5 Ways to Succeed as an Introvert on Social Media

I started my business in 1999 when there was still AOL dial-up for internet service. Social media was not a thing and cell phones with cameras and awesome pixels were unheard of! (I know I am not the only one who remembers pre-digital age.) We have come a long way in business and technology in the past 30 years and the world has made tremendous strides.

Now that we are decades into it, it has been sort of difficult for introverted business owners to navigate business and keep up with what’s trending. The world of communications has become digital. Most introverts that I know have a love/hate relationship with social media and trying to keep up with it isn't one of their strong points. I myself realize that I am not dolled up all the time to capture these moments where I am ‘marketable’. I used to wonder how do these entrepreneurs and social media influencers do it.

How does being an introvert translate into your business? How does it play into a time where you as an entrepreneur should be connecting on a personal level with your followers? Does it hurt your business to not be visible and transparent online on social media?

While it is important to show authenticity of who you are and be 'social' on social media, I believe there should also be a balance. Not being visible to your followers and not showing up where they are can hurt your business, yes. As an introvert too much social media may hurt you as a business owner. So social media breaks are just as important to the introverted entrepreneur. There are times when I delete all apps and take breaks to recharge my battery. There is a lot of intake and overload that happens to an introverted and empathetic person while they browse social media, so balance is necessary. Disengage and do other things that fuel and restore you.

If you are an introverted entrepreneur that may not want to engage in 'LIVE' content, here are a few ways to stay connected and consistent with showing up for your social media audience without having to engage online every day:

1. Have a Weekly or Monthly Production Day If you’re like me, and rarely want to be seen – pick a day where you’re feeling extra cute and block out some time to record all of your content for the month. Make a production day each month and put it on your calendar. You can even change your outfits or simply wear your brand’s t-shirt or apparel for each video.

2. Start a Podcast Start a podcast where you can connect often without having to be seen. You can re-use this content on other platforms. This is great for introverts because you don't have to be "seen" - just heard. LIVE podcasts are great, but if you're still a bit unsure then pre-recorded is the way to go. 3. Find Your Beloved Platform It is also important to find the social media platform that works for you. Every social media platform has a culture, and you should know what culture you want to market to before you go into it. For example, Face Book is more connecting with friends and family. Its algorithms connect you with family and people you may have grown up with, and even those that live in the same city or area as you. This platform may not be so good if you are trying to connect with people outside of your immediate surroundings. Instagram on the other hand gives you some of those same connections and more. With Instagram you have an opportunity to connect with celebrities, influencers, and brand ambassadors on a personal level. Your target market opportunities also increase with the use of hashtags on your posts. You can also pay to reach more followers in your target market.

4. Scheduling Tools Schedule your posts ahead of time. Facebook has an easy-to-use scheduling tool Business Suite for business pages. It also connects with Instagram and gives you leads on great times to post your content and more. Hootsuite is also a great platform that posts to multiple social media platforms simultaneously. Take a day out of the month to schedule posts. These will post on the set date and time you choose automatically. Now you can go about your day, while you are still engaging with your target audience. 5. Use your Reels and Stories

We are now in a time where stories and reels are now popular and these content additions are reaching more people! People spend a lot of time on Tik-Tok, Instagram and FaceBook creating video content. If you're an introvert this can still be difficult for you. One suggestion is to record P.O.V. (point of view) clips of what you do, your favorite places to eat, and tutorials. This is a great way to engage in these new social media trends and stay connected to your audience!

Just because you are an introverted entrepreneur doesn't mean you can't be successful. Some of our world's millionaire entrepreneurs like, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are introverts and they are very successful by the world's definition. Take the time and figure out what systems works best for you and your business and be brilliant!

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Shanica L. Bell

CEO, Bella Creative Media Group/The Brand Cafe’

Host, The Brand Cafe’ Podcast