The rise of social apps and networks in recent years is kind of a big deal. A quality social media presence is a vital component of a successful brand or business in 2018.
Social platforms have a large number of advantages: easy connections, cost efficiency, and instant feedback for starters. Social media provides an honest way for brands and customers to communicate, but this transparency comes with a price. Let’s face it: the truth hurts sometimes.
Running a brand on social platforms is all fun and games until the inevitable happens: your brand is forced to face negativity head-on. Negativity on social media can come in all shapes and sizes. From hurtful or inappropriate comments, to bullying, or even getting sucked into the vicious cycle of comparison (How does the chick posting constant pizza and ice cream indulgences MAINTAIN HER SIZE 2 PHYSIQUE??!!).
From unsolicited rude comments to the bad vibes we create in our head, negativity is bound to enter our social space from time to time. So, how are you going combat the negative and maintain a positive perspective?
5 Tips to Conquer Social Media Negativity
Adjust your perspective.
We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.
This quote is the truth. Not everyone you encounter is going to be a ray of sunshine. It likely has nothing to do with you or your brand. You can’t please everyone, but you can change your perspective and control how you let the negativity affect and influence your business. My advice? Kill ’em with kindness.
Block inappropriate keywords
As social media evolves, we gain more abilities to better our social presence. One of these abilities is that we can block any keywords that we choose.
If you’re not sure where to begin, most brands start with blocking swear words, sexual, political, and abusive keywords.
When keyword blocking you can rest assured that no comment or message will appear on your page if it contains any of your blocked keywords. This allows you to conquer negativity by giving you the power to eliminate it altogether.
Learn the difference between constructive criticism & ‘trolling’
For those of you that don’t know, trolling is when someone makes unnecessary offensive or derogatory comments simply to get a rise out of the receiver.
In order to build positive relationships with your audience, you have to analyze and understand negative comments as well. However, it is vital to distinguish the difference between constructive feedback or criticism and comments that are just hateful for the sake of being hateful.
If your brand is being trolled, accept the negativity for what it is, and take it with a grain of salt. If the comment is constructive, analyze the situation and adjust accordingly.
Take a breather
There are times where I feel out of touch with reality because I’ve been so consumed with social media. When I recognize these feelings, I put my phone on silent and focus on being present.
I’m not suggesting you delete your brand’s social media page. While taking breaks is important, so is consistency. Don’t fall off the face of the earth – your brand depends on you!
The breaks I take are short and sweet, and they give me the ability to mentally recharge and maintain a positive mindset.
Good vibes only
Ultimately, your mindset is everything. Stay focused; stay on brand, and discover what helps you maintain a positive attitude.
