How To Leverage Customer Testimonials And Case Studies For ORM (Online Reputation Management)?

How To Leverage Customer Testimonials And Case Studies For ORM (Online Reputation Management)?

Picture this: it’s 2009, and you’re a top executive at Domino’s Pizza. You wake up one morning to find that two of your employees have posted a disgusting video online of themselves doing unspeakable things to the food they were preparing. The video quickly goes viral, causing a massive scandal for your business. Your brand reputation is damaged, your customers are outraged, and your stock price plummets.

This is exactly what happened to Domino’s Pizza in 2009. The video posted by the employees not only affected the company’s reputation but also their sales, with many customers boycotting the brand.

The Domino’s Pizza debacle is a powerful reminder of how important a business’s online reputation is in today’s digital age. With the rise of social media and online reviews, customers now have more power than ever before to share their experiences and opinions about a brand. One negative review or post can quickly go viral and cause irreparable damage to a business’s reputation.

But it’s not just negative reviews and scandals that can impact a business’s online reputation. In fact, a lack of online presence or a poorly managed online presence can also hurt a business’s reputation. Customers today expect businesses to have a strong online presence, with a website, social media pages, and positive online reviews.

And one of the best ways to boost your online presence and reputation is to actively manage your testimonials and case studies.

Online Reputation Management (ORM) is an essential part of digital marketing that helps businesses to maintain their online presence by managing their online reviews, ratings, and comments. 

Customers (and employees) today have the power to make or break a business’s reputation by sharing their experiences online. To ensure your brand maintains its positive image, capitalizing on customer testimonials and case studies for Online Reputation Management is essential! In this article we explore how these tools can be used to create an outstanding public persona.

importance of customer testimonials

Understand the Importance of Customer Testimonials and Case Studies

Customer testimonials and case studies are powerful tools that help businesses to build trust and credibility with their potential customers. Therefore, positive customer reviews and case studies can significantly influence a potential customer’s decision to choose your business over your competitors.

As a business, the opinions of your customers hold a significant impact on the growth and success of your company. In today’s digital age, customers have a variety of platforms to express their opinions, and potential customers rely heavily on these reviews and feedback to make their purchasing decisions. The benefits of customer testimonials and case studies go far beyond just boosting your company’s reputation. In this article, we will discuss the importance of customer testimonials and case studies, and how they can help improve your business’s online presence and bottom line.

Social Proof

Customer testimonials provide numerous benefits for businesses. They act as social proof, showing potential customers that others have used and enjoyed your products or services. This can be especially important for new or unknown businesses that are looking to build trust and credibility.

Overcome Objections

Secondly, customer testimonials can help to address common objections or concerns that potential customers may have. For example, if a customer is hesitant to purchase from you because they are unsure about the quality of your products, a positive testimonial can help to ease their concerns and encourage them to make a purchase.

Highlight your Uniqueness

Customer testimonials can help to differentiate your business from your competitors. By showcasing unique and compelling testimonials, you can highlight the unique value that your business provides and stand out from other businesses in your industry.

Building Trust and Credibility

Trust is one of the most critical components in any successful business relationship. By showcasing positive reviews and testimonials from past customers, potential customers can feel more confident and comfortable in choosing your business over competitors. In fact, according to a study by BrightLocal, 91% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase, and 84% trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

By displaying customer testimonials prominently on your website and social media platforms, you can demonstrate that your business is reliable, trustworthy, and provides high-quality products or services. This can help build credibility, increase conversions, and ultimately, grow your business.

Demonstrating Value through Case Studies

In addition to customer testimonials, case studies are another powerful tool to showcase the value of your business to potential customers. A case study is an in-depth analysis of how your business helped a specific customer achieve their goals or overcome a problem. By demonstrating the specific benefits and results of your products or services, case studies can help potential customers see the value in choosing your business.

Case studies can also be valuable for SEO purposes. By including specific keywords and phrases related to your business and industry, you can optimize your case studies for search engines and improve your online visibility. Additionally, case studies can be shared on social media and other online platforms, further increasing your business’s exposure and potential reach.

Improving Search Engine Rankings

As mentioned earlier, online reviews and feedback can significantly impact a business’s online reputation and bottom line. However, customer testimonials and case studies can also have a positive effect on search engine rankings. According to a study by Moz, online reviews account for approximately 10% of how Google and other search engines decide to rank search results.

