ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Solid Digital - 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• VisualFizz - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
• Ice Nine Online - 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Marcel Digital - 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1285, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Agency EA - 311 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States
• DCM Communications - Chicago, IL 60605
• Idea Marketing Group - 46 Saravanos Dr, Ste F, Yorkville, IL 60560
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Kindle Communications - 600 W Fulton St Ste 410, Chicago, IL 60661, United States
• Orbit Media Studios - 4043 N Ravenswood Ave #316, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• Next/Now - 1200 W Lake St #2, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® - 10 W Hubbard St #5w, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Endless Events - 2045 W Grand Ave, Ste B 82963, Chicago, IL 60612
• The Motion Agency - 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 550, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

Yes. Given that you’re selling training and corporate events to other businesses, I’d avoid a generic “pretty website” shop and look for an agency that understands B2B lead generation, event registration/conversion, SEO, and long sales cycles.

My Chicago shortlist would be:

1. Solid Digital — my first call

• Downtown at 100 N. LaSalle.
• Explicitly focused on B2B website design and digital growth, rather than consumer websites. Solid Digital
• Particularly interesting if your website needs to generate qualified corporate inquiries, not simply showcase events.
• Best fit: redesigning your main corporate site around lead generation and positioning.
• VisualFizz — strongest combination of B2B + events

• They explicitly position themselves around B2B marketing, web design, SEO, and measurable growth. VisualFizz
• More importantly for you, their event-marketing offering includes registration pages, custom event websites, email campaigns, paid promotion, social content, and pre/post-event marketing. VisualFizz
• Best fit: if you want the website and the event-marketing funnel to work together.
• Ice Nine Online — worth talking to for a practical B2B site

• Downtown Chicago and heavily B2B-oriented.
• They do WordPress corporate sites, demand-generation websites, SEO and ongoing support.
• Best fit: if you want a strong, maintainable WordPress site without necessarily buying a huge agency engagement.
• Marcel Digital — for a more sophisticated marketing engine

• Downtown on Wacker.
• Stronger emphasis on SEO, CRO, analytics, paid media and measurable acquisition, alongside web development.
• Best fit: if you're trying to turn the website into a serious corporate-sales pipeline rather than just an online brochure.
• Agency EA — interesting if the event experience itself is central

• They're much more event/experiential focused and offer event websites, UX/UI, digital engagement and event marketing alongside event production.
• Best fit: if you sell large corporate programs where the digital event experience is part of the product.

Who I'd contact first

I'd put Solid Digital and VisualFizz at the top of your list.

There's an important distinction:

• Solid Digital: “Let's build you a great B2B website that generates business.”
• VisualFizz: “Let's market your B2B events and build the digital machinery around them.”
• Marcel Digital: “Let's build a measurable acquisition/conversion engine.”
• Agency EA: “Let's make the event experience itself exceptional.”

For your particular business, VisualFizz may actually be the most interesting first conversation, because their published services line up unusually well with what you're describing: B2B + web + event promotion + registration + email + paid media. VisualFizz VisualFizz

One thing I'd ask every agency before hiring them: “Show me 2–3 B2B websites you've built where the website's job was to generate qualified event registrations or corporate inquiries—not just brand awareness.” That will separate the genuinely relevant agencies from generic Chicago web shops very quickly.

For your particular niche, I wouldn’t start with a generic Chicago web-design shop. You want an agency that understands the funnel behind training and corporate events: event discovery → registration/lead capture → nurture → attendance → post-event follow-up, while also understanding B2B buyers.

My shortlist would be:

1. VisualFizz — probably my first call
   • Chicago-based B2B marketing agency with web design, positioning, SEO and demand-generation capabilities.
   • Most importantly, they explicitly offer event marketing, including registration pages/custom event websites, digital promotion, branding and pre/during/post-event engagement. www.visualfizz.com
   • That combination is unusually close to what you're describing.
   • Their office is at 875 N Michigan Ave, so they're very accessible from downtown.

2. Solid Digital — best if the website itself is the big project
   • Downtown at 100 N LaSalle.
   • They explicitly position themselves around B2B website design and growth, rather than consumer-oriented web design. www.soliddigital.com
   • I'd consider them if you need a sophisticated new site with strong UX, conversion paths, SEO and ongoing optimization.

3. Orbit Media Studios — strongest content/SEO/growth option
   • Chicago B2B web design + development with a particularly strong emphasis on SEO, conversion optimization, analytics and measurable business outcomes.
   • They're a good fit if your events need to be discovered through Google and your website needs to function as a lead-generation engine, not just an online brochure.

4. Ice Nine Online — interesting option for a smaller/founder-led relationship
   • Located at 444 W Lake St.
   • They specifically focus on B2B, including corporate websites, demand-generation sites, WordPress and digital marketing. The founder-led positioning could be attractive if you don't want to get lost in a big agency.

