My Digital Marketing Journey Thanks Brian Mathers
MY DIGITAL MARKETING JOURNEY OF GRATITIUDE FROM INTERNET MARKETER BRIAN MATHERS IN SCOTLAND
As each year goes by each one is a significant milestone. It simply means I am still here on my digital marketing journey and still committed to my passion to work within the Internet Marketing industry. The passion has never waned in wanting to support businesses across Scotland and indeed across the UK. A task that began through the opportunities bestowed upon me by both Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise.
After delivering my last online Workshop in February 2026 for Business Gateway Fife, the time was right to say goodbye with thanks to that particular role of have delivered a diverse range of workshops since 2003.
So, with LinkedIn highlighting that I am celebrating the last 23 years, I felt it important to take a moment to reflect, to celebrate, and most importantly, to say thank you to many people who I will always hold in high esteem that helped me along the way.
WHERE IT BEGAN
My digital marketing journey started back in 1997, where I spent nearly 6yrs adjusting to becoming a civilian again after my navel career and learning to become commercially aware. In 1999 our local MP in Fife Henry Mcleish, at the time Life Long Learning Minister in Scotland, gave me valued advice that set me off to the city armed with my laptop into an environment where things were all very new and changing even then at pace. Words like – Ecommerce – was the in thing back then and everybody was learning and had there own preconceived ideas of how you deployed websites, marketed them and have them selling products and services online.
THE ELECTRONIC VILLAGE CASTLEMILK GLASGOW
Arriving in Glasgow, it was here I secured a managerial position running the Electronic Village within Castlemilk Economic Development Agency. This was a community-based technology initiative aimed at combating social and digital exclusion in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow. I met and worked with many people inside that organisation, and within the wider circle of the public sector network.
Here my special thanks goes to my friend and colleague the late Alistair Stirling (ex Raf). So, ex servicemen together running the Electronic Village helping small businesses get to grip with IT and getting online.
That role opened the first door into a journey I have thoroughly enjoyed, and I found shortly after having been there only 9 months more great things to come.
That next opportunity came through an invitation from a friendship built up with Ken Marr.
I was given an opportunity to join the team of organisation called Services to Software.
My work at the Electronic Village had caught the eye of the incredibly dynamic Sara Deas. And so along with her co-leader George Boag I owe a huge thanks to all 3 people, and of course the wider team members who were a – Task Force – of talent delivering business growth solutions to small, medium and large businesses. I thank Sarah, George and Ken for believing in my ability to contribute to a variety projects we all became involved in. Projects such as Ready Steady Trade Online. This was an incredible period that was like a production line with queue of businesses of all sizes queuing up to get help from the RSTO team to build them a website. From my period at Services to Software which later became Targetting Innovation I have a little reminder that has pride of place in my office from that era. It is a beautiful glass stature award given to me that I treasure. Inscribed upon it it says:
INTERNET MARKETING CONSULTANT AWARD – INSPIRING WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL
This had been a significant period of my career, and laid the foundations for everything that followed after Services to Software who transitioned into becoming – Targeting Innovation.
THE WEBSITE MARKETING JOURNEY MOMENTUM WAS BUILDING IN THE EARLY 2000s
The early 2000s became an incredible time for me. In 2003 things really began to take off. The need for internet marketing services was booming.
I was offered the privilege of working with the very canny and wonderful man that was Peter Livingstone at Business Gateway Fife. Incredibly at the same time I was offered other contracts to fill up my working week. And so, I was honoured to also serve and support the business growth leadership team at Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire. This team was fronted again by 3 people who helped me in many ways to increase my skills by investing in me to become a key member in their team. I therefore owe a huge gratitude to Keith Fulton, Gerry McCarron, and Sylvio Clemente. Within this role I also became part of the team at Business Gateway Lanarkshire in Coatbridge working in support of the dedicated leader that was Elaine Kerr. Again I was humbled to become part of an outstanding network of knowledgeable people within that team. I’m deeply grateful therefore to individuals I wish to mention here such as Alison Currie, John McAndrew, Robert Swinbourne, Brian Cunningham, and Paul McIlvenny.
All of these people mentioned weren’t just colleagues but became valued friends that I worked with everyday. They were a team that genuinely made a difference. During this phase of my career my work also led me into an opportunity to work with Business Gateway in the Scottish Borders. Here I was under the wing and grateful to Mandy Smith (Whyte). During my time there, I thoroughly enjoyed delivering presentations on digital marketing topics, as well as being invited to meet with small business owners, again, looking for advice on how to trade online. There were many businesses I met with in the region, but I particularly enjoyed supporting a thriving eCommerce business in the region called Cocoa Black. An incredible chocolate company and great coffee shop.
EXPANDING HORIZONS IN THE WORLD OF INTERNET MARKETING
I knew I had chosen the right niche for my second career after submarines as I was led towards further new experiences that brought even more great opportunities. And it led to being introduced to Roger Horam who was at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. Other people in his team that I was grateful to learn from and work alongside were Bill Grant at Citrus Mind, and Hamish Dobbie at Business Cohesion. It was like being in the navy again being part of Roger’s mini taskforce. How I was introduced into this group came from a strong collaboration formed what we jokingly called the “3 amigos” bringing together myself, Adrian Berezuik, and John Taylor. There is no doubt these were two very talented individuals that played a major part in my life journey.
TALKING OF TASKFORCES
This is where thanks goes to Kevin Sefton who was part of an organisation called MANTIX. This company recognised the collective expertise of what all of us freelance consultants were doing for Scottish Enterprise. So, the 3 Amigos and other talented souls were called upon to lend a hand in Lincolnshire to Kevin and his advisor team. So, another proud moment—taking what we had applied to help businesses grow in Scotland and applying the strategies South of the Border. Other talented expert consultants who became part of this taskforce that come to mind are Pete McLaren and David Bell.