By incorporating customer testimonials and case studies into your website and other online platforms, you can improve your search engine rankings and attract more potential customers. This is because search engines view customer reviews and case studies as valuable and trustworthy sources of information, which can improve your website’s authority and credibility.

Encouraging Customer Engagement

Customer testimonials and case studies can also help encourage customer engagement and interaction with your business. By showcasing positive reviews and success stories, you can create a sense of community and loyalty among your customers, which can lead to increased engagement and repeat business.

Additionally, by encouraging customers to leave reviews and feedback, you can gather valuable insights and feedback to improve your business’s products and services. This can help you identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes to better serve your customers.

Collect Customer Testimonials

Action Step 1: Collect Customer Testimonials

The first step in leveraging customer testimonials is to collect them. You can ask your satisfied customers to share their feedback and experiences with your business. You can collect customer testimonials in various forms, such as video testimonials, written testimonials, or audio testimonials. It is essential to ensure that the testimonials are authentic and not fake. You can use online tools such as Trustpilot, Google Reviews, or Yelp to collect and manage customer reviews.

Having positive reviews on platforms such as Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Yelp Reviews can significantly increase your business’s online reputation, improve your search engine rankings, and ultimately, drive more traffic to your website.

Collecting Testimonials on Trustpilot

Trustpilot is one of the most popular review platforms out there, with over 120 million reviews to date. Here’s how you can collect testimonials on Trustpilot:

  1. Create a Trustpilot account: If you haven’t already, create an account on Trustpilot and claim your business listing.
  2. Ask your customers for reviews: The easiest way to get more reviews on Trustpilot is by simply asking your customers to leave a review after they’ve used your product or service. You can do this via email or by adding a review request link to your website or email signature.
  3. Make it easy for customers to leave a review: The easier it is for your customers to leave a review, the more likely they are to do so. Consider including a link to your Trustpilot page on your website or in your email signature.

Collecting Testimonials on Google Reviews

Google Reviews is a popular review platform that can significantly impact your business’s online reputation. Here’s how you can collect testimonials on Google Reviews:

  1. Claim your Google Business Profile listing: If you haven’t already, claim your Google Business Business listing. This will allow you to manage your business information, including your reviews.
  2. Ask your customers for reviews: The easiest way to get more reviews on Google Reviews is by simply asking your customers to leave a review. You can do this via email or by adding a review request link to your website or email signature.
  3. Respond to reviews: Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows your customers that you care about their feedback and are committed to improving your business.

Collecting Testimonials on Yelp Reviews

Yelp is a popular review platform that can help boost your business’s online reputation. Here’s how you can collect testimonials on Yelp Reviews:

  1. Claim your Yelp listing: If you haven’t already, claim your Yelp listing and complete your business profile.
  2. Ask your customers for reviews: Similar to Trustpilot and Google Reviews, asking your customers for reviews is the easiest way to get more reviews on Yelp. You can do this via email or by adding a review request link to your website or email signature.
  3. Respond to reviews: Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows your customers that you value their feedback and are committed to improving your business.

Showcase Customer Testimonials on Your Website

Action Step 2: Showcase Customer Testimonials on Your Website

Once you’ve collected customer testimonials, it’s important to showcase them effectively on your website. One way to do this is by creating a dedicated testimonials page on your site. This page can feature a variety of testimonials from different customers, organized by product or service.

Another effective way to showcase customer testimonials is by including them on product or service pages. For example, if you offer a specific product, include relevant testimonials from customers who have purchased and used that product. This can help to encourage potential customers to make a purchase.

In addition to text testimonials, consider including video testimonials on your site. These can be especially effective, as they provide a more personal and engaging way to showcase customer experiences.

Create Case Studies

Action Step 3: Create Case Studies

Case studies are another powerful tool that can help businesses to build credibility and trust with potential customers. A case study is a detailed analysis of how your business helped a specific customer to solve a problem or achieve a goal. A well-written case study can showcase your business’s expertise and highlight your unique selling proposition.

Writing a case study that stands out from the crowd can be a challenging task, especially when you’re trying to keep it brief and to the point.

To help you create a compelling case study, we’ve put together some top tips and strategies that you can follow.

Define Your Objective

Before you start writing your case study, it’s essential to define your objective. What do you want to achieve with your case study? Are you trying to showcase your expertise in a particular field? Are you trying to build credibility with potential customers? Are you trying to demonstrate the value of your products or services?

