Two Good Agencies.
Different in the Right Ways.
Metric Theory is a San Francisco-based performance digital marketing agency, now part of Media.Monks. They specialize in paid search, paid social, shopping and feed management, Amazon advertising, programmatic media, and audience management for B2B, retail, e-commerce, and technology companies.
This comparison exists to help you decide. We'll tell you what they do well, where we differ, and which option is likely the better fit for your situation. We'd rather you make the right choice — even if that's not us.
What They Offer
Performance marketing and data-driven media at scale
Metric Theory specializes in performance marketing — paid search, paid social, Amazon, programmatic — with a data-driven methodology. As part of Media.Monks, they have access to a global network of tools and capabilities for performance-first digital programs.
Amazon advertising specialization
Metric Theory offers Amazon advertising management as a distinct service. For e-commerce businesses selling through Amazon, that channel-specific expertise is a practical differentiator.
Where Sidestreet Is Different
In-house video production and photography
Metric Theory is a performance digital marketing agency — paid media, SEO, and audience management. Sidestreet adds broadcast-trained video production, commercial photography, and drone aerial alongside digital marketing.
PR and crisis communications
Metric Theory doesn't offer PR or earned media services. Sidestreet operates a dedicated communications practice from a broadcast journalism background.
Part of a large global holding company
Metric Theory is now part of Media.Monks (a S4 Capital company). Sidestreet is independently owned and operated. For clients who prefer working with independent agencies where accountability sits with the people doing the work rather than a holding company structure, that's a meaningful difference.
Church media specialization
Sidestreet operates a church media practice for faith communities. Metric Theory serves commercial B2B and e-commerce clients exclusively.
How to Decide
Metric Theory is probably the right choice if: you're an e-commerce, retail, or B2B technology company that primarily needs performance paid media, Amazon advertising, and audience management at scale.
Sidestreet is probably the right choice if: you need production alongside digital marketing, want PR/crisis communications, prefer an independent agency, serve a faith community, or are outside e-commerce and B2B tech.
If you're genuinely unsure, talk to both of us before committing. Any agency worth working with will give you a straight answer about whether they're the right fit — and so will we.
How This Comparison Was Built
Everything on this page about Metric Theory comes from their own published website and public materials — not speculation, not secondhand reviews. We describe their strengths in the terms they use themselves, and where we weren't certain about a capability, we said so. Sidestreet's senior team reviews this page and re-verifies it when either agency's offerings change.
Last verified: August 13, 2026. If you represent Metric Theory and something here is out of date, email workwithus@hellosidestreet.com and we'll correct it.
400%+
E-commerce revenue growth for a manufacturer after a full-site rebuild and integrated digital campaign
0
Contract clients who stayed 1+ year and had a negative ROI — zero, ever
AI
Claude and in-house models integrated across campaign strategy, SEO analysis, and content — with senior editorial judgment on every output
75/25
Vote margin in a competitive county sheriff race — our digital campaign delivered a decisive win called before 7pm on election night
Still Deciding? Let's Have
An Honest Conversation
We'll tell you directly whether Sidestreet is the right fit for your situation — and if we're not, we'll say so. No pressure, no pitch. Just a real conversation about what you need.
Start the conversationMetric Theory vs. Sidestreet — Questions Answered
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Metric Theory is a SF-based performance digital marketing agency (now part of Media.Monks) focused on paid media, Amazon, and data-driven audience management. Sidestreet is an independent full-service agency adding in-house production, PR/crisis, and church media.
Metric Theory is now part of Media.Monks, a digital transformation company under S4 Capital. It operates within a larger holding company structure.
Metric Theory focuses on paid search, paid social, Amazon, programmatic, and SEO. In-house broadcast video production and commercial photography are not their primary services.
Yes. Our marketing, web, and communications services are remote-capable. We work with clients nationally including the Bay Area.
For non-e-commerce SF businesses, BayCreative handles B2B full-service marketing, Gumas covers branding and challenger brand strategy, and Sidestreet offers full-service including production and PR, remotely.