Tips that save time.
“Haters gonna hate,” as the poet says. But should you try to win them over? Respond to them? Even care about their opinions?
Essentially, no.
And this is no trick on my part. I really won’t turn it into an advice on how you should always find something constructive when someone criticizes you. You shouldn’t.
Some people are just haters. They don’t care about you, and they can’t stand how you live your life, run your business, or share your thoughts. These people bring nothing positive to your life.
In fact, you should strive to attract even more haters. Yes, you read that right!
Why more haters mean more success
Let’s borrow wisdom from comedian Katt Williams: “If you’ve got 14 people hating on you, you need to figure out how to get to 16 before the summer gets here.” He’s not wrong. This is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received. Here’s why:
Taking risks attracts haters
If you don’t have a fair number of people hating on you, you’re not taking enough chances. Success naturally attracts haters.
If you have no haters, you probably haven’t achieved true success yet.
Think about it:
- Innovating in your niche: Offering a superior product at a lower price? Expect competitors to hate you.
- Standing up for yourself: Telling someone to back off? They’ll likely hate you for it.
- Exposing scams: Revealing a fraud? Those involved will despise you. Just ask Coffeezilla – the most hated scam-battling youtuber out there. Just take a look at some of these titles and ponder why some people might not like him:
The point is, don’t fear haters. Their job is to hate. And remember, there’s no such thing as bad press. If people are talking about you, regardless of what they say, you’re on their radar.
Haters as free publicity
Haters inadvertently provide free publicity. Their negativity can draw attention and curiosity, attracting new followers or customers who want to see what all the fuss is about. When haters talk about you, they spread your name further than you might be able to on your own.
Think about the phenomenon of “going viral.” Often, controversy or heated discussions drive virality. People love drama, and when haters express their negativity, it creates a buzz. This buzz can lead to your content, product, or persona being shared widely, attracting people who might otherwise never have encountered you.
In essence, haters help you reach a broader audience, amplifying your presence in ways that purely positive feedback might not.
Constructive criticism vs baseless hate
Not all criticism is equal. Differentiate between constructive criticism, which can be valuable, and baseless hate, which is just noise. Recognize and utilize constructive feedback while ignoring or dismissing baseless hate. This selective listening helps you grow without getting bogged down by negativity.
- Constructive criticism comes from a place of wanting to see improvement. It’s specific, actionable, and often delivered with respect.
- On the other hand, baseless hate is vague, unhelpful, and often rooted in jealousy or personal issues.
By learning to tell the difference, you can focus on what matters. Constructive feedback can guide you to make meaningful changes, while baseless hate can be safely disregarded, keeping your focus on progress and positivity.
Building resilience and confidence
Dealing with haters builds personal resilience and confidence. The more you face negativity, the stronger and more self-assured you become. It’s like building a muscle 💪; the more you challenge it, the stronger it gets.
Every time you encounter a hater and choose not to be swayed, you reinforce your own belief in your path and decisions. This resilience is crucial in any journey of success, as the higher you climb, the more critics you’ll face. Over time, what once bothered you will become insignificant, and you’ll find yourself more confident and capable of handling not just criticism, but any challenges that come your way.
How to attract more haters
To attract more haters, keep doing what you’re doing, but do it better.
Don’t try to please everyone. It’s impossible. Focus on making a small group of people really happy with your products, posts, or opinions. Trying to be everything to everyone results in being nothing to no one.
Steps to attract haters:
- Define your target audience: Identify who you really want to connect with.
- Tailor your message: Create content or products specifically for your target audience.
- Ignore the rest: Don’t worry about pleasing everyone else. Focus on those who matter.
And if someone gets pissed off at you? Mission accomplished – you have a hater. Now go get another one.
Turning hater feedback into improvement
Sometimes, haters can inadvertently point out real flaws or areas for improvement. Analyze their feedback objectively to identify any valuable insights. This can help you improve and grow, turning negative attention into a positive force for change.
When a hater criticizes you, even if their delivery is harsh or unwarranted, there might be a grain of truth in their words. Use these moments to reflect on your work and identify if there’s any merit to the critique. If there is, make adjustments and improvements. This not only helps you grow but also turns the negative energy into something constructive. Although not very likely, your haters may unwittingly become contributors to your success by highlighting areas you might have overlooked.
Leveraging haters for marketing
Controversy can be a powerful marketing tool. Use the buzz generated by haters to your advantage. Negative attention can sometimes be turned into a marketing asset, drawing more people to your brand and increasing your visibility.
Controversy attracts attention, and attention can be converted into engagement and sales. Embrace the discussions and debates that haters stir up. Participate in them if it benefits you, or simply let the controversy run its course. Either way, it keeps you in the spotlight. Smart marketers know how to harness this attention, turning it into a narrative that attracts even more interest. By controlling the narrative, you can turn what seems like negative publicity into a strategic advantage, showing resilience and confidence in your brand.
The balance of haters and supporters
Haters shouldn’t make up the majority of your audience. That’s not the right path. However, haters are often the loudest, which can make them seem more numerous than they are. Don’t be discouraged by their noise.
Share your experiences
How do you deal with haters? Do you have any tricks to make them even more furious? Share your experiences in the comments – I’m curious to hear your stories!