Once you’ve defined your objective, you can tailor your case study to meet your specific needs.

Choose a Compelling Story

A great case study tells a compelling story. It’s not just a dry list of facts and figures. Instead, it’s a narrative that takes the reader on a journey.

To choose a compelling story, consider the following questions:

What problem did your customer face?

What was the solution?

How did your product or service help?

What were the results?

By answering these questions, you can create a narrative that engages and captivates your reader.

Use Data and Statistics

Data and statistics add credibility to your case study. They help to back up your claims and demonstrate the effectiveness of your products or services.

When using data and statistics, be sure to cite your sources and provide context for the numbers you’re using. This will help your reader understand the significance of the data and how it relates to your case study.

Keep It Brief and to the Point

While a compelling narrative and data are essential, it’s also crucial to keep your case study brief and to the point. Your reader doesn’t want to wade through pages of text to get to the point.

When writing your case study, focus on the most critical information and keep your sentences and paragraphs short and concise. Use headings and subheadings to break up the text and make it easier to read.

Include Testimonials

Testimonials from satisfied customers are an excellent way to build trust with potential customers. They provide social proof that your products or services are effective and valuable.

When including testimonials in your case study, be sure to use real quotes from real customers. This will add authenticity to your case study and make it more compelling.

Share Customer Testimonials and Case Studies on Social Media and Google Business Profile

Action Step 4: Share Customer Testimonials and Case Studies on Social Media and Google Business Profile

Now that you have compelling customer testimonials and case studies, it’s time to share them on social media. Social media is a powerful tool for reaching new customers and building trust with your existing audience.

To make the most of social media, you need to be strategic about the platforms you use. LinkedIn is an excellent platform for sharing case studies and testimonials with a B2B audience. Facebook and Instagram are great for reaching a broader consumer audience.

When sharing testimonials and case studies on social media, be sure to include a call-to-action that encourages your audience to take action. This could be as simple as asking them to visit your website or contact your business.

Add Testimonials and Case Studies to Your Google Business Profile

Once you have a good collection of testimonials and case studies, it’s time to start creating update posts for your Google Business Profile. These posts should be brief but informative, highlighting a specific customer experience or project.

In each post, include a link back to your website where potential customers can read more about the customer testimonial or case study. This not only helps to drive traffic to your website but also provides valuable backlinks that can improve your SEO.

Respond to Negative Reviews

Action Step 5: Respond to Negative Reviews

Negative reviews can hurt your business’s reputation and credibility, and they can even affect your sales. It is essential to respond to negative reviews online because it shows that you care about your customers and their feedback. By responding to negative reviews, you can turn a negative experience into a positive one and show your customers that you are willing to take responsibility for your mistakes.

Additionally, responding to negative reviews can help you identify areas of your business that need improvement. Negative reviews often highlight specific issues that customers have had with your business, and by addressing those issues, you can improve your business’s overall performance.

Tips for responding to negative reviews online

Respond promptly

It is essential to respond to negative reviews promptly, preferably within 24-48 hours. This shows that you are actively monitoring your online reputation and that you care about your customers’ feedback.

Be empathetic

When responding to negative reviews, it is essential to be empathetic and understand your customers’ frustrations. Acknowledge their concerns and apologize for any inconvenience they may have experienced.

Offer a solution

When responding to negative reviews, offer a solution to the customer’s problem. This could be a refund, a discount, or an opportunity to speak with a customer service representative.

Keep it professional

When responding to negative reviews, it is essential to keep your tone professional and avoid becoming defensive. Remember that your response is public, and other potential customers will be reading it.

Follow up

After responding to a negative review, it is essential to follow up with the customer to ensure that their issue has been resolved to their satisfaction.

Customer testimonials and case studies are essential for any online reputation management strategy. When done correctly, leveraging them can help build trust and credibility with potential customers. With the right process in place for gathering reviews, creating compelling stories, and responding to any negative sentiment, businesses can develop a positive online presence. 

If you’re ready to improve your online presence further, why not discover the power of promoting your awesome customer testimonials and case studies through paid advertising? It’s easier than you think – just do some research on the various ways to market your products or services using social media ads! Don’t wait – start implementing these tactics today, and watch how quickly your business grows over time!

ONE Offer, ONE Audience, and ONE Plan

ONE Offer, ONE Audience, and ONE Plan

Imagine you’re at a buffet, and you see a variety of delicious dishes laid out before you. You start by filling your plate with a little of everything because you want to try it all. But as you move through the line, you keep piling on more and more food, and before you know it, your plate is overflowing.

