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Inside Tips For Introverts
It seems that the vast majority of marketing advice is aimed at extroverts. "Go to networking mixers and meet new people," the authorities say. "Make cold calls." "Speak in front of groups." "Call people up and chat with them about what's new."
If you are an introvert, these experts might as well be telling you to fly to the moon. What if you don't enjoy large gatherings, hate to call strangers on the phone, dislike being the center of attention, and loathe small talk? Can you still do well at marketing?
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TOP SHELF TIP NO. 100
"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."
Ben Stein, American attorney, speechwriter and entertainer, 1944- | |
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First, it may help to recognize that being an introvert is not a disorder, nor is it unusual. Introversion is simply a personality type. It's been estimated that introverts make up 25 to 50 percent of the population.
Noisy Means Nervous
Effective marketing does require talking to people, and there's no getting around that. But the good news is that most introverts do like talking to people, they just don't like doing it with total strangers or in noisy crowds.
For example, one sales professional says she felt uncomfortable at business networking events but enjoyed attending small, casual get-togethers. She always thought her problem was that she didn't like being in large groups, so she avoided them completely. But she looked at exactly what was making her uncomfortable, it turned out her real dislike was the "mixer" atmosphere and not the groups themselves.
The sales professional said she enjoyed sitting with a few people and speaking with them about what was going on in their lives or businesses. But she didn't enjoy standing around chatting about the weather or the food. So the next time she attended a networking event, she found a table where several people were sitting and joined their conversation.
Just the act of sitting down made her more comfortable, and she connected with several new people she was able to talk to at length.
In creating your own marketing plan, pay attention to where you fall on the introversion/ extroversion continuum when choosing what to do and how to do it.
Today and tomorrow, Promotional Consultant Today will explore ways to adapt typical marketing activities to a more introverted personality.
Attend With A Friend
When planning to attend a networking meeting or social event where you hope to mingle with prospective clients, invite a friend or colleague to go with you. Agree that you will help each other meet new people. Introduce your companion to anyone you already know and ask him or her to do the same. Choose in advance some intriguing topics for conversation, and invite others you meet to discuss these issues with both of you.
Seek Out Structure
Many introverts abhor mixers but enjoy meeting people in more structured environments such as leads groups or workshops. Look for groups where the meeting format allows each person time to introduce himself formally, or groups that build networking exercises into the program. You may find that it's easier to talk about yourself when there is a specific time allotted for just that purpose.
Avoid The Crowds
Mingling at events may not be an environment where you do your best. Instead of trying to meet people in group settings, do your networking one-on-one. Arrange to meet with people for coffee or lunch to get to know them better. When you run out of people you already know to meet with, ask a friend or colleague to set up a three-way meeting with someone they know.
Tomorrow we'll look at five additional tips.
Source: C.J. Hayden is the author of Get Clients Now! Thousands of business owners and independent professionals have used her simple sales and marketing system to double or triple their income. Get a free copy of Five Secrets to Finding All the Clients You'll Ever Need by clicking here. | |
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Copyright 2005-2007 Promotional Consultant Today. All Rights Reserved. |
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