Being Cheryl: Social Media Marketing Tips from Columbus, Ohio

I wish this was an example from someone else. There have been so many other, bigger incidents of people responding inappropriately to critics online.

However, this post is about me, and me messing up. I will be the first to admit that I am flawed. I am no expert, I am no genius. I’ve never claimed to be. So when an anonymous Twitter account attacked me, I snapped.

I think he  was trying to use some kind of Batman-esque logic in starting his noble crusade: He’s the hero Columbus deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.

Anyway, my point isn’t Dark Knight, my point is I screwed up. I let him get to me. Being a blogger and a  prominent figure in the Columbus social media scene, I am subject to criticism. This isn’t the first time I’ve got it. But it is the first time I’ve sincerely let it affect me. This is how it started:

Yes, I should have ignored it, and if it was just the insult about me putting “Tweetup” into the title of an event that primarily Twitter users will be attending, I would have ignored it. But this person insulted my motives for having a fundraiser for cancer research, and I got angry.

This specific instance aside, I’m writing this because I don’t want you to to what I did. I’m removing the usernames of all involved (thought many of you probably know what I’m talking about anyway) from this post because this is not an attack on them: it’s an attack on ME.

So, I humbly present, a three step guide to how NOT to react to haters online:

1) Respond in the heat of the moment

INSTEAD: Breathe. Step away from the situation. Does responding have the potential to hurt your reputation? Will it accomplish anything? Will it REALLY make you feel better, or will you regret it later?

2) Fuel the fire

I said things that made other people angry. I said them TO make other people angry. This was just the beginning. I created an army of people who wanted to talk shit on my behalf. What did that do? Make the problem exponentially worse, and put them in a position to be criticized, too.

INSTEAD: If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing. Your mother knows what she’s talking about.

3) Stoop to their level

I made this spoof account of myself, thinking I was witty, to poke fun at this attack with my fellow defenders. I actually ended up making them MORE angry, because they missed the joke and thought the account was created by the critic.

INSTEAD: Don’t do anything. Respond in a polite, professional way if you think it’s necessary and will accomplish anything. If not, IGNORE IT. DEFINITELY DON’T stoop to the critic’s level.

Chris Brogan recently shared some insight on this. How do you deal with criticism online?