How do you feel about people, who criticise you or your work negatively?
Well, if you are thinking of using a blog as a part of your marketing mix, (and you should), you will need to figure out how to deal with them. This is especially the case, if your blog becomes popular.
The 2 sides of blogging
There are 2 sides to blogging: The side the readers see and the side the blogger sees. Readers only see the published comments and the blog posts. The blogger sees everything. We see the spam and in some cases, the abusive emails too.
I generally just get smartasses telling me about typos – I call them The Typo Police! These people will never email you to say they enjoyed a post. They exclusively use email to bloggers, as a way to pass on negative criticism. They are harmless.
Naturally, as a blogger’s success increases, so does his or her reach. In reaching more people, you become a target for those who are either envious, bored or usually both.
For instance, when I started this blog, I used to get around 10 emails a week from people, asking me general marketing questions or enquiring about my services. Today that’s around 70/80 emails every day and often over 100! Just 2 or 3 emails a month are abusive or insulting and I almost never get any kind of abusive blog comments. I’m very fortunate to have attracted the right crowd; people who will debate and critique, but without the abuse.
Compare this to what famous people get!
For example, last year I found myself exchanging emails with the massively talented IT Journalist, broadcaster and American TV personality, Natali Del Conte. Natali had been mentioned in a post I wrote and received some totally uncalled for criticism via the comments section of that blog.
Some of the comments were really abusive and insulting. Natali’s only crime was to be both talented and beautiful (how dare she). Sadly, when you mix the kind of success Natali has earned, with envy and (the supposed) anonymity of the Internet, some people will say things that they would never say to your face.
With increased visibility, comes increased exposure to the good and the bad – the positive and the negative. I believe you need to develop a broad pair of shoulders, if you want to develop a high profile blog or business.
What’s your thoughts?
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I totally agree Jim but I think that we are happy to post a blog and our comments on the internet does mean we have to accept some criticism, as long as it is fair and to the point. I am trying with my new blog to give a very individual view of recruitment and welcome comments which I know will not always agree with mine … ask me again in a month .. I may have a different opinion LOL
Jayne Johnson´s last blog ..Pay it forward…
Hi Jayne.
I think you misunderstood my point, sorry for the lack of clarity.
I’m talking about abuse and even threats; NOT typical criticism, which is a healthy, valuable part of blogging.
Thanks for the comment and good luck with the new blog.
My pet peeve Jim are people like the lady who gave the first comment, who comment without reading anything more than the title.
Hi Jake. I’m sure Jayne read the post. I have actually put a part of the post in bold after Jayne’s comment, to make it clearer. Thanks for the feedback sir.
Hi Jim .. sorry I think it was my reply that was not very clear. I did understand your comments and agreed that we should expect some criticism and disagreement as long as it was fair (meaning not abusive!).. I obviously did not make that clear and upset Jake to the point of him also proving your point.
One of the challenges with comments (and emails to an extent) is the ease with which they can be misunderstood. You see this an awful lot on Twitter. Thanks for the feedback Jayne.
I can’t read the comments on most blogs, as they are just insane attacks and utter rubbish.
A young girl in our neighborhood was murdered in October 09, a crime that has yet to be solved. The comments under the news articles basically blamed the mother for not taking care of her child… even before the body was found. The comments were uncalled for and cruel. Things that someone wouldn’t say to the mother’s face nor even in a crowded room.
Comment abuse is one thing that is going to have to be handled if blogging/commenting is going to be a success in the future. The problem I see is that there isn’t an easy solution. At this point, moderation is the only real tool in the toolbox that is effective.
Marvin Conn´s last blog ..Sorry, you are talking to a customer service drone.
Therein lies the problem. With blog comments, there is next to no personal accountability. People can say whatever they want and sign just about any name to it.
As a smalltime blogger myself, I don’t get the abusive comments. I do get criticism, which I appreciate as much as the compliments, because both are helpful. I welcome criticism, for the most part. Everyone should, to a point.
Mark´s last blog ..Why Hide It?
Hi Mark. I think bloggers have a decision to make – to either allow comments or but a strong moderation wall up. Some blogs (with success) have comments only from registered users. This all-but eliminates spam and as email addresses have to be confirmed in order to register, commenters know they are accountable to a degree.
I think there are plus points an minus points to each moderation option. For me right now, the best route is to encourage everyone to get involved.
Hi Marvin. I think the easiest way to eliminate that kind of abuse, is to have a fully moderated blog, where readers have to register. Typically, such blogs ALSO have a flag option, where fellow readers can report abusive or threatening comments. It’s true that local news sites and some political sites have a lot of comment problems, because of the nature of their topics.
Hi Jim,
I don’t like negative critics without logic. Spam comments like: “your blog needs serious improvement” with no other details.
When it comes about my blog I didn’t got too many disturbing e-mails or comments. But lately I’m developing a touristic project with 2 websites and social media activity for a third party and I get disturbing e-mails every week.
The thing that I’m glad about is that these persons act from the shadow: they never use the real name or e-mail and never post on Facebook where he/she can’t hide.
I like to call them: “persons with too much free time”.
Thanks for the article Jim!
Toma – Optimizing The Web´s last blog ..Understand Traffic Sources from Google Analytics
It’s a fact Toma that some people must have a LOT of spare time
Thanks for the comment sir.
I have seen a few examples in the past where I thought people where being abusive in blog comments on well known blogs. I have seen many more in the local newspaper at the end of articles. I have found that some people seen to find joy at being very mean. To me, it makes them look bad. But most of the commenters in the newspaper tend to have ridiculous handles that make you work to figure out who they are. But I would never want my reputation to be “the mean commenter,” but then that’s just me.
