This has come up recently not only with clients, but with prospective social media adopters. How do I handle negative commentary?
I can admit that I am a hot head (I blame it on the red hair) and while I understand that social media marketing is a two-way street, negative feedback (or even adversarial comments) tend to get my goat. My husband tells me to shake it off, but negative conversations stick with me. My first suggestion to you is….don’t be me.
It’s important to remember that everyone has an opinion and some are not articulated as well as others. Don’t let conflicting comments get to you and definitely don’t take it personally. Insulting comments are written to provoke a response. I typically post them then ignore them. Don’t give a jerk the satisfaction of a response. Comments that are simply a different opinion than yours warrant a response. Here’s what I like to do:
Thank them for their comment. No matter what, this person took the time to read your post and offer an opinion and they should be thanked. Plus, it somewhat defuses the situation.
Offer up some info to support your view. Some people might find this defensive, but if there are studies to support what you’ve said, why not offer them?
Stick to the facts. Don’t get emotional or take the comment personally. Just stick to the facts.
Have a plan. It’s always good to have a plan for spin control. The day will come when you say something that provokes a response from others. So, develop a plan of action for when this happens and execute it when necessary. It’s better to know how you are going to handle differing comments before you need to.
By having a quick plan to handle opposing viewpoints and issues, it’s easier and much less emotional and stressful to respond if/when it happens.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Great post! Sometimes the negative comments can feel unexpected – but really, for the most part it’s nice to know people are reading and they care enough about what you said to agree/disagree. It means you did your job as a writer.