On Negative Criticisms: 6 Ways to Handle it like a Pro

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If you are into blogging, one of the things that you will definitely encounter is having rude remarks from your readers. Well, that unless if you disable the comments, then reading negative criticisms is inevitable. And let's be honest, sometimes reading these kinds of comments can make us feel insecure, discourage, and of course, hurt. Who wouldn't feel that way? We all do since we are human beings and it is normal for us to feel that way.

However, when you are a marketer and working in an online marketing agency, these kinds of comments will definitely not get into you. Yes, you may feel a little of insecurities and discouragements but you should not consider these as your weakness. Instead, treat it as one of your stepping stones to growing and be on the next level.

It is given that not all of us can handle such criticisms. Sometimes, bloggers also throw negative comments to their readers, which is totally foul. If you just know how to handle it like a pro, the reader who gives you a negative comment might eventually be one of your followers. Who knows, right? Well, to give you some idea on how are you going to handle it, below are some effective tips that you can definitely apply when you encounter one.

1. Prove that you are listening

Always remember that readers will definitely leave a comment when they feel that they want to praise you for coming up a great article, or the opposite, which they don't appreciate the content that you have included. One way or another, they see or notice something that seems off. That means, asking and knowing what concerns them the most is an ideal step for you to make.  And with that, they will eventually realize that you respect and value their opinion and you're willing to take a change when needed.

2. Speak to your experience

One of the most common misunderstandings between a blogger and a reader is that, one would directly disagree with the idea the other have. Of course, the situation experienced by the blogger is way too different with the situation experienced from the reader. Moreover, there is no right or wrong with what you have experience since you are in the situation first hand and you can't directly disagree with that. Instead, you might also give your own personal experience for one can know what others don't know. Instead of criticizing, cite your own.

3. Be inquisitive

There are just times that we encounter comments that are hard to answer, or perhaps, you are still not sure on what kind of answers do they want from you. With that, why don't you try asking them a question instead? For instance," Could you tell me more about the problems you're seeing on your end?", or " Can you explain your perspective a bit more?". Well, there is nothing wrong with a little bit of a conversation. With that, you will have a clearer view on the concerns your audience have.

4. Convey kindness

One of the biggest concerns most people have is the way we communication. And the problem with the internet nowadays is that the vast majority of communication on it is text-based. People will definitely not know on how you convey your body language, the tone of your voice, and your facial expressions. That means, it is a challenge for you on how you are going to make yourself a pleasant person to your audience. For instance, instead of just saying "Fine", you change it to ‘That's fine with me!", or "Sorry to hear that", change it to "I'm so sorry to hear that, Hope." Or you can even add some emoji to perfectly convey your emotions. With this way, misunderstandings between you and your audience can be avoided.

5. Take their side

Considering the brighter side, negative comments can also help us in many ways. If you receive a negative criticism, that means, it might be the best chance for you to change what is needed in order for you to improve for the better. And remember, the audience will definitely not leave negative criticism when they think that you have a great article. But if they do, then there must be something off that you need to verify and change. Be thankful for it.

6. Apologize

We are all human beings. And as a blogger, there are just times that we don't notice that our content is already a little bit off. When you experience such, you have to gracefully apologize to your audience that you are wrong, and you'll do it right next time. No worries, your audience will definitely understand you. Apologizing to your audience is not a bad thing after all.

When to Know You're Meant to be a Marketer

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Marketing isn't for everyone. And whether you agree with me or not, there are some marketers who don't have the right qualities to become one, while there are also some people who just didn't realize it yet that they can become a good marketer. And some of you here might still wonder whether being a marketer is meant for them or not.

Technically, there are a lot of factors you should consider if you want to be a marketer. It doesn't appear in front of you instantly, you have to take some steps in order for you to become a good marketer. However, there are just times that we feel like we have this innate capability that flows within us. Well, if you think so, then here are some signs you might want to know if you really are meant to be a marketer.

You are a self-starter

Doing something from scratch is a difficult thing to do. And not all people have the initiative to start something, especially when he/she doesn't know what to do. However, if you are a kind of person who loves to take the first step, then you might be fitted to become a marketer.

Basically, most marketers, if not all, are self-employed. They do business on their own. Taking the first step can help you better cope with failure. Failing is just a normal thing for you to experience since you know how to get up and what to do when you know things won't turn out the way you expect them to be. Moreover, self-starters know how to be persistent when it comes to achieving things.

You have a parent who is a marketer

When you are growing up with a family who runs a business, you basically know the necessary and fundamental things to do and what not to do. Of course, it is inevitable that you can observe the way they run their business. And especially when curiosity strikes, you definitely want to know more about the things that usually do.

Moreover, when you are surrounded with marketers, you act and have a mindset of being a marketer. And as you grow up, you will have the idea that starting a business and/or being a marketer is a feasible career path that you want to take.

You are actively developing your marketing skill

Again, marketing is a skill. If you want to become one, then you have to take some extra step for you to be a good marketer. Of course, that includes being active participating in activities regarding marketing stuff. When you know that there will be some seminars about marketing, then it is your opportunity to learn more about it.

And as a marketer, you also have to be open-minded on the new things and/or ideas that will come to you. That means, the more participate in the marketing world, the more you can develop your marketing skills.

You are improving existing concepts

As a marketer, you have to think out of the box. Yes, cliché as it may seem, however, it is definitely true to people who want to become better in the marketing industry. One way or another, a marketer should not be contented of the things they have. If you think that a particular project can still be improved, you have to think of a better solution on what else you can still do to make it better than the previous one.

Moreover, the more you think out of the box, the creative you can become. Of course, marketers should also be creative in finding the right solution for a particular business or project.

You are charismatic

Having a charisma is one of the factors to winning the negotiation between your clients. And while other people are innate when it comes to having some charisma, others learned how to have one. Yes, charisma can be learned. And if you habitually practice it, you will definitely improve the charisma that you have.