How To Deal With Haters on YouTube
As a content creator on YouTube, you've likely encountered your fair share of haters and negative comments. While dealing with criticism and negativity can be challenging, it's an inevitable part of being on a public platform. However, it's essential to remember that haters are not just there to spread negativity; they can also be a source of motivation and growth. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore various strategies for dealing with haters on YouTube and turning their negativity into a driving force for success.
Chapter 1: The Impact of Haters
Before we delve into strategies for handling haters, it's crucial to understand how their presence can affect you as a content creator. Haters can have both positive and negative impacts on your YouTube journey:
The Emotional Toll
Negative comments and criticism from haters can take a severe emotional toll on content creators. It's important to recognize that these feelings are entirely natural. When faced with hate, it's normal to feel hurt, angry, or frustrated. These emotions can be overwhelming, and they can even lead to moments of self-doubt. The emotional toll can be particularly challenging for content creators who pour their time, energy, and passion into their videos. It's essential to acknowledge these emotions and not dismiss them as insignificant. There are healthy ways to cope with the emotional stress we encounter in our daily lives, and each person manages it in their unique way. In my experience, I've discovered that spending time with friends, engaging in personal reflection through reading my Bible, and taking moments for prayer help me cope with negative emotions. However, I understand that not everyone shares my faith, so there are alternative ways to effectively manage your emotions. Some of these may include seeking support from friends, consulting with a counselor, journaling your thoughts and feelings, or exploring other methods that provide a peaceful release of emotions.
The Impact on Confidence
Haters can gradually erode your confidence in your content and abilities. Their constant barrage of negativity may lead you to doubt the quality of your videos and whether your creative efforts are worthwhile. This self-doubt can hinder your creativity and productivity, making it increasingly difficult to produce content that truly reflects your vision. As a content creator, confidence is a vital asset, and when it wavers, it can significantly impact the quality and consistency of your videos. Let me make it clear: haters are a persistent presence, so it's essential to learn how to edit without being influenced by their negativity. This transition can be challenging, but it's a crucial one, as you'll encounter such comments throughout your journey. I receive comments regularly, with people asserting that I'll never succeed on YouTube, that it's an unsustainable career, or that I lack what it takes to grow. The truth is, these individuals often lack the necessary knowledge and experience, trapped in their own limited perspectives. Don't allow those who haven't taken the time to understand your craft and support your dream to occupy your thoughts. It's best not to acknowledge their negativity and continue pursuing your passion.
The Motication and Reslience
On the flip side of the coin, haters can serve as a powerful source of motivation and resilience. Instead of allowing negative comments to discourage you, you can choose to use them as a driving force for self-improvement and personal growth. As the famous saying goes, "Haters are my motivators." These individuals can be a reminder that you're making an impact and garnering attention, even if it's not always positive. At times, the feedback we receive may not always be pleasant to hear, and that's just a part of life. When faced with criticism, it's important to apply a filter. Ask yourself, "Is the criticism constructive and something I need to address, or is it simply a result of someone not understanding my goals and objectives?" Consider whether the intention behind the feedback is to genuinely assist you or merely to break you down. Despite the negativity, can you find a way to use it as a stepping stone for self-improvement rather than allowing it to bring you down?
While it's natural to feel disheartened by hate, some content creators find that it fuels their determination to prove the naysayers wrong. Haters can inadvertently become a catalyst for pushing yourself to create even better content. Success, in this context, becomes the most potent response to those who doubt your abilities and vision.
We've discussed the significance of setting proper goals, objectives, and visions in previous posts, but it's worth emphasizing their importance once more. Having clear goals and dreams can be your guiding light during moments of doubt and adversity. When faced with haters attempting to break you down, it becomes essential to hold onto your dreams and aspirations. Your unwavering commitment to taking steps toward your goals, even when others doubt you, is what will propel you forward. Additionally, remember that your goals should extend beyond yourself. As the saying goes, "It's lonely at the top," so consider bringing others along with you on your journey. No one truly succeeds entirely on their own. Always keep in mind the "Why" behind your YouTube journey, and with a compelling "Why," you'll have the resilience to withstand any challenges that come your way.
Chapter 2: You Need Haters to Grow
While it may seem counterintuitive, having haters can actually be a sign of growth and success in your YouTube journey. Here we’ll explore why you need haters to grow and how to harness their presence to your advantage.
Visibility and Impact
One of the fundamental reasons why you'll encounter haters on YouTube is because your content is reaching a broader audience. As your channel gains more views and subscribers, it becomes more visible, attracting different types of viewers, including those who may not resonate with your content. While this may lead to an increase in negative comments, it's also a testament to your growing influence and impact. Even the most positive and kind-hearted YouTubers will inevitably encounter haters. Haters seem to be everywhere, and they won't cease their criticism. That's precisely why it's crucial to equip yourself with the skills to effectively deal with them.
