I think as a podcaster it is important to know how to handle negative feedback, comments, etc… Because I hate to say it, but you probably will get some. I must say, I’m extremely pleased with how little I get, and I bet you’ll find that as well as you go along. But… there are just going to be some haters/trolls out there, so lets talk about how to handle them.
If I do get negative feedback, it is usually through email or on my forums. Here’s what I do:
1. If it is valid criticism, I acknowledge it, usually write back to the person and thank them for their input. And if it is good criticism I consider their input as I podcast into the future.
2. If it is just hate, I ignore it. I almost never dignify their communication with a response. As a rule you should stay on good terms with your public so don’t get into flame wars. It’s just not good for business.
If someone comes into my chatroom during a live show to troll, I ban them. I don’t just kick them out for that session. I just ban them from the chat room indefinitely and instruct my moderators to do the same. They blew their chance in my mind. And I don’t want them to infect the good atmosphere that has been created for my real listeners.
If someone comes to my forums to troll, I just delete their account.
If you get a hateful comment on your site, or an email that is just mean. Don’t read it on your show. Just throw it out. People get enough hate in their everyday lives. I try to provide an entertaining, informative, constructive and positive experience in my shows. I want people who listen or watch my shows to have a better day after listening to my shows than they were having before. So don’t let negativity into your shows. There is no rule that says you have to read every comment you get on your show, good or bad. Even though it may seem entertaining to read crazy and spiteful email, I believe it actually damages the flow and tone of the show. And especially don’t belittle yourself by reading a hateful email on your show so that you can bash the person publicly with a response. It’s not worth it and can hurt your reputation. This happened recently on a podcast that I regularly listen to and enjoy, and I felt it was the worst part of that show. I did not want to know the thoughts of some negative and idiotic hate-monger. Again, people get their fill of those people in their everyday lives. During my podcasting time I want to be enlightened and entertained.
I know it’s tough for me sometimes to hold off on firing an email back to a hater. But I suck it up, ignore it, and actually feel much better afterwards for doing this.
Do this and your shows will stay positive, fun, informative and you’ll get a great group of positive fans.
