In this article, you’ll learn how marketing for introverts can be a superpower – you’ll just need to find the right marketing channel for yourself. 

Sounds good? Let’s dive in.

Can an introvert do marketing?

So what is an introvert? 

According to WebMD, you might be an introvert if you: 

• Are reflective
• Feel more comfortable being and working alone
• Prefer to write than talk
• Feel exhausted after being in a group
• Retreat into solitude to rest

And contrary to popular belief, introverts are the majority. Around 39% of Americans are introverts.

Now, as a business owner, being an introvert can be difficult. I should know – I’m a huge introvert and try not to be on calls or social media 24/7. 

But despite my introversion, I managed to build a multiple seven-figure business helping thousands of people every year.

How?

Well, there are ways that introverts can do marketing well. 

In fact:

Some studies show we’re at an advantage in some ways. For example, 75% of people with an above-average IQ are introverts.

Plus, introverts are known for being able to focus more and solve complex problems. 

You can leverage these talents to become an even better business owner. 

Want to know how? Read on.

How to leverage your introversion to your advantage

Ultimately, being introverted can be your superpower. Here’s how:

Use your strengths as an introvert

So what are your strengths as an introvert? 

Maybe you like to think deeply about your next moves. Or perhaps you have a great written communication style. 

You can leverage these strengths to become a better marketer. It’s all about using a strategy that amplifies your skills.

Take your ability to reflect and think deeply. 

Elon Musk credits this trait as a huge contributor to his success. Toward the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, he sat down and mapped out the major ways he thought the world would change. 

Then, he focused his path on those areas. 

Your introversion helps you to create your own path outside of how other people are doing things. 

What about your more reserved side? How could that be a benefit? 

Well, as a business owner, you get to own your communication style. 

If you’re not a super charismatic speaker, don’t do conferences and networking events. 

Instead, focus on one-on-one or faceless communication like blogging or email marketing. 

And because you’re in your comfort zone, you’ll probably be way better as a blogger than a public speaker.

Takeaway: You can design your marketing strategy around YOU.

I talk more about this topic in this video:

Build relationships

Extroverts are known to be the social animals in our world. 

They can walk into every room, collect numbers, and host gatherings.

But here’s where your interpersonal skills really come in. 

See, it’s not about being the loudest person in the room. 

If you can have quiet one-on-one conversations with people but make them feel seen and heard, that builds a much better connection. 

Now, that doesn’t mean you have to share your deepest darkest secrets or listen to theirs. 

The relationships you build for your business should respect your boundaries. 

That’s what we’ll talk about next.

Define your boundaries 

Look: We live in a world where a lot of people are sharing their private lives online. 

And many social media gurus say that being vulnerable can help you connect with future clients and customers. 

That’s how you build a “brand”, right?

Well, not quite. 

Yes, being open about your story can help you build a relationship with your audience. But that’s not the only way.

I personally keep my private life completely offline, but I still run a multiple seven-figure business based on my personal brand. 

The truth is, you get to what you’re comfortable sharing. 

You can also define: 

• The best way to contact you
• Which social media channels you choose (if any)
• How close you are with clients

Set these boundaries from the beginning so your audience knows what to expect.

Outsource and build systems 

If the idea of constant sales calls and client interaction makes you nervous, sales systems are essential. 

What do I mean by that? 

A sales system is an automated way of bringing in clients. 

That way, your sales don’t rely on you having to talk to someone.

If you create products (physical or digital), you can also automate your delivery system.

And for the ultimate introverted business structure, consider outsourcing your customer service. Then, you’ll have fewer calls and emails to handle.

Now, you might be wondering:

“What if I want to run a service business that requires direct client calls?”

Well, that’s where choosing the right clients comes in. Let’s talk about it.

Attract the right clients

I get it. As a coach, I felt that I needed to be on the phone all the time, hand-holding my clients and telling personal stories online to attract new clients. 

But I managed to dodge all of that with this simple principle: I taught my audience what to expect from me.

Letting your future clients know how you prefer to work will help attract the right clients. 

People will self-select whether your style of business works for them or not. That way, you don’t have to be uncomfortable to deliver great services.

Focus on a few strategies

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re marketing your business – especially as an introvert. 

So the marketing strategies you choose are crucial to your success. 

But here’s another key tip that will help you succeed:

Focus on a few strategies at a time. 

To market my business, I use YouTube and SEO. And before, I relied on Facebook ads. 

The marketing strategies you choose may change, but I recommend that my students focus on one or two at a time. 