5. Marcel Digital — consider if you're more enterprise/B2B
   • Downtown on Wacker.
   • Stronger emphasis on web development, SEO, CRO, analytics and connecting the website to marketing/sales systems. www.deltavdigital.com
   • Probably more agency than you need if you're primarily looking for a straightforward event-company redesign, but worth a conversation if you're doing significant lead generation.

If it were my company

I'd interview VisualFizz, Solid Digital and Orbit first.

I'd give each the same brief:

"We're a Chicago-based training and corporate events company. We need a website that sells events and training programs to businesses, generates qualified leads, handles event registrations, supports repeat events, and gives us measurable attribution from marketing through registration and ultimately revenue."

Then ask them to show you 2–3 actual B2B/event projects they've done, rather than just their prettiest websites.

I'd also specifically ask:

• How would you structure the site for multiple events/programs?
• Can our marketing team launch a new event without calling the developer?
• How would you integrate registration with our CRM/email platform?
• How would you track source → registration → attendance → opportunity/revenue?
• How would you handle recurring events with different dates/locations?
• Can the site support private corporate training inquiries separately from public event registration?
• What would you do for SEO around "[training topic] Chicago," "[industry] conference Chicago," etc.?
• Who actually writes the event/program copy?

That last point matters. For an events company, the information architecture and conversion strategy are arguably more important than the visual design.

VisualFizz · Solid Digital · Orbit Media Studios

If you tell me roughly your annual marketing budget ($10k, $25k, $50k+, etc.) and whether you use HubSpot/Salesforce/another CRM, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually contact and tell you what I'd ask each one to quote.

Yes. For a Chicago training + corporate events company, I’d avoid choosing a generic “pretty website” agency. You want someone who understands B2B lead generation, event registration, corporate buyers, speakers/programs, SEO, and conversion funnels.

I’d put these on your shortlist:

1. VisualFizz — probably my first call
   • Chicago-based B2B marketing agency with web design and dedicated event marketing.
   • Their event work specifically includes registration pages, custom event websites, promotion, email campaigns, paid media and post-event marketing. www.visualfizz.com
   • This is unusually close to your business model because they understand that the website isn't just a brochure—it has to fill seats and generate leads.
   • VisualFizz website

2. Solid Digital — strongest pure B2B web option
   • Downtown Chicago agency explicitly focused on B2B website design and digital growth. www.soliddigital.com
   • I'd consider them if the bigger issue is that your current website doesn't adequately explain your offerings, convert corporate buyers, or support SEO/content marketing.
   • Solid Digital website

3. Orbit Media Studios — strong for content + inbound
   • Long-established Chicago web/digital agency with a B2B orientation and a strong emphasis on websites generating measurable leads and conversions.
   • Particularly interesting if you want your site to become a content/SEO engine around training topics, corporate learning, conferences and events.
   • Orbit Media Studios website

4. Marcel Digital — best if marketing automation/CRM matters
   • Chicago B2B-focused digital agency combining web development, SEO, CRO, analytics and marketing technology.
   • Worth talking to if you want the website tightly connected to HubSpot/CRM, lead nurturing and sales attribution, rather than just a redesign.

5. Ice Nine Online — interesting boutique option
   • Downtown Chicago, founder-led B2B digital marketing agency with WordPress web design/development and demand-generation experience.
   • I'd investigate them if you're looking for a smaller, more hands-on relationship rather than a large agency.

My ranking for your situation

One thing I'd specifically ask each agency:

“Show me three websites you've built for a B2B company that sells events, training, conferences, memberships, or professional services—and tell me how you measured whether the new site actually generated revenue.”

That question will separate the agencies that understand your business from agencies that simply build attractive WordPress sites.

If you tell me roughly your annual revenue, whether you sell primarily to HR/L&D departments vs. marketing/events departments, and your current website URL, I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually interview and tell you what I'd ask each one.

For a training and corporate events company in downtown Chicago, I would not start with a generic “web design” shop. Your website is really a B2B demand-generation engine: it needs to sell programs, build credibility with corporate buyers, capture leads, support event registrations, and speak to HR/L&D/marketing executives.

I’d shortlist agencies that understand B2B buying cycles + content + conversion, not just visual design:

Best-fit agencies to talk to

1. VisualFizz — strong fit for B2B + events

• Good match if you need a site that combines brand storytelling, event marketing, landing pages, SEO, and lead generation.
• They specifically position themselves around B2B marketing and have event marketing capabilities, including registration pages and event promotion workflows. www.visualfizz.com
• Good choice if your business wins through thought leadership, conferences, workshops, and corporate partnerships.

2. Solid Digital — strong B2B website specialist

• A good option if you want a polished corporate website redesign with strong UX and marketing infrastructure.
• They describe themselves as a Chicago B2B web design agency and focus on websites designed to support growth goals rather than just aesthetics. www.soliddigital.com

3. Ice Nine Online — practical B2B website partner

• Worth considering if you need a WordPress-based marketing site, ongoing improvements, and a team comfortable with B2B organizations.

