For most companies out there, especially startups, it can be challenging to accept a negative review online. Not only do company owners have to deal with all the potential trouble that comes with business management, but they also have to deal with the backlash that comes from negative reviews. It is especially disheartening in the new year, where the online reputation matters much more than it normally would as people are still staying indoors due to the pandemic.
With companies making the mad scramble to build a better online presence and offer online products and services, the age of online reviews has come in full swing. For a small company already doing its best, it can feel like the presence of even a single negative review can be a problem no matter the scenario. Fortunately, there are ways to help companies make the most out of negative reviews.
Yes, it is entirely possible to bounce back from a negative review and even turn things around to the company’s advantage. These are essential tactics for those who intend to make use of review generation services as a part of search engine optimization (SEO). After all, positive reviews are crucial, but negative reviews can seem unavoidable. Here are just some ways to respond to negative reviews.
First and foremost, don’t panic
There is no need to panic when experiencing a negative review, even if the company is small and might not be able to handle too much backlash. The crucial thing is to consider whether or not the negative review has any weight to it. For example, there are negative reviews where it happens to just be a few words with very little chance for the company to use the information to better tweak their processes.
Sometimes, online users write negative reviews for little to no reason. Sometimes, there’s no escaping when it comes out, but the crucial part is to try to figure out how best to use it to the company’s advantage.
If there is the capacity to respond, do so
One of the advantages of review monitoring services is that it can provide companies with the opportunity to respond to any potential negative online reviews as early as possible. If the company has the capacity to respond to a negative review, the best thing to do would be to respond. Keep in mind that a company should maintain a strictly professional tone no matter the situation. Responding to a negative review involves apologizing for their inconvenience and looking for ways to rebuild trust between company and consumer.
The best part about responding to a negative review is that it shows the company’s commitment to getting things done right. Even if the review comes from a respected member of the community and it seems like it is too challenging to bounce back, making the effort to rebuild trust is a great way to earn the respect of online users that happen to come across the negative review.
Be willing to make changes based on negative reviews
Without a doubt, there is no need for a company to get carried away when it comes to making changes based on user reviews. Sometimes, it can be too challenging to make changes, or perhaps the reviewer might be too unreasonable when it comes to demands. However, it does not mean that each and every bit of feedback is crucial to any company. Review monitoring is often recommended, as it helps provide a bit of a roadmap to any company owner that might be confused about how to elevate their business.
The advantage of a negative review is it often provides the best chance to make changes. It is even better when a company makes changes based on a respected critic’s words. Considering that big personalities have a following, the company can expect a surge of traffic if the company makes changes based on their favorite critic’s review. While it does not mean that the company owner has to make big changes based on every little review, there is undoubtedly a reason why some people provide negative feedback. If enough people are complaining about the same thing, it might be best to make some changes.
Do not be afraid of negative reviews
While it might be understandable for companies not to want negative reviews when generating as many reviews as possible, there is no reason to be afraid of the negative side of things. In many ways, negative feedback is what can help a company move forward. Positive feedback might be telling the company that they are going in the right direction, but negative reviews is all about pointing the right direction to the business to begin with. While it would be best to have every review be positive, it is not a realistic goal to set for any business. There’s always going to be someone who is not necessarily satisfied with the company’s services, and it is up to the business owner to figure out whether they can use the feedback to successfully tweak a company.
The bottom line
When it boils down to it, a company that wants to improve will continue to improve even in the face of negative reviews online. A company that cannot handle the pressure will end up folding before long, even if they managed to collect many more positive bits of feedback. The difference between a good and a bad review would be how constructive it is, and how the company could potentially capitalize on it. There’s no reason to be afraid of a negative review if the company owner knows that they can use it to their advantage.To help keep an eye on reviews in general, it would be a good idea to consider professional review monitoring services. It would also be a good idea to look into professional review generation to ensure that the company gets as many online reviews as possible. While it might seem overwhelming at first, it is only a matter of time before the business gets used to the idea of gathering and monitoring reviews.