In short, protect your energy.

Now, which marketing strategy should you focus on? 

Let’s talk about it in the next section.  

Best marketing strategies for introverts

So that’s how to leverage your introverted nature in your marketing. 

In this section, let’s talk about the best marketing strategies I’ve found for introverted business owners. 

Selling 

Here’s the thing about selling. 

Most of us think that selling involves being that used car salesman, being pushy and bold with your marketing. 

But there’s another way.

If you lean into your natural strengths, you can avoid being salesy and be more authentic. 

Besides, aggressively trying to convince people that they should buy from you doesn’t work anyway (not even for extroverts). 

So how can you sell as an introvert? 

Use one of your superpowers: Listening. 

By talking less on sales calls and listening more, you make potential clients feel heard. That’s a powerful thing when it comes to sales. 

When you understand your client’s needs, it’s not about selling. It’s about helping.

What if you want to avoid sales calls altogether but still make sales? 

That’s where direct marketing comes in. 

Direct marketing is when you use your written words to make sales. 

So email, copywriting, and content marketing are powerful tools which we’ll talk about next. 

But to grow your business, you need to get rid of that fear of selling. 

When you embody that mission of helping people with your business, you’ll find selling much easier.

Here are my top selling tips for introverts: 

Copywriting

Want to know the most important thing people look for when they buy?

It’s not the price tag, the experience of the seller, or even the reviews. 

It’s connection. 

But if you’re not doing sales calls or livestreams all the time, how do you create that connection with your audience?

Simple: Copywriting. 

Now, not everyone is a natural writer and that’s okay. 

You can learn copywriting from books, courses, and online resources. 

Those skills will help you create better content and make more sales without draining your energy.

Tip: Great copywriting skills can only get you so far. You need a system to convert your audience into customers. 

The system I teach my students is this: 

1. Create free content
2. Add a link to a lead magnet (a free PDF guide) that subscribes people to your email list
3. Write daily email newsletters 
4. Pitch your products or services

I talk more about building a sales system in this video: 

Email marketing

I love sharing and creating content but social media is very interactive. 

That’s why email marketing is one of my favorite marketing strategies for introverts. 

It can help you: 

• Build relationships with your audience
• Increase high-quality leads and sales
• Futureproof your business

But most importantly, as an introvert, you don’t have to be in constant contact with your audience.

In email, you can share great content without even showing your face. 

Plus, email marketing has a $42 ROI on every $1 spent. 

That’s why I write daily newsletters for my email list. It drives about 90% of my sales.

How can it work for you? 

The trick is to think about your audience and what’s valuable to them. 

Then, create an email sequence that delivers that high-value content every day (or week).

As your subscribers grow, you can continue to send emails to sell your products and services. But the focus should always be value. 

Learn more about email marketing in this quick video: 

Content marketing

99% of the content I create is completely free. 

And that’s one of the main reasons my business is so successful. 

Your free content introduces your audience to your brand and builds that all-important relationship. 

But certain types of content work better for us as introverts. 

For example, one of the content marketing strategies I suggest my students use is guest host on podcasts. 

Niche podcasts in your industry have established audiences where more people can find you.

Or, why not try guest posting on popular blogs and publications? It’s the same idea except you can shine through your writing. 

At the start of my business, I guest-posted in Business Insider and HuffPost. These publications raised my profile – all without me having to talk to anybody. 

Social media marketing

You can also create your own free content. 

Social media can work for introverts, but I recommend choosing one platform that your audience uses.  

For me, it’s YouTube. Filming YouTube videos which might seem scary as an introvert… but it doesn’t have to be.

Because I get to film alone in my comfortable space, it works. 

Now, before you jump into creating useful content around your services, think about your audience. 

Your content is one of the first things your audience sees, so the quality matters.

Focus on topics that they care about. 

Because you don’t have to create the best video or blog in the world. But you do -need to connect with what your audience wants to hear. 

Think about the most common misconceptions people have about your product or service. Those are great ideas for content. 

I talk more about content marketing here: 

SEO and blogging

Basically, search engine optimization (SEO) drives search traffic to your site so you don’t have to keep paying for ads.

Simple SEO practices help Google crawl your website for the content you provide and deliver it to the people who need it. 

For example: 

• Using targeted keywords
• Writing high-quality content
• Building links with other established websites

…all contribute to your website’s SEO.

And it can work really well. 

Within two years, SEO became a six-figure marketing channel for my business.

My traffic continues to grow – and so do my profits. 