4. Marcel Digital — stronger analytics/performance angle

• Better fit if you care about measurable pipeline: SEO, conversion optimization, analytics, and website performance.

5. OneIMS — if you need inbound marketing, not just a new site

• Worth a conversation if your goal is to generate a steady flow of corporate training leads through content, automation, and CRM integration.

My ranking for your specific business model

1. VisualFizz — if events, brand, and attendee/customer acquisition are central
2. Solid Digital — if you need a premium B2B corporate website rebuild
3. OneIMS — if you want marketing automation and inbound lead generation
4. Marcel Digital — if SEO/data-driven growth is the priority
5. Ice Nine Online — if you want a capable B2B-focused web partner at a more practical scale

When you interview them, I’d ask:

• “Show me a B2B website you built where the goal was generating qualified corporate leads.”
• “How would you structure pages for HR leaders, L&D teams, and executive buyers?”
• “How would you handle event landing pages, registrations, follow-up emails, and CRM tracking?”
• “What would you measure 90 days after launch?”

For your type of company, I’d avoid agencies whose portfolio is mostly restaurants, consumer brands, or ecommerce. You need someone who understands that a $25k–$250k corporate training engagement often comes from a buyer researching quietly for weeks before contacting you.

Yes. For a training + corporate events company, I’d look beyond a generic “Chicago web design agency.” You want someone who understands B2B lead generation, event registration, corporate buyers, content marketing, and conversion paths.

My shortlist would be:

1. VisualFizz — probably my first call
   • Chicago B2B marketing agency with web design/development.
   • Specifically offers event marketing, including registration pages, custom event websites, promotion, paid media and social.
   • Their positioning is explicitly B2B, and they have B2B web-development case studies. www.visualfizz.com
   • Why I like them for you: They can think about the website as part of the event-marketing funnel rather than simply making it look good.

2. Solid Digital — strong choice for a serious B2B website
   • Downtown Chicago, at 100 N LaSalle.
   • Their Chicago practice explicitly focuses on B2B web design and digital growth, working with marketing teams and emphasizing conversion. www.soliddigital.com
   • Best if: your current site needs a substantial redesign and you want a polished, scalable B2B marketing platform.

3. Orbit Media Studios — excellent if organic traffic/content matters
   • Long-established Chicago web strategy/design firm.
   • Strong emphasis on UX, SEO, conversion optimization, content and measurable business outcomes.
   • They'd be particularly interesting if you want to turn your training/events expertise into ongoing inbound lead generation, rather than relying primarily on event-by-event promotion.

4. Marcel Digital — worth talking to for sophisticated B2B marketing
   • Chicago-based, with web development integrated with SEO, paid media, CRO and analytics.
   • They also work with HubSpot and marketing/sales workflows. www.marceldigital.com
   • Best if: your site needs to connect tightly to CRM, marketing automation, lead scoring and reporting.

5. OneIMS — interesting for the sales/pipeline side
   • Downtown at 110 N Wacker.
   • Their focus is B2B demand generation/RevOps as well as website development.
   • Best if: the bigger question isn't just “how should our website look?” but “how do we generate and nurture corporate training/event leads from it?”

One wildcard I'd seriously consider

Ice Nine Online is downtown at 444 W Lake and is unusually focused on B2B digital marketing and WordPress. The positioning is more boutique/founder-led, which could be attractive if you don't want to become a tiny client inside a large agency.

If it were my company

I'd have VisualFizz, Solid Digital and Orbit pitch the project.

But I wouldn't ask them simply for a website redesign. I'd give them this challenge:

“We sell corporate training and produce B2B events. We need the website to generate qualified corporate inquiries, fill events, establish credibility with HR/L&D/marketing executives, and turn our existing expertise and event content into an ongoing lead-generation engine.”

Then ask each agency to show you how they'd structure the site around those objectives.

That's going to reveal very quickly who understands your business versus who just builds pretty WordPress sites.

If you tell me roughly your annual revenue, typical client size, types of training/events you sell, and whether you want more corporate leads or more event registrations, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually interview and what I'd expect each to cost.

Yes. For a Chicago training + corporate events company, I’d look beyond generic “web design” shops and prioritize agencies that understand B2B lead generation, event/conference marketing, and conversion-focused websites.

