Alumni and Supporters

Bachelor of Communications (Interactive Multimedia Technologies) (2006)

“When I started my business, I began with minimal savings, barely enough to cover a short holiday. I remember at one point I even had to sell my car to keep up with rent payments,” explains Scott, when reflecting on his journey to set up his agency specialising in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

His career in SEO had started a few years prior. “Around three years into my career, I was passionate about the emerging field of SEO and to get my foot in the door I took a chance with one of the first web agencies to offer SEO as a commercial service.”

The role gave Scott the opportunity to hone his SEO skillset with more than thousand clients and gain valuable experience, although he felt something was missing.

“I realised after working with such a high volume of customers that I yearned for a more personal connection with clients and a deeper involvement in their successes,” says Scott, who made the decision to go out alone and set up an SEO agency as a sole trader.

“This initial phase was probably the pretty typical startup experience—facing financial challenges and living frugally.”

“My first customer was with another agency, serving national brands, which provided me with part-time work and valuable experience,

“I slowly expanded my client base through word of mouth, and in 2013 I founded Scott Shorter Pty Ltd. I was able to hire and over time, our agency climbed Google to rank in the top positions in our industry. A contributing factor to this achievement has been Google's emphasis on the EEAT (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).” I believe that ECU’s qualification has helped me to rank well, given Google emphasis on EEAT.

Today, Scott Shorter Pty Ltd is one of the leading SEO and digital marketing agencies in Perth. “In 2017, our agency achieved the prestigious Google Premier Partner status. This achievement is awarded to the top 3% of agencies and granted me the opportunity to visit Google's offices in Sydney.”

“When I started my business, I began with minimal savings, barely enough to cover a short holiday. I remember at one point I even had to sell my car to keep up with rent payments”

“I am really grateful for the career I’ve been able to establish. Working in an agency is both fulfilling and fast-paced. Sharing in the success of multiple clients keeps me engaged, and the dynamic nature of the work eliminates any sense of monotony.”

“Throughout my journey, the education I received from ECU has been an invaluable asset, empowering me to progress in the dynamic field of SEO and make a lasting impact on the digital landscape.”

“When I first started studying, I wasn’t exactly sure what direction I wanted to take, but I knew I wanted to work with the internet. I could see that there was a lot of opportunity in the space at the time.”

“I was drawn to ECU due to their substantial investment in their computing facility, which boasted a diverse array of pathways encompassing programming, databases, web development, security, and multimedia.”

“And although the internet and SEO strategies are constantly evolving, my degree provided me with a broad and well-rounded understanding of the underlying technologies that power the web.”

Scott’s advice for new graduates?

“When presented with an opportunity in a field that aligns with your passion, even if the pay is lower, it's worth considering taking it. I personally made the decision to resign from a job and accept a position with lower pay, driven by the desire to learn and work in a field I was genuinely interested in. This choice proved to be a wise one, as it allowed me to grow both professionally and personally.”