About
I’m Matt Burgess — a digital marketer who’s spent 15+ years turning ad spend into revenue.
I founded Conversation Media in 2010 with a simple idea: businesses deserve a marketing partner who’s as invested in their results as they are.
Over the years I’ve worked both sides of the fence — in-house at some of Australia’s largest digital businesses and as a consultant to SMBs looking to grow through paid channels. That experience has given me a perspective that most agency operators don’t have: I understand what it’s like to manage a budget from the inside, to report on results that actually matter, and to be accountable for revenue — not just clicks.
Today, I work directly with a small number of businesses who want senior-level Meta Ads, Google Ads, and direct response strategy — without the overhead, opacity, or junior account managers that come with a traditional agency.
How I Work
What you can expect working with me
You work with me directly
No account managers, no handoffs, no junior staff learning on your budget. I do the strategy, I write the ads, I manage the campaigns, and I report on the results. You always know exactly who’s responsible for your account.
Plain speaking, always
I don’t hide behind jargon or dashboards full of metrics you don’t care about. You’ll always understand what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and what it means for your business. If something isn’t working, I’ll tell you — and I’ll tell you what I’m doing about it.
Aligned incentives
I don’t charge a percentage of ad spend, so I’m never incentivised to spend more of your money. My pricing is based on the complexity and scope of the work. If your results are great, you’ll want to keep working with me. That’s the only incentive I need.
Background
Where I’ve been and what I’ve done
I’ve spent my career in some of the most competitive verticals in digital — travel, insurance, comparison, and financial services — working across both in-house and consulting roles. That range of experience means I’ve seen what works at every scale, from small local businesses through to managing seven-figure monthly ad budgets for some of Asia Pacific’s largest websites.
Key roles over the years:
- Head of New Member Marketing — The Motley Fool Australia (current). I lead digital acquisition across Meta Ads, Google Ads, and email for one of the world’s largest financial media companies. This is where I’ve deepened my direct response copywriting and marketing automation expertise.
- Director of Global Digital — Gold Coast Tourism. Drove digital strategy for one of Australia’s most iconic tourism brands across paid, organic, and content channels.
- General Manager, Digital — Compare the Market Australia. Led the digital marketing function for one of Australia’s largest comparison websites, managing significant budgets across highly competitive verticals.
- Senior Digital Executive — BlueGlass Australia. Hands-on search and social campaign management across a portfolio of clients in the legal and insurance sectors.
- SEO Executive — Wotif.com. Started my career in one of Australia’s most competitive organic search environments, learning the fundamentals of data-driven digital marketing.
I also hold current Google Ads certifications across Search, Display, Video, and Shopping — though I’d rather be judged on results than badges.
Testimonials
What clients say
“The output of his work has delivered massive uplifts in visitor volumes at cost effective delivery rates.”
Grant Waldeck — Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
“His honest feedback and transparency was invaluable to us.”
Sophie McLelland — Founder, Skobi Shoes
Want to work together?
I take on a limited number of clients at any given time so I can give each one the attention they deserve. If you’re looking for a senior strategist to manage your paid advertising, I’d love to hear from you.