Nothing is certain except death, taxes, and bad reviews.
The best part of the internet is that it lets everyone share their opinions — something that is also the worst part of the ever-expanding world wide web.
You can’t expect to please everyone, and, as a business owner, steeling yourself against unhappy customers and bad reviews are just part of the job.
That said, while you should never let a negative review get under your skin, you shouldn’t completely ignore them.
Bad reviews can be a double-edged sword once you learn the proper way to wield them. The same words that could potentially damage your reputation can also improve your company.
If you’ve received a few bad reviews, try not to let them get you down.
Here’s how to turn negative comments into positive opportunities.
Fix What’s Broken
No one is perfect.
While you might consider this to be common knowledge, it can also be a pretty tough pill to swallow.
You should always be looking for ways to improve, and bad reviews can provide you with everything you need to take your business to the next level.
Mine your bad reviews for solvable issues, then take the necessary steps to fix those problems. While the customer may not always be right, they’re not continually wrong, either.
Just be sure to thank those reviewers for their helpful input as you go.
Respond ASAP
Some people have too much time on their hands.
It may seem surprising, but sometimes people will leave scathing false reviews because they don’t expect anyone to respond.
Once they realize someone has noticed their behavior, there’s a good chance they’ll delete their review.
That said, there are those reviewers that have a substantive complaint.
When you respond to these customers, that can lead to them deleting or even altering their negative review.
The key to responding to unhappy customers is to do it fast– within 48 hours. If you wait too long, the customer will likely have forgotten all about their review and will be less likely to respond.
Learn From Your Mistakes
As was said before, no one’s perfect. And sometimes, the best and most respectable thing you can do is own up to your mistakes.
If a customer leaves a review calling you out for a mistake you made, no matter how trivial that error may seem, ignoring them will only make you look bad.
Swallow your pride, own up to your mistakes, and take the necessary steps to ensure that you don’t make the same mistake twice. Customers will notice and appreciate the effort, which will help boost your reputation.
Find the Funny Side
Finally, sometimes the best thing you can do in response to negative reviews is to laugh at them.
Occasionally are particularly absurd review may find its way into your comment section. And rather than retaliate in anger, try to find the humor in it and use it to your advantage.
Odds are your more loyal customers will find it just as funny as you do.
Finding the Silver Lining of Bad Reviews
Bad reviews are an inevitable part of life. Fortunately, you can easily harness and use them in your favor if you know how to handle them.