Now, you’re left with a plate full of mediocre food and so stuffed that you can’t even enjoy it. If you had just focused on a few select dishes, you could have savored them and appreciated their flavors.

In the same way, if you try to offer too much to your audience, they may become overwhelmed and lose interest in everything you have to offer. By focusing on a single, firm offer, you give them a clear and compelling reason to take action, and they are much more likely to respond positively.

one offer

One Offer

In the context of direct marketing, an offer is a specific proposal made to a prospective customer or target audience to persuade them to take a specific action. This action might be making a purchase, subscribing to a service, signing up for a newsletter, or attending an event. An offer is typically presented as a unique value proposition, highlighting a product’s or service’s benefits and features and any incentives or bonuses included. In direct marketing, the offer is a crucial component of a successful campaign, as it serves as the primary tool for persuading potential customers to take action.

Why Only ONE (… at a time)

The sales adage “when you confuse you lose” applies perfectly to focusing on one offer to one audience per campaign. The reason is that if you offer too many options or messages, you risk confusing your audience, and they may not act at all. 

By focusing on one offer and one audience, you can simplify your message and clarify what you want them to do to your potential customers. This way, you can avoid overwhelming them and increase the likelihood that they will take the desired action, ultimately leading to better sales results.

one audience

One Audience

When it comes to crafting your offer, it’s equally important to focus on one specific audience. Each product or service will have unique target markets, competitors, ideal customers, and messaging. Therefore, you can’t create a single offer that speaks to everyone in the same way.

Each segment of your audience may have a different point of view about your product or service or how they experience the problem you promise to solve. And if you create an offer that appeals to everyone, you may end up diluting your message, making it less effective for anyone.

That’s why it’s best to focus on one market segment at a time until you have the marketing resources to enter another. By honing in on a specific audience, you can tailor your messaging to resonate with their unique pain points, needs, and desires. This allows you to speak directly to them and increase your chances of conversion.

Can I Have Two Audiences, Please?… 

Sure, As long as you have a separate marketing plan for each one!

one plan

One Plan 

A clear and complete marketing plan is essential to market your offer successfully. A marketing plan is a documented strategy of the steps you will take to achieve your goals. It includes identifying your target audience, crafting your messaging, selecting the right media channels, capturing leads, following up with leads, and ultimately converting them into customers.

At Web Video Ad Space, we use the Six Pillar Marketing Plan, which includes the following pillars: Audience Targeting, Messaging, Media, Lead Capture, Lead Follow Up, and Conversions and Closing. 

These pillars are essential to creating a comprehensive and effective marketing plan.

By focusing on each of these pillars, you will be able to identify and target the right audience, craft messaging that resonates with them, select the best media channels to reach them, capture leads effectively, follow up with leads promptly, and ultimately convert them into loyal customers. 

Without a complete marketing plan, you risk missing key opportunities and losing potential customers.

The Right Plan

As long as you have some process in place, however crude, to ensure you execute each of the steps above, you will have a successful marketing system for your business.

And there’s the rub…

If you don’t focus your plan on one offer and one audience you have a very high likelihood of creating marketing that is off-target, off-message, off-point, and has low conversions.

If you do a poor job on even one of the steps in the Six Pillar Marketing Plan, your sales will suffer. 

To execute an effective marketing plan, it’s essential to start by clearly defining your offer and target audience. Then, you can create messaging and media creatives that resonate with your audience and communicate the unique value of your offer.

It’s also essential to have a lead capture strategy in place to capture contact information from interested prospects and to follow up with those leads in a timely and personalized manner to nurture them toward conversion.

Lastly, be sure to track and analyze your marketing metrics to measure the effectiveness of your plan and make data-driven adjustments as needed.

Conclusion

It’s essential to remember that if you fail to focus your marketing plan on one offer and one audience, you are likely to create a campaign that misses the target. Such campaigns can be off-target, off-message, and off-point, resulting in low conversions. 

To avoid this calamity, you must have a minimum viable process at each stage in the Six Pillar Marketing Plan. You must have a documented strategy and process for each step to achieve your goal. Doing this ensures that you execute each step correctly and effectively, resulting in a successful marketing system for your business

What’s Next?

