How NOT to Handle a Negative Review

In the wedding industry emotions can run high for both clients and vendors. Even if you are putting forward your best work a time may come when you encounter negative comments about your wedding business, whether in an online review or through social media.

While this can be frustrating, it might surprise you to know that many prospective clients won’t judge your business by the negative comments but by how you handle things. Stay positive and you could turn the situation into one that actually gets you business.

Is there a wrong way to react? Definitely.

A great example of what NOT to do is currently playing out in the media: Kleargear.com, an online company based in Michigan fined a customer $3500 for leaving a negative review, claiming the review violated the terms and conditions she agreed to at time of purchase.

When she would not pay the fee they reported her to the credit bureaus and ruined her credit report. As news of this situation went viral on the internet the negative backlash was so substantial the company resorted to taking down their social media sites.

So what is the best way to deal with a negative review? 

3 Tips to Deal with Negative Feedback 

1 – Don’t ignore it.

As much as you want it to go away the best thing to do is address the situation. Resist the temptation to respond rashly- a well thought out response helps potential clients see that you care and that you did the best you could in that situation. Online wedding review sites like WeddingWire allow you to respond directly to the review on your public listing page. (Note: if the review is false, try disputing it first.) Facebook comments should also be responded to quickly as they can grow out of control as they are shared.

How to respond:

• Most clients just want to be heard and know that you understand their frustration. Your response should show that you empathize with their feelings and that you understand how disappointing the situation must have been for them.

• Thank the reviewer and say you are sorry that they did not have a good experience with your company. Give your side of the story in a factual and professional way. You want potential clients to react positively to your response.

• If the reviewer keeps engaging, know when to stop. Some people just want to complain and more than one response can be a waste of your energy. 

2 – Seek positive press.

Reach out to your happy clients and ask them to post a review. This will help to deflect from the negative comments and bury the negative review in the online search results.

Whether you are reacting to a negative review or not, positive press is an important part of your wedding business marketing plan. Check out these tips: 8 Steps to Build Up Positive Reviews Fast. 

3 – Be proactive.

We all want our clients to be happy and satisfied with their experience with our wedding business, and with us. Sometimes it is a miscommunication between you and the client that causes the bad experience.

Make sure to communicate exactly what they are getting from you and listen to their expectations. Follow up with them after the wedding by sending out a survey or soliciting feedback to find ways to improve.

If you know something went wrong, contact the client before they post a negative review. You can follow these steps: Weddings Gone Wrong: 5 Steps to Avoid Bad Reviews. 

Remember: things happen and everyone can have a bad day. It’s how you address the situation that counts.

Have you ever dealt with a negative review? What do you think of how this company handled it?

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