When Benjamin Strasnik was nine years old, he was using a computer in his school library when he came across software that let him create websites without writing any code. “I was fascinated by it,” he recalls. “I spent the whole weekend on my parents' computer trying to figure it out.”
This is just one example of the drive and commitment that led Benjamin to become the hugely successful founder and CEO of Shopify SEO agency GoldenWeb less than a decade ago.
Benjamin's YouTube videos catch the attention of a major Slovenian mobile operator
Benjamin, now 25, was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia. When Benjamin was six, his father abandoned the family and his mother, Rebekah, worked to raise him and his younger brother, Zan.
Though Benjamin was still “insecure” about his financial situation at the time, his mother was smart with money and provided him and Xan with everything they needed. More importantly, she was Benjamin's “absolute advocate” and biggest fan. “She always told me I could do anything if I put my mind to it.”
At the age of 12, Benjamin decided to create a series of YouTube videos reviewing smartphones and electronic devices, which gradually gained a large following and has garnered over 10 million views to date. By the time he was 14, Benjamin was being sponsored by mobile phone companies whose products he reviewed, including A1, Samsung, and Telekom Slovenia.
High school's over, welcome to Shopify
At the age of 14, Benjamin needed to organize all of his videos, so he took to YouTube and learned how to code and build his own website. A few years later, this led him to start his own web design agency, BSMedia, serving local auto repair shops, restaurants, dentists, and doctors.
He quickly realized that businesses wanted more than just a website, they wanted sales, so he became immersed in the world of marketing, specifically Google Ads.
“I learned about SEO and the different strategies you can use to rank your website for specific keywords,” he says. “I did nothing but research and implement every strategy I could get my hands on.”
As his work at BSMedia began to outpace his high school commitments, Benjamin did what he had to do: he dropped out. And for him, it was “the easiest decision I've ever made.”
By this time, his agency had switched to primarily SEO services, rebranded BSMedia to GoldenWeb, and positioned itself as an exclusive Shopify agency. He knew he needed to think bigger, and that e-commerce was the way he could most effectively apply his knowledge to create the most value.
“I also knew that with my unique skill set I could provide incredible value, primarily in the form of increased traffic and sales.”
The Rise of GoldenWeb (Revenues $25M)
Since then, GoldenWeb has grown from a one-person company to a company with nine full-time employees and over 150 freelancers and contractors.
It also generated over $25 million in additional revenue, a testament to the true value of the work the agency did for Shopify clients and Benjamin’s seven online ventures, including his D2C eCom and SaaS businesses.
For Benjamin, what sets GoldenWeb apart from other agencies is the amount of social media content he puts out and the amount of value and marketing he shares without asking for anything in return. “I think the biggest issue other agencies have is a lack of business, so they feel pressured to take on any client they get,” Benjamin explains.
GoldenWeb's lead flow and interest gives the company and its staff the freedom to be selective about who they work with: “We don't work with them unless we see a lot of growth potential,” says Benjamin.
Work to get the job done
Benjamin’s leadership acumen as CEO has set the pattern for his agency’s growth, which includes trusting his team to get the job done, something that took him several years to learn.
Another big lesson for Benjamin was the importance of making decisions based on principle rather than the needs of the moment: “Making and accepting decisions that go against your values will ultimately result in a loss of your own confidence and strength of character.”
Benjamin personally doesn't believe that work-life balance is always necessary. “If you feel like you have to strive for balance, then you're not in tune with yourself,” he explains. “If you want to work, then work. If you want to have fun, then have fun. Once the work is done, that's fine.”
His work routine starts in the evening by creating a to-do list for the next day and getting ready to hit the ground running. His morning routine includes listening to motivational speeches on his way to the gym, working out, meditating, and checking off all the items on his to-do list that he made the night before.
“Then I focus for at least four hours on the most important things to make progress and move things forward.”
Benjamin is also a sports car enthusiast and has found a new creative outlet in modelling, having recently returned from a three month trip to Asia, visiting Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia – places that were always on his bucket list.
“I have friends and business partners in every country I've visited, so I'm so grateful that all of my business is done online, which has made this whole trip even more amazing.”
Plan your future and live your dreams
What about the future for GoldenWeb? “We continue to strive to be the best SEO Shopify agency in the world,” says Benjamin. “Not just in the value we provide, but in how we operate, how we treat our team, and how we approach challenges.”
When asked about his definition of success, Benjamin says you need to ask yourself, “Am I living the life I want?” For him, the answer is simple: “I'm already living the life of my dreams, but I just keep focusing on leveling up every day and continuing to build.”
But, he adds, “I give without expecting anything in return. I thrive by providing value and am always striving to make a positive impact on as many people as possible.”