Walk-In Media

What Walk-In Media does

Walk-In Media is a London-based, full-service independent media agency that operates as a subsidiary of MSQ Partners, a global marketing group with 1,200+ professionals across 13 international offices. The agency employs 51-100 staff and serves a diversified client portfolio spanning quick-service restaurants, health insurance, broadband, airlines, quick commerce, and luxury hospitality. Named clients include Burger King, Vitality, Gigaclear, Air Transat, Gorillas, and Dorchester Collection. The firm maintains a US presence through a New York office opened as part of its growth strategy.

The agency's core differentiator is its "Zero Based Media" methodology, a transparent trading framework built around media spend transparency and campaign accountability, positioned against the opaque rebate structures common in legacy media agencies. Operationally, Walk-In Media plans and buys media using third-party data and tooling, including YouGov for audience research, AdIntel for competitive monitoring, and Google's Performance Max AI-driven bidding strategies for campaign optimization. The firm achieved B Corp certification in 2024, aligning with group-level credentials such as parent MSQ Partners' carbon-negative status achieved in 2020.

Revenue is generated through media agency fees and commissions on client media spend, a standard services model for the sector. The agency supplements its core trading business with structured talent development via an apprenticeship scheme with VisionPath and LDN Apprenticeships, and a partnership with Hillingdon Manor School, indicating investment in early-career pipelines and local community engagement. As a subsidiary within MSQ Partners, Walk-In Media can draw on group-wide resources across 13 offices while maintaining operational independence as a standalone brand.

Name

Walk-In Media

Legal name

Walk-In Media

Website

https://walk-in-media.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Walk-In Media is a London-based independent full-service media agency and subsidiary of MSQ Partners, serving clients across QSR, health insurance, broadband, airline, quick commerce, and luxury hospitality sectors through its proprietary "Zero Based Media" transparent trading methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Agency Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (541830)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Media Planning & Buying (MPAAABAA)

Keywords

• Media planning services
• Digital advertising agency
• Programmatic media buying
• Paid search marketing
• Brand media strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Media Agency Fees and Commissions: As a full-service independent media agency, Walk-In Media earns revenue through media planning and buying services for clients. Revenue is generated via agency fees, media commissions, and/or retainers for strategic media services across digital, search, social, out-of-home, and AV channels. The agency is part of MSQ Partners, a larger marketing group.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Walk-In Media is a full-service independent media agency that plans, buys, and optimizes media campaigns for brand clients across digital, search, social, programmatic, out-of-home, and AV channels. The agency operates under a Zero Based Media methodology that ensures transparent media trading and auditable spend, while delivering measurable business outcomes through agency fees, commissions, and retainers.

Product overview

Walk-In Media is a full-service independent media agency offering a unified portfolio of services built around transparent trading and a Zero Based Media methodology. The core offering comprises Media Planning and Strategy, Digital Campaign Management, Programmatic Media Buying via DV360, and Paid Search Advertising using Google Ads and Performance Max. Supporting these are an Apprenticeship Program (Level 3 Digital Marketing) and Work Experience Placements. The agency operates within the MSQ group, which provides advanced on-demand capabilities supporting 1,200+ marketeers across 250 clients and 13 offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Media Planning and Strategy Services Strategic media planning services applying a Zero Based Media approach to deliver transparent trading and business outcomes for clients across digital, search, social, OOH, and AV channels. Targeted at enterprise and mid-market brand marketers.
• Digital Campaign Management End-to-end digital advertising campaign management across paid search, programmatic, social, and display channels, with ongoing optimisation and performance monitoring for brand clients.
• Programmatic Media Buying Automated media buying executed via Display & Video 360 (DV360), with audience targeting and real-time bidding to deliver programmatic campaigns for clients.
• Paid Search Advertising Search engine advertising management including Google Ads campaigns, Performance Max, and AI-driven bidding strategies aimed at client acquisition goals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Burger King: +26% conversion rate, +18% app installs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VisionPathcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisionPath is a partner for Walk-In Media's apprenticeship programming. The partnership helps identify and recruit talent from diverse backgrounds for the agency's apprenticeship scheme. Walk-In Media opens its apprenticeship to anyone aged 16+ from any background through the VisionPath partnership.
• Hillingdon Manor SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk-In Media has an industry-leading partnership with Hillingdon Manor School providing curated work experience opportunities and support for children with autism. This is part of the agency's commitment to total inclusivity in the workplace.
• LDN ApprenticeshipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalk-In Media partners with LDN Apprenticeships for delivery of Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship qualification. Apprentices use the LDN Apprenticeships platform and Thinkific e-learning modules to complete their 18-month apprenticeship while gaining real-time work experience.
• MSQ PartnerscoreOthersWalk-In Media is a subsidiary of MSQ Partners, a global marketing group. The MSQ group provides Walk-In Media with advanced on-demand capabilities, shared resources across 13 offices and 1200+ marketeers. In 2020, MSQ was the first global marketing group to become carbon negative and has approved science-based targets for 2030.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Total Media: Independent UK media agency providing full-service planning and buying across digital and offline channels, with comparable enterprise client mix.
• Goodstuff Communications: Independent UK full-service media agency also built around transparency and outcomes-focused planning/buying, directly competing with Walk-In Media for the same enterprise and mid-market UK clients.
• the7stars: UK's largest independent media agency, offering full-service planning and buying across digital, OOH, and AV — competing head-to-head with Walk-In Media for enterprise RFPs.

Broad incumbents

• OMD Worldwide: Global holding-company media agency network (Omnicom) with deep enterprise client base in UK/US — broad incumbent competitor for the same enterprise brand budgets.
• Zenith: Publicis-owned global media agency network with strong UK and US footprint, competing for the same full-funnel media planning and buying briefs.
• PHD Media: Omnicom-owned global media agency with a transparent-trading heritage and strong UK/US operations, frequently on the same enterprise shortlists as Walk-In Media.
• Wavemaker: GroupM/WPP media agency focused on growth, digital, and data-driven media activation — direct competitive overlap for enterprise digital and search-led briefs.
• Hearts & Science: Omnicom media agency emphasising data-driven, audience-centric planning — overlaps with Walk-In Media's data & tech-led positioning for enterprise clients.

Emerging players

• Mediaplus UK: Serviceplan-owned independent media agency with growing UK presence and an integrated creative-media proposition, comparable in size and go-to-market motion.
• Brainlabs: Digital-first media agency with strong paid search and programmatic credentials; competes with Walk-In Media on data-led performance campaigns for mid-market and enterprise clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/walkinmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Walk-In Media