About Marketing Mate

Small team.Fully invested.

Marketing Mate is an Ottawa-based Canadian digital marketing team founded in 2021 by David Riding. David and Shona work directly with businesses to make websites, search, advertising, social media, design and AI-supported marketing feel more personal, more understandable and easier to act on.

Founded in Ottawa in 2021
Canadian, in-house team
No outsourcing

Meet us in a free consultation →

David and Shona of Marketing Mate together

David & Shona · The people behind Marketing Mate

Since 2011David’s marketing-industry experience

Founded in 2021Marketing Mate’s Ottawa beginning

Work stays in-houseNo faceless handoffs or outsourcing

Here when neededDirect, responsive communication

Our story

Built from experience.Created for connection.

Marketing Mate opened in 2021 with a simple idea: businesses deserve a marketing partner who knows their name, understands their goals and stays close to the work.

After working in marketing since 2011, David had seen how easily clients could feel disconnected from large agencies. Marketing Mate was built to offer something more personal—experienced strategy, practical execution and direct access to the people doing the work.

2011

Experience begins

David starts building his marketing career, developing a practical understanding of campaigns, customer attention and the connection between creative work and business goals.
2021

Marketing Mate opens

David launches Marketing Mate in Ottawa to give Canadian businesses a smaller, more responsive alternative to a large, layered agency.
Today

Two perspectives, one team

David and Shona combine web, search, advertising, social media and design expertise while keeping every client relationship personal and every project close to home.

Meet the team

The people doing the work.

You will not be passed through layers of account managers or sent to an unknown contractor. David and Shona stay involved, communicate directly and bring complementary skills to every client relationship.

David Riding, owner of Marketing Mate

Founder & Owner

David Riding

Strategy, websites, search and advertising—with more than a decade of marketing experience.

David has worked in the marketing industry since 2011 and founded Marketing Mate in 2021. His background brings creative thinking and technical skill together: a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies, a Web Developer diploma, and Google Search and Google Ads certifications.

He oversees the strategy and technical work personally, explains decisions clearly and stays accessible when clients have a question, a new idea or an urgent need.

Bachelor of Arts · Film Studies
Web Developer Diploma
Google Search Certified
Google Ads Certified
Marketing since 2011

Shona, social media, design and AI expert at Marketing Mate

Social Media · Design · AI

Shona Keast

Creative direction, social content, design and practical AI expertise that help brands communicate clearly.

Shona is Marketing Mate’s social media, design and AI expert. She brings the audience’s perspective into the room—how a message feels, what catches attention and whether the brand sounds like a real person instead of a template.

From campaign ideas and branded visuals to social content, AI-supported creative workflows and customer-facing copy, Shona helps turn strategy into work people can understand, remember and respond to.

Social Media Strategy
Brand Design
AI Strategy & Tools
Campaign Creative
Customer-Focused Copy

David and Shona, the small Canadian team behind Marketing Mate

Why clients feel secure

Your business is never just a ticket.

Trust grows when you know who is responsible for the work. Marketing Mate stays intentionally small so the people you meet are the people planning, creating, reviewing and answering your questions.

No outsourcing

Your work stays with the Marketing Mate team instead of being passed to unknown contractors.

Direct access

Speak with the people who understand the strategy and are actively doing the work.

Clear communication

Questions are explained in plain language so you can make informed business decisions.

Hands-on oversight

David and Shona remain personally involved from the first conversation through ongoing support.

How we work

Close enough to care. Experienced enough to lead.

A personable relationship does not mean an improvised process. Every engagement starts with understanding the business and turns that understanding into focused, accountable work.

Listen first

Understand your business, customer, priorities, challenges and definition of a useful result.

Build the plan

Choose the right message, channels and next steps instead of forcing a standard package.

Do the work

Create, launch and manage the work in-house with direct oversight from the team you know.

Stay close

Communicate, review what is happening and remain available as your business changes.

David is creative, thoughtful and provides tactical strategies that help improve the effectiveness of our marketing budget. We recommend his services and appreciate his hands on approach and the way he communicates results.

Jennifer GannonBonaVista LeisureScapes

Good to know

Questions about Marketing Mate.

A few direct answers about who we are and what working with our team feels like.

Who owns Marketing Mate?

Marketing Mate is owned by David Riding. David founded the Ottawa-based business in 2021 after working in the marketing industry since 2011.

Does Marketing Mate outsource client work?

No. Marketing Mate is an intentionally small, in-house Canadian team. David and Shona remain directly involved in strategy, websites, search, advertising, social media, design, AI-supported marketing and client communication.

Where is Marketing Mate based?

Marketing Mate is based in Ottawa, Ontario and supports small and medium-sized businesses in the National Capital Region and across Canada.

What experience does David bring?

David has worked in marketing since 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and a Web Developer diploma, along with Google Search and Google Ads certifications.

What does Shona specialize in?

Shona specializes in social media, design and AI, including content planning, brand visuals, campaign creative, practical AI tools and customer-focused messaging.

Let’s get to know your business

Ready for marketing that feels more personal?

Meet David and Shona, talk through where your business is today and explore the clearest way Marketing Mate can help.

Prefer to reach us directly? 343-777-5541 · david@marketingmate.ca

Book a free consultation →Explore our services

Marketing Mate · A small, personable Canadian digital marketing team · Ottawa, Ontario