From Sightseeing Dreams to SEO Triumph: The Remarkable Origin of Boulder SEO Marketing

At Boulder SEO Marketing (BSM), a hyper-focused boutique SEO agency, we believe every business deserves an SEO journey that is simple and transparent. Most importantly, though, it should deliver real results. Guided by our core values of extreme ownership, clear communication, and high standards, we devise and implement SEO strategies that work.

Hi, my name is Daniel Burns, and I’m the COO at BSM. For over 20 years, I ran a web design agency in Los Angeles before joining BSM and teaming up with company founder Chris Raulf.

Like Chris (he’s originally from Switzerland), I did not grow up in the United States. I grew up in Brazil but soon moved to the United States, where I graduated from the University of Miami. Before settling down a bit, I sailed across the Atlantic and biked across Europe. These broadening experiences allow me to think laterally, which ultimately helps me to turn stakeholder expectations into successful digital strategies for our customers.

At BSM, I’m now in charge of running production. I love applying the skills I’ve learned over the last two decades for a wide range of customers looking to rank at the top in Google.

But enough about me. This article is all about our fearless leader, and international SEO expert, Chris Raulf, and how Boulder SEO Marketing came about.

Chris and I have known each other for years now, and time permitting, we enjoy catching up on business and personal stuff over a beer or two after work. So in this article, I’ll take a stab at sharing some of the information that Chris shared with me about how he started BSM, about himself, and more. I hope you’ll find the time to read this article.

Here goes:

How Boulder SEO Marketing Came About

Wondering how it all began? Let’s embark on an inspiring explanation of BSM’s origin story, the unwavering passion of founder Chris Raulf, and the key factors that set our SEO company, with offices in Denver and Boulder, Colorado, and Los Angeles, California, apart from the rest.

The Seeds of Entrepreneurship

Back in 2008, Chris set out to launch a sightseeing company in Boulder. However, acquiring a license proved to be riddled with bureaucratic challenges. Existing businesses had the power to intervene and oppose new entrants, making it an uphill battle. Nevertheless, Chris was undeterred. His determination eventually led him to explore alternative avenues that better aligned with his skills and a deep-rooted desire to help businesses thrive.

A Serendipitous Encounter

Amid the hurdles Chris encountered when trying to start his tour company, he attended a gathering of local attractions organized by the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. He hoped to get a letter of recommendation from the community stating why a sightseeing business was needed in the area.

At this fortuitous event, Chris crossed paths with another business owner desperately seeking help with his website. The woman could not attract the right kind of traffic or the revenue that came with it. Recognizing the immense potential to make a tangible impact, Chris wholeheartedly offered his expertise, marking the inception of a transformative journey.

Chris’ fascination with search engine optimization can be traced back to his business and marketing studies. When he encountered the emerging search engine that would eventually become Google, he was intrigued by the immense potential of SEO. From day one, he delved into the field, securing a front-row seat to its rapid evolution. Because of this, BSM’s unique differentiators lie in the team’s unwavering expertise, adaptive strategies, and unrelenting commitment to staying ahead of the ever-changing Google algorithm.

From Struggling to Thriving

After assisting the woman he had met at the Chamber of Commerce event, Chris realized that helping other businesses was what he wanted to do most. He decided to pivot because getting a license to start a tour company would be virtually impossible anyway. Offering SEO services was what he should have been doing all along.

When a friend then shared that his business was struggling to gain new customers, Chris offered to help. The company was Advanced Precision Machining, a machine shop in Longmont, Colorado. They were BSM’s first SEO client and remain a loyal customer to this day—nearly 15 years later.

Chris’ involvement with APM breathed new life into his entrepreneurial venture. It also proved that he knew what he was doing. Chris orchestrated an astonishing turnaround through meticulous optimization efforts and tailored SEO strategies. APM transformed from a business on the verge of failure to a flourishing and profitable enterprise.

A Leap of Faith

Hardly superstitious, Chris admits he wouldn’t have given SEO his all, even after the remarkable success he’d achieved for APM, if it hadn’t been for a horoscope. He’d finally gotten back on his feet and achieved some semblance of security after getting divorced when he got out of the shower one day to read a horoscope that said, “If you don’t make a change today, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Considering he had already been thinking about quitting his job to go all in, he took that as a sign from the universe to take the leap. Towel still around his waist, Chris went to his computer and typed up a letter of resignation immediately. He realized he didn’t care if his venture failed, but he at least had to try.

At the time, he was a marketing executive for a software company and gave his employer three months’ notice. From that day forward, Chris worked on BSM in every spare moment. Once the 90 days were up, he was totally on his own and spent his first day of self-employment… traveling to Las Vegas.

It was a trip that had been planned with his kids and his brother’s family for some time. While there, Chris continued working on the company, getting up early every morning and staying up late (even for Vegas!) each night. He admitted it was exhausting but fun, and he’ll never forget the grind of those early months of self-employment.

When he returned from Vegas, he started hosting workshops on search engine optimization. It was at these workshops that he found most of his early customers. People needed help with SEO, and when they realized the benefits of turning to a professional, they were more than happy to do so.

With an unyielding determination to build BSM into a leading SEO agency, Chris poured his heart and soul into his customers, working tirelessly to drive their success.

Building the Team

Adding key individuals who shared his vision profoundly shaped BSM’s growth. Jen, a talented marketing executive, and Chris’ neighbor back then, brought exceptional expertise to the table. Shortly after, Greg, a highly skilled writer—and a longtime friend of Chris—seeking a career change, found a new purpose within BSM. Greg is still with the company today. Their combined efforts and dedication played a pivotal role in shaping BSM’s identity, capabilities, and ability to deliver exceptional results consistently.

When Chris met his current wife, April, he stepped back. They had five children between them, and the demands of raising their merged family took priority. He sold his book of business to another agency and focused solely on lead generation, which only took a couple of hours out of his day.

Once all the kids were finally driving, he could spend more time on BSM again. When I reached out via LinkedIn about three years ago, Chris realized he truly had something great on his hands. Together, we continued growing the company. While it’s certainly been challenging, Chris admits he wouldn’t have done it any differently. Today, BSM is growing at a healthy and manageable pace, but we soon need a larger office. Seeing how our employees and freelancers embody extreme ownership, clear communication, and high standards is incredible.

As a globally recognized SEO expert, Chris frequently gets invited to share advice and insights about industry-related topics and information about his journey as an entrepreneur in interviews. If you’re interested in learning more about Chris, I invite you to read and watch the following interviews with Chris that were published in Bold Journey, CanvasRebel, and Voyage Denver, and watch the interview that he gave for Marketing Champions.

An Unwavering Passion

The journey of Boulder SEO Marketing stands as a testament to the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and an all-encompassing desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of other entrepreneurs. Every step of the way, a deep-rooted passion for the success of our clients has remained the beating heart of our agency.

Beyond our innovative SEO strategies, BSM’s true strength lies in our commitment to providing a simple, transparent, and exceptionally effective SEO journey. With extreme ownership, clear communication, and high standards, we strive to empower our clients to achieve long-lasting success.

Time permitting, we love to share our knowledge in educational online events such as webinars, workshops, as well as in-person SEO training courses here in Denver. Make sure to join us at an upcoming event if you can!

As BSM continues to expand its reach, our passion remains as fierce as ever. With a team of dedicated professionals, we wholeheartedly invite you to join us for your SEO adventure.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Until next time,
Daniel