From Backpacking to Business: The Overworked CEO’s Digital Nomad Success Story | Dave Schneider

In this episode of the Marketing Boost Solutions Podcast, Capt. Marco features Dave Schneider, CEO and Founder of a Full Service Inbound Digital Marketing Agency at Shortlist.io, as well as two software products in the organizational management space: Inspirar.io and UseFocus.co. He decided to quit his job and went digital nomading around the world, visiting over 60 countries in 5 years. He bootstrapped NinjaOutreach, an influencer marketing platform, and LessChurn, a churn reduction software, to successful exits. For the last 15 years, Dave has worked as a Serial Entrepreneur, launching several remote businesses in the services and software industries that have reached excesses of a million dollars in sales. Dave’s journey into the digital nomad lifestyle was not a conventional one. Initially a traditionalist, from backpacking to business success, the freedom and flexibility he embraced in the reality of digital nomadism are unparalleled. This inspiring episode covered a range of topics, from Dave's background to his experiences running a SaaS business and a digital marketing agency packed with valuable insights, especially for those interested in the digital nomad lifestyle or starting their own business. I encourage you to give it a listen and share it with others who might find it beneficial.  Find out more about Dave Schneider  below: Website: http://shortlist.io/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.schneider3 Not a MarketingBoost Solutions member yet? Book a free Brainstorming Session with our team today to learn more about our travel incentives. Click here:https://api.automationbooster.com/widget/appointment/brainstorm-session/mb Whether you are a start-up or a well-established business, you need to have a robust platform to help you scale your business with the ease of automating Marketing Boost travel incentives. Schedule a call with our team to explore what Automation Booster can do for you. Book here: https://api.automationbooster.com/widget/bookings/brainstorm-session/ab Timestamps: [00:01:54] Dave's Background and Agency Services: Dave discusses his background, his agency, and the services they provide, including inbound marketing, SEO, content strategy, content marketing, and website design and development. [00:06:23] Dave's Digital Nomad Lifestyle: Dave talks about his decision to become a digital nomad, how he and his wife decided to travel and work remotely, and their experiences in over 60 countries. [00:07:13] The transition to digital nomad life: Dave shares how he transitioned into a digital nomad lifestyle, starting with a one-year backpacking trip and growing a travel blog. [00:10:10] Selling the SaaS business and starting an agency, Dave shares his decision to sell his SaaS business, the challenges he faced with the travel blog, and his transition to starting an agency focused on SEO and content strategy. [00:13:34] Comparison between agency and SaaS businesses, discussing the pros and cons of each. [00:20:55] Building a Remote Team in Macedonia Dave talks about how he started building a remote team in Macedonia, starting with one employee and eventually growing the team. [00:21:56] Outsourcing and Hiring Smarter Team Members Dave and Marco discuss the importance of outsourcing and hiring team members who are better and smarter than you in areas where you are weak. [00:23:13] Mistakes and Myths in SEO Marketing Dave discusses common mistakes and myths in SEO marketing, including starting too early or too late and the importance of building a library of content before focusing on SEO optimization. [00:27:21] Dave discusses his process for hiring good people, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the first few weeks and red flags to look out for. [00:33:41] Meeting people and partnerships, Dave discusses the value of meeting people and forming partnerships in business, especially in the remote work era.