You’re going to make mistakes during the life of your successful corporate blog…all the best people do and they’re not afraid to admit it.
Even when you think you’re doing everything just right, there’s going to be someone out there who tells you otherwise. If you express an opinion someone will possibly disagree.
The underbelly of the internet contains some odd people – spammers, leavers of stupid comments, virus-spreaders, haters, liars and other jealous or failed internet marketers. The internet is only a reflection of the outside world. These people are considerably easier to deal with than the same kinds of people in real life. The Delete button helps a lot.
It’s counter-productive to worry about everything you do to make your online business a success.
Okay, you have probably decided you’re not going to use grey hat techniques to market and promote your site. That’s a good decision that should draw no criticism. Being terrified that every opinion you have in the form of written content may upset someone is going to hold you back.
If you do express an opinion and someone disagrees, don’t automatically hit the Trash button. It can work to your advantage. Your followers will commiserate with you, back you up and you’ll soon see who your loyal followers are. It’s content after all.
That comment that stung could end up boosting your confidence.
Your video is lousy. You probably know that already because only a few people have viewed it and the majority has left crappy feedback. Learn from it. Take down the video and improve. If someone says you look like a gorilla, learn to laugh, you know you don’t. If you do, use it to your advantage!
And that’s what you need, a thick skin and confidence. If you do everything legally, – you don’t copy people’s content or steal other people’s pictures, then if someone accuses you of doing it you’ll be justified in coming back with a “No I didn’t. What makes you think that?” Ninety nine times out of a hundred you’ll get no response. Brush it off and move on.
If you tend to overreact to criticism offline, it will probably apply online too. Take a deep breath before you hit the Trash button and see if you can use a negative comment to your advantage. A small fraction of the time you may be wrong – consider that, you must keep an open mind to be able to improve. Thank the person for bringing it to your attention. Your followers will see you’re a gracious person. Saying you’re wrong is only admitting you’re human and being wrong can bring positive results.
Let your skin grow a little bit thicker and always keep your mind open.
Since starting your blog, has your skin grown thicker?
Please share your views in the comments below.
Previous posts in this Successful Corporate Blogs series:
Successful Corporate Blogs: Are You Really Writing For YOUR Audience?
Internet Marketing Is Easy When You Use This Technique
Internet Marketing Is Easy When You Use This Technique Part 2
Successful Corporate Blogs: The Technique That Sells More
Successful Corporate Blogs: Build Loyal Relationships
Successful Corporate Blogs: Be Like Lady Gaga
Successful Corporate Blogs: Share Your Mistakes
Successful Corporate Blogs: Use Different Media
I can see this tip of a thicker skin working quite well and may be more necessary in a personal blog compared to corporate. Business after all is just business and personal is often times really personal.
Brian
So do you think people don’t respond to/comment on in a negative way to corporate blogs?
Owners of corporate blogs are humans as well!
Andrew
That’s just another great addition to an already great community.Andrew, I really don’t know what to say about this,But successful blog always provide great service,that why they become more successful.
Thanks, Bhupendra.
We all should do our best to provide great service. ‘Good enough’ is no longer good enough!
Andrew
Andrew
When you get into business, at times you have no choice but to grow a thick skin, not just generally in blogging, but your overall business. As at the end of the day, you cant please everyone, but what you can do, is to stay motivated, and look on the bright side of each feedback.
Wasim
Very true!
…and move on from any negative comments/feedback.
Andrew
True, however well informed we feel we may be there will always be someone to tell ‘otherwise’ so sometimes it makes more sense to be thick skinned. There is always a first time so mistakes will be there too, it makes us wiser to learn by mistakes and experience.
I think someone taking things “personally” while literally being the voice for a corporation is quite silly; I think anyone who is behaving that way has perhaps chosen the wrong business!
I believe that taking feedback and comments too personally is a bane for most businesses, but it can also be indicative of the image projected by ones business.
No one likes bad feedback and it’s often best to brush off and ignore it. If it keeps happening it is advisable to see what’s the cause as it could be causing a loss of business or a detrimental image.
It’s a tough one as it is usually a balancing game between ignoring opposition and the disgruntled while maintaining a high profile and positive public image.
Though provoking article Andrew 🙂