Gareth Wilson
21+ years driving revenue growth through technical SEO, AI automation, and digital transformation across logistics, SaaS, media, and enterprise sectors.
About
Digital Marketing Strategist and Growth Development Manager with over 21 years of hands-on experience driving revenue growth and market visibility. My background spans technical SEO, semantic search optimization, AI automation, and full-stack development.
I specialize in creating complete growth ecosystems – from search strategy and content to AI-powered voice systems and lead conversion. I’ve built and deployed digital receptionist platforms, automated customer communication systems, and lead generation engines that consistently deliver qualified enquiries.
Before moving into digital strategy, I spent years as an award-winning journalist, which gave me a deep understanding of storytelling, crisis management, and building authority – skills that translate directly into content that ranks and converts.
Career Experience
Digital Marketing Manager & Growth Development Manager
Jan 2021 – PresentPegasus Couriers | Edinburgh, Scotland
Leading growth strategy and digital transformation for a nationwide UK logistics company.
- Increased qualified leads by 85% within six months using technical SEO and semantic content strategy
- Built custom recruitment platform reducing hiring costs by 35%
- Deployed AI voice systems cutting response times by 60% with CRM integration
- Created AI agent systems for customer communications and lead qualification
- Designed and built Pegasus Couriers and QCouriers platforms from scratch
- Connected 200+ employees through internal compliance systems
- Developed Q Couriers CRM for transport regulation compliance
- Execute SEO and PR strategy, saving hundreds of thousands in ad spend
- Managing two SaaS builds: Digital Receptionist and Courier Fleet Pro
Director
Feb 2017 – Feb 2021Digital Marketing First
Founded digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, PPC, content, automation, and web development.
- Managed end-to-end campaigns across multiple industries
- Built websites and e-commerce platforms optimized for conversion
- Successfully sold client portfolio following sustained growth
- Website: digitalmarketingfirst.co.uk
Senior Journalist
Feb 2010 – Feb 2021Arena Holdings (formerly Times Media Group) | South Africa
Multi-beat journalist covering business, finance, tourism, justice, and health.
- Won three Journalism Excellence Awards (2015-2018)
- Contributed to 200% growth in online engagement
- Pioneered SEO and analytics integration in newsroom
- Covered breaking news and investigative pieces during digital transformation
Communications and Marketing Manager
Feb 2009 – Feb 2010Atlas | South Africa
Led internal and external communications during expansion.
- Developed and executed marketing campaigns for brand awareness
- Managed cross-functional communications with performance tracking
Professional Qualifications
🎓 Digital Marketing Studies
University of Cape Town (UCT)
Cape Town, South Africa
Advanced certification in digital marketing strategy and analytics
📜 Journalism Training
Times Media Group
South Africa
Professional journalism training and editorial standards
🎯 Google Digital Marketing
Google
Current Certification
Comprehensive digital marketing strategy
📊 Google Ads
Google
Current Certification
Campaign management and optimization
📚 University Studies
UNISA
South Africa
Awards & Memberships
🏆 Journalism Excellence Awards
Arena Holdings / Times Media Group
Three awards for investigative and digital journalism (2015-2018)
📰 British Association of Journalists
Professional Membership
Active member maintaining journalism standards
🔍 Google Search Central
Google Webmasters
Member of search professional community
Core Skills & Expertise
Search & Growth
Technical SEO • Semantic Search • Entity-based SEO • Lead Gen • Conversion Optimization • Google Search Console • PPC (Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, X)
Web & Systems
Full-Stack Development • CMS Platforms • E-commerce • Intranets • CRM Systems • Python Automation
AI & Automation
Digital Receptionists • AI Voice Systems • AI Agents • Workflow Automation • Conversational AI
Content & PR
Journalism • Investigative Reporting • Press Releases • Crisis Comms • Media Relations
Leadership
Growth Strategy • Digital Transformation • SaaS Development • Team Leadership
Selected Platforms
Production-ready platforms handling real business operations.
Contact Information
Location
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK