Marketing strategies for introverts
Last updated: March 2025
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Back in the day, I worked as an HR professional for big corporate companies - read about my background here. During that time, I learned how to deliver and interpret psychometric tests. I also took tons of personality tests myself.
I always fell on the cusp of the introvert / extrovert scale, marginally on the extrovert side. It felt accurate because I’m a social person that loves being with friends.
But, what I didn’t appreciate back then is that the introvert / extrovert personality has nothing to do with social awkwardness or an how easy it is to chat with people.
What is an introvert?
The stereotypical definition of an introvert is a shy, reticent person. In the Cambridge Dictionary, it’s described as “someone who is shy, quiet, and prefers to spend time alone rather than often being with other people”.
But, in truth, introversion is not necessarily about shyness. It’s about how energised we feel in social situations and our sensitivity to external stimuli.
Extroverts tend to feel energised when in the public eye. They love big parties, team working, speaking in groups, and being in a crowd.
Introverts find that same exposure to social situations exhausting. They need time to gather their energy afterwords, so do better in 1:1 situations, small intimate groups, and writing rather than speaking.
Knowing this makes a lot of sense now.
Since leaving my corporate career, personality tests have shown me falling more on the introvert side of the scale. Maybe running my own business gives me the space to be myself and do things my way. I still love chatting and connecting with people, but it’s also important for me to have quiet time and space to recharge afterwards.
An example of this is one January when I decided to go all-in with networking. I signed up for lots of in-person and online meetings, then booked 1-1 follow ups to get to know people better. On top of that, I had a diary full of interviews for client case studies.
The result?
The first week was ok, but I started to feel drained by the end of the second. As January drew to a close, I was exhausted. I resented having meetings in my diary and it was nothing to do with the people, or the reasons for meeting.
So why was I feeling so cranky?
It’s because every-single-day I had meetings booked in my diary. It left me with no space to gather my energy so I could keep performing at my best.
How can introverts market their business?
I wanted to learn how to conserve my energy while still promoting my business, so began by reading a great book called The Introvert Entrepreneur by Beth Buelow >> Find it on Amazon *
Most typical business advice is aimed at extroverts, or at least an extroverted way of doing things, which can be exhausting for introverts. With around a third of UK entrepreneurs describing themselves as being an introvert (compared to just 15% saying they’re extroverts), it’s surprising there’s not more non-traditional business advice out there.
So, if you’re more of an introvert and want to learn some great ways to market your business AND keep your energy levels topped up, read on to see what I learned.
1. Networking
I’m happy going to networking meetings and it’s not anxiety making me want to avoid larger groups. I can simply feel tired and frazzled afterwards, especially with too many.
But I’ve discovered a few things that help:
Limiting the number of networking meetings I attend each month.
Choosing the best networking groups for both enjoyment and ROI (return on investment).
Booking out my calendar with non-meeting days (especially when my diary starts to fill up) to give me space to recharge and concentrate on work without interruptions.
Having designated ‘people’ days by booking several meetings on the same day.
Creating more space between meetings to gather my energy and maybe going for a walk in nature after an especially intense meeting.
2. Content marketing
This is one of the easiest forms of marketing for introverts, especially as we often express ourselves better through writing than talking.
Sharing blog posts is a great way to connect online, and it’s good for SEO (search engine optimisation) too. Regular, high quality content, increases the likelihood of your website ranking in search results.
These posts on my site may help:
➢ How to write conversational content
➢ SEO blogging strategy in 2025
➢ 10 easy ways to create new ideas for your blog
If you’re not a writer, why not post videos on YouTube instead - but share a written transcript on your blog too as that helps with search engine understanding.
3. Email marketing
People who join your email list are already interested in you and your business. Sending regular emails will help nurture those relationships and mean you can share more about your products and services.
Even better, you own your email list. If you put all your marketing into a social media platform and it closed tomorrow, you'd lose all your contacts. But that's not the case with an email list.
Plus, you’re not at the mercy of the dreaded algorithms that want you to create reels and short form video content.
4. Podcasting
You could start your own podcast or find relevant podcasts where you can appear as a guest.
Speaking on a podcast is a more intimate way of connecting than say an in-person conference. Whilst the audience may still fall into thousands, it’s really just you and the presenter speaking 1:1.
Listeners get to to find out more about you and how you run your business. So it can give great exposure for your website and mean warm leads.
I’m not someone who enjoys speaking gigs, but even I was persuaded to record a podcast episode a few years ago for the wonderful Philippa Robinson’s podcast. It’s about my love for the outdoors.
5. Facebook groups
Facebook groups are a great way to build a connection with like-minded people. You could join peer support groups, or those that include people that would find your products and services useful.
Many have strict no-promotion rules, but you can still share helpful information. And Facebook groups are all about, networking online and supporting each other.
That’s one of the things introverts do really well.
6. Social media
Social media can help you connect with lots of people in one go.
But, rather than trying to post on every platform, pick one or two where your ideal customers will be hanging out. LinkedIn, for example, is great for B2B service providers and sharing long-form content. Instagram may work better if you’re an e-commerce business or want to inspire others with images.
If you’re struggling for ideas of what to post on social media, read my blog: How to repurpose 1 blog post into 20 pieces of social media content
7. Other opportunities
Remember that marketing does not always have to be a formal activity.
Chat with people when waiting in queues. Go to small networking groups or conferences. Have a coffee and catch up with another business owner.
A business advisor once told me that if you have an empty diary, go along to a local event like a dog show. You never know who you’ll meet, and who they may know!
How to manage your time and energy as an introvert
One of the big traits of an introvert personality is finding social situations draining. So, it’s important to know how to look after your energy.
Here are a few practical ways to make the most of your strengths as an introvert business owner:
Allowing time for introspection, deep thought, and creativity.
Prioritising self-care with regular recharge periods in your diary.
Resting before or after social events, and ensuring you feel prepared before going.
Taking a break during an event if you’re feeling overwhelmed (for example, a quick bathroom break to give yourself breathing space).
Leaving events early if you’re feeling drained.
Allowing slow decision making where you can reflect on the potential outcomes and choose the best way forward.
Building a supportive network with a a select group of individuals, allowing you to have meaningful connections.
Scheduling meetings in a way that suits you as an individual. For example, having a maximum of one meeting a day, booking time around meetings to recharge, creating meeting free days.
Creating a calm, quiet environment that minimises distractions.
The benefits being an introverted business owner
So far, I’ve talked about how to tweak your marketing activities, and maintain energy levels as an introvert. But being an introverted business owner also has lots of advantages too.
Introverts tend to be good at:
Active listening, absorbing information and empathising with people.
Deep thinking and processing complex problems to come up with creative solutions.
Thoughtful decision making, taking time to weigh the pros and cons before speaking.
Determination and persistence to overcome challenges and achieve long-term success.
Developing innovative ideas and fresh approaches to business.
Connecting with people, building relationships and deeper relationships.
Being self-motivated and working well independently.
They’re great traits!
Nurturing an introvert personality often means building fantastic partnerships with clients. And there are lots of world-famous successful introverted entrepreneurs out there:
Larry Page, co-founder of Google
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft
Ben Silbermann, co-founder and CEO of Pinterest
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx
Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple
Oprah Winfrey, TV personality
I believe it’s about setting boundaries. Introverts need to give themselves space to restore their energy levels. That way, they can keep doing what they do best - making meaningful connections.
I’d love to know what works best for you as an introverted business owner.
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