Walker Sands

Full-service B2B integrated marketing and PR agency that prioritizes client outcomes.

Demand Gen & Performance Agencies
★★★★★ 4.8
2001 Founded
51-200 Employees
100+ Customers
Chicago, IL, USA Headquarters

Quick Facts

Starting Price
10000
Pricing Model
custom
Company Type
acquired

About Walker Sands

Walker Sands is an outcome-based B2B growth services agency that specializes in integrated marketing and public relations for B2B brands. Headquartered in Chicago with additional offices in Seattle and Boston, the firm blends strategy, content, creative, strategic communications and digital marketing to help clients build reputation, generate demand and strengthen their market position. The agency serves more than 100 mid-market and enterprise clients across technology, financial services, professional services, manufacturing, logistics and healthcare.

Founded in 2001 by Ken Gaebler, Walker Sands began as a B2B-focused PR and marketing shop and has steadily expanded into a full-service agency. Over more than two decades the firm has added capabilities in branding, web, marketing automation, analytics and revenue operations, and has been recognized as a 10-time Inc. 5000 honoree as well as a multi-year Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and PRovoke Best Agency to Work For. A major 2019 rebrand positioned Walker Sands as “the B2B growth agency,” reflecting its emphasis on tying marketing directly to business outcomes.

Walker Sands operates on an Outcome-based Marketing (OBM) framework that starts with the client’s desired business outcome—such as category leadership, pipeline growth, market expansion or reputation—and then backs into the right mix of channels and tactics. Its integrated services span research and insights, audience personas and messaging, go-to-market and brand strategy, media and influencer relations, executive social, content strategy and production, creative campaigns, SEO and generative engine optimization (GEO), paid digital media, marketing automation and email, and B2B web design and development. The firm also offers marketing technology and analytics consulting, including complex integrations and multi-touch attribution.

In recent years Walker Sands has accelerated its growth through acquisitions and private equity investment. It acquired tech PR agency March Communications and B2B demand generation firm KoMarketing to deepen its East Coast presence and performance marketing capabilities, and in 2019 received a private equity investment from Stone-Goff Partners. In October 2025, Mountaingate Capital acquired a majority stake in Walker Sands to fuel the next phase of expansion, including new data, analytics and AI-driven offerings built on its proprietary Atlas delivery platform and tools like the AI Domain Impact Index. Today, Walker Sands is regarded as one of North America’s leading B2B agencies for brands that want an integrated, data-informed partner across brand, demand and revenue operations.

Key Features

Outcome-based Marketing (OBM) framework that starts from business goals and designs integrated programs to reach specific B2B outcomes such as position, growth, reputation and engagement.

Research and insights services including qualitative and quantitative research, audience personas, messaging frameworks and go-to-market strategy.

Brand strategy and positioning covering brand architecture, value propositions, narrative, visual and verbal identity for complex B2B offerings.

Strategic communications and PR, including media and influencer relations, thought leadership, executive profiling and social media for brands and leaders.

Content marketing programs spanning content strategy, editorial calendars, long-form thought leadership, original research reports and sales enablement content.

Digital demand generation and performance marketing across paid search, paid social, display and retargeting to generate and nurture qualified pipeline.

SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) services that combine technical SEO, on-page optimization and content strategy with optimization for AI-driven search and answer engines.

Marketing automation and lifecycle program design, including lead scoring, segmentation, nurture programs and campaign orchestration in platforms like Marketo, Pardot and HubSpot.

B2B web design and development, including UX/UI design, WordPress builds, conversion rate optimization and performance optimization for complex buying journeys.

Creative services such as integrated campaigns, concept development, graphic design and illustration, video and animation, and brand storytelling tailored to B2B audiences.

Analytics, measurement and multi-touch attribution consulting to connect marketing activity to revenue, using tools like Google Tag Manager, Looker Studio and Supermetrics.

Marketing technology and RevOps advisory services, including martech stack assessment, integrations between CRM, marketing automation and analytics platforms, and data architecture.

