Upstream Marketing

What Upstream Marketing does

Upstream Marketing (legal entity Brookfield Media LLC) is a Houston-based website design and digital marketing agency founded by Brian Bearden in 2007. The firm operates with 1-10 employees and serves industrial, B2B, and select local-business clients across the United States and globally, with a documented emphasis on companies that have longer sales cycles and complex buyer journeys. Its core offering is custom website design and development, primarily on WordPress, supplemented by WooCommerce and Shopify for e-commerce, managed WordPress hosting and updates, local search visibility (Google Business Profile management and local SEO), SEO consulting, graphic design, and fractional marketing director services. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements, recurring managed-services subscriptions (hosting, WordPress management, Google Business Profile), and a white-label website development partnership program for agencies, MSPs, and creative professionals.

The agency's go-to-market is consultative and direct, built around a 'Let's Talk' first-call approach with custom scoping per engagement. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and proposals are tailored to project scope. Its technology stack is composed of widely available platforms (WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, ClickandStor, SiteLink) rather than proprietary systems, with the differentiator being domain specialization in industrial/B2B website design, 18+ years of vertical experience, and a buyer-centric methodology for organizing technical product information. The firm has accumulated American Advertising Federation Houston Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards (59th Annual American Advertising Awards Houston and Tenth District) for projects such as Holmes Smokehouse and Burton Sausage.

Operationally, Upstream Marketing is founder-led, bootstrapped, and privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity. Long-term client relationships (18+ years with Jones Hydraulic Service, multi-year engagements with W.W. Bartlett, Hocker Inc., and others) and recurring managed-services contracts suggest a stable but small revenue base. The firm has begun positioning around AI-powered search optimization and white-label agency partnerships as adjacent growth levers, while remaining a sub-10-person operation focused on the Houston industrial corridor and extending nationally and globally via remote delivery.

Name

Upstream Marketing

Legal name

Brookfield Media LLC

Website

https://upstreammarketing.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Upstream Marketing is a Houston-based, founder-led web design and digital marketing agency that builds WordPress and e-commerce websites primarily for industrial and B2B companies with longer sales cycles, complemented by hosting, SEO, and white-label partnership services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Website Design & Development: Custom website design and development services for industrial and B2B companies. Includes website redesigns for established companies and new website builds for startups.
2. Industrial Website Design: Specialized website design services for manufacturers, distributors, service companies, construction firms, and engineering companies with technical products and longer sales cycles.
3. eCommerce Development: Building and maintaining e-commerce websites with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, including product catalog management and payment integration.
4. Website Hosting: Managed WordPress hosting services including security updates, monitoring, and technical support without the upsells typical of national hosting companies.
5. WordPress Website Management: Ongoing website updates, maintenance, security management, and monitoring to keep client websites current and functioning properly.
6. Local Search Visibility: Google Business Profile management, local SEO, website optimization, and AI search visibility improvements for local businesses.
7. Marketing Consulting: Strategic marketing consulting including fractional marketing director services, SEO strategy, and local marketing planning.
8. Graphic Design: Graphic design services including logos, brochures, catalogs, print ads, tradeshow booth graphics, and corporate identity materials.
9. Website Development Partnerships: White-label and partnership arrangements with agencies, MSP providers, IT companies, graphic designers, and videographers for website development support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Upstream Marketing is a Houston-based digital agency that designs, develops, hosts, and manages websites primarily for industrial and B2B companies with longer sales cycles. The firm delivers custom WordPress-based websites, e-commerce builds on Shopify and WooCommerce, ongoing hosting and WordPress management, local SEO and Google Business Profile management, graphic design, and fractional marketing consulting.

