Why You Don’t Have to be an Extrovert to be Good at Marketing

Pop quiz! Are you an introvert or an extravert?

...I haven't taken the Myers-Briggs since I was starting freshman year of college almost 20 years ago but I remember I'm an ENFP. Also, I'm the only person who hasn't taken the Enneagram. So. I've got another quarantine activity to do...

 Where was I? Oh, yeah. Introvert or extravert. 

I'm not here to armchair-psychology you but simply to reassure you: 

if you're an introvert you can still market yourself (and do it with integrity).

Call me crazy but I don't think that in life there's any reason to try and improve our "weaknesses." What a colossal waste of time. Instead I think we should build on and amplify our strengths and natural talents. 

And I tell ya what: introverts are gifted AF (even though our society rewards extraversion but that's for another convo). 

Be honest: when you think of marketing do you think of...

• schmoozing and small talk with strangers

• sell, sell, sell! 

• endless self-promotion

It's okay if you do, because that's what comes to mind when most folks think of marketing. 

But it doesn't have to be that way. So what's an introvert in business to do? I got some thoughts...

First, stop trying to be an extravert

If teaching in-person workshops or going to big networking events completely drains you and feels like a killjoy, I give you permission to Marie Kondo that sh*t. Instead, you can look for a small, intimate gathering or skip it altogether. 

Then, focus on relationships

This is where introverts shine! Use your gift for listening deeply to your advantage. Because you're uniquely able to genuinely observe, you're also intuitively connect the dots in your marketing. You're well positioned to understand your audience and their challenges better than most!

Finally, experiment with marketing that energizes you

Like I said earlier, you don't need to kill yourself teaching in-person workshops or speaking on panels at conferences or attending big networking events. Other ways to get your message out there that require a lot less "being on" with crowds of people:

• podcasting (starting your own or guesting on others)

• writing (for your own blog or someone else's)

• email (oh hey there!)

• even 1:1 coffee dates (virtual for now)

The point is: you do you, bae.

Don't believe experts who say there's only one right way to market yourself and your business. 

P.S. way back in 2019 I had a chat on  The Creative Introvert podcast back in 2019 all about marketing as an introvert. Give it a listen!