My shortlist:

1. Solid Digital — my first call
   • Downtown: 100 N. LaSalle.
   • Explicitly positions itself as a B2B web design agency and works with marketing teams on websites designed to drive conversions and revenue. www.soliddigital.com
   • Particularly interesting if your site needs to sell training programs, corporate events, registrations, and inquiries, rather than simply look good.
   • Solid Digital website

2. VisualFizz — strong B2B marketing + website option
   • Their positioning is specifically Chicago B2B marketing, combining web design/development with SEO, PPC and campaign strategy.
   • Their case studies include B2B lead-generation and website projects with measurable improvements in forms, demos and pipeline. www.visualfizz.com
   • I'd consider them if you want the website to become a lead-generation engine, not just a redesign.
   • VisualFizz website

3. SEO Design Chicago | Digital Marketing & Web Design Agency — worth talking to for event SEO
   • They've specifically published a case study for a special-event planning company, reporting substantial increases in organic traffic, event inquiries and website-generated leads. seodesignchicago.com
   • That makes their experience unusually relevant to your business model.
   • SEO Design Chicago

4. 222 Digital Marketing Agency Chicago — another local option
   • More of a general digital/web agency, but worth including if you're looking for a smaller Chicago partner.

One particularly interesting wildcard

97 Switch caught my attention because its portfolio includes CompTIA's ChannelCon & Partner Summit 2024, alongside website, marketing and strategy work. www.97switch.com

That's much closer to your world than a typical corporate website project: B2B audiences + conferences + marketing + digital experience.

How I'd approach this

If I were in your position, I'd interview Solid Digital, VisualFizz, and 97 Switch first.

And I wouldn't brief them with “we need a new website.” I'd say:

“We sell corporate training and events to B2B buyers. We need the website to generate qualified corporate inquiries, fill training/event programs, support campaigns around individual events, and make it extremely easy for a decision-maker to understand what we do and take the next step.”

Then ask each agency to show you 2–3 comparable B2B/event projects they've actually built, rather than showing you their prettiest portfolio pieces.

The key question I'd ask: “Show me a website you've built where the business outcome was qualified leads, event registrations, or pipeline—not just traffic.”

If you tell me roughly your annual revenue, whether you sell primarily to HR/L&D, associations, sales teams, or executives, and whether you need event registration/ticketing built into the site, I can narrow this to the 3 Chicago agencies I'd actually put on an RFP.

Yes. For a training + corporate events company, I’d prioritize an agency that understands the difference between a pretty brochure site and a site that actually generates event inquiries, registrations, corporate leads, and repeat business.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Orbit Media Studios — my first call

Orbit is probably the strongest overall fit if the primary project is a website redesign/growth site. They explicitly specialize in B2B digital marketing and lead-generation websites, combining UX, content, SEO, conversion optimization, and development. They also have experience with event calendars/registration and other conversion-oriented functionality. www.orbitmedia.com

Orbit Media Studios

Why I'd shortlist them: They seem much more focused on "how does this website produce business?" than simply "how should the website look?"

2. Solid Digital — especially worth talking to if you're downtown

Solid Digital is actually at 100 N. LaSalle and positions itself specifically as a B2B-focused web design agency. They work with B2B marketing teams and emphasize websites designed to drive conversions and revenue. www.soliddigital.com

Solid Digital

I'd put them in the pitch process alongside Orbit and see which one better understands your business model.

3. Marcel Digital — good if lead generation/analytics are important

Marcel is at 20 N. Wacker and combines web development with SEO, CRO, analytics and paid marketing. Their positioning is particularly relevant if you're trying to turn the website into a measurable demand-generation channel rather than just an online catalog.

Marcel Digital

4. Symmetri Marketing Group / Yes& — interesting B2B-specialist option

Symmetri has a strong B2B heritage, including branding, messaging, web design/development and integrated marketing. It's worth investigating if your bigger problem is positioning and messaging as much as the website itself. www.cchangeinc.com

5. Agency EA — the wildcard if events are the heart of the business

This isn't my first choice for a conventional corporate website, but Agency EA is interesting because it actually works in live/hybrid/virtual events and offers event websites, digital experiences, UX/UI and event marketing.

If your website needs to sell the experience of your training and events—not merely list them—they could bring a useful perspective.

If it were my company

I'd ask Orbit, Solid Digital and Agency EA to have an initial conversation.

I'd give all three the same brief:

"We run B2B training and corporate events in Chicago. We need our website to generate corporate event inquiries, sell our training programs, communicate our expertise, and turn individual events into an ongoing marketing funnel."

Then ask them to show you exactly how they'd structure the site around that funnel.

That's the key test. I'd be wary of an agency that immediately starts talking about colors, animations and a homepage before asking about your buyers, event economics, sales cycle, registration process, CRM and lead sources.

One other agency caught my eye: Ice Nine Online is right downtown at 444 W. Lake and is explicitly B2B-focused, with WordPress website design and demand-generation sites. It could be a good more specialized/B2B alternative to the larger agencies.

If you tell me roughly what kind of training/events you sell (e.g. leadership training, compliance, conferences, executive workshops), your approximate website budget, and whether you need registrations/payments built in, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually contact and explain why.

For a training + corporate events company, I’d avoid choosing a generic “great web design” shop. You want an agency that understands B2B lead generation, event registration, corporate buyers, and the long sales cycle—ideally with experience turning a website into a pipeline tool.

