Lookthinkmake

What Lookthinkmake does

Lookthinkmake (LTM) is a full-service advertising, design, digital, and video agency founded in 2008 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. The firm specializes in placemaking and destination-based branding for clients across six verticals: Community & Commercial Development, Architecture, Travel & Tourism, Multi-family Residential, Civic & Public, and Non-profit. Service offerings span Brand Strategy (stakeholder charrettes, media planning & buying, research), Creative (identity, advertising, collateral, signage, video, photography direction), Digital (advertising, social, web design, SEO/SEM, programmatic), Video Production (pre-production through distribution, including animation and motion graphics), and Public Relations following the Compass Communications merger. The company has no proprietary platform or API; its underlying technology is its integrated creative production stack combined with standard martech (Google Analytics, HubSpot, Segment.io).

The business operates on a project-based professional services revenue model with custom quote-based pricing, multi-year contract cadences, and no publicly disclosed rates. Go-to-market is sales-led through direct enterprise relationships across Texas, Ohio, and Colorado, supplemented by industry presence, referrals, and a content marketing engine (the LTM Blog). The firm sells to enterprise clients (real estate developers, hospitality brands), government and CVB accounts (Visit Austin, Visit Marble Falls), and non-profits (Barton Springs Conservancy, Pease Park Conservancy, Andy Roddick Foundation).

In January 2023, Post House Creative (PHC), a Columbus, Ohio-based content creation and video production company, acquired LTM; simultaneously, Compass Communications (Austin-based PR) merged into LTM and PHC acquired Strategic Design + Advertising (SDA, Steamboat Springs, Colorado). The combined entity operates 36 professionals across Austin, Columbus, and Steamboat Springs, retaining the Lookthinkmake brand. Co-founders Patricia Buchholtz and Sean Thompson remain with the company under PHC CEO Timothy M. Flaherty. The firm holds multiple industry awards (ADDYs, Summit International, Communication Arts, Print Magazine, Texas Travel Awards) and has delivered measurable client outcomes including 100M+ PR impressions, 600% organic search uplift, and 57+ media placements on individual campaigns. Revenue, funding history, and detailed financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Lookthinkmake

Legal name

Lookthinkmake

Website

https://lookthinkmake.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lookthinkmake is a full-service advertising, design, digital, video, and public relations agency founded in 2008 in Austin, Texas, specializing in placemaking and destination-based branding for real estate developers, tourism boards, hospitality operators, civic organizations, and non-profits across Texas, Ohio, and Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising and Brand Design Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (54181), Graphic Design Services (541430), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Creative & Experience Design Agencies (Web/App/UX) (MPAAAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paid Social Media Buying (MPAAABAD), Digital & Programmatic Media Buying (Display, Video, CTV, Audio) (BPAFABAB)

Keywords

• Advertising agency services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Creative design services
• Digital marketing agency
• Video production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Branding Services: LTM generates revenue through providing integrated advertising, branding, digital marketing, public relations, and video production services to clients across multiple industries including real estate development, hospitality, travel and tourism, and non-profits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lookthinkmake is a full-service advertising and design agency that provides integrated brand strategy, creative design, digital marketing, public relations, and video production services to enterprise and government clients. The agency specializes in placemaking and destination-based branding, serving industries including real estate development, architecture, travel and tourism, multi-family residential, civic/public, and non-profit sectors from offices in Austin, Columbus, and Steamboat Springs.

Product overview

Lookthinkmake is a full-service advertising, design, digital, and video agency offering integrated brand communication services. The agency's core service offerings include Brand Strategy (strategic planning, media planning & buying, research), Creative Services (logos, identity design, advertising campaigns, collateral), Digital Services (digital advertising, social media marketing, website development, SEO/SEM), Video Production (pre-production, on-location filming, post-production, motion graphics), and Public Relations (media outreach, community engagement). The agency specializes in placemaking and destination-based branding, working with clients across community development, architecture, travel & tourism, multi-family residential, civic, and non-profit sectors. Notable client projects include the ATXLoves tourism platform, Whatchamafeelit social-emotional learning kit, and various real estate and hospitality branding initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ATXLoves: A platform and campaign to promote local Austin businesses to visitors, created by lookthinkmake for the City of Austin and administered by Visit Austin.

Products and services

• Brand Strategy Strategic planning services including stakeholder charrettes, media planning and buying, project management, and research and reporting to help brands push forward.
• Creative Services Creative design services including logos and identity design, advertising campaigns, collateral design and production, signage and out-of-home, video and photography, and creative direction for client brands.
• Digital Services Digital marketing services including digital advertising campaigns, social media marketing, website design and development, SEO, search engine marketing, and programmatic advertising for client brands.
• Video Production Full-service video production including pre-production services, ideation, scripts and storyboards, on-location video and photography production, editing and post-production, animation and motion graphics, and distribution and management.
• Public Relations

Quantifiable outcome

• CG&S Design-Build: 19 high-quality media placements, 60% increase in new audiences, improved website engagement and lead generation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Post House Creative (PHC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023PHC acquired lookthinkmake in January 2023, with LTM retaining its name and current branding while becoming a Post House Creative Company. Both companies share common values, strategic thinking, and passion for creative problem solving. The combined agency employs 36 professionals with offices in Ohio, Colorado, and Texas.
• Compass CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Compass Communications, an Austin-based public relations firm founded by Mary Alice Kaspar, merged with lookthinkmake. Kaspar becomes the Senior Public Relations Director of the new agency. The two firms previously worked together on projects including The Independent condo tower and River Park and Velocity mixed-use communities.
• Strategic Design + Advertising (SDA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023PHC acquired Strategic Design + Advertising in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in early 2023. Lisa Fleming, founder of SDA, is now part of the LTM team as Founder of SDA, contributing creative and design direction expertise in resort and destination marketing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• McGarrah Jessee: Austin-based independent creative and brand agency with similar full-service advertising, brand strategy, and digital capabilities. Comparable in size, geography, and emphasis on Texas-rooted clients across retail, CPG, and destination categories.
• GSD&M: Austin-headquartered full-service advertising agency offering brand strategy, creative, digital, and media planning. Strong overlap with LTM in Texas-centric client base and integrated campaign work, though larger in scale and holding-company affiliated.
• Preacher: Austin-based independent creative agency providing brand strategy, advertising, and digital services. Similar boutique positioning, regional Texas roots, and full-service creative offerings make it a closely comparable peer.
• The Richards Group: Dallas-based independent full-service advertising agency with strong Texas real estate, retail, and tourism client roster. Directly comparable in regional full-service creative model, especially on destination and developer branding.
• MMGY Global: Kansas City-based integrated marketing firm specializing in travel, tourism, and hospitality. Highly comparable to LTM's Travel & Tourism vertical work, including destination branding, PR, and digital campaigns for CVBs and visitor bureaus.
• Development Counsellors International: Specialist marketing firm focused on economic development and place branding for states, regions, and cities. Closely aligned with LTM's Community & Commercial Development work helping destinations and municipalities attract investment and visitors.
• Barkley: Kansas City-based independent full-service agency offering brand strategy, creative, media, PR, and digital. Comparable mid-size independent agency competing in the same regional full-service space.
• Tombras: Knoxville, Tennessee-based independent full-service agency with integrated creative, media, PR, and digital offerings. Similar mid-market independent agency profile and regional full-service orientation.
• RPA: Santa Monica-based independent advertising agency providing brand strategy, creative, media planning and buying, and digital. Comparable full-service independent agency competing for destination, real estate, and brand storytelling accounts.
• Argonaut: San Francisco-based independent creative agency offering integrated brand, advertising, and digital services. Comparable independent full-service creative agency positioning and brand storytelling emphasis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lookthinkmake
• Facebookfacebook.com/lookthinkmake

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Lookthinkmake