Product overview

Upstream Marketing is a Houston-based website design and digital marketing agency offering a comprehensive suite of services centered around website development, hosting, and online marketing. The core offerings include Industrial Website Design and general Website Design & Development services, which are complemented by eCommerce Website Design for online stores. Supporting services include Website Hosting and WordPress Website Management for ongoing maintenance, Local Search Visibility and Google Business Profile Management for local marketing, SEO services, Graphic Design for marketing collateral, and Brand Identity development. The company also offers Website Development Partnerships for agencies and creative professionals who need reliable web development support for their clients. All services are designed primarily for industrial, B2B, and local businesses with longer sales cycles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Website Design Custom website design services for industrial and B2B companies with technical products, longer sales cycles, and multiple decision-makers. Websites are organized around how buyers search, evaluate, and take action.
• Website Design & Development Custom website design and development for businesses at any stage, from startups to companies planning for future growth or exit, producing professional, mobile-friendly websites.
• Website Hosting Managed website hosting service that keeps domains and email in place, monitors security, and provides ongoing support without the upsells typical of national hosting companies.
• WordPress Website Management Ongoing WordPress updates, plugin management, security patches, and website maintenance so business owners do not need to manage technical details themselves.
• Local Search Visibility Improves client visibility across search engines, maps, Google Business Profiles, and AI-powered search tools through Google Business Profile management, website optimization, and local SEO.
• eCommerce Website Design E-commerce website design for businesses selling products online, with secure transaction processing, SEO optimization, mobile-friendly design, and Shopify or WooCommerce integration.
• Google Business Profile Management Optimization and ongoing management of Google Business Profile listings, including images, videos, response handling, and monthly performance reporting.
• Graphic Design Strategic graphic design for logos, corporate identity, brochures, catalogs, print ads, flyers, business cards, and tradeshow booth graphics, including print production coordination.
• Marketing Consulting Fractional marketing director and consulting services that develop and implement marketing plans, including SEO strategy, local marketing, and custom marketing plans for businesses without dedicated marketing staff.
• Website Development Partnerships Partnership program providing white-label website programming, hosting, and ongoing management support for agencies, MSP providers, IT companies, graphic designers, and videographers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hocker Inc. now sells over 1,700 NDT products online through their e-commerce website
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• B2BCFOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2BCFO partnered with Upstream Marketing to handle the marketing portion of Hocker Inc.'s business plan, which included moving to e-commerce, local marketing, and SEO strategy.
• MSP Providers & IT CompaniesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWebsite development partnership for MSP and IT companies who need reliable website support when website issues arise for their clients. Provides troubleshooting, WordPress support, hosting, and ongoing management.
• Advertising & Marketing AgenciesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgency partnerships for website development, hosting, WordPress management, troubleshooting, and programming support. Can work behind the scenes or alongside agency teams.
• Graphic DesignersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWebsite programming partnerships with graphic designers who need to translate design files from Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or other programs into functioning WordPress websites.
• Videographers & PhotographersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with videographers and photographers to create websites that match the quality of professional photography and video content they create for clients. Often becomes a two-way referral relationship.
• Kay Krenek CreativeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted website development partner providing programming, responsive design, and ongoing website support for Kay Krenek Creative's client projects.
• Kolanowski StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional photography studio that collaborated with Upstream Marketing on Holmes Smokehouse website, providing custom mouth-watering product photography.
• Double R Brand FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Holmes Smokehouse and Burton Sausage that commissioned Upstream Marketing for website redesign projects following initial success.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Industrial Strength Marketing: Marketing agency specifically focused on industrial B2B clients, similar to Upstream Marketing in vertical specialization and approach. Overlapping target customers (manufacturers, distributors, industrial service firms) with a comparable service mix spanning web design, SEO, and content.
• OuterBox: Digital agency focused on B2B and e-commerce brands, offering web design, SEO, and digital marketing services. Direct overlap with Upstream's industrial website design and e-commerce development offerings.
• Big Drop Inc: Web design and digital marketing agency serving business clients across verticals with custom websites and digital strategy. Comparable boutique agency model targeting B2B clients needing custom web design and development.
• SmartSites: Full-service digital agency offering web design, development, SEO, and PPC for businesses of all sizes. Direct competitor in the SMB/industrial website design category with heavily overlapping services.
• Madison Taylor Marketing: B2B and industrial marketing agency with focus on manufacturing and technical buyers. Strong vertical overlap with Upstream's industrial/B2B website design specialization and similar buyer-journey framing of services.
• Huemor: B2B web design and branding agency specializing in websites for industrial, manufacturing, and technology companies. Direct comparable in B2B website design methodology and mid-market/enterprise client overlap.
• Idea Marketing Group: B2B marketing agency focused on industrial and manufacturing clients with web design, content marketing, and SEO offerings. Strong direct overlap with Upstream's industrial specialization and comparable buyer-centric positioning.

Broad incumbents

• WebFX: Large-scale digital marketing agency offering web design, SEO, and full-funnel marketing for thousands of clients. Competes with Upstream for SMB and industrial website business but as part of a much broader portfolio across many verticals.
• Thrive Internet Marketing Agency: Full-service digital marketing agency with web design, SEO, and social media services spanning multiple verticals. Significantly larger scale than Upstream; overlaps on industrial and B2B service offerings but serves a much broader SMB mix.

Regional players

• Spiralogic: Houston-based digital agency offering web design, branding, and marketing services. Local regional competitor operating in the same metropolitan area as Upstream Marketing with similar mid-market client profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upstream-marketing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Upstream Marketing