My Chicago shortlist would be:

1. Solid Digital — my first call

Solid Digital
Web
Address: 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
Phone: +1 877-899-9981
They’re probably the closest match to what you described. Solid Digital explicitly positions itself around B2B web design and digital growth, and its Chicago team is downtown at 100 N LaSalle. Their work goes beyond visual design into UX, conversion, messaging and ongoing digital growth. www.soliddigital.com

Why I'd call them: If your site needs to sell training programs, generate corporate-event inquiries, promote upcoming events and capture leads, this is the kind of B2B orientation I'd want.

Solid Digital website

2. VisualFizz — especially interesting for the event side

VisualFizz
Web
Address: 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Phone: +1 773-599-1829
VisualFizz is unusually relevant because they explicitly do event marketing + website/registration development. Their event work includes registration pages, custom event websites, digital promotion, paid media and lead generation. www.visualfizz.com

They also position themselves as a B2B marketing agency, so you're not just getting an event-production creative shop.

I'd consider them if: your website needs to become a marketing engine for your events rather than simply a corporate brochure.

VisualFizz website

3. c|change — strong B2B/event-branding combination

C Change
Web
Address: 1052 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: +13128299794
c|change is a Chicago B2B marketing agency with 20+ years of experience and capabilities spanning websites, digital, branding, content and event support. Their portfolio specifically includes conference/event assets as well as B2B website projects. www.cchangeinc.com

I'd consider them if: your challenge is as much positioning and brand differentiation as it is website development.

c|change website

4. Marcel Digital — best if lead generation/measurement is paramount

Marcel Digital
Web
Address: 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1285, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
Phone: +1 312-255-8044
Marcel is downtown and combines web development with SEO, CRO, paid media and analytics. That's compelling if you're trying to answer questions like Which events generate qualified corporate leads? Which pages turn visitors into inquiries? What does our CAC look like?

Marcel Digital website

5. Ice Nine Online — smaller B2B-focused option

Ice Nine Online
Web
Address: 444 W Lake St Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
Phone: +1 773-980-9274
This one is worth putting on the list if you don't want a huge agency. They're Chicago-based, explicitly B2B-focused, and do WordPress corporate/demand-generation websites.

Ice Nine Online website

One important distinction

I'd separate “web agency that understands events” from “event agency that can build websites.”

For your business, I'd lean toward the former.

Your ideal site probably needs to do something like:

Corporate buyer → finds training/event offering → understands business outcome → sees proof/case studies → requests proposal / books conversation

and separately:

Prospective attendee → finds event → sees compelling agenda/speakers → registers → receives nurture/follow-up → becomes future buyer

That's much closer to B2B demand generation + event marketing than ordinary web design.

If I were you, I'd talk to these three first

Solid Digital → best overall B2B website partner
VisualFizz → best blend of website + event marketing
c|change → best blend of B2B positioning + creative + event support

I'd also ask each one to show you 2–3 actual B2B/event projects, not just their prettiest website work. The key question I'd ask is:

“Show me a website you've built where the primary objective was generating qualified B2B leads or registrations—not simply improving the client's brand.”

That answer will tell you very quickly who actually understands your business.

Yes. For a Chicago training + corporate events company, I’d prioritize agencies that understand B2B buyer journeys, lead generation, event registration/conversion, and corporate decision-makers—not just agencies that make attractive websites.

My shortlist:

1. Solid Digital — my first call
   • Downtown at 100 N LaSalle.
   • Specifically positions itself around B2B website design and digital growth.
   • Strong fit if your site needs to generate inquiries for training programs, conferences, executive events, etc., rather than simply function as a brochure. Their Chicago practice explicitly focuses on B2B marketing teams and conversion-oriented websites. www.soliddigital.com
   • Solid Digital website

2. Avenue — potentially the best strategic fit
   • Chicago-based B2B marketing firm.
   • Their capabilities specifically include websites, email campaigns, sales activation, meetings & events, and integrated marketing. That's unusually close to your business model. www.avenue-inc.com
   • I'd talk to them if you're looking for more than a redesign—e.g. positioning your training/event offerings and building a proper B2B acquisition funnel.

3. Marcel Digital — best if lead generation/measurement matters
   • Chicago agency with B2B/enterprise orientation.
   • Combines website development with SEO, paid media, CRO and analytics, which could be valuable if your website needs to actually fill events and generate corporate training leads.

4. Ice Nine Online — good smaller B2B-focused option
   • Downtown Chicago, and specifically oriented toward B2B companies.
   • Particularly interesting if you want a WordPress-based B2B site without necessarily hiring a huge agency.

5. Next/Now — if the experience/brand side is important
   • Chicago agency specializing in experiential marketing, live/virtual events and digital experiences.
   • I'd consider them if your competitive advantage is the experience you create and you want the website to communicate that visually.

