MK Media was founded by David Kruse in 2016.
Following a successful exit in 2012, Kruse took some well-earned time for rest and reflection, but it wasn’t too long after he realised he wanted to return. He said: “I just loved the industry and missed the excitement of being a real part of helping brands grow.”
From there, Kruse was inspired, energised, and established MK Media with a vision to pioneer the digital-first media agency space.
As CEO, Kruse deals with every part of the Melbourne-based independent agency and his 12-strong team.
“Most days, it’s working with the team to help empower them to be the best they can be,” he said.
Kruse spoke to Mediaweek about un-fragmenting media for its clients, recent client wins and pushing boundaries in the year ahead.
What sets MK Media apart from the others and its specialisation
Kruse noted that his experience extends back to a time when getting a result for clients was straightforward, “that’s not the case anymore,” he said.
“Today, we’re setting the pace by delving deep into first-party data for our clients and mining reliable and transparent conversion metrics for real-time sales, in-store transactions, or a brand uplift, Kruse said on what sets them apart.
“Results have always been our KPI; these days, we just need more developers on the team to help make it happen,” he added.
MK Media prides itself on specialising in un-fragmenting media for its clients. Kruse noted that while it may sound abstract to them, it is operating at the forefront of what is possible, utilising the latest data, tech, and tracking.
“We consistently follow audiences across media channels, extracting maximum brand exposure. We build out our own data lakes for clients to handle all the data and help stitch it together,” he explained.
Building and developing strong relationships with clients
MK Media continues to have a great relationship with its foundation clients of whom they have helped transform their business over the years. Among them being garden care brand, Seasol.
“We’ve helped them in their journey of transforming from a family-owned business into a formidable brand in the garden category, culminating in their acquisition by the Dulux Group. Really thankful to be a (continued) part of their journey,” he said.
The agency has also recently welcomed new clients, including SteelSeries.
Kruse said: “As a global name in the gaming world, it’s exciting and challenging to help shape their brand engagement strategies.
“Connecting with gamers, a demographic always at the cusp of new media trends, really pushes our team to be at the forefront of new media opportunities,” he added.
A look back at MK Media’s performance in 2022, the exciting change coming soon and being part of the IMAA
On MK Media’s achievements in 2022, Kruse described it as “solid” and “a testament to our consistent, strong performance.”
Kruse added: “But we’re not complacent. 2023 has come with its challenges, and we’re embracing them head-on. Many clients, intimately aware of their results, are leaning on us more than ever to help grind out results – no matter the economic conditions.”
Looking ahead, Kruse noted that MK will continually push boundaries.
“Later this year, we will be undertaking a full rebrand to help align with our digital-first future. We’re also exploring M&A opportunities to strengthen our presence in NSW, on top of our established offices in VIC and QLD,” he revealed.
MK Media was among the independent agencies to join the IMAA last year. Kruse shared that for MK Media, being part of such a collective has its advantages, including access to exclusive group deals.
“As we continue to scale and push ourselves in the industry, it’s invaluable to leverage IMAA’s resources,” he added.
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Top image: David Kruse
