Zilker Media

What Zilker Media does

Zilker Media is a privately held, boutique end-to-end public relations and brand strategy agency founded in 2017 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. The firm serves executives, entrepreneurs, authors, and mission-driven companies seeking to build trusted brands and personal platforms, with a stated focus on accelerating trust and discoverability in AI-driven search environments alongside traditional earned media. Its service portfolio spans Public Relations (including a distinct AI Discoverable PR offering), Brand Strategy, Branding & Design, Quiz Marketing, and Speaking & Workshops, supported by content assets such as The Strategic Business Influencer podcast and two published books, The Authority Advantage and The Strategic Business Influencer.

Underlying technology centers on a proprietary AI Discoverability Ecosystem framework that includes AI Discoverability Audits analyzing client presence across Google search, social platforms, and large language models (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity), and an AI-Optimized Content Ecosystem that develops posting frameworks designed to be indexed and cited by generative search engines. The firm also operates a Quiz Marketing platform whose assessments have been taken by more than 560,000 people in three years, and leverages a media network that has delivered over 200 client placements in 2023 and 2.5 million+ cumulative podcast listeners over two years.

Revenue mechanics are built on a mix of recurring PR and brand strategy retainers, project-based branding and design work, fee-based keynote speaking and workshops, and ancillary income from book sales and licensing through partnerships with ForbesBooks and Matt Holt Books. The go-to-market model is sales-led and referral-driven, supported by thought leadership content, an inbound website funnel with dedicated inquiry addresses, and founder speaking engagements at venues including Harvard Medical School, TEDx, Entrepreneurs Organization, Women Presidents Organization, and JPMorgan Chase. The firm operates as a partially remote boutique with a leadership team of approximately 13 members including Co-Founder & Chairman Rusty Shelton, Co-Founder & CEO Paige Velasquez Budde, Partner Clint Greenleaf, Chief Financial Officer Patti Conrad, Chief Publicity Officer Shelby Janner, and Chief Strategy Officer Nichole Williamson.

Name

Zilker Media

Legal name

Zilker Media

Website

https://zilkermedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zilker Media is a privately held, Austin-based boutique PR and brand strategy agency founded in 2017 that delivers earned media, brand strategy, design, quiz marketing, and AI discoverability services to thought leaders, authors, executives, and mission-driven companies across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations and Brand Strategy Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Reputation Management & Online PR (BPAFADAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Content Strategy & Planning (BPAFAIAG)

Keywords

• Public relations agency
• Brand strategy services
• Thought leadership PR
• Earned media relations
• AI discoverability optimization

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PR and Media Relations Services: Strategic public relations services including media coverage, press remarketing, podcast appearances, and earned media that builds trust and accelerates discoverability in AI search environments. Revenue generated through ongoing retainer relationships with clients.
2. Brand Strategy and Management: End-to-end brand building services including brand audits, strategy consulting, lead magnet design, email marketing, content management, and social media strategy. Provided as ongoing consulting engagements.
3. Branding and Design Services: Corporate and personal branding services including brand identity, logo design, brand refresh, pitch decks, corporate collateral, and ongoing graphic design support.
4. Speaking and Workshops: Keynote speaking engagements and strategy workshops led by founders Paige Velasquez Budde and Rusty Shelton for conferences and corporate events.
5. Book Publishing and Licensing: Revenue from published books 'The Authority Advantage' and 'The Strategic Business Influencer', plus speaking/workshop fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Zilker Media is an end-to-end PR and brand strategy agency that helps executives, entrepreneurs, and mission-driven companies build trusted brands through earned media, strategic brand positioning, and AI-discoverable content. The firm delivers integrated services spanning public relations, brand strategy, branding and design, quiz marketing, and speaking/workshop engagements. Its AI Discoverability Ecosystem framework, launched in April 2026, optimizes client visibility in AI-driven search environments such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity.

Product overview

Zilker Media is a boutique end-to-end PR and brand strategy agency offering a integrated portfolio of services. The core offering consists of Public Relations (including AI Discoverable PR), Brand Strategy, Branding & Design, Quiz Marketing, and Speaking & Workshops. These services work together as an integrated system: PR builds credibility through earned media, Brand Strategy provides the strategic framework, and Branding & Design delivers visual identity. Supporting resources include The Strategic Business Influencer and The Authority Advantage books, The LinkedIn Playbook, and the Brand Power Score Quiz as lead magnets. The Strategic Business Influencer podcast serves as a content platform. In April 2026, the firm launched its AI Discoverability Ecosystem framework to help clients become discoverable in AI-driven search environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Award-winning PR service providing media relations with traditional media combined with influencer and micromedia campaigns to establish clients as trusted leaders through high-quality digital coverage.
• AI Discoverable PR PR services optimized for AI discoverability that train generative search algorithms to recognize client expertise and position them as industry leaders in AI-driven search environments.
• Brand Strategy Strategic marketing services that build and elevate brands for thought leaders, executives, and companies through mission-aligned messaging, brand audits, strategy consulting, and long-term visibility growth.
• Branding & Design Professional branding services including brand identity and guidelines, brand refresh, corporate design and collateral, logo design, pitch decks, and ongoing graphic design support.
• Quiz Marketing Interactive quiz and assessment development for lead generation that drives email list growth and provides value to visitors, with over 560,000 assessments taken in the last three years.
• Speaking & Workshops Marketing keynotes and strategy workshops led by Zilker Media leadership on thought leadership, media skills, and brand building, including online brand audits for individuals and corporations.
• AI Discoverability Ecosystem A framework designed to enhance brand visibility and credibility in AI-driven search environments, integrating multiple media channels and strategies to improve organizations' AI relevance and authority for discoverability in large language models.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.7 million in new deposits generated for Keystone Bank within three quarters through targeted advertising campaign
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crenshaw Communications: B2B tech and consumer PR agency with content marketing and brand strategy offerings, comparable in size, vertical mix, and integrated service model.
• PAN Communications: Mid-size B2B tech and healthcare PR agency with content marketing and brand strategy capabilities; competes for similar enterprise thought-leadership engagements.
• JConnelly: Boutique integrated communications agency combining PR, content, digital, and creative services for B2B tech and professional services clients; closely aligned with Zilker's integrated model.
• Walker Sands: Integrated B2B marketing agency combining PR, brand strategy, content, and design services for mid-market and enterprise clients; closely mirrors Zilker's integrated service portfolio.
• Bospar PR: Tech-focused boutique PR agency offering media relations, thought leadership, and content marketing — comparable positioning to Zilker's tech and B2B client base.
• SHIFT Communications: B2B tech PR and communications agency with content, social, and brand services; competes in similar mid-market enterprise segment as Zilker Media.
• Inkhouse: Boutique B2B tech and consumer PR agency with integrated brand strategy services, comparable in size, service mix, and target buyer profile to Zilker Media.
• ARPR (now part of Gauge): Tech-focused PR and integrated marketing agency offering media relations, content, and brand strategy with comparable boutique positioning to Zilker.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: Largest global PR firm offering full-service communications including PR, brand strategy, and digital; competes for the same enterprise thought-leadership and author engagements but at vastly larger scale.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations and integrated marketing agency; competes for enterprise PR and brand strategy mandates with broader geographic and capability reach than Zilker.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zilkermedia
• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/1aecR3pYJNtyP9BmmVu0Cr?si=12b9483058064b98
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZilkerMedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zilkermedia
• Instagraminstagram.com/zilkermedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Zilker Media