Julie Walraven´s last blog ..If we all worked together, what would happen?
I’m with you Julie – that kind of behaviour is alien to me too.
Hi Jim,
It is the opinion of most that creating and allowing open, easy ways for readers to comment is how the long term value of a blog is created. Community. Engagement. Conversation.
Unfortunately and fortunately, depending on how you look at it, this will leave your blog open for individuals that are idiots, have bad intentions, are jealousness of your success and so on. This is not new. I’ve been dealing with people like this for a couple decades in business. Having an electronic presence just makes it easier for degenerates to leave their trash talk behind.
Acknowledge it? Maybe in some cases. Ignore it – for sure. As long as you are contributing value, keeping the value of your message on target, building relationships and enhancing the lives of people that visit your blog – everyone will recognize the idiot when he appears and that won’t change how your REAL readers think of you. However, how you handle it could. Never let them see you sweat – always keep your cool – don’t wear your heart on your sleeve. I’m not saying don’t be transparent, but we typically regret our negative reactions to idiots and they are certainly not worth the effort or backlash.
There is a price for success and rising to the top – you’ll be a much easier target by people with good and bad intentions. That holds true with blogging too.
Mark Harai´s last blog ..140 Twitter Tips via Kyle Lacy
You make some excellent points there Mark.
One of the things that I have noticed here is that readers often ignore comments made by people that are just seeking attention or link baiting.
As you say, with increased ‘visibility’ you draw the attention of all kinds of people.
I find it hard to believe that some people take the time and energy to be negative. Personally, I am grateful for your insight.
ClaudiaBroome´s last blog ..Divorce Care for Children
Thanks for the comment Claudia. I get less crap here than just about any popular blog I know. However, as with anything that involves human interaction, you will get a little of everything. This post was intended for those new to blogging or thinking of starting a blog, to let them know both sides of the platform.
In my 14 years in the business, I’ve not once noticed a typo, never written a negative comment or have never spent more than 2 minutes worry about those who do. Who has time for that?
Michael Locke´s last blog ..Drive Traffic To Your Website With Social Media – Social Media Marketing Tips
VERY well put Michael!
LIKE
Jim,
The abusive comments are part of any community, and in fact the those showing up on the internet are proof of the community. The same elements show up at school board meetings and town council sessions. The tension of the fans and the critics is just part of it.
What each blogger has to have inquiry into, in dealing with those parts of their community is what type of mayor or superintendent they want to be. It becomes part of each blogger’s leadership style.
Carla Bobka´s last blog ..MLK Day of Service
That’s a very different perspective Carla – thanks for sharing it. I love learning new things!
I rarely get nasty comments on my own blogs (I’m lucky to have lovely readers) only two or three in absolutely years. However, I also blog about politics and football for other people and some comments on those posts can be really abusive. I think part of the problem is a lot of men frequent those sites, and don’t like to see a woman writing about those subjects (one of the more polite ones was when I was told to clear off and take up knitting), but also that they seem to attract the kind of people who use their perceived anonymity to say things they would never say in person. No idea why, I suppose they’re just sad little twerps.
How do I deal with it? Often I don’t read my comments, the temptation to tell them were to shove themselves is too great and I don’t think my editors would like that. Also, I’m developing a thicker skin, and try to shrug those remarks off – after all, who really cares what some muppet who can’t even use his/her own name thinks?!
Kate´s last blog ..Carnage at Christmas
Not responding to comments is a mistake, in my opinion. You’ll notice that Jim responds to just about every comment on his blog. That leads to a great interaction between Jim and his readers. I think that is why his blog is so highly rated, beyond the content, of course.
Also, responding to critics often can have a calming effect as harsh critics don’t want to have their criticism responded to or simply dismissed in a response. Most ‘comment attackers’ tend to not want to know that you read their comments and didn’t really care about their attack.
Marvin Conn´s last blog ..Google Analytics Traffic Sources/Keywords
I respond to comments on my own blogs, and always have done. But, I don’t think it’s really appropriate for me to get into a war of words on someone else’s blog, not least because it could lead to them deciding not to hire me again – I’d have to pretty stupid to jeopardise my livelihood for the sake of alleviating my annoyance at an idiot.
Also, while I agree that when someone leaves a negative, but otherwise valid comment a response can help to calm high emotions, I don’t think that works with people who are just being abusive. Those people are either not quite the full ticket, or looking for an argument, reason is wasted on them.
Hi Marvin. As you noticed, I ALWAYS try and connect with everyone, who comments here.
For me, the comments are always more important than the post. The post is one person’s view – the comments are views from a wider spread of often very bright people.
That’s special and something I value enormously.
Thanks for the feedback sir.
Thanks for the feedback Kate!
I tend to get involved in the comments; because that’s where my readers are and that communication with the readership is why I blog – rather than broadcast via a traditional website.
I think we each have to find the best way to deal with comments.
Quality discussion, even negative, is always thought-provoking. However, I draw the line at rudeness. A blogger’s blog is their home; guest should treat it respectfully. Smart people should always be able to debate without resorting to name calling and insults.
Alec Steele, Strong Niche Marketer´s last blog ..How to Easily Find Instant 100% Immediate Commission Affiliate Niche Products To Promote Online
You certainly can tell a lot about a person from their comments Alec.
I believe some people comment when they are too emotional about what they have read. Sometimes it’s better to count to ten, pause and then comment.
Thanks for the comment sir!