Best of all:

You only have to write the blog post once and it can continue to drive traffic to your website. 

Compare that to social media where the content has such short-term reach, that you have to show up every day. 

Draining, right?

Blogging gives you the freedom to create and have that pay off for months or years to come. 

Here’s more on how to increase organic traffic. 

How to market yourself as an introvert

One of my key tips for introverts in business is to create a personal brand. 

But that sounds counterintuitive, right?

You want the brand to be connected to your products – not you. 

Here’s the thing. 

A personal brand can help you: 

• Stand out from the crowd.
• Highlight your unique strengths.
• Reel in clients who love what you do and how you do it.
• Create a personal bond with your audience.
• Increase your leads and sales for long-term growth

So how do introverts create personal brands? 

This is what I did.

1. Define your story

This is the story of why you do what you do. 

Here you can reveal as much or as little as you want. 

For example, this is my story: 

I was motivated to start my business when my mother was diagnosed with cancer, my father had heart failure, and my sister almost lost her sight. I wanted to build a business so I could have the freedom to be there when my family needed me. 

Now I teach other people to create their own freedom businesses.

In a nutshell, your story should communicate in a few sentences:

• What you do
• Why you do it
• Your values

Not sure about what your values are? Let’s dive into that next.

2. Think about your core values and mission

What do you really care about? 

This will naturally come out in the work you do and the content you create. 

By defining your values, you can build a personal brand and business that is authentic to you. 

Need help? Think about: 

• What do you stand for?
• What is most important to you (in life and business)?
• What words do you want people to use when they think of you or your business?

Finally…

3. Be consistent

Create excellent content and deliver your services in line with your values. 

Consistency helps your audience to trust you. 

Over time, this will increase your leads and sales. 

And if you want to learn more about building a personal brand, this video will help:

What’s next? 

There you have it! The ultimate guide to marketing for introverts.

But of course, becoming a GREAT business owner involves a lot more than just a solid marketing strategy.

You need to choose the right business model, learn to make sales calls, and create systems to make your business thrive.

If you want to dive deeper, then get my free blueprint on how to start an online business (even as an introvert): 

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When you sign up, you’ll also receive regular updates on building a successful online business.

Read more:

The Best Business Ideas for Introverts

How to Market Your Business Without Ads

Online Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business

The post Marketing for Introverts: Guide + Top Marketing Ideas appeared first on Luisa Zhou.

You’ve come to the right place. Today you’ll learn how to market your business – without having to rely on costly and unpredictable ads. 

Ready to get started? Let’s go!

How to market your business without ads:

1. Get referred (+email template)
2. Use social media in the right way
3. Grow your SEO (the most profitable strategy)
4. Learn to create high-converting content 
5. Build your email list 
6. Find partners to promote you
7. Pitch podcasts and guest posts 
8. Tap into your network (without being annoying)
9. Upsell your clients (this can boost your income!)

Referrals

The 4-Step Automatic Attraction System

for attracting more clients daily... without paid ads, social media, or "hustle"!

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Asking for referrals is one of the most reliable ways to scale your business. In fact, more than half of small business owners say that referrals are their most successful marketing tactic.

Why?

Because referrals help you connect with your ideal clients and prove you can deliver on your promises. After all, they showcase the results you’ve already helped your existing clients get. 

Asking for a referral might feel intimidating (only 11% of salespeople request them), but it doesn’t have to be.

How you request a referral is up to you: It can be done by email or in person. Either way, keep things short and polite – you don’t want to appear needy or pushy.

I always recommend offering an incentive, like the standard 10% commission for services or 30-70% commission for products.

Here’s a template you can use:

Hi [Name],

I hope this email finds you in good spirits!

As I continue to deliver quality [specific task], I’ve begun to expand my client base.

If you know anyone in your network who could benefit from my services, I’d be thrilled to help them. To show my gratitude, I’m offering a 10% commission for every successful referral.

Feel free to share my contact details with anyone who might be interested. They can reach me at [contact info].

Thanks!

Best,

[Your name]

Social media marketing

Social media marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools available. 

Social media platforms have over 5 billion active users, giving you an incredible opportunity to find new customers, increase business revenue, build brand recognition, and generate leads.

Don’t believe me?

Take a look at some of the statistics:

• 46% of Instagram users made a purchase after seeing a post
• 65% of Facebook users will visit a brand’s website or app after seeing their product
• 90% of YouTube users find new brands and products on the platform

But it’s not as simple as posting here and there, hoping it’ll go viral. You have to create and post content regularly, engage with customers, and build relationships.

