distribution services, and marketing consulting services).

Illustrative Examples:

Advertising specialties (e.g., keychains, magnets, pens) distribution services (except direct mail)
Sign lettering and painting services
Display lettering services
Store window dressing or trimming services
Mannequin decorating services
Welcoming services (i.e., advertising services)
Merchandise demonstration services

Creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in newspapers, television, or other media are classified in Industry 541810, Advertising Agencies;

Designing and implementing public relations campaigns are classified in Industry 541820, Public Relations Agencies;

Purchasing advertising time or space from media outlets and reselling it directly to advertising agencies or individual companies are classified in Industry 541830, Media Buying Agencies;

Selling media time or space for media owners as independent representatives are classified in Industry 541840, Media Representatives;

Providing display advertising services (except aerial) are classified in Industry 541850, Outdoor Advertising;

Providing direct distribution or delivery (e.g., door-to-door, windshield placement) of advertisements or samples are classified in Industry 541870, Advertising Material Distribution Services;

Providing direct mail advertising services are classified in Industry 541860, Direct Mail Advertising;

Publishing newspapers or operating television stations or on-line information services are classified in Sector 51, Information.

Providing marketing consulting services are classified in U.S. Industry 541613, Marketing Consulting Services.