Which are you?
Introverts get a bad rap. I’m going to be bold and say that most “introverts” I meet are really extroverts that are incredibly empathic and they use the “introvert” label as an excuse to play small.
I know this because I’m describing myself.
Before you get upset or defend your introvert label, hear me out.
I’ve been silent for the past month. It takes a lot to shut me up. I’ve been coming to terms with the fact that I’m not as introverted as I thought I was. I’ve been hiding out. In my cave. Pretending to be introverted in my internal process and world.
And I shut people out. I left money on the table. And I made my business a whole helluva lot harder than it needed to be this year.
The truth is I love people. (I hate small talk, but I love people, especially when they are willing to have a REAL conversation.) I also need solo ME time that is totally silent.
While I am an introvert on some level, I’m highly empathic.
What is empathic? Imagine being a dry sponge and everywhere you go, everything you hear and everything you watch gets absorbed into your energy.
So at the end of the day, you sift through a bunch of crap and most of it isn’t yours. Until you learn how to manage this energy effectively, it results in overwhelm, anxiety, depression, shutting down, feeling burdened and on and on.
Introverts are people who recharge their energy better by themselves, not around other people. Extroverts recharge their energy best by being around other people.
There is a misconception about introverts, which is they don’t like people and/or they don’t like to be around people.
But that is not what an introvert is.
First, let set the record straight:
I hear things like “I’m in introvert, so I….”
“…can’t go to networking groups.”
“…can’t host my own live event.”
“…don’t like people.”
“…should have an online business.”
“…get overwhelmed by other people’s energy.”
Introverts can be highly social and extremely dynamic and charismatic. I’m an introvert and LOVE to be on stage and host events.
There are even cute images on social media with things like:
It’s usually more than an “introvert” issue.
Putting yourself out there and opening yourself up to feedback and even judgment is scary. Letting yourself off the hook from ever getting out there because you are an introvert is a cop-out. #truthbomb
If you want to be in business, you’ve got to market yourself. The success you are seeking happens outside of your comfort zone.
Let’s not confuse introvert with things like:
Empaths – people who are a sponge to other people’s energy and emotions. Empaths often struggle with things like depression, fatigue, overwhelm and more. Learning how to know what is your energy and what is someone else’s is essential.
Fear of intimacy – (Into me I see). Being vulnerable is not for the faint of heart.
Anti-social – is just, well, anti social. Sometimes folks are just a little awkward around people, especially crowds.
Shy – usually linked to self confidence or received unwanted attention so being visible is especially unnerving.
Take a moment and ask yourself if you are truly an introvert or using another label to hide behind so you can justify holding yourself back?
How do you market yourself effectively if connecting with other people makes you uncomfortable or downright exhausted?
Ten Marketing Tips for Introverts:
- Hire the right people to do the things you aren’t good at. If you are taking time to do everything in your business then at the end of the day, you will have no time for yourself. And for introverts especially, this is a dangerous territory of resentment and exhaustion that will suck the life out of your creativity and passion.
- Hire a coach to link arms with you to forge ahead. If you leave it up to you, your habits of hiding out will take over more often than not. The right mentor will help ease you out of your comfort zone and focus on the right strategies so you don’t get sucked into doing things that drain your precious energy.
- Know your teaching style and stop hiding behind your computer. You may not be the one to host a large event, but you may do really well with small intimate groups of people. Decide how you want to connect with people and go for it. Or you may focus on teleclasses, webinars or video trainings. How are you connecting with your tribe? Choose the top two that resonate and focus on those for 90 days.
- Find the marketing channels that you are really good at and be consistent in them. Consistency is KEY. The three main marketing channels are online marketing, speaking, and hosting events. There is also traditional advertising like radio, print ads, etc but I never recommend that for coaches, speakers or other service-based businesses.
- Remember that you typically only need a handful of the right paying clients to create a serious boost to your income. This takes the pressure off of finding dozens or hundreds of people to serve. Just start with one person at a time.
- Get outside of your house. Money comes through other people. Build relationships with people and they will refer you, connect you and hire you. Money doesn’t come from online marketing per se, it comes from the people engaging with you online.
- Attend an event at least once per quarter. IMPORTANT: go into each event with a strategy. Are you creating JVs? Seeking clients? Looking for speaking gigs? What are you focusing on so you can leverage your time and investment from the event? Be clear about what you need in your business so you don’t end up buying something you don’t really need at each event.
- DECIDE – decide what you want offer and who you want to serve. This will help you narrow down your opportunities.
- Get personal – people can find information everyone and generic info is already flooding people’s social media feeds and inboxes. Get real with people and the right folks will connect with YOU. Remember, no one can duplicate your personal experiences.
- Know what your message is and what you are offering. Without these two pieces, you have nothing to market.
As an introvert, empath and typically shy in large groups, I understand how challenging it can be to “get out there” when you honestly don’t feel like it. When you have that moment, you are making it about yourself and not the people you are here to serve.