When your content sparks a reaction, whether positive or negative, it's a sign that people are engaging with your videos. This engagement, in the form of likes, comments, and even dislikes, can contribute to higher rankings in YouTube's algorithm. As a result, your videos are more likely to be recommended to a wider audience, leading to increased exposure and potential growth. Even the most disliked video on YouTube (which, at one point, happened to be a YouTube's own video) had to be shared and viewed numerous times to reach that level of notoriety. Surprisingly, even though it received a significant number of dislikes, it likely generated substantial revenue. Think about the sheer number of views it accumulated, the attention it garnered from other YouTubers reacting to it, the watch time, and ad revenue it generated. While it may have been one of the most disliked videos, it certainly wasn't a failure. In fact, haters inadvertently contributed to its success.
Constructive Criticism
Not all hate is created equal. Some haters may provide valuable feedback in the form of constructive criticism. While these comments may be initially hurtful, they can offer insights into areas of improvement for your content. Content creators who are open to feedback and willing to make necessary adjustments can use this criticism to refine their videos and better cater to their target audience. This principle applies to more than just dealing with haters. If you refuse to accept constructive criticism, your growth on YouTube will be stunted. Don't allow stubbornness to blind you to your own shortcomings; it's a recipe for failure. Without growth, how can you expect to realize your dreams? You'll remain stuck in the same place, making no progress because you only want to hear what pleases you. If everyone only listened to what they wanted to hear, our world would be in chaos, as we'd deny essential truths we need every day. For instance, some people might believe that they don't need to take showers to stay clean, but that doesn't make it true. In a similar vein, allow others to point out your flaws. If they're right, take the opportunity to improve and evolve into the person you aspire to be. Embrace constructive criticism as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
Constructive criticism can help you identify weaknesses in your content, such as audio quality, video editing, or storytelling. Embracing this feedback can lead to tangible enhancements in your videos, ultimately making your channel more appealing to both existing and potential subscribers. I've actively sought feedback from my family, friends, and even strangers, and I make a sincere effort to implement everything I learn in order to evolve into a remarkable YouTuber. Ultimately, my goal extends beyond creating content that solely satisfies my personal preferences; I aim for my viewers to find enjoyment in it as well. After all, if my audience isn't enjoying my content, how can I aspire to become the best content creator in my niche? I must be willing to acknowledge and rectify any shortcomings in my work to foster improvement. While I understand that perfection is an unattainable goal, I believe that striving for excellence is a worthy pursuit. Continuous self-improvement enables me to surpass the majority and become a content creator of distinction in my field.
Fuel for Improvement
Perhaps the most significant benefit of having haters is the motivation they provide. Haters can serve as a driving force to prove them wrong. The desire to silence the naysayers can push you to continually improve your content, channel, and personal brand. This motivation can lead to higher-quality videos, more engaging storytelling, and a stronger online presence. The individuals who once advised me to quit are now the very people I aspire to not only prove wrong but also hope to inspire by demonstrating that achieving your dreams is feasible with some effort and determination. The key lies in finding a way to market your passion. To illustrate this concept, let's consider an unconventional example: suppose you're passionate about watching the sun (an unusual interest, but it serves our purpose). If you can discover how to make others interested in observing your sun-watching endeavors or create a course on optimizing the art of sun-watching and persuade people to enroll, you can transform this passion into a sustainable livelihood. The essential factor is to discern how to monetize your chosen lifestyle. While I may delve deeper into this subject in a future post, it's essential to understand that you can grow and thrive in practically any endeavor as long as you identify how to promote that specific interest. You can even share your journey through YouTube videos, allowing others to join you on your unique path.
Instead of allowing hate to discourage you, channel that energy into productive efforts. Use it as a reminder of your commitment to your audience and your determination to achieve your goals as a content creator. As your skills and content evolve, you may even find that some of your previous haters become your most ardent supporters. Prove to the haters that achieving your goals is not only possible but also attainable through hard work and dedication. In many cases, this demonstration can lead haters to reassess their perspective and recognize the inaccuracies in their criticisms. Alternatively, it may intensify their negativity due to their inability to attain what you've achieved. Regardless of their response, your focus should be on striving to be the best version of yourself and reaching a point where you can live out your dreams without any hindrances.
Chapter 3: Dealing with Haters
Now that we understand the potential impact and importance of haters, let's explore three general strategies for effectively dealing with them:
Respond with Positivity
One of the most effective ways to handle haters is by responding with positivity and empathy. This applies to more than just dealing with haters; it's often the best approach to defuse any situation and build trust and friendships with others!
a. Kill Them with Kindness
Respond to negative comments with kindness and understanding. Try to empathize with the hater's perspective, even if their feedback seems unwarranted. Sometimes, a polite response can disarm a hater and even lead to a constructive dialogue. I've noticed that when I respond kindly to haters by leaving a positive comment, many of them choose not to respond. However, those who do often end up apologizing or engaging in a more pleasant conversation. It goes to show that offering a kind word can defuse negativity, and displaying love and understanding can encourage a more positive interaction with others.
b. Use Humor
A good and lighthearted joke in response to a negative comment would be something that playfully acknowledges the criticism without being hurtful or confrontational. For example, if someone comments, "Your video is terrible," a lighthearted response might be, "Well, I guess it's an acquired taste like fine wine." This kind of response doesn't attack the commenter but instead diffuses tension and adds a touch of humor to the situation.