So, if you’re ready to take your marketing to the next level and start generating more leads and sales, I invite you to learn more about how Web Video Ad Space can help you implement an online marketing system based on the Six Pillar Marketing System.

Our team of experts will work with you to create a customized plan that targets your ideal audience, creates compelling messaging, and generates high-quality leads that convert into sales.

So, don’t wait any longer. Click the link below to learn more and schedule a free consultation with one of our marketing specialists today!

Let’s get started and take your business to the next level!

Grow Your Janitorial Company With Google Ads

Grow Your Janitorial Company With Google Ads

Why Google Ads Is A Great Way To Grow Your Janitorial Company

If you’re in the business of cleaning up messes, there’s no better place to advertise your services than Google Ads. With over 3.5 billion searches per day, Google is the world’s most popular search engine, making it an ideal platform for reaching potential customers. And because you can target your ads specifically to people who are searching for janitorial services in your area, you can be sure that your ad will be seen by people who are actually in need of your services. Plus, with Google Ads, you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, so you’re only paying for results. So if you’re looking for a great way to grow your janitorial company, Google Ads is the way to go.

 

How to Plan a Google Ads Campaign for Your Janitorial Business

Google Ads can be a great way to reach new customers and grow your business. But where do you start? Planning a Google Ads campaign is easy, and there are a few simple steps you can follow to get started.

First, decide what you want to advertise. This can be anything from your latest product to a sale or promotion. Once you know what you want to promote, you can create your ad using the Google Ads interface. You’ll need to come up with a catchy headline and some compelling copy to persuade people to click on your ad.

Next, you’ll need to choose your target audience. You can target people by location, age, gender, interests, and more. Then, set your budget and choose how long you want your ad to run for. Finally, hit “publish” and your ad will be live!

With these easy steps, you’ll be well on your way to planning a successful Google Ads campaign for your janitorial business. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

 

Tips For Optimizing Your Google Ads Campaign For Better Performance

If you’re serious about marketing your business online, then you can’t afford to neglect Google Ads. After all, Google is the largest and most popular search engine in the world, and a well-run Ads campaign can generate a significant number of leads for your business. Of course, running a successful Google Ads campaign is easier said than done. To help you get the most out of your Ads budget, here are a few tips to optimize your campaign for better performance:

1. Make sure you’re targeting the right keywords. One of the most common mistakes businesses make with their Google Ads campaigns is targeting the wrong keywords. As a result, their ads are shown to people who have no interest in what they’re selling. To avoid this mistake, take the time to research your target market and identify the keywords that are most likely to generate leads.

 

2. Create compelling ad copy. Once you’ve identified the right keywords, it’s time to create ads that will actually get clicked on. This means crafting headlines and descriptions that are both relevant and eye-catching. After all, you only have a limited amount of space to make an impression, so make sure your ad copy is up to the task.

3. Use negative keywords. In addition to targeting the right keywords, you also need to use negative keywords to filter out irrelevant searches. For example, if you sell women’s clothing, you would want to add “men” as a negative keyword so that your ad doesn’t show up when someone searches for “men’s clothing.”

4. Test different strategies. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies until you find what works best for your business. There is no one perfect way to run a Google Ads campaign, so try out different combinations of keywords and ad copy until you find a winning formula.

 

All in all, Google Ads is a great way to grow your business. If you’re not currently using it, now is the time to get started. By following our tips for setting up and optimizing your campaign, you can expect to see improved results and more leads coming in from Google. Ready to give it a try? Contact us today and we’ll get started on creating an effective Google Ads campaign for your janitorial company. Thanks for reading!

How to Get More Sales With Your Existing Website

How to Get More Sales With Your Existing Website

The Problem with Websites

Have you ever spent time and money to build a website only to be disappointed when almost nothing changes?

In the end, there is no increase in the number of leads, prospects, and new customers coming into the business.

Often business owners are left with a website they like ok, but it fails to contribute to their bottom line.

Wasn’t the new website supposed to attract potential clients?

What happened?

There’s a straightforward reason this happens, but before we look at the reason, let’s look at the problem from the other side…

The Bragging Owner

Have you ever seen a business that seems to be bringing in a steady flow of new customers from their ugly website?

The owner brags, “oh yeah, we’re getting a lot of new business from the internet.”

The story of the ugly but productive website is not uncommon, especially if you hang out with other business owners.

There are businesses in nearly every industry with substandard online branding that consistently generate online leads, sales, and customers.

