How Sierra Built a Thriving Marketing Business on the Road

Do you dream of exiting the corporate world and becoming your own boss? For many people, the freedom of applying your talents toward something you’re passionate about as a small business owner is a dream come true.

Sierra Eberly ditched her six-figure job to pursue her passion for supporting other small businesses. Now, she runs her own marketing business, Boondock Consulting, from the comforts of her converted camper van.

Don’t be fooled into thinking running a business is a walk in the park, though. In this interview, Sierra explains how she consistently makes sacrifices, pours hours into her business endeavors, and rarely takes a day off.

She often skips touristy activities in favor of boondocking sites where she can dedicate her days to serving her clients, learning new skills, researching best practices, and managing the countless other tasks of owning a business.

In this interview, Sierra answers questions like:

• What does a typical day of work look like for you?
• How do you typically find clients to work with?
• How much have you earned through your business?

Read on to dive into Sierra’s background and advice for fellow van lifers who long to leave the corporate world behind and use their marketing skills to make an income from their rig.

1. Please give us some background on yourself and tell us how you started your small business, Boondock Consulting.

Since September 2020, I’ve been traveling full-time in a converted campervan. For the first year and a half, I had a remote corporate job that allowed me to maintain income while on the road. 

I was exhausted from the bureaucracy that comes with a large corporation and had the idea of starting a “side gig” to keep me busy with things I was more passionate about: supporting small businesses that aligned with my overall values.

Marketing has always fascinated me, and writing has been a long-time passion of mine, so the thought of copywriting for small businesses was literally a dream come true. 

I threw the idea around with a very supportive friend and decided to make a go of it. I branded myself to support a very niche market, and much to my surprise, it worked. Within a few weeks of creating my Instagram account and going live with my website, three small businesses reached out to me.

I started out offering very basic copywriting and administrative support, but as clients started asking if I could support them in other areas, I said yes. Now, I offer full marketing strategy support to like-minded businesses and partner with other freelance nomads when I can’t deliver projects myself.

What makes your marketing strategy business different from others?

Most small businesses don’t have a big budget for marketing. Most marketing agencies are expensive and offer large packages that might not align with the niche market certain businesses cater to. 

I am a nice in-between solution. I can offer a full marketing strategy or just the pieces you need. I don’t try to sell a strategy that won’t give a return, and I have declined clients who have asked me to support them in ways I didn’t think would actually help them. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Ha! There is no typical day for me! Some days, I’m writing blog content; some days, I’m preparing a 70+ page marketing strategy plan; and some days, I’m brainstorming with other nomadic freelancers on backend website SEO strategy. 

Not to mention all of my own small business maintenance: marketing, accounting, etc… there’s never a boring day. 

How much time does it take to maintain your small business?

I’m not going to lie–the first two years have been brutal. I rarely take a day off, and if I’m not eating, sleeping, or exercising my dog, I’m working on my business

However, the reward has been invaluable. This year, I’m finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve established balanced client work, learned what tools help me the most, and connected with other freelancers to help out when I need it. After two years, I’m almost to the point of a “normal” workday.

Is there a high demand for your marketing strategy services?

That’s a matter of perception. For someone like myself who wants to remain small and support other small businesses, yes. I am fully booked months out and receive new requests whenever I send a cold marketing email. 

A “normal” marketing agency would laugh at me and say my business is not viable. They also (most likely) aren’t someone who chooses to live in a campervan and is willing to do most of the work themselves.

What do you like about running your own business on the road?

After working a corporate job for nearly two decades, the most rewarding aspect of being a digital nomad is having the freedom to work when I feel most productive and in places that make me happy. 

If I want Wednesday off, I take it. If my brain doesn’t want to function at 9 am, I’ll work at 7 pm instead. And the “office views” are pretty rad. 

How do you typically find clients to work with?

I’m very intentional about who I reach out to. I look for businesses that I would be excited to support, and then I send a note in whatever format makes sense (email, Instagram, Messenger) to introduce myself. 

I’ve also received a lot of referrals from current clients, which is the best form of appreciation a small business can get!

If you don’t mind sharing, how much have you earned through your business?

In my first year, I barely made $30k, which, in all honesty, is still pretty amazing for a freelancer just starting out. But considering I was making over six figures with my corporate job, it was definitely an adjustment. 

Because I had a fair amount of money saved, I had the luxury of being able to really dive into my business and not stress too much about making ends meet. 

Last year, I earned over $40k. (Keep in mind that’s gross income, not net!) This year, I’m tracking to easily double that, and I plan to double again in 2025. (Just in time because my dog, Snow, is a total freeloader and has taken up most of my savings now, lol!)

What are the biggest challenges to your small business?

Figuring out what my rates should be for different offerings has probably been my biggest challenge. 

You have to consider not only your time, but also taxes, tools, and any continued learning you invest in. Not to mention paying for health insurance out of pocket, not having vacation or sick time, etc. 

I also struggle with feeling like I have to validate my rates to clients so they understand why I charge what I do. Most small businesses get it, but some think very linear and forget that a freelancer’s rate is VERY different from a W2 employee’s salary or hourly rate.  

Are there any other tips you have for someone considering starting a business like yours?

Understanding the work involved with building a business vs. simply taking on gig work is crucial. Finding gig work takes time and effort, but when you’re literally building a brand and reputation with goals to continue to expand and become a sustainable business, it’s a very different mindset.

Yes, I live nomadically in a van, but honestly, I haven’t been able to “do” many things for the past two years because I’ve been so focused on work. I top off on food and water in town, find a beautiful place to boondock, and stay there working until I run out of supplies. 

Yes, I get out for walks and enjoy the area, but I haven’t taken days off to go sightseeing or do anything touristy. That’s a price I was willing to pay to get my business up and running. It’s not for everyone. 

When I’m not working, I’m learning. Researching trends, looking at other businesses like mine to see what they are doing right or wrong, learning about the industries I support, learning new software, signing up for free trials to see if other platforms are more efficient, and, of course, I’m marketing my own business. That in itself is a full-time job. 

Then, you top it off with the client work that pays the bills. It’s a lot of work, but it’s incredibly rewarding and is worth it for those who want the autonomy of owning their own business. 

Connect with Sierra

If you want to check out Sierra’s work (or potentially work with her for your marketing needs), visit her website – www.boondockconsulting.com. 

You can also follow her business on Instagram @boondockconsulting or connect with her on LinkedIn. 
Thank you for reading Sierra’s interview on how to make money on the road as a marketing small business owner. Hopefully, her story inspires you to consider how you can pursue your marketing interests or small business dreams on the road.