On the other hand, a bad joke in this context would be one that escalates the conflict or targets the commenter with sarcasm or insults. For instance, responding to the same negative comment with something like, "Well, your comment is even worse," would likely provoke further negativity and worsen the situation. It's essential to avoid any response that might fuel the fire or make the exchange more hostile.
c. Focus on Positive Feedback
Don't let a few negative comments overshadow the positive feedback you receive. Shift your attention to the viewers who appreciate your content and leave encouraging comments. These supporters are your true audience, and their feedback should outweigh the negativity. When you maintain a positive outlook and approach situations with optimism, your community takes notice. Many successful YouTubers understand that their community often reflects their own values and behavior. It's crucial to respond to comments and engage with your audience as if you're setting an example for them, because you are. Even as I build my small and growing community, it's evident that some viewers look up to me for guidance. Therefore, I feel a responsibility to strive to be the best version of myself for the sake of my channel and my viewers. I see myself as a leader within this audience, and I'm committed to upholding the standards I've set to ensure I don't hinder anyone from reaching their own goals.
Ignore and Block
Sometimes, the best response to haters is no response at all. This principle can be applied to various situations you may encounter. There are times when any response can worsen the situation, so it's often wiser to refrain from commenting altogether, avoiding the risk of escalating the conversation.
a. Don't Feed the Trolls
Haters often seek attention and validation through their negative comments. By ignoring them, you deny them the satisfaction of getting a reaction. Consider not engaging with hateful comments and focus on your core audience instead. I wouldn't recommend this approach for videos since having more comments on your videos can increase your overall engagement rate. Ideally, you should respond to every comment on your video, as it contributes to the overall engagement. However, as your following grows and you receive more comments, you can prioritize responding to the most relevant or meaningful ones.
b. Use Blocking and Moderation
Most platforms, including YouTube, offer tools to block or moderate comments. Utilize these features to filter out hate speech and negativity. By creating a positive and respectful comment section, you'll foster a more supportive community. It's crucial to set this up correctly when you start your channel to minimize future work. Create a list of blocked words and phrases so that when people comment with them, they will either be automatically deleted or held for review. This way, you won't have to deal with these comments manually.
Another Source of Fuel for Growth
Perhaps the most powerful way to deal with haters is by using their negativity as a catalyst for growth. Should I repeat it for a third time? Well, I'll go ahead and do it anyway because it's worth emphasizing that this approach can be applied to situations beyond dealing with haters. For instance, when people don't believe in you or doubt your ability to achieve your goals, which teachers sometimes do, you can harness that doubt as fuel to drive your determination even further!
a. Constructive Criticism
Sometimes, haters may provide constructive criticism buried beneath their negative comments. Take the opportunity to extract valuable feedback from their words and use it to improve your content. Certainly, there will be instances where it's simply a hateful comment that you can easily disregard. Viewers often don't have a clear idea of what they want, and haters, even less so. However, every once in a while, you might receive a comment that's well-thought-out (or just downright mean) but contains valuable feedback that you can use to make improvements.
b. Prove Them Wrong
Channel the negative energy from haters into your creative process. Use their doubt and criticism as motivation to create even better content. Success is often the best response to those who doubt you. As I've mentioned previously, and in my other blog posts, there are people who doubt my success on this YouTube journey. My response remains consistent: "You'll see me in ten years." It's not to say they won't see my progress before then, but I'm confident they'll witness my growth and popularity within a decade.
c. Build a Community
Haters can inadvertently help you build a strong, supportive community. When your loyal viewers see you handling negativity with grace and resilience, it strengthens their connection to your channel. They become staunch defenders of your content and contribute to a positive online environment. There have been instances when I've been following my favorite YouTubers, and they'd recount situations from other platforms where their viewers rallied to defend them. It's remarkable to witness the reciprocal care and kindness between content creators and their communities. This principle is universal—it's all about reaping what you sow. If you're truthful, you'll likely encounter honesty in return. If you show kindness, you'll often receive kindness in kind. When you maintain a positive attitude toward your community, your community tends to reflect that positivity both back to you and to others within it. Dedication and hard work poured into your channel are often rewarded with growth and success. When you stand up for your viewers, your viewers are more likely to stand up for you in return.
Dealing with haters on YouTube is an unavoidable aspect of being a content creator. However, how you choose to respond to them can significantly impact your journey. Remember that haters are not solely purveyors of negativity; they can also be a source of motivation, growth, and resilience. By responding with positivity, ignoring where necessary, and using their negativity to fuel your success, you can turn the tables and use haters as motivators on your path to becoming a successful YouTuber.
Thanks for reading! Stay strong and fly on Falcon Force!
