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Bad reviews suck. Whether you just got one or you’re still ruminating over the one you got 4 years ago, getting a bad review on your podcast is never a fun experience.

You’ve put so much time, energy, and money into this podcast and now someone who listened to 3 minutes of 1 episode is giving you a 2 star review because “your voice is unbearable and there’s too many ads”.

Over the years I’ve had more than my share of bad reviews, trolls, bots, haters and downright rude people commenting on my podcasts. This episode is about bad podcast reviews: how to deal with them, what you can learn and finding peace in the truth, not everyone will like your podcast.

How Much Do Bad Podcast Reviews Actually Matter?

Bad reviews are painful and discouraging. Whether it’s a 2-star rating with no comment or a detailed critique of everything they dislike about you, any flavor of bad review will feel like a direct criticism to your hard work. However, you have to remember that not all feedback comes from a place of constructive criticism. Anonymous, vague reviews often reflect more about the reviewer’s personal grievances than your podcast’s quality.

There will always be people who want to share their opinion and take other people down with them. Getting a bad review is not the end of your career as a podcaster, in fact it’s just the beginning.

The Types of Bad Reviews and How to Respond

Anonymous Low Ratings: If the review is a rating with no username, it’s best to move on without thinking about it. These reviews offer no constructive feedback and aren’t worth your energy to worry about.

Specific Criticisms from Long-time Listeners: When a review starts with “I’ve been a listener for years,” take notice. These are your core audience members whose feedback can be invaluable. Listen closely and see if there are actionable insights you can use to improve.

Negative Feedback from New Listeners: If the criticism is about something specific like audio quality or content, reflect on it. Is there a truth to the review that you can address to enhance your podcast

Opinion-based Dislikes: Sometimes, a listener might disagree with your viewpoints. These reviews can actually help potential listeners gauge whether your podcast aligns with their values. Use this as an opportunity to reaffirm your podcast’s identity.

Strategies to Overcome Negative Reviews

While you can’t get rid of bad reviews, you can mitigate their impact and try to use them to your advantage.

Actively Seek Constructive Reviews

Encourage your audience to leave detailed, constructive reviews. Explain how their feedback not only supports the podcast but also guides its improvement. This will help balance out the negative reviews and give prospective listeners a more rounded view of your podcast.

Engaging with Your Audience

Building a strong community around your podcast will always lead to more supportive and constructive feedback at every step of your podcasting journey. If you have any listeners or connections that are podcasters reach out to them directly about doing a review swap. Tell them what you love about their podcast and reiterate that message your review.

Proactively Use Feedback

Take each review as a chance to reflect. If multiple listeners point out the same issues, it’s a signal that something might need tweaking. Be open to making changes that enhance listener experience without compromising your podcast’s integrity.

Validating Research

Before you totally spiral out of control and throw your microphone out the window and stop podcasting forever – take a few minutes to look up your favorite podcasts. Read some of the goofy, uncalled for and totally bonkers reviews on their shows. You aren’t alone.

Handling bad reviews is a part of the podcasting journey. By trying to approach them with a mindset of growth and resilience, you can turn discouraging experiences into opportunities for improvement. Remember, every podcast, even the most popular ones, faces criticism. What matters is how you respond and evolve.

If you’ve recently received a bad review or you just want to test out your podcast pitching skills, feel free to send me a message at review@morganfranklin.media with a short description of your podcast and where I can review you. Let’s turn those challenges into stepping stones for your podcast’s success.

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