Meet Matt, our SEO manager
So Matt, introduce yourself.
I’m Matt, and I’m the SEO Manager here at Dawn. I’m originally from Yorkshire and lived in Newcastle for the last 6 years before moving to Manchester in 2024. I’ve been in SEO for about 4 years now, following a couple of years in general digital marketing. I initially got into it just because looking at the keywords people search was really interesting to me, but now I just really enjoy the challenge of it. It’s a constant battle between myself, search engines and competitors.
What is your position in the agency, and what will you be doing?
I’m the SEO Manager, which means i’m in charge of managing the organic visibility for our clients (and Dawn). My job is to make sure that when someone searches for a product, service or question related to a client or their industry, they’re up there in the search results, leading to more clicks, and more sales or leads! There are so many things that either influence SEO, or that are influenced by it, from web development, UX and performance, to design, imagery and branding, which means my work crosses paths with pretty much everyone in the agency.
Why did you want to work at Dawn?
One thing that I always look for in a job is to be surrounded by people who are truly passionate about what they do, and that is exactly what I saw when I met with Dave, Amy and Craig. I also love that we’re pushing for B Corp, it really helps when you can feel good about the work you do, and this means we won’t work with clients in controversial industries.
What are your hobbies?
Sometimes I feel like I have a new hobby every few weeks, from amateur woodworking to pizza making or striving to make the best at-home espresso, basically I like to keep my hands busy. I love a mooch, either being touristy in a new country/city or to find a hidden gem food spot in a back-alley in the Northern Quarter. And I’m big into American Football, I’ve never been to a game, but my Steelers are playing in Ireland this year so I’m definitely going to try and get tickets!
What’s most important to you in life?
Not sure if this is massively cliché, but I think making memories with the people who make me happy. Whether that’s travelling, eating good food or just trying new things and going outside my comfort zone.
Who or what inspires you?
I touched on it before, but I’ve always been really inspired by conversations with passionate people. There’s something contagious about seeing someone light up when they talk about their craft. Whether it’s a photographer explaining the difference between aperture and ISO, a designer geeking out over typography, or Dave telling me how Apple dropped the ball with their branding. Seeing that kind of excitement makes me want to push myself creatively, experiment more, and dive deeper into my own craft.
Favourite place you’ve ever been, and why?
It might be a case of recency bias, but I went to Barbados last December for my 30th and it was one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been. The coral beaches stayed cool even at 35°, the food was amazing, and I genuinely don’t think I met a person who didn’t seem in love with life.
If you could work with any company, which would it be and why?
There are two types of companies that I love working with: Those trying to make a real positive change in the world, and small, local brands chasing a dream, shaking things up and trying to compete with industry giants. Alternatively, ones that just make me laugh, and that don’t take themselves too seriously (Duolingo, Aldi, Oatly).