Industry-specific programs and messaging for technology (including AI, cloud, cybersecurity, fintech, HR tech and martech), healthcare, manufacturing, professional services and supply chain/logistics.

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong project management and communication, with structured weekly check-ins, clear status tracking and reliable on-time delivery.
  • Deep B2B expertise, particularly in complex technology and professional services sectors, which helps them quickly understand niche products and audiences.
  • Truly integrated approach across PR, content, creative, web and digital demand generation, leading to measurable gains in awareness, traffic and qualified leads.
  • Data-driven mindset and robust analytics capabilities, including SEO, PPC and multi-touch attribution, that tie marketing programs to pipeline and revenue.
  • Collaborative teams that act as an extension of in-house marketing, willing to be both strategic partners and flexible executors as client needs evolve.

👎 Cons

  • Some clients note that while technical SEO and strategy are strong, visual and aesthetic design work can occasionally lag behind their technical capabilities.
  • A few web projects have required post-launch fixes for minor bugs or UX issues, indicating room to further strengthen QA and polish before go-live.
  • Typical budgets - with many projects in the $50,000-$199,999 range and retainers under $10,000 per month - can be a stretch for very small or early-stage companies.

User Reviews

G2
4.8
★★★★★
Capterra
unknown
☆☆☆☆☆
TrustRadius
unknown
☆☆☆☆☆

Integrations

Marketo Pardot HubSpot Salesforce Google Analytics Google Tag Manager Looker Studio Supermetrics WordPress Drupal Google Search Console LinkedIn Business Manager Google Ads Facebook Ads ZoomInfo SEMrush Zapier Segment

Best For

Company Size

smb mid-market enterprise

Industries

Technology Financial Services Healthcare Manufacturing Professional Services Supply Chain & Logistics

Use Cases

Integrated PR and thought leadership to build category leadership and reputation in B2B markets. Digital demand generation and performance marketing to drive qualified pipeline and lower cost per acquisition. Brand and website transformation projects to modernize positioning, messaging and digital experience. Marketing automation and lifecycle program design to improve lead nurturing, scoring and handoff to sales. Analytics, attribution and martech integration to connect marketing investments to revenue impact.

FAQ

What is Walker Sands?

+

Walker Sands is an outcome-based B2B growth services agency that combines strategy, research, branding, creative, content, PR and digital marketing to help B2B organizations achieve specific business outcomes. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Seattle and Boston, the firm serves more than 100 clients in technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services and logistics, and has been recognized multiple times on the Inc. 5000 list and as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace.

How much does Walker Sands cost?

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Walker Sands prices its work on a custom basis depending on scope, channels and geography. Third-party data from Clutch indicates that most projects fall in the $50,000-$199,999 range, with some website redesigns starting around $10,000 and ongoing integrated retainers typically under $10,000 per month. Exact fees are scoped per engagement, so prospective clients should speak with the agency's sales team to get a tailored proposal.

What are the main features of Walker Sands' services?

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Key capabilities include Outcome-based Marketing strategy, research and insights, brand and messaging development, PR and media relations, executive and brand social, content strategy and production, creative campaigns and video, SEO and generative engine optimization, paid digital media, marketing automation and email, B2B web design and development, and marketing analytics and attribution. Walker Sands also offers martech and RevOps consulting, including integrations across platforms like Salesforce, Marketo, Pardot and HubSpot.

Who are Walker Sands' main competitors?

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Walker Sands competes with other B2B-focused PR and demand generation agencies that serve technology and professional services clients. Common alternatives include PAN Communications, Alloy, Matter Communications, 10Fold Communications and Heinz Marketing, as well as larger integrated networks and specialized digital or ABM agencies depending on the scope of work.

Is Walker Sands good for small businesses?

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Walker Sands can be a strong partner for well-funded small or growth-stage B2B companies that need integrated PR, brand and demand generation under one roof. However, typical project sizes and retainers skew toward mid-market and enterprise budgets, so very small businesses or startups with limited spend may find the investment high relative to more narrowly scoped or channel-specific agencies. For organizations that can afford the spend, the breadth of capabilities and B2B expertise can deliver substantial value.

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