Help! I'm an Introvert: How Do I Market My Small Business?
Do you prefer 10 quick one-on-one meetings with prospects over showing up at a networking event with 50 unfamiliar faces? Do you generally get more energized by quiet time? Do you dislike being the center of attention or speaking in public?
Chances are that you're an introvert -- or an ambivert, like myself. What's an ambivert, you're asking? Denise Wakeman, an introvert herself, introduced me to this term. According to Wikipedia it means "a person who is intermediate between an extrovert and an introvert." It means that for short moments I can fake being an extrovert.
You're an introvert, so what?
First of all: you're not alone. In her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain says studies show that introverts are one-third to half of the U.S. population. In other countries this percentage might be even higher as some experts claim (and I agree) that there is such thing as regional variations.
Feels good to know that you're not the only one, right? But that thought alone is not going to get you new clients. To help you along, I have listed 5 ways of marketing your business as an introvert that work(ed) for me.
1. Listen, don't talk!
I'm often told that I'm a great listener and I bet you have heard this before as well.
Well, this noisy world needs more listeners who only talk if they have something of value to say. >> Tweet this!
As listeners we try to understand our clients' needs before boasting about our own achievements for hours. This personality trait will be reflected in our blog posts, our webinars, and our interactions on Social Media Networks. Over time, you will attract the clients that value your introvert qualities.
2. Less fluff, more serious stuff
Extroverts are good at small talk, they truly are and sometimes I'm jealous of them. And they are the perfect party guests! Imagine a party with only introverts: pretty boring, right? ;-) But we're talking about business, not partying. So seriousness is actually a good character trait to have. Your prospects will see that you take business seriously and are committed to see them succeed, and this will generate an immediate feeling of trust towards you and your small business.
3. Ditch the networking parties
If you get stomach aches or sleepless nights before attending a networking event, why are you torturing yourself? People can probably tell that you are trying too hard and that you're not your true self. I try to force myself to go to one networking event per month, but then I often find an excuse and end up going to only about six per year.
4. Do one-on-ones instead
As bad as I am at networking in crowds, in a one-on-one situation I am very much at ease. So with the motto "quality before quantity" I target my networking to people who fit my target audience and then invite them to meet for coffee. I realize that this approach takes more of my time, but it's also more targeted and I don't lose sleep over it.
5. Use technology to your advantage
Social Media is the best thing that ever happened to introverts. On online platforms we are not afraid of being social. We might still have our personal preferences. I for example am most comfortable on LinkedIn (are you surprised?) which is the most serious of all networks. Choose one or two networks you feel comfortable on and start engaging with your community. They will appreciate you for listening, understanding and taking you seriously. You might even want to explore teleseminars or webinars. They are a great way to reach a bigger audience at once without having to appear on stage. Yes, the first few times I was nervous, but the fact that people don't see me and that I'm comfortably sitting in my home office rather than standing on a stage, made webinars a great solution for engaging with my community for me.
Your turn! I'd love to hear from you in the comments which marketing techniques have worked for you. And for more marketing tips from an introvert, I’d love to count you among my loyal subscribers and see you on a future webinar about small business topics. Sign up HERE and get my free “21 Ways to Get More Traffic to your Site” e-book.
