By Oscar Habeenzu | for Cabanga Magazine

For every person that likes you, there are at least four more people that do not like you out there, that wish your demise, and are even willing to communicate it in your inbox, channel their hate energy toward you. That is the reality of social media.

Many out there hope and pray that your brand and business will not make it, literally going around creating false (or truthful) gossip with intention of your demise. Fret not, proceed without care.

Social Media has heightened human beings’ ability to express themselves, and one of the easiest and loosely published emotion is “hate”. It takes one false statement from someone that has an unresolved emotion toward you to start a social media storm, and many brands, businesses, and leaders have fallen from their market spaces because of such.

I am of a different mindset, and have over the years realised that all publicity is good publicity, especially hate publicity. Hate toward you, your future, your brand, must be used as a currency to develop profitable strategy and forge a way where there is none.

Whether true or not, all hate must be as pepper that spices up the meal of success you are cooking. Social Media is a battlefield with landmines that brands and businesses must fear; but a battleground to which you can shift the game from their staging area, toward yours, and victor thereof.

No brand or business can be destroyed by social media if they are paying attention, and are always in war mode toward those easily flammable or have ought against them.

I teach Social Media Storm Management in my Digital Marketing course for executives, entrepreneurs, influencers and diplomats. Convert that hate into emotional currency for profit!