One I'd put slightly outside the web-design shortlist

Agency EA is interesting because it's an experiential/event agency that also does event websites, UX/UI and digital marketing. If you want the website tightly integrated with your actual event experience rather than treating it as a standalone web project, they're worth a conversation.

My recommendation

If I were in your shoes, I'd have three conversations first: Solid Digital, Avenue, and Marcel Digital.

I'd give all three the same brief:

“We run B2B training and corporate events in Chicago. We don't just need a prettier website—we need the site to turn corporate decision-makers into qualified inquiries and event registrations.”

Then ask them to show you 2–3 examples where they improved conversion or pipeline, not just examples of beautiful websites.

The key question I'd ask is: “How would you structure our site differently if the buyer is an HR/L&D leader, sales leader, marketing leader, or executive booking an event for 50–500 people?”

The agency that gives you a thoughtful answer to that is probably more valuable than the one with the flashiest portfolio.

Yes. Given that you’re a training + corporate events company, I’d look beyond a generic “Chicago web design agency.” You want a shop that understands B2B lead generation, event registration, corporate buyers, and conversion, not just making a pretty site.

My Chicago shortlist

1. VisualFizz — probably my first call
VisualFizz
VisualFizz
Web
Address: 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Phone: +1 773-599-1829

This is the closest match I found to your brief. They position themselves specifically around B2B marketing, while also offering web design and event marketing. Their event work includes registration pages/custom event websites, digital promotion, paid media, and lead generation. www.visualfizz.com

Why I'd call them: They should understand the connection between “build the website” and “get the right corporate people to register/buy.”

VisualFizz

2. Solid Digital — strongest pure B2B web option
Solid Digital
Solid Digital
Web
Address: 100 N LaSalle St #1400, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
Phone: +1 877-899-9981

They're downtown at 100 N. LaSalle and explicitly specialize in B2B website design and digital growth. Their positioning is much more sophisticated than a typical small-business web shop, with an emphasis on websites that support marketing and revenue. www.soliddigital.com

I'd favor them if your main need is a serious redesign of your corporate website, with event marketing integrated into the architecture.

Solid Digital

3. Marcel Digital — good if lead generation/measurement matters
Marcel Digital
Marcel Digital
Web
Address: 20 N Wacker Dr Ste 1285, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
Phone: +1 312-255-8044

They're right in the Loop and combine web development with SEO, paid media, CRO and analytics. They specifically work with B2B/enterprise organizations.

This would be particularly interesting if you're thinking: “Our website needs to generate more qualified corporate-event inquiries, not just look better.”

4. Avenue B2B Marketing — interesting wildcard

Avenue is unusually relevant to your business because it combines B2B marketing + websites + meetings/events + training/sales activation. They’re headquartered in Chicago and explicitly work with B2B companies. www.visualfizz.comwww.avenue-inc.com

It's less of a conventional “web design agency” and more of a B2B marketing partner, which could actually be an advantage for you.

Avenue B2B Marketing

One I'd seriously investigate: DCM Communications

DCM Communications
DCM Communications
Web
Address: Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: +14234053822

This one jumped out because they're a Chicago boutique marketing communications firm that focuses heavily on the events industry, while also doing web design, branding, PR and marketing.

If your business sells events/training as the product, rather than simply needing a corporate website, I'd want to talk to them.

My ranking for your particular business

If I were you, I'd have VisualFizz, Avenue and DCM each pitch the same brief. Don't ask them simply for a website quote. Tell them:

“We sell corporate training and events to B2B organizations. We need a website that turns corporate decision-makers into qualified event inquiries and registrations. We want the site architecture, messaging, SEO, landing pages and conversion strategy built around that.”

Then see which agency starts asking you about buyer personas, average deal value, event attendance, lead sources, CRM, conversion rates and sales cycle rather than immediately showing you homepage designs.

That conversation will tell you very quickly whether you've found a real B2B growth partner or just a web designer.

Yes. For your specific niche, I’d avoid choosing a generic “great Chicago web design agency.” You want a firm that understands B2B lead generation, event registration/conversion, corporate buyers, and the sales cycle around training/events.

My shortlist:

1. Solid Digital — my first call
   • Downtown Chicago, at 100 N LaSalle.
   • Explicitly positions itself around B2B digital growth, not just visual web design.
   • Their work covers website strategy, UX/UI, development, SEO and conversion, which is a strong fit if your site needs to turn corporate decision-makers into inquiries. www.soliddigital.com
   • Best for: rebuilding your main company website into a serious B2B demand-generation machine.

2. VisualFizz — probably the most interesting fit for event marketing
   • Chicago B2B marketing agency with web, branding and digital capabilities.
   • More importantly, they specifically offer event marketing, including registration pages/custom event websites, digital promotion and pre/post-event engagement. www.visualfizz.com
   • Best for: a company where the website and event marketing need to work together rather than being separate projects.

