“When life gives you lemons make lemonade.”
It happens to the best of us. Despite our good intentions, diligence and desire to help others, we publish a blog post, or book, or article that is less than perfect. Or a customer has a bad experience with our service that he/she feels compelled to publish via a Yelp review.
Before you bury your head in the sand, or consider hiding out through the “witness protection” program, you should know that there IS life on the other side of a bad review. And, I should know.
THE STORY BEHIND TODAY’S STORY…
A few years back, I was elated to release one of my first ebooks in a series, based upon the popularity of my blog.
I was convinced that this strategic move would elevate my writer’s platform to a new stratosphere and add bulk to my bank account. So, I submitted my work to a review service affiliated with a membership organization for writers, of which I was a member. I figured the publicity and positive endorsement would enhance my marketing efforts as well.
Fast forward…
To put it mildly, it was an “eye-opening experience.” The few positives the reviewer wrote were overshadowed by his critique that essentially stated: “The commas in the book were excessive, and at times distracting.” Ouch.
After I ate some humble pie, I came up with a humorous response piece entitled: “COMMA SUTRA? HOW I TURNED A NEGATIVE REVIEW INTO A PLEASURABLE EXPERIENCE.”
And you know what happened?
I sold that knee-jerk essay for $75 to a leading writing blog. And, it gets even better. Piggy-backing off of this success, I wrote another piece with a different slant and more teachable moments, and sold it for an additional $50 to another ezine!
The lesson here? Pain can sometimes be profitable. It all depends on how you “spin” it.
Of course, no one in their right mind would aspire to a bad review intentionally. But I can attest, as a veteran scribe and entrepreneur, that when it comes to the public, there are an array of things we simply can’t control. False claims, bad ratings that are not realistically based, haters, etc.
The best we can do when/if this happens is learn how to survive, develop a thick skin and put a positive spin on negative situations if they arise.
Accordingly, here are a few tips (regardless as to the nature or origin) to turn your bad reviews into good money and valuable wisdom!
1. TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY (Man up!)
“To err is human.” Most people don’t realize the power behind a simple apology. “I’m sorry” works wonders. When applicable, take ownership for your error or customer service oversight, show contrition, then keep moving forward!
2. TEACH A LESSON
The great thing about being a writer is the ability to share insights and experiences publicly to help others avoid the same mistakes, and make wiser choices. I always look for “teachable moments” in mishaps. You should too. What can you share to shorten another person’s “learning curve?” To address their pain points? Your downfall can increase your “bottom line.” One thing I learned, for instance, is that one bad review won’t categorically or completely kill your reputation or ruin your image. Trust me. Even million dollar box-office movies sometimes receive poor ratings and “mixed” reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. FIND THE FUNNY, FOLKS
A wise man once said: “If you can laugh through it, you can live through it.” Which is why it’s so important to find a little comedic relief in things that sometimes happen to us. Doing so can lead to a humorous personal essay, inspirational post to publish on your blog, or minimally, an entertaining story for your next cocktail party. It works if you work it.
4. NEVER LET ‘EM SEE YOU SWEAT!
Although the initial reaction to a negative review for many of us may be anger, denial, or defensiveness, if we are receptive, we can actually glean useful information that can enhance our future operating efforts. Take a step back. Exercise some objectivity and, when possible, try to see how you might improve your creative process, perspective, or approach. The more you learn, the more you‘ll earn.
Final Thought
Remember, bad reviews can sometimes happen to good business people. But, there’s an upside here: You can write your own happy ending to these stories by mastering these timely tips.