{"id":1746,"date":"2016-02-15T23:30:28","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T23:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mydiscover.net.in\/sms\/?page_id=1746"},"modified":"2016-02-15T23:30:28","modified_gmt":"2016-02-15T23:30:28","slug":"how-to-deal-with-a-firestorm-of-controversy-on-your-blog-before-it-suffocates-you","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mydiscover.net.in\/blog\/how-to-deal-with-a-firestorm-of-controversy-on-your-blog-before-it-suffocates-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Deal with a Firestorm of Controversy on Your Blog (Before it Suffocates You)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a guest contribution from\u00a0Sherice Jacob.<\/em>
\nYou\u2019ve just hit Publish. You don\u2019t know what will happen from here, but at the moment, you feel relieved.\u00a0You\u2019ve just written one of the most controversial, eye-opening, highly-polarizing posts on your blog. You know it\u2019s ripe for debate and there are going to be readers who take your perspective personally \u2013 as if you secretly wrote it for \u2013 and about \u2013 them.
\nSome bloggers will tell you that controversy is one of the best possible angles you can take on your blog. And for some people, it is. For others, it can be a disastrous downward spiral \u2013 but one thing is certain, people will love it, either way.
\nCase in point, the social meltdown that occurred on the Amy\u2019s Bakery Facebook page<\/a> after the company was featured on chef Gordon Ramsay\u2019s Kitchen Nightmares. Chef Ramsay actually quit the episode because the proprietors refused to listen to him. That, coupled with thousands of comments from users on Reddit and Yelp added fuel to the fire. The husband-and-wife team leapt into the fray, alternating between defending themselves and cursing out the posters.
\nIt was the perfect example of how NOT to handle controversy and criticism.\u00a0<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s also worth mentioning that consequently, their page went from 2,500 likes on Facebook, to over 50,000. It\u2019s doubtful that people liked the company as much as they liked the drama.<\/p>\n

Why We Secretly Both Love and Hate Controversy<\/h2>\n

On the whole, we like to play it safe. Even as young children, we\u2019re taught not to \u201cruffle any feathers\u201d and to use our \u201cindoor voices\u201d.
\nBut a good controversy demands that we draw a line in the sand and dare others to cross it.<\/strong>If you\u2019ve got a topic so heartfelt and genuine that you just have to share it \u2013 do it. One post that\u2019s near and dear to you will be worth more to your readers than ten \u201csafe\u201d posts.
\nThe fact is, no one knows the topic like you do. Considering that you\u2019re not riling up readers just to touch a nerve, and that you truly do value and believe in what you have to share \u2013 then you\u2019ve already laid the groundwork for a good controversial post that makes a point while remaining open to discussion.<\/p>\n

You Don\u2019t Need to Seek Out Their Approval<\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s nice to have readers in your corner vouching for your perspective \u2013 you don\u2019t need to actively seek out their approval.
\nNothing makes a blogger look weaker than stating their point and then chasing it up with \u201cAm I right, guys? Am I right?\u201d By the same token, don\u2019t do a complete 180 degree shift and play the victim card. Hand-wringing and taking everything personally just gives the criticizers more reason to keep attacking you and your post.\u00a0 Sadly, some people do this as a form of entertainment.
\nKnow when to respond, when to walk away<\/strong>, and when to learn from your actions (and yes, you can do all three of these based on the comments in your post!)<\/p>\n