How Can You Build A Personal Brand As An Introvert?
To many of you, it may seem like I am a confident, outspoken guy. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not a fan of labels and whatnot but I would have had to live under a rock to have not heard of the terms ‘extrovert’ and ‘introvert’.
It seems like being an extrovert would be perfect if you planned to build a personal brand, but what about if you were on the other side of the coin? Well, that’s me, an introvert. I don’t feel comfortable speaking in groups, not one bit. I am a lot more confident than I was a year ago, and I am fine with talking one-on-one with someone, something that I couldn’t do 12 months ago.
“But howdy Jeff, aren’t you building a gosh darn personal brand? How can you do that as an introvert?”
I hear you ask in a Southern American accent, corn dog in hand.
Well, honestly? I hadn’t even thought about it. This article is actually a draft I saved around the first week of joining Medium and it caught my interest today. I’ve been building my personal brand for almost a year, and now I’m going to look into how I have been able to do so, despite being an introvert.
While the income wasn’t quite there on Twitter/X it cannot be denied that I was able to grow an audience. I gained 2,700 followers over there in around 7 months, and here on Medium, I’ve gained 4,600 in just over 2 months. So, what has helped me, an introvert, build a personal brand?
Connect
As an introvert, I do tend to prefer speaking one-on-one with someone, as previously mentioned, over a group discussion. This might seem counterproductive when trying to build an audience, but in reality, it’s perfect. I speak to my audience like I am speaking to them and only them. I interact with people on a personal basis like I would in real life.
I don’t spray out platitudes to a ‘bunch of people’ I give out real advice to real people that I know. Sam Krämer who is going to be the next ‘big thing’ on Medium, Bin Jiang who just launched his publication, Seongwon who traveled from South Korea to the United States because of the love for his wife.
I know these people now. Not because I’m an extrovert and I speak to them with confidence, but because I’m an introvert, I listen and I try to understand people and get to know them personally.
Forget
Honestly, the best tip I can give you is to forget you aren’t confident. This is the online world, there are no repercussions if you don’t feel confident here. No stuttered sentences, no blushed face. Just close the laptop lid if you ever feel pressured. You can use your online business to boost your confidence if anything. It’s certainly helped me with my confidence, I now feel like I can tackle any challenge.
Remember that the consequences you might face for being shy don’t often exist online. You can be a different person, or even fake it until you are that person.
Focus On Your Strengths
In writing personality is huge. This is also true when running a personal brand. Your audience only has one thing to go off, and that’s you. So be you. If you think something is funny then say it. Take some risks, and use what you have.
Can you tell a great story? Good, do it.
Can you knock out some cracking jokes? Go for it.
Can you hit people right in their feelings? Play on their heartstrings!
You want people to have enjoyed their time with you. So use your best assets to ensure that happens.
Being an introvert and building a personal brand is not a negative, it’s a positive. So use it.
Thanks For Reading
3 ways I can help you:
- Join The Fabledwords newsletter for a free writing course.
- Follow The Word Garden publication, accepting writers.
- Follow me for more writing tips!
Until next time,
Jeff.
