Marketing As An Introvert? How To Make It Bearable

If you're naturally introverted, selling yourself can feel like a nightmare. But introverts can build a successful and thriving business - especially as practitioners. Let's explore the ways to make marketing as an introvert a little more bearable (or even enjoyable!)

How to nail marketing as an introvert

To be completely up-front: I don't identify as an introvert. I think of myself more as an ambivert, because I have characteristics of both introversion and extroversion (although I tend towards introverted these days!)

But I do have experience with marketing myself when I'm feeling more introverted. I've also worked with a number of naturally introverted clients.

These are some of the strategies that both myself and my clients have found to be useful.

Embrace the written word

I might be a little biased here, being a writer myself. But for most introverts, it's much easier to write content than it is to jump on a Facebook live or speak at a seminar.

Although social media is focusing more on video content, a well-written post can still engage with readers or have them saying 'shut up and take my money!'

For more tips and tricks for written content, check out my content-related articles here.

Make the most of groups

Sometimes, what you need to get comfortable with marketing techniques is a sense of safety. This is where online groups can be a handy tool.

There are a heap of business-related Facebook groups out there that allow you to promote your services weekly. But these groups will also encourage you to share tips, pop up a selfie or ask a question. Guess what - all of these can be a form of marketing too!

Share tips about your area of expertise = people get to know you as the expert.

Put up a shot of your mug = people get to know your face, and start to trust you. 

Ask a question directed at your ideal clients = you get to do market research, and they realise you're a person who helps with their particular problems.

Smaller groups can also be a good place for you to test out new promotions before sharing to your page, or give something like a Facebook live a try.

It feels much less intimidating to go live in front of 20 people who are also self-employed business owners vs 100+ people who have no idea how scary it can be!

Network with peers and professionals

An excellent network of practitioners can be a game-changer for your business.

If you've picked a niche to work with (which I hope you have!), search your local area for other practitioners who work in a similar field. Get to know them, build a relationship, do what you can to support them, and they will do the same.

This can even apply to those who have the same modality as you. Why? Because they might have a particular part of that niche that they don't work with.

For example, there might be another fertility naturopath that doesn't have your experience of working with IVF clients, or perhaps they prefer to work with women aged 25-35, whereas you offer services for women over 30.

Remember to connect with anyone that your ideal clients might trust. For example, if you work with skin health, connect with the local beauty therapist. It's also worth heading to the local pharmacies and health food stores to let them know about your services.

Automate your marketing

Once you put your marketing on autopilot, you're less likely to feel awkward or exposed by it. So automate everything you can about your marketing:

• Write 5 blogs at a time.

• Schedule your promotions in advance.

• Get a VA to send a monthly newsletter out with your top content from the previous few weeks.

• Reuse your content as much as possible.

The more time you save and the less effort it takes, the more time and energy you have to put into your clients, and into recharging yourself.

Encourage word of mouth referrals

In my experience, the practitioners who are successfully marketing as an introvert have many of their clients referred to them. Because introverts are usually quite skilled at building 1:1 relationships and helping clients to feel comfortable, their clients are likely to rave about them.

Do whatever you can to encourage the word of mouth. This might mean rewarding your clients with little gifts or vouchers if they send others to see you. Or it might be as simple as asking clients if they have any friends who might find your services beneficial!

Find what feels good for you

There is no one perfect plan for marketing as an introvert. We all have our different levels of comfort with tasks, tools and connections.

So find what feels good for you. The right plan is one that you can follow consistently, and that brings you in clients. It's that simple.

If you're not sure what is right for you, try out something new for 2-3 weeks. That way, you can see how comfortable you are once you adjust to it, and you can monitor how your ideal clients respond.

If marketing as an introvert is your current challenge, I'm here to help.

Book a 1:1 marketing support session here, and together, we can craft a plan that suits your skills and makes marketing a breeze.