crux n. /kruhks/
Everything you need,
nothing you don’t.

Elevating brands, Amplifying missions

Crux is a Kansas City marketing firm (and the city’s first “un-agency”) that combines executive-level marketing and business strategy to provide a simple, smart and affordable outsourced marketing solution for clients.

Who is Crux?

“We march to the beat of our own drum. We have the business acumen to tie a marketing strategy to your business goals. We lead with transparency. We are the in-house marketing team, outsourced—at a fraction of the cost.

Hear the story behind the “un-agency” on our podcast, “To the Point.”

LISTEN NOW

YOUR OUTSOURCED MARKETING TEAM

For the longest time, businesses were forced to choose between hiring a traditional marketing agency or hiring an in-house team. Each presents its own risk, including hefty price tags and limited skill sets.

Thanks to our “Door #3” model, businesses can now have the best of both worlds. Crux is Kansas City’s “un-agency,” where strategy meets execution to fuel business growth through a simple, smart and affordable outsourced marketing solution for clients. Our fractional CMOs have the business acumen to build a marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals.

Your Crux team of experts in every marketing discipline then executes on that strategy – all for less than the cost of a mid-level marketer.

Learn About Our Approach

Our Marketing Services

Every marketing strategy—whether you’re a nonprofit, an SMB, or a large enterprise—is unique. We don’t just generate repetitive marketing fluff. We entrench ourselves in the businesses of our clients, partnering with entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to fuel business growth.

Brand, Messaging + Strategy

In-depth research + customer insights
Full-funnel marketing audits
Brand strategy, identity + messaging
Employer branding
Annual + quarterly marketing plans

Content, Creative + Communications

Graphic design, photo + video
Marketing + sales collateral
Content strategy + editorial calendars
Blogs + case studies
Internal communications
PR, awards + speaking opportunities

Digital marketing, SEO + Analytics

Email marketing
Web design, development + maintenance
Social media strategy + campaign management
SEO/SEM/Lead gen strategies
Performance analytics + campaign optimization

...And So Much More

Client Success Stories

We get it. Finding the right marketing partner is challenging. We’ve walked in your shoes. Whether you’re a startup making your first marketing investment or a legacy SMB adding depth to your bench, we’re ready to take your business to the next level.

Don’t just take our word for it…

FIND OUT WHY CLIENTS TRUST US TO BRING THEIR VISION TO LIFE

When Crux provided us with the research they’d done to begin rolling out their plans, we were blown away. In a short period of time they’d wrapped their heads around our place in the market, who we sell to and more importantly who we WANT to sell to.

Will Steffen, Director of Growth, Community CareLink

I feel that you have fractional marketing down to a science, which is exactly what we were looking for.

Skuli Gudmundsson, President & CEO, OCCU-TEC

We continue to be impressed with the depth and breadth of the Crux team’s capabilities. My staff and I especially appreciate their creativity, responsiveness and speed with which they execute on promised deliverables. In a short amount of time – and amid a pandemic – Crux has become a true extension of our staff.

Laura Smith, City Administrator, City of Mission, KS

Crux is truly an extension of our marketing and communications team. They live up to their tagline…Everything you need, nothing you don’t. We’ve appreciated their counsel, guidance, and proactive approach in helping us expand our brand visibility and increase audiences. We’ve been especially impressed with their expertise in digital marketing, their PR support, and their account management.

Michele Knight, Senior Vice President for Engagement, Linda Hall Library

As an organization trying to get a foothold in a lot of different spaces, working with Crux was an efficient way for us to develop a presence in a very cost-effective way. The channels we chose, the way we chose to use them, and the way Crux empowered us to create and manage those channels were critical to our brand development early on. That launched us and allowed us to move forward.

Kellye Crockett, Executive Director, IDEA Space KC

Keeping up with the company’s growth has been challenging, but it’s definitely a good problem to have. Our partnership with Crux has allowed us to grow this momentum while keeping our brand and messaging consistent as we move forward.

Angela Hurt, Founder & CEO, Veracity Consulting

Thank you for your partnership through this process! We could not have selected a better group to help us through this project. We have been very impressed with your professionalism, responsiveness, and expertise. You really took the time to understand our business, industry, and the unique dynamics of our organization.

Mackenzi Baum, Director of Marketing and Communications, GBA Companies

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XCELERATE YOUR SALES STRATEGY

Need sales coaching and leadership development? Crux-Xcelerate combines sales and marketing acumen to develop sales performers and leaders, drive value and accountability, and fuel sustainable revenue growth for your organization.

Ready to get growing?