3. Ice Nine Online — strong if lead generation is the priority
   • Downtown at 444 W Lake.
   • Founder-led B2B digital agency with B2B corporate website design, SEO, demand generation and analytics.
   • Best for: “I don't just want a prettier website—I need more qualified corporate inquiries.”

4. Marcel Digital — strongest marketing/measurement orientation
   • Downtown at 20 N Wacker.
   • B2B/enterprise web development combined with SEO, paid media, CRO and analytics; they also work with marketing/CRM infrastructure.
   • Best for: a more sophisticated operation where you want the website tied into marketing automation, CRM and measurable pipeline.

5. Angle180 — worth a conversation if you want boutique
   • In the Chicago Board of Trade Building.
   • Focuses on websites designed around lead generation and measurable ROI rather than simply aesthetics.
   • Best for: a smaller/more hands-on agency relationship.

One unusual option I'd seriously consider

Agency EA isn't primarily a web-design shop, but they're very relevant to your business. They're a Chicago brand-experience agency specializing in B2B events, conferences, meetings, training/sales meetings, digital experiences and event websites. www.linkedin.com

If your business is something like “we sell corporate training + executive conferences + B2B events,” I'd actually talk to them alongside a pure web agency. They understand the event side of the customer journey in a way many web shops won't.

What I'd do in your shoes

I'd interview Solid Digital, VisualFizz and Ice Nine first.

And I'd give each the same brief:

“We're a Chicago-based training and corporate events company. We don't need a brochure website. We need a B2B website that gets HR/L&D leaders, executives, associations and corporate event buyers to inquire, register, and ultimately buy. We also need event-specific landing pages and campaigns.”

Then ask them to show you 3 relevant B2B/event projects they've actually built, not their three prettiest websites.

The agency I'd choose is the one that can clearly explain how your website will turn traffic → event registration/inquiry → qualified lead → corporate sale, including what happens after someone registers.

If you tell me roughly your annual revenue, your typical client (company size/industry), and whether you're primarily selling public training, private corporate training, conferences, or all three, I can narrow this to the 2–3 Chicago agencies I'd actually invite to pitch.

For a downtown Chicago training and corporate events company, I’d look beyond a typical “pretty website” shop. You need an agency that understands B2B buyer journeys: HR leaders, L&D directors, conference planners, executives, and procurement teams — and knows how to turn event interest into qualified leads.

My shortlist would be:

Best overall fits

1. Orbit Media Studios — strong B2B website strategy + conversion focus
Good fit if you need a site that sells your programs, ranks organically, and converts visitors into inquiries. Orbit focuses heavily on strategy, UX, content, SEO, and conversion optimization rather than just visual design.
Best for: a training/events company that wants more inbound leads from corporate buyers.

2. Solid Digital — B2B-focused web design partner downtown
Solid Digital positions itself specifically around B2B websites and digital growth, with experience working with marketing teams that need a website tied to business outcomes. www.soliddigital.com
Best for: a polished corporate brand site, CRM integrations, and a longer-term digital partner.

3. Ice Nine Online — B2B WordPress/web partner
A good option if you want a practical, lead-generation-focused website without going to a huge agency. Their positioning is specifically around B2B companies and corporate websites.
Best for: a training company that needs a manageable CMS and ongoing support.

If your events are a major part of the brand

4. Agency EA — event experience + digital touchpoints
They are more event/experiential focused, but could be useful if your website needs to communicate the same premium experience as your live programs.
Best for: executive summits, conferences, high-touch corporate experiences.

5. All Terrain — experiential marketing expertise
More event marketing than pure web design, but worth considering if your growth strategy blends events, brand experiences, and campaigns.

B2B marketing agencies worth talking to

VisualFizz — B2B marketing + web design + demand generation. www.visualfizz.com
Marcel Digital — stronger if you care about analytics, SEO, and measurable pipeline growth.
Walker Sands — a larger B2B marketing firm if you’re targeting enterprise buyers.

What I’d ask them before hiring

For your specific business, I’d ask:

• “Show me 3 websites you built for B2B services, training, conferences, associations, or professional services.”
• “How would you structure pages for different buyers — HR, executives, event planners, and attendees?”
• “How would you generate leads for public workshops vs. private corporate programs?”
• “What would you integrate with our CRM/email marketing system?”
• “How do you measure success after launch?”

If I were narrowing this to three first calls, I’d start with:

1. Orbit Media Studios
2. Solid Digital
3. Ice Nine Online

They’re the closest match for a Chicago B2B training/events company that needs a website to drive revenue, not just look good.

Yes. For a Chicago training + corporate events company, I’d avoid choosing a generic “web design agency.” You want a shop that understands B2B lead generation, event registration, corporate buyers, and longer sales cycles.