FAST FORWARD TO 2014 HELPING SMALL BUSINESS WEBSITE OWNERS IN FIFE
This is where I am thankful and grateful to Brian Blackburn who was during this time leading Business Gateway Fife. He gave me the opportunity to help grow businesses online in my beloved region of Fife. Later, it was Craig Rutherford and Karen Cassels who continued to believe in my abilities and huge thanks go to them also. This phase brought about again myself and John Taylor becoming a double act force where our respective skills and talents bounced off each other on a daily basis.
TALENTED INTERNET MARKETERS
That double act saw us end up thanks to John Taylor with the Business Gateway team in Edinburgh. This was led by two very respected professionals, Keith Jeffery and Sally Clarke. For me, to work with such an incredible team led and managed by both of them, would not have happened without the belief in me that came from long time colleague John Taylor who today runs JT Projects. John and I had something then which you saw in many double act partnerships of our time, Like Lennon & McCartney of the Internet World. We would work tirelessly together, to delivering consistently, high quality workmanship. This is where I learned a lot about being meticulous as John always closely scrutinided everything which ensured the best possible outcomes for businesses wanting to have a website that worked. Whilst as in any partnership there were moments of not seeing eye to eye, there is no doubt I learned a lot over the years from both John Taylor and our 3rd Amigo Adrian Berezuick as they had between them an incredible wealth of knowledge and wisdom that was part of their great characters. Whilst in the Edinburgh team other Fifers I had the opportunity of working with who remain friends and colleagues in the industry is Alan Tomkins and Alan Martin.
DIGITAL MARKETER IN FIFE BRIAN MATHERS A PERSONAL REFLECTION
There’s a line from the song *“Life’s a Gas”* by Marc Bolan of T. Rex that has always stayed with me that said:
“I hope it’s gonna last.”
Looking back, despite the ups, downs, and debates, and disagreements during times of troubling shooting business needs that came with many challenges, I can honestly say – my work passion continues to last and I hope I continue to inspire, especially the small business community to that I love to help. It is what keeps me going. What I do today continues to get me up every morning.
AS DIGITAL MARKETING PRACTITIONER – I FEEL LIKE JESUS ON A HILL
That’s because what I have always done in both of my careers I just wanted to help people. I continue doing that delivering under my strapline at Digital Excellence Scotland – Simply wanting to deliver OnlineXcellence.
WHERE IS BRIAN MATHERS NOW WITH HIS DIGITAL MARKETING BUSINESS IN FIFE
After 22 years spent serving in the Command Team of a Hunter Killer Submarine. I was under the water for months on end where you won’t find a better bunch of 120 men, working as a team together for long periods of time in a pressurised cylindrical tube. I thought I might never find another bunch of people like my highly valued now veteran comrades who I served under the sea with.
Having transitioned back into civilian life I did find another great crew to serve alongside with. Those are the people I am paying tribute too today.
My compliments go towards them that made my transition into my second career all worthwhile.
WEBSITE DESIGN AND MARKETING TEAM IN FIFE – THE CREW NOW
Today, I’m proud to continue leading my own small website design and marketing team. We support clients from as far north as Inverness and Aberdeen, down to our base in Fife, across the central belt of Scotland, down into the and Midlands of England, into London, and across the South of the country. My crew I have supporting me today. Well, it was like putting the band together. That is because we all sing from the same hymn sheet. So, I am extremely grateful to lead Developer Riad Mahmud, App developer and Coder Paul Fraser, Simon Jelks (graphic designer) and Jeaneliz De Nys (developer),
DELIVERING FIT FOR PURPOSE WEBSITES THAT ARE AFFORDABLE
The mission remains the same. Together we are helping small business owners focus on having a fit-for-purpose website that truly represents what that business owner is passionate about offering. Whether you they are service or products they want to offer online. We become part of our client business owners family to help them grow online. We at all times look at being realistic to help businesses achieve the goals and aspirations for them to become established.
The micro and small medium business community is therefore very important.
THOSE WHO SUPPORT MY DIGITAL MARKETING JOURNEY AND MY DIGITAL MARKETING MENTORS
Firstly those who have supported me since stepping of the gangway of my last submarine goes to my immediate family for putting up with me and supporting me at every turn.And who I live for today.
But I also want to thank from the bottom of my heart, two of my long term friends I first met in 2005 in New York USA. Rand Fishkin of Sparktoro (formerly of Moz) and Matt Bailey of SiteLogic Marketing, who are together like 2 younger brothers I never had. Without them I would not be as skilled in what I love doing today without having had their support and allowing me to learn from them. They in turn introduced me to their network of great people globally who are some of the most trusted souls in Internet Marketing today.
SO MANY TRUSTED SOULS I VALUE IN DIGITAL MARKETING CIRCLES
There are so many they introduced me too, I can’t name them all here. But some names I would like to pay tribute to are, Ashley Schweigert, Ken McGaffin, Mike Mindell, Greg Jarboe, John Myers, Wil Reynolds, Eric Enge, Avinash Kaushik, Shari Thurow, Jessica Bowman, and Helen Lloyd Martin.
There are many others all of whom I hold in high esteem in this fabulous industry. Thank You to all of you.
For those reading this who I have not yet met on my continued journey, if you’re a small medium business owner who knows your website could be working harder for you, let’s have a conversation about how we can make that happen.
BRIAN MATHERS DIGITAL MARKETER IN SCOTLAND