3 Reasons to Highlight Negative Reviews of Your Small Business
Sharing positive reviews of your small business is a great practice for many reasons. As I shared in The Customer Journey - 5 Steps from Stranger to Advocate, you never know when someone is at the beginning of their know-like-trust journey with you and your small business. Reading positive reviews from others goes a long way toward building trust before a purchase is made. Whenever possible, make sure you are sharing the positive words others have to say about their experience with you.
But what do we do when someone leaves a negative review?
In 2017 I wrote a book called #staymarried A Couple’s Devotional that quickly became a best-seller. Not everyone who bought this best-selling book loved it. So, what would you do if you received negative reviews on work you truly poured yourself into?
I decided to save them in a little folder and make some entertaining and scary content out of them for social media. I decided, rather than run from the critics, I’d highlight them. I shared this last year with my community on LinkedIn and I still think it’s true; October is a great time to highlight your spooky reviews!
Here are 3 reasons you should highlight the critics:
The critics show us what we missed.
Whether or not we agree with a critical review, there’s always something to learn from others. We may even find we truly missed the mark or made a mistake we might still be able to repair or address.
Critical reviews help your audience find you.
People will agree with the perspective of those who criticize your work, thereby saving themselves time before they make a purchase they may regret. You truly can’t please everyone and you shouldn’t try. Let the critical reviews weed out future critics on your behalf.
People who appreciate and share your work will continue to do so.
You won’t lose a single person by sharing what your critics have said. We’ve all been criticized and even misunderstood. If your work causes others to react, you’re still having an impact. Those that need what you’re serving will continue to appreciate it.
How do you handle negative reviews? What have you learned from critics of your work? Reach out and let’s talk about how to turn those negative reviews into positive engagement for you and your growing small business.
