Have you ever angrily slammed your keyboard or tipped your glass of ice water in frustration after reading a devastatingly negative business review? If you can relate, then you will love this blog post about how to handle and cope with bad reviews for your business!
As an online instructor, teacher, writer, and blogger who loves to help others and share my best tips – I have regrettably also garnered a handful of negative reviews and harsh critics!
Why I Take Negative Reviews So Brutally – And How To Help Minimize The Sting Of A Negative Business Review!
In this blog post, I am going to share my best insights to help soften the sting of a negative review. But first, I have a blatant confession to make. I am a big wussy when it comes to criticism!
I admit that I am a sensitive soul. Whenever I publish an email newsletter, a blog post, a course, a digital book, a social media post, an article, or anything – I put my heart and divine essence on the line!
I try my utmost to help and to contribute value. Nothing saddens me more than when I discover that other people did not enjoy my creations.
As a small business owner, I bet you feel the same way! You try your ablest to contribute astonishing content and likely get disheartened when your business receives a negative review.
I too indeed feel the sting that every negative review leaves with the utmost vigor and trepidation! That is why I am captivated to bestow my negative review response strategy and my coping mechanisms with you.
Before we start, remember that many of the most immeasurable teachers, gurus, artists, bloggers, marketers, businesses, singers, performers, and pundits on the planet get negative reviews. You cannot please everyone!
Also, consider that getting a negative review might not be the worst thing. Here is what I mean…
Consider That Some Businesses Never Even Earn A Single Review! For Example – I Have Launched Plenty Of Projects That Failed Without Earning A Single Review!
I know what it is like to fail dismally and epically. I have registered and built several blogs over the years that never earned any respect, prestige, traffic, or reviews – even though I put forth a boatload of effort. Many of the blog posts and articles I write these days end up in the recycle bin – or nobody ever reads them!
I am sharing this with you to help make you feel better, and to help cheer you up! Try to look on the bright side, I beg of you.
What I mean is, if you are a business owner, then there is an excellent chance that you take all of your success and progress for granted. The point is that many businesses fail and don’t even get customers, clients, leads, or website traffic. Period!
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Here Is How Your Business Can Arguably And Potentially Benefit From Negative Reviews – Even If The Negative Review Is Causing Undue Stress!
You do not have to notify me about how stressful a negative business review can appear. I am a perfectionist. Negative reviews torture my soul. Many forms of criticism make me feel depressed, discouraged, et cetera. So, if you are ludicrously passionate like I am, then I acknowledge your anguish and agony.
The good news is that you do not need to stress out about negative business reviews. Instead, here is my strategy to hopefully turn a negative review into a better situation.
Look to your negative reviews honestly and without ego. Look to see if your critics make valid points. What do I mean? Entertain your harsh critics and see if you agree with their complaint! I know that this is ludicrously challenging to accomplish without bias. However, I urge you to try.
Listen To Your Harshest Critics And See If They Make A Point. Meditate Upon The Negative Review And Try To See If You Can Use The Criticism To Improve Your Business.
I know. Listening to your harshest critics is a soul-crushing endeavor. Especially if your business customer or client is harsh! That said, why not at least try to use this opportunity to reflect upon your business to see if you may improve?
Is there anything that you can learn from the negative business review in question? Is there any way that you can use this opportunity to help refine the policies or procedures of your business so that it runs more efficiently as a result?
Asking yourself these significant (and compelling) questions is how you can potentially turn a negative review (lemon) into an opportunity to improve your business (lemonade) – food for thought!
After Initial Analysis, Do Not Dwell On The Negative Reviews For Your Business. Instead, Here Is What Your Business Might Consider!
Have you ever been so stressed out that you cannot create anything worthwhile? I have been. That is why it is critical to avoid dwelling on the negative.
If you spend your entire day in a panic over your negative review, then it is all too easy to let that negativity to fester and to hamper your creativity.
If you are discouraged and dwelling on a negative review, here is my advice on how to snap out of your funk!
Focus on making your business better so that you theoretically earn less negative reviews in the future.
Focus on serving your customers to the utmost of your ability. Focus on delivering wondrous, best in class, astounding support!
Ask yourself what your business lacks, or how you may improve. What are your weak points? Proper communication? Soft skills? Delivery? Customer support? Ask yourself these critical questions!
Whatever You Do – Do Not Let A Negative Review Crush Your Self-Esteem, Inspiration, Drive, Or Desire!
I have published hundreds of thousands of words of content on this blog. I do not mention this to brag but to document that nothing kills my passion more than critics!
When I am confident? I write and publish like the wind. When I am tense, stressed, and depressed? I stop creating everything outright.
So, here is the big payoff that I wish to share with you.
Instead of letting negative reviews and harsh critics get to me and sap my energy, I instead focus on something more significant, and valuable. I focus on those students, readers, and subscribers of mine who appreciate my content. I let those students and readers who love my content become the fuel that powers my creativity and inspiration!
In my opinion? If you constantly dwell on negative reviews only, then it is the fastest way to lose confidence, inspiration, desire, and passion. Also remember, that even if you have the most dependable business on the planet – not everyone will like you.
