Stephanie Sims is Chicago Agent’s managing editor.

In life, in general, it’s a good thing to not care about what others think of you. This way, you can live your life how you want to and to your own standards, and no one else’s. What others think of you should pale in comparison to how you think you’re doing in life.

However, as a real estate agent, and in this digital age, it is important for you to care about what your clients think of you. Not in how you’re living your life, but in how you run your business. These days, consumers who aren’t satisfied with the customer service of any business – restaurants, bars, movie theaters, retail stores – can take to a number of online outlets to vent their frustration.

That can lead to negative attention on a business. A simple tweet, one-star Yelp review or post on the business’ page on Facebook can alter everything. How do you respond, especially if the info is false, or being twisted? In online matters, where everything is publicly recorded and available for viewing, how you respond is what matters most. The ideal way to handle a negative review? Keep your cool and be polite are among our tips on page 13.

But if you’re racking up positive reviews, that means you’re providing a good experience, and you don’t need to change anything…right? Not necessarily – you can learn from the feedback your clients are giving you. Could you have garnered a four or five-star rating instead of just a three and a half? How? Read our cover story on page 12 to find out.

Let me know what you think of agent rating platforms, their accuracy and how you’ve handled any negative reviews: stephanie@agentpublishing.com.