Marketing for Introverts
“ I have to be alone very often. I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.” - Audrey Hepburn
I nearly died when I read this quote years ago! It was such a release for me, validation in some way I suppose - that maybe I wasn’t the only one who craved alone time. Maybe I wasn’t the only person who enjoyed spending quality time with friends, colleagues, clients, and mentors but also needed time away after to be alone. To the outside world, this admission may come as somewhat of a shock. I spent 26 years in the fast-paced advertising agency space as a senior vice president and account executive. My roles over the year included sales, creative development, media planning, buying, and client services. All of these are very ‘outward’.
While I excelled and rose through the ranks, a small part of me knew it wasn’t always aligned. The truth was , after an intense week I craved time alone. Some people fill their cups by being with others constantly and some people need quite the opposite - quiet time alone - reading, creating, or any number of other solitary pursuits.
If this story resonates with you in any way, you’ve got introverted qualities too. Congratulations! THIS can be an asset to a creative business owner. Although the world may portray introverts as unsocial hermits the truth is that there’s a spectrum of introverted tendencies and they can be used to your benefit and fulfillment as you build your creative business.
Here are a few things you may find yourself doing if you’re an introvert:
You avoid making offers, or posting about your creative work
You put off sending an email about your new collection because you don’t want to ‘annoy people’
You get nervous and dread the thought of being visible or on video on social media
You’ve RSVP’d for events in your industry and decided at the last minute not to go
Any of these sound familiar? If so, know there IS a way to build a brand that’s powerful and aligned! Read on for some of my top tips.
When creating your content, talk to your audience like you’re one-on-one with your ideal customer. This will make it easier and more authentic. Focus on RELATIONSHIPS
Shift your thinking! I always remind my clients to see introverted qualities as their superpowers. You crave deep connections ( a key to building ‘know, like & trust’), are wildly creative, and excel at big-picture thinking for starters.
Define and commit to what visibility looks like for you. Despite all the pressure to be posting ‘all of the places all of the time’, doing Instagram reels and stories multiple times every day, having a Facebook group, a podcast, a Utube channel, blog, and on-point Pinterest page - it’s really about QUALITY VS. QUANTITY.
Yes, you do need to get yourself and your creative work out there if you want to have a business and not just a hobby, but trying to do it all leads to frustration and burnout. Show up in your client’s email once a week or every other week. Pick the one social media platform that serves your ideal client or collector best and commit to posting 1-3 times a week. Be authentic, show up as you.
Batch your content. One great way to do this is to have a blog on your website and post on a regular schedule there. Then, take pieces of your posts and repurpose them for your social media feeds and emails.
Set clear boundaries. Schedule downtime, studio time, and alone time. Make it a priority. Commit to sharing a few things consistently, and reliably each week with your community. Include photos or videos so people can connect with you. Let it be easy and fun. Get out of your own way and start. Get into action.
These shifts in your thinking and your actions will help you avoid burnout and build an aligned brand that lights you up.
You’ve SO got this and now’s your time to shine on your own terms. I’ll be over here cheering you on. Reach out if you’d like support.