So, here is my honest opinion. Learn from the negative reviews that your business earns. Read them. However, do not dwell on them! Instead, read them, reply if you wish, and adjust your business practice if necessary. Then, move on with your life and focus on improving your business so that you continue to earn more reviews – hopefully, better reviews in the future!
By the way – if you are interested in learning my most salutary insights about teaching, then check out this cool blog post I wrote for you about online teaching tips for new teachers and online instructors. If you want to learn about my best teaching strategies, then I invite you to read more!
The Importance Of Keeping Your Cool And Why You Should Never Stress Out When You Or Your Business Gets Negative Reviews Online
Assuming that the negative reviews your business earns are of good faith – then you should never stress out or despair. Even if your business gets tagged with a
dismally unenthusiastic or cynical review, it is not the end of the world. So try to stay calm!
When you get stressed out, it is also much more natural to find yourself bickering or arguing in a public forum or website! That is, in my opinion, nearly never a good look for you, your business, and your brand. So, remember to always keep your cool!
I realize how daunting a negative review can seem at first. Adding additional stress, drama or anxiety is never a desirable solution; so try your best to learn from the experience instead – and try to keep a level head!
How To Respond To A Negative Review? Here Is My Best Tip For Doing So Without Coming Off As A Curmudgeonly Crank!
Reply to negative reviews with grace, finesse, benevolence, magnanimity, and sincerity. Never act rude, mean, irritable, or cantankerous!
I advise you to even THANK your customer for leaving the honest review and trying your service. Even if they obliterate your business right there on the spot – try your best NOT to let that shake you.
Instead, try to acknowledge that your customer had a bad experience. Apologize if necessary. Let your customer know how you are going to make it right, and improve your overall process if necessary. Remain gracious, humble, and respectful.
Whatever you do, do not quarrel or argue! I know how passionate you are as a small business owner. We all are. However, it is all too convenient to end up bickering or complaining about your negative review writer. That is rarely (if ever) a wise choice – especially because neutral parties may be reading your business reviews before trying your product or service. Do not lose potential customers due to a crotchety display on your part!
Remember that responding hastily can come back to haunt your business or brand’s reputation for life! For that reason, I beg you to proceed with caution when responding to reviews. Be respectful and courteous – always.
If you want more writing tips that I use as a blogger, then I invite you to read one of my best blog posts about writing tips for bloggers that you might love. I discuss a handful of my best writing tips that have helped me to write hundreds of blog posts. I hope you enjoy the strategies therein!
Here Is How Your Small Business Can Earn More Positive Reviews And Worry Less About Negative Reviews!
One of the coolest tips for small business owners is to make it easy for your customers, clients, readers, students, or buyers to review your stuff!
Take inventory of the different places online where your customers can review your business. Consider creating a dedicated page on your website that neatly organizes all of the ways that your customers can review your business!
If you have a brick and mortar business, then you can print out a cool flyer that advertises all of the places where your customers or clients can review you online. Ask your customers for honest feedback and for advice on how you can improve!
Whether you are a local business or operate digitally the strategy is the same. Remind your customers that you appreciate honest feedback on Yelp, Trip Advisor, Angie’s List, Google, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Goodreads, BookBub, Thumbtack, or any other review or eCommerce marketplaces where your business is listed online.
Get creative! Ask for honest feedback and reviews anywhere and via any ethical and moral means that you can. Look at your business process. What opportunities do you have to ask? Do you have a Facebook group, a Pinterest group, social media accounts, a blog, or an email newsletter? All businesses are different.
Either way, I bet that many of your best customers might love to write you a positive review, but they have no clue how to express their thoughts effectively. Let them know where your business is listed online so that they can write honest feedback and hopefully help spread the word.
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My Summary For Handling Negative Reviews Plus My Top Tip For Coping With Negative Reviews On Yelp, Google, Angie’s List Or Any Other Platform
To recap, remember that if you are getting negative reviews for your business, then you are lucky. I have spent countless years of my life on various websites, blogs, articles, and projects that never earned a single review.
Imagine spending an entire season writing a book or launching a blog – and then nobody reads your stuff. Crickets! Cobwebs! In my opinion, that is even more depressing (and humiliating) than a negative review! I mention this to help give you confidence and assurance!
Second, remember not to focus on negative reviews. I know how badly negative reviews sting. As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you want to offer marvelous services. You desire to help people. Nothing tugs at your emotions like a negative review! So, do not dawdle or linger gazing into that odious and revolting 1 star-review.
Instead, try to benefit from the situation. Learn from your review. Analyze the merit of the review. If the review is honest and has merit? Then consider making adjustments to your business so you can make your overall business strategy better. That way, you can turn a dismal situation (bad review) into a (potentially) astounding opportunity to improve.
And, if you wish to launch a blog like the one I have, then read this epic blog post I wrote that talks about how to launch a blog on WordPress in 7 simple steps – and without stress! Hope you enjoy reading the post.
Conclusion
I want to thank you for reading this blog post about negative reviews.
I hope that if you should encounter the misfortune of earning a negative business review, the strategies herein will prove invaluable to you and your business.
Thank you again, and please enjoy an elegant day.
Cordially yours…
Mike “Positivity” DeVincent
MrComputerScience.com