In today’s digital age, it is increasingly common to receive negative feedback online. It could be in the form of bad reviews on a product or service, unprofessional images posted about you or your business, or even direct comments from people who don’t like what you’re doing. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, negativity is unavoidable when engaging with others online. But that doesn’t mean you have to let it bring you down and ruin your reputation!
In this article, we’ll explore some strategies for dealing with online negativity so that you can get back on track and keep growing despite any criticism that comes your way.
Use Online Reputation Services
The most effective way of removing all negativity from your social media or business online accounts and protecting them in the future will likely come from hiring online reputation services. They can address any negativity by very often having the expertise to remove it.
As well, such services will have the strategies to take care of you in the longer term and make sure that you are not posting anything inappropriate yourself.
Answer Feedback
Acknowledge the feedback, but don’t take it personally. It might be hard to not let negative feedback get to you, especially if it’s directed at you or your business. However, try to focus on the facts and not take it as a personal attack. Take a step back and look at the situation objectively so that you can move on without any lasting damage to your reputation.
A good answer can avoid needing to ask anyone to remove the potentially reputation-losing comment or feedback you have received.
Don’t retaliate
No matter how angry or hurt you may feel, it’s never a good idea to respond to the negativity on your own. Not only will this make the situation worse, but it can also damage your reputation and credibility if you’re seen as responding in an unprofessional manner.
Although you do not want to delay replying for too long, it is better to wait than say the wrong thing in the heat of the moment. A well-thought-out response would likely produce a more professional answer that is better reputationally.
Try to turn it into something positive
If you can’t ignore the feedback, try to use it as an opportunity to improve or learn from the situation. It may be hard to find a silver lining amid all the negativity, but if you take the time to look for one, you might be surprised by what you find.
It is surprising how easy it can be, using the right words, to turn a negative situation into a much more positive one. It can demonstrate that we are only human or show that a business is a master at dealing with customer service problems.
Don’t feed the trolls
If someone is trying to provoke a reaction from you, ignore them and move on without engaging in their behavior. By responding to their negativity, you’re only prolonging the situation and giving them exactly what they want – attention.
Know when to seek help
If the situation gets out of control or becomes too much for you to handle on your own, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Whether it’s a lawyer, public relations specialist, or even just a trusted friend, having another set of eyes on the situation can often make things easier to manage.
You cannot go far wrong by seeking out an IT Professional to deal with negative posts promptly before they have a chance to ruin reputations.
Final thoughts
Negative feedback can be hard to deal with, but it doesn’t have to ruin your reputation or bring you down. By following these strategies, you can stay focused on the positives and come out ahead despite any online negativity that may come your way.