3x Successful Bootstrap Entrepreneur
A successful business owner and serial entrepreneur, I’ve led ventures from concept through execution in every stage of business development. I have also helped numerous friends and colleagues to increase their online revenues via website design, conversion optimization, digital marketing, data analysis and a variety of other marketing tools.
I’ve been entrepreneuring in the technology space since the era of Gopher and BBS systems. I am self-taught in tech and marketing — I built my first computer from spare parts in high school and launched my first web-based business while still in college. I began creating ecommerce sites for friends and colleagues, and helped them to market their products, services and events.
My core strengths include business strategy development and execution, conversion optimization (A/B testing, iterating and studying data to improve performance using Internet Marketing best practices), ecommerce (from nose to tail, I’ve done it all), SEO and LLM optimization, and digital advertising.
I love the punk-rock startup company environment where there are challenges to be overcome and where adaptability, resourcefulness, and adept execution are essential.
Handcrafted Furniture Startup
The largest-scale project of my life was managing operations of a custom-build furniture ecommerce company, which included logistics and fulfillment, hiring and firing, website design, SEO and paid marketing campaigns. My mother managed the books and helped to bring in sales, as a member of the company’s sales team.
I optimized keyword ad selection and on-site content for SEO and PPC, adapting to changes in consumer behavior and preferences.operations of an ecommerce company including logistics and fulfillment, staffing, CRM design and management, website design, content development, SEO, extensive paid marketing campaigns on Bing Google and Meta.
I created highly cost-effective digital ad campaigns drove revenues of over $1,000,000 per year for over a decade at a conversion efficiency ranging from 11%-17%.
I manufactured in America for 20 years while everyone else was heading to Mexico and China. I brought over $25 million in revenue to a small Minnesota town, with no subsidies or special tax breaks.
Recent Projects
Meliora Activate
Partnering with my friends Michelle and Cecilia to bring Meliora to a wide audience. https://melioraactivate.com/
PaleoFX
Helped my friend and colleague Michelle to optimize the PaleoFX website for conversions, resulting in a 31% revenue increase. Assisted with digital ad campaigns, email list campaigns, the EntrepreneurFX subconcerence dedicated to helping new paleo businesses. Served on the Board of Directors. Currently helping to prepare PaleoFX for holding its next conference. https://www.instagram.com/paleofx/
Quantum Growth IO
Website design, digital marketing consultation and messaging for my colleague and friend Milosz in Chicago. His company specializes in marketing for local HVAC service providers: https://www.quantumgrowth.io/
ARX Fit
I helped my friend Mark to optimize his ad campaign for his personal fitness equipment company, which included a monthly five-figure ad campaign on Meta. This optimization process resulted in a 24% increase in efficiency per ad dollar, meaning that ARX’s salespeople got more leads and made more sales per dollar of advertising spent.
Mark: https://www.arxfit.com/
Rev1211
Website design, digital advertising and community outreach campaigns for a Christian musical nonprofit managed by my friend and colleague Jason: https://rev1211.org/
Bright Light Ventures
Website design, messaging and marketing strategy for a values-based startup advisory firm managed by my friend and colleague Mark: https://blvshine.com/
Fat Burning Man
Helped my friend and colleague Abel with conversion optimization on his ecommerce website, I also analyzed back-end data and helped to launch a new affiliate marketing program to increase sales.
https://fatburningman.com/
Rabb Joska’s Gypsy Cellar Records
Helped my friend Joseph to transition his website which had been hacked over to a new server, maintaining the same look and layout as the old website. The website is a celebration of his father’s career in music.
https://rabbjoskagypsycellarrecords.com/
Educational Experience
BA in History and Political Science, Hamline University.
Currently working on my Masters in History, with a focus on technology’s impact on human development.
Contact Erik
Looking for help with your startup, your website, or looking to sell more online? Please drop me a line. I have time to help with 1-2 additional projects this year.