How is it possible? How can a business be successful with online sales and marketing with an inferior web presence?

It’s simple. It’s WEBSITE PROMOTION!

Even an ugly website that offers the right thing to the right person at the right time will make sales.

The Law of Averages from traditional sales training says out of a large number of prospects there is always a small percentage who have an immediate need.

You need to reach many prospective customers to get the sales of the few serious customers. 

An online promotion causes a large number of prospects to visit your site.

This large number allows for The Law of Averages to kick in, resulting in sales for your business.

If the way you describe your offer is not good or the audience is not full of prospective customers, the marketing is unlikely to succeed.

BUT if your target audience NEVER even gets your message in the first place, then your marketing is guaranteed to FAIL.

So how do you promote your website in 2021?

THE TWO KINDS OF WEBSITE PROMOTION

There are thousands of options to choose from when it comes to online or digital marketing tools and tactics.

I’ll break down the website promotion process into organic campaigns and paid campaigns.

I will also use the terms promotion and campaign interchangeably.

A campaign is just an organized plan to promote a specific product or service.

WHAT IS ORGANIC WEBSITE PROMOTION?

Organic promotion refers to online marketing activities used to promote a website that does not require direct or continuous payments to online media channels like Google, Facebook, Linkedin, etc.

Some of the most popular organic promotions include:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – This is the process of getting your website to the top of organic search results at the search engines like Google and Bing.

Local Search Engine Optimization – This is the process of getting your website listed in the map listings of major search engines like Google and Bing.

Social Media Marketing – This is building a following by sharing content and actively engaging with various audiences on social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, or YouTube.

Public Relations – This is the process of engaging local media outlets to gain attention for marketing-focused stories.

WHAT IS PAID WEBSITE PROMOTION?

Paid promotion is pretty straightforward. You pay an online channel like Google, Facebook, or Linkedin to place an advertisement. Usually, the ads look like the organic media surrounding them. In other words, search ads look like search results, and social media ads look like social media posts.

Some of the most popular paid promotions include:

Search Advertising – You pay the search engine company (most commonly Google) to place sponsored search results above and below the natural search results to any search term. These listings are usually more robust (include more information) than a standard search result listing. You choose the website page the visitor lands on when they follow the link.

Social Media Advertising – You pay the social media company (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, YouTube, etc.) to place media (text, images, or video) in their feeds to pre-selected audience segments.

Paid Influencer Placement – If you’re lucky enough to have an influencer in your market who is available for sponsorship in return for sharing your content with their followers, this can be a powerful marketing strategy.

GET BACK TO BASICS

A great website that no one visits will not produce results.

On the other hand, a mediocre website with a constant flow of targeted visitors will produce some leads, prospects, and sales.

You SHOULD have beautiful and impactful branding.

You SHOULD have a well-organized website that is easy to read and understand.

However, you MUST PROMOTE anything you want your target audience to consume… including your website.

The Start is What Stops Most People

The Start is What Stops Most People

“The start is what stops most people.” – Don Shula

Have you ever seen a little kid get on a diving board for the first time?

Most of them hesitate and make a real serious assessment of whether this new activity is a good idea.

Of course there is a range. There are always a few brave souls who jump without thinking and a few who have to be forcibly pushed.

The majority do the calculation that, if kids before them didn’t die, they’re probably going to be ok.

I was a cautious kid and I’m probably a cautious adult. They didn’t have to throw me off the diving board, but let’s say, everybody was getting really bored by the time I finally jumped.

What kind of kid were you?

I have chosen a livelihood that is full of risk.

Starting a business and being an entrepreneur is just one long series of new diving board experiences.

The thing is, now we’re not in an environment that has been designed for our safety. Some of these jumps may be our last. Hence most people will not follow this path for long.

The stress of constantly assessing risk and then taking it, wears them out.

I think this is where support of mentors plays a big role.

If you’re in a new venture, find people willing to share their experiences.

They can be the other kids in the pool, who say, “come on in the water is fine.”

But choose wisely.

This reminds me of the scene from Vacation, when Christie Brinkley jumps in the pool naked and invites Clark Griswold to join her.

He strips down (to his boxers), and stands by the edge of the pool for a ridiculous amount of time, swinging his arms, chanting, “This is crazy, this is crazy….”

Sometimes when a start a new venture, I feel like Clark, “this is crazy, this is crazy…”

But eventually I jump… and start. How about you?