My shortlist would be:

1. Best overall fit: VisualFizz

This is probably where I’d start. They explicitly position themselves around B2B marketing, web design, and event marketing. Their event offering includes registration pages, custom event websites, promotion, paid media, and lead-generation work. www.visualfizz.comwww.visualfizz.com
VisualFizz website

2. Best if the website itself is the major growth engine: Solid Digital

They're downtown at 100 N LaSalle and specifically describe themselves as a B2B-focused web design agency. Their strength is building a serious marketing website rather than simply an attractive brochure site. www.soliddigital.com
Solid Digital website

3. Best for sophisticated B2B demand generation: Walker Sands

They're in the Loop and are deeply B2B-oriented. I'd consider them if your events are aimed at executives, enterprise buyers, or large corporate accounts and the website needs to sit inside a broader demand-gen strategy.
Walker Sands website

4. Best smaller/technical B2B option: Ice Nine Online

They're downtown on W. Lake and specifically focus on B2B websites, WordPress, demand generation and corporate sites. This could be a particularly good fit if you want a capable web team without going to a large agency. Ice Nine Online

5. Worth talking to: Marcel Digital

They're in River North and combine web development with SEO, CRO, analytics and paid media. I'd put them on the list if your biggest problem is turning website traffic into qualified corporate-event inquiries. Marcel Digital

Who I'd call first

VisualFizz → Solid Digital → Ice Nine Online.

The interesting one is VisualFizz, because it sits unusually close to the intersection you're describing: B2B + website + event marketing + registration + promotion. That's much more relevant to you than an agency whose portfolio is mostly restaurants, consumer brands, or generic corporate websites. www.visualfizz.comwww.visualfizz.com

When you talk to them, I'd specifically ask:

“Show me two or three B2B event websites you've built where the goal was to generate registrations or qualified corporate leads—not just make the event look good.”

And I'd make sure they can handle event landing pages, registration/CRM integration, SEO for training topics, LinkedIn/paid acquisition, conversion tracking, and post-event lead nurturing.

If you tell me roughly your annual marketing budget and the type of companies you sell training/events to, I can narrow this to the 3 Chicago agencies I'd actually interview, including likely project cost and what I'd ask each one.

Yes — and I’d avoid treating this as a generic “Chicago web design” search. For a training/corporate-events company, your website really needs to sell events, registrations, corporate buyers, credibility, and lead generation.

Based on what I found, I’d put these on your shortlist:

1. VisualFizz — my first call
   • Chicago B2B marketing agency with dedicated web design + event marketing capabilities.
   • Their event offering specifically includes registration pages, custom event websites, digital promotion, paid media, and lead generation. www.visualfizz.comwww.visualfizz.com
   • This is unusually close to your combination of B2B + events + website.
   • They’re at 875 N Michigan Ave.

2. Solid Digital — best if the website itself is the priority
   • Downtown at 100 N LaSalle.
   • Explicitly positions itself around B2B web design and digital growth, rather than consumer websites. www.soliddigital.com
   • I'd talk to them if you need a substantial repositioning/rebuild and want the site to become a serious B2B lead-generation asset.

3. c|change — interesting hybrid option
   • Chicago B2B agency combining strategy, branding, website/UX, content, and event/tradeshow design. www.cchangeinc.com
   • Particularly interesting if your current problem is bigger than the website — e.g. “our brand doesn't communicate why companies should hire us for training/events.”

4. Marcel Digital — best for measurement/marketing infrastructure
   • Downtown/Loop presence and strong B2B orientation.
   • Combines web development with SEO, paid media, CRO and analytics, so they're worth considering if you want the website connected tightly to your sales funnel.

5. Ice Nine Online — worth a conversation for a smaller/boutique engagement
   • Downtown at 444 W Lake.
   • Specifically focused on B2B, with WordPress website design/development and demand-generation experience.

Who I'd call first

VisualFizz → Solid Digital → c|change.

The reason I'd start with VisualFizz is that they seem to have the rarest overlap: B2B marketing + web + actual event marketing/registration, rather than simply being a good web-development shop. Their stated event work includes building registration pages and custom websites and promoting events to generate attendance. www.visualfizz.comwww.visualfizz.com

One other possibility: if you actually want someone who understands the business of selling B2B events, rather than merely building the website, ConvergeX Connections is worth looking at. They're explicitly focused on B2B event marketing and judge events by meetings and pipeline, not attendance alone. convergexconnections.com They aren't primarily a web-design agency, though, so I'd view them as a strategic/event-marketing complement rather than your web shop.

The question I'd ask every agency:

“Show me three B2B websites you've built where the website had to generate qualified corporate leads or registrations—not just look good.”

That will eliminate a lot of agencies very quickly.

If you tell me roughly your annual revenue, website URL, and what you're trying to fix (more corporate clients, more event registrations, better SEO, rebrand, etc.), I can narrow this to the 2–3 agencies I'd actually interview and what I'd expect to pay each.