If you’re anything like me, you find much of social media uncomfortable. Between the perfect aesthetic selfies on Instagram to this idea that we’re always supposed to be ‘on’, energized, and ready to interact every day with everyone. The social media algorithm is a hungry beast. Feeding it can feel draining. But here’s the thing, social media is a lever that can increase the number of people we reach. So abandoning it completely may not be your best option. Here’s what’s helped me over the years. I’m sharing my 9 tricks for social media marketing for introverts.
Social Media Marketing for Introverts
Option #1 Don’t use social media the way everyone else done. Let me explain..
1
Let it be an extra source of traffic or attention, but not your main way of getting attention (attention = potential clients/customers).
If you know you don’t like social media and you’re likely to go ghost at times, you’ve got to find a way to relieve the pressure from social media marketing results. If you feel pressured to get clients form socials, but you struggle to show up consistently, you’ll feel even more frustrated.
It cannot be your sole source of client acquisition.
Here’s what I do: In addition to the crucial support I wrote about here, I also nurture what I call a Solid Support System (SSS). My SSS allows me to get referrals, connect with prospects, and keep an active bank of possible connections and clients. I have an entire series coming up about creating and nurturing your SSS.
2
Choose the platforms that feel the least awful for you ?. In the article 11 Social Media Marketing Challenges, I explained that
the more you dislike a platform, the harder it will be to stick with it.
For example, Instagram isn’t my thing. But Pinterest, I can do.
What works for you? For if long-form videos on YouTube feel draining for you, maybe short-form (such as TikTok or IG/FB reels) is more tolerable.
I’ll get even more specific here: use Pinterest!
If you’re not already using it to drive traffic to your products and services, give it some serious consideration (unless it is just not for your niche).
Pinterest is a massive traffic driver and it doesn’t work like the other social platforms. You create pins (graphics with a link to your product/service/article/landing page), post the graphics, and you’re outta there. Once in a while, you’ll get a comment on a pin but for the most part, it’s interaction-free. Can I get an Amen! If you need help with your Pinterest, check out the Pinterest Jumpstart.
As a midlife woman entrepreneur, always keep your energy in check. Be selective with what you spend your energy on so you don’t over-exert yourself. Choose your platform(s) wisely.
3
Focus on sharing meaningful content. Social media is small-talk-central. Most of us introverts despise small talk. We find it off-putting and draining. Meaningful conversations and content are the opposite of small talk. In the audio guide, Less Is More Content Marketing, I share how to create content that connects with your audience deeper than what everyone else is doing. When you’re about to post something, put it through your own ‘meaningful test’:
*Does this feel purposeful? Valuable?
*Does this piece of content add to my body of work or is it just regurgitated fluff for the algorithm?
4
Search for relevant groups on Facebook. If small talk bothers you (as mentioned above), find groups where you can connect with people on a deeper level than just promoting what you do over and over again.
5
Schedule posts. Most social media platforms allow for pre-scheduled posting. This allows for the inevitable times when you just don’t feel like showing up on social media. Instead of going ghost, if you’ve pre-scheduled updates, at least something will be going out to your audience.
On platforms like Pinterest, this has the added bonus of helping your platform stats. Pinterest, like most platforms, likes active users. The more active and consistent you are, usually, the more your posts get shared across the platform. Scheduling posts allows for you to remain ‘active’ even if you’re taking a break for a few days, or a week.
6
Speaking of breaks, take them.
Because social media can feel especially draining for us introverts, it helps to take detox breaks. I’m talking about strategic, pre-planned long breaks (one to three months). To do this, create a system that allows you to rest, such as my Marketing Rest System. Time away from these platforms recharges and reignites our creative spark.
And if you’ve pre-scheduled updates, you won’t feel bad about stepping away, because your account will still be active while you’re on a break.
7
Not into perfectly staged selfies? Ditch ’em. If your brand isn’t built around selfie glamour shots, stick with what you’ve been doing. The frequent-selfie approach isn’t for everyone and doesn’t need to be. Remember, the only ‘musts’ are consistency of branding (how you show up, not how frequently) and providing value. Keep those in mind as your guide.
8
Create a routine. If social media marketing feels like a chore, you probably won’t stick with it. Try to create a habit out of it. Get into a routine you can stick with. Then, you’ll get into a rhythm and each task will feel more habitual, less soul-sucking. Rythm doesn’t equal a lot, it just equals cadence. Your cadence could be 3 times a week (or whatever works for you).
9
Stay as private as you choose. This goes with the glamour-selfies tip. While some people are comfortable (and enthusiastic) about sharing every aspect of their past and present life on social media, most of us introverts cringe at the very idea.
So, don’t do it. Only share what you’re comfortable sharing. As mentioned in another post on social media, contrary to what’s popular, you don’t need to create a caricature of yourself on these platforms. Instead, be authentic to what feels real and true for you. Share as much – or as little – as you choose of your private life.
Bonus:
Work in planned cycles. That’s what I do. I go hard for some time on social media, take a break to recharge, then go hard again. During my break, I either pre-schedule content or I just don’t have any content going out.
As I mentioned (in #1) social media is far from my main client acquisition strategy so I don’t mind any minor consequences of not posting for a week (or month, even). My well-being is my priority.
Social Media Marketing for Introverts
Option #2 Ditch it!
What if you don’t want to use any of those tricks? What if you’d rather stick your head in a boiling pot than do social media marketing? Here’s a thought, you don’t have to do it. Yes, it’s a lever to reach more people, but maybe you just don’t want to activate that lever. That’s fine.
You can ditch it. Shocking, I know. Here’s a brilliant quote from Alexandra Franzen:
“At the end of my life, will I say to myself:
My God, I am so grateful that I tweeted 151,200 times (2,016 tweets per year times 75 years starting around age 25) over the course of my life. Time well spent! How wonderful!
Will I say that?”
Alex doesn’t suggest that we should all stop using it. She’s just decided it’s not for her. She even created a program to help others market themselves without social media.
Always remember your aim with social media is to market your message and to do so with authenticity. Use social media as one way of reaching clients but if you maintain a support system, you can take social media breaks as needed.
