Comments on: Burning MBTI Questions Answered #10

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:12:06 +0000

Hi Sandy,
Appreciated this post. Also saw a few related articles today:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/networking-tips-for-the-shy-or-introverted-453701
and, from the comments on that article:

http://www.jasondbarr.com/2009/04/08/developing-people-skills/
http://www.cio.com/article/164300/How_to_Network_Tips_for_Shy_People

By: CJ Fitzsimons

CJ Fitzsimons — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:47:55 +0000

Enjoyed the post and the discussion it’s sparking, Sandy. Following the Ten Easy Steps to Marketing Heaven sounds like Hell to me too. I find that my clients seem to appreciate the fact that they’re not being treated to the Ten Easy Steps.

The very thought of going to a networking event is enough to keep me at home. In my experience such events are filled with (self-employed) people looking for the next client or marketing experts willing to help this process along (for a fee, of course). What I seldom find are people interested in my line of work. So, the question is: where do my potential clients hang out? That’s where to go to, if at all.

Another marketing myth is that people need a brochure. If you have one, fine. If not, also fine. A business card and an ability to ask questions suffices for me. After 10 years, I still haven’t gotten around to my first brochure. And my bank manager is nice to me.

One form of marketing that works for me is just do good work. Happy clients come back for more and even write about the experience. Since I don’t actively push products at them, they tend to ask me if I can do something for them, or know someone who can. (This works only because they know that I only give a recommendation if I am convinced the person can deliver top quality work for this client.)

Another form is to make use of my creativity. Several years ago, I wrote a Christmas poem, turned it into a card and sent it to family, friends and clients. One client, who hadn’t been in touch for a long time, only got the card in February. As he said himself, if he’d received it with the rest of the cards, he probably wouldn’t have read it. In February, he took the moment, something resonated and about a week later he was presented with a challenge where he thought he might be able to use my experience. We mastered that challenge together and he and his colleagues kept coming back for more, for about five years.

By: Patricia Weber

Patricia Weber — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:35:22 +0000

Even when I attend events, business and social, with my wide open extrovert husband, we talk about a strategy to get there on time – when there’s not a lot of hustle, and plan to leave early. He’s great a supporting me since he’s able to also manage to do what he loves to do and that is be a social butterfly. It’s not the amount of time for him, he can be meeting everyone. On the telephone I feel I have more control to manage my time and energy.

By: Patsi aka The Blog Squad

Patsi aka The Blog Squad — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:05:31 +0000

Great post, Sandy. I also appreciate the insights of Patricia and Terri. I wear my introversion almost as a badge of honor now, having struggled for many years to accept that part of myself. I now see it as a definite strength and use it to maximum advantage!

That said, unless I want to work for somebody else, I need to sell myself, my products and my services. I’ve learned a couple of things that suit me to do this:

1. Partner up with people who can help
2. It is far easier to promote someone else (your partner or your partnership products)
3. If you write well enough, your copy sells for you
4. You can avoid all offline, in-person networking as much as you want but you can’t replace the value of a phone call and personal contact.

Hope this helps.

By: thebeadedlily

thebeadedlily — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:40:46 +0000

I like this comment, “plan your energizing time before during and after.” Like most of us I guess I find time interacting with folks I don’t know well incredibly exhausting– and I’ve found that online activities– like chats– affect me that way too.

I wish I had an answer to this– two things that do work for me. Just be who I am– if I have to act a certain way to fit in, leave. And find a few very small groups with very similar interest that will help you promote your work as you help them promote theirs.

By: Terri Zwierzynski

Terri Zwierzynski — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:57:50 +0000

As a fellow introvert, I especially like your advice about NOT following someone else’s “10-step marketing system”. I suspect that many of the more prominent marketers are indeed extroverts…and trying to force yourself, as an introvert, to follow their system would be a recipe for frustration, stress and poor results. That’s not to say that you can’t adopt pieces of their system; just pick the ones that feel easy and natural.

As for how I’ve solved this for myself, I guess I’ve fallen into a unique model where I don’t market myself — I market other people! It’s so much easier to rave about other folks’ expertise and programs. And even two introverts can make a collaboration work because they can focus on promoting each other, rather than themselves.

Great insight!

By: Patricia Weber

Patricia Weber — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:31:56 +0000

Sandy, If you’re a solopreneuer you must either become proficient with sales and marketing, or as you say, find someone who is. If Bill Gates weren’t a marketing genius can you imagine what Microsoft would be?

This is one INTJ coach for introverts who happens to believe that there is no one way to sales and marketing. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of tactics. You want to find what you are comfortable with and what works. And before that you want to possibly change your perspective about networking.

Patricia Weber, Business Sales Accelerator Coach for Introverts, Shy and Reluctant
http://www.patricia-weber.com
Blogging Business Sales Ideas for Introverts, Shy and Reluctant

By: Patricia Weber

Patricia Weber — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:22:20 +0000

There is NOT just one way to self-promote. I’m an INTJ and have been in sales for 30 years. Oh yes I was a sales manager, author and am a coach but – everything really is sales. That is one thing you have to know. You can be the best in your field or area but if you can master marketing and sales, or find someone who can to do it for you, then find other work.

Networking is riddled with common misbeliefs about it, one being that it is THE way to self-marketing. There are dozens, heck, maybe hundreds of ways to market yourself. You have to find what you are comfortable with and then act on it.

If you do have to network, as an INTJ and a coach for introverts, I can tell you to plan your energizing time before during and after. Attend some of the event not the entire night. Have a plan either for how many people to meet or more specifically who you want to meet. These would be my top suggestions.

Patricia Weber, Business Sales Accelerator Coach for Introverts, Shy and Reluctant
http://www.patricia-weber.com
Blogging Business Sales Ideas for Introverts, Shy and Reluctant