How can you handle criticism of your personal brand online?

Let's use feedback instead of criticism. I believe everyone is entitled to form an opinion of us. They may be absolutely wrong. However, it behooves on us as PR professionals to handle our personal brand in a manner that is true, unambiguous, and upholds all the standards that befit a professional. Even without having any data, I think that most people mean well when they give feedback on us or our work. It is the articulation, tone, timing that sometimes creates dissatisfaction. Eg. when some wins an awards and is been celebrated openly, that is not the right time to give a feedback on a project s/he executed badly last year. We might be right on the feedback, but being tact is a skill we all need to cultivate.

Let's be radically honest here — not all criticism is valid, so the first thing you need to do is determine if someone's opinion matters in the first place. Did someone express a legitimate complaint or are they just some rando hiding behind an anonymous screen name lashing out because they hate themselves? If it's a legitimate complaint, then you absolutely should respond in an honest and positive manner, and take the necessary action to fix the problem. On the other hand, if it's user134598734659876 with no profile pic and 7 followers, you can choose to either ignore, or call them out. Some cases call for the former, and others, the latter. There is no "one size fits all" solution here, so you'll need to evaluate each situation.

1. See if the criticism is valid and constructive. 2. If it is, accept it politely and thank the person for pointing it out. In some cases, an apology would be in order. 3. Engage with the person, try to explain your point and see if you can latch on to or build on what *they* say. 4. Remember that it is nearly impossible to change anyone's mind by an interaction on social media, so be OK with letting certain points just hang there and walking away. Don't rant or keep defending your point endlessly. This is a definite turn-off for the readers. If you disagree on some points, mention this and let the matter rest. 5. Ignore toxic or idiotic criticism. Engaging with this will only soil you.

You’ve been noticed, so you must be doing something right. We spend our days establishing goals and plans to realise our business dreams, and then someone says something negative about us online and it sends us into a spin. The way we react is key. Whether we understand why a person (or troll) has said what they have said or not, don’t give negative haters your time or credit. Stay true to your own sense of being and take care of yourself, including your mental health.

Is it a constructive criticism? Sometimes, those criticisms may be out of misunderstanding and misrepresentation. So you must first analysed to see whether, it's worth the time and the hype

If the criticism is valid and warrants a deeper discussion apologize online and correct online. I then would take the conversation offline if possible through private messages or email to make sure it was addressed. This can lead to more productive and less confrontational discussions.

To avoid apologizing for this, your brand must be clear enough. Let your audiences know what you stand for, reiterate this in all your presentations and endeavors.

At the same time, stand-up for yourself if the criticism isn't warranted. As a professional speaker and CEO I've had many comments on my appearance that frankly, aren't warranted or welcome. Don't let all criticism become "valid". Decide what matters to you.

It's human nature to push back against criticism, but let's be real — sometimes it's warranted. In those cases, it's critical that we're mature enough to see when it is warranted, and then to learn from that and make the kind of changes that help us improve our own performance and build a stronger personal brand in the process. When faced with legitimate public criticism, you have the opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your audience if you approach it correctly.

The biggest and strongest brands are also polarizing. Some level of criticism means you have a point-of-view and clear position. Everyone isn't for everyone. Trying to please everyone will dilute your personal brand. Be sure to decide who you listen to. Criticism isn't always a bad thing.

Your fans and cheerleaders will celebrate your success. Some won't be so happy for you. Don't let detractors slow you down. Focus on the community that appreciates you and don't be afraid to share your achievements.

An army of advocates will easily outpower detractors. Instead of defending yourself, let your fans defend you. This is a strategy that many large brands use online.

Personal brand creation takes a lot of effort and time. But it can be destroyed by online critics in a few days, as words spread fastest on online platforms. Therefore, it is critical that the personal brand is looked after at all times. When criticised, the brand custodian can do the following: 1. Find out the reason for criticism by own research or engaging with the critic. 2. If the reason is genuine, the best thing to do is accept the mistake and take corrective measures. 3. In case of misplaced criticism, explaining your position may help. In doing so, the brand custodian should be empathetic. Otherwise, it may boomerang. 4. If the criticism is motivated, the option of countering the criticism with facts can be evaluated.

The best brands stand for something. This is inherently polarizing. Don't worry if not everyone likes you or your brand. Gary Vaynerchuck has one of the most powerful brands, yet people constantly complain about his language. Guess what? He doesn't care. It is authentic to him and that matters more to him than those who are offended.

Lots of useful comments in here, which I agree with. I would add that organisations and clients should bear in mind that that it's people managing social media feeds on their behalf who bear the full force of the criticism directed at their organisations. Their policies should clarify the rules of engagement. While strident crticism is acceptable, bullying and abuse is not. Disagree respectfully, and point out the facts. But we also need to recognise when criticism crosses the line and have the confidence to act.

Personal brands and corporate brands both come back to one thing: values. Defining and then living those values is critically important. If you run an ethical brand and drive a gas-guzzling truck there is a misalignment between your personal and business brands and values. If criticised it's important to step back and process the criticism, address any concerns head on, and use evidence to back up any untruths. Avoid getting angry or entering into a keyboard war - it's often better to day your piece in a measured way and then back out of the conversation. It is important to correct untruths through before they spread, so always use your right to reply.

It's funny. LinkedIn has "Add your perspective," and that's exactly what my comment is about - perspective. Don't be too quick to judge something that you read. Don't presume that your personal brand is being criticized. We all have different ways of communicating, and what you might think is a criticism the author might think is their way of trying to help. Before you take any action, try to get the perspective of others. What was their reaction when they saw or read the same thing? Each of us is entitled to our feelings, regardless of what those feelings might be. Just don't let your feelings and perceptions get you all worked up over something intended to help and not hurt you.