The easiest way to start is by choosing one platform to focus on and spending 30 minutes a day creating content specifically for it.

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to which platform you choose – just make sure that your ideal clients are using it.

Learn more in my definitive guide to social media for business.

And here are the top 3 mistakes you might be making on social media: 

Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization – SEO for short – is when you optimize your website with the right keywords, content, and links to rank higher on search engines like Google. 

Why is it important?

Because even though 66% of people do some online research before making a purchase, less than 1% visit the second page of Google results. 

So, it’s crucial to rank as high as possible to increase the chances of future customers finding your website and converting.

In fact, 61% of marketers say that SEO is the best way to find online success. When I invested in SEO for my business, it turned into a multi-six-figure marketing channel in just two years.

You can learn more about it in this guide.

Or take a look at this short video where I explain how to use SEO: 

Note: Even though it’s one of the best ways to generate traffic and get new clients, SEO is an advanced, long-term strategy that doesn’t offer immediate results – so I don’t recommend it to new entrepreneurs.

Content marketing

Creating great content is the key to growing your audience and nurturing your relationship with it. 

It’s also a great investment, costing 62% less than other forms of marketing but generating three times the number of leads.

Coming up with content can feel overwhelming to even the most creative entrepreneurs. I used to spend hours trying to craft the perfect email, write a great video, or come up with a blog post.

But I stuck with it and used content like live streams and social media posts to build my business to six figures, and now, I can create content in less than 30 minutes every day. 

It all comes down to a couple of things: Taking inspiration from what’s going on in your life and finding a structure that works for you. 

When it comes to structure, focus on starting with an attention-grabber, getting the right format (such as step-by-step guides or tips), and putting a CTA in your conclusion that drives your audience to take action, whether it’s subscribing or replying.

The most important part about content marketing? Make it a habit! 

By creating content consistently, it’ll become second nature.

And if you want to learn more, take a look at this short video: 

Email marketing

Despite what you might have heard, email marketing isn’t dead. 

In fact, 73% of marketers say using email to connect with clients and promote your products or services is important to the success of a business. 

Why is it so powerful?

The 4-Step Automatic Attraction System

for attracting more clients daily... without paid ads, social media, or "hustle"!

GET THE PDF NOW

Because people who join your email list want to hear from you — and that’s rare.

Email marketing allows you to foster your relationship with your audience on a larger scale, which in turn makes it far more likely that they’ll buy from you. 

Don’t believe me? The average email click-through rate is 15%, and email marketing generates $42 for every $1 spent.

So, how do you do it?

First, you have to grow your email list, which means getting people to give you their email.

I always recommend generating a lead magnet, such as a free PDF or video, that you highlight in content, on social media, and other outlets.

Once you’ve started growing your list, I recommend using Mailchimp or ActiveCampaigns to manage it.

Next, come up with a consistent email schedule and stick to it. I recommend sending daily emails (personally, I like to send one each weekday).

But if that’s overwhelming or you still need to get a large enough list, stick to one a week and gradually increase the cadence as your list grows.

Then, come up with the right structure. That means generating a catchy subject line and, within the email itself, sharing your experiences and insight while fostering personal relationships.

You can hear more about the ins and outs of email marketing in this video: 

Partnership

One of the biggest mistakes I see new entrepreneurs make is only showing up on their pages. 

A much better approach is to find a promotion partner.

A promotion partner is someone who will share you and your business with their audience and vice versa. You’ll share valuable information through things like blog posts or webinars to help each other grow. 

Spend 30 minutes, twice a week, searching for a promotion partner in your niche. Check out Google, relevant online communities, and your own network to find one.

Remember, your partner shouldn’t be a direct competitor. Instead, their business should complement yours.

Your audience should also be the same size or slightly smaller than theirs. 

Once you’ve identified potential partners, spend 30 minutes, three times a week, reaching out to them.

Let them know who you are, the value you can bring, and what’s in it for them (like exposure to your audience). 

You can learn more about partnership in this video: 

Podcasts and guest posts

Writing guest posts and getting featured on podcasts are reliable ways to build trust, gain exposure, and establish yourself as an expert.

For instance, I’ve been published on sites like Business Insider and interviewed on popular podcasts, including So Money.

That kind of exposure is priceless. 

But how do you get it?

By finding publications relevant to your niche and audience, regardless of size. It’s better to talk to 100 relevant people than 1,000 irrelevant people.

I also recommend identifying what I like to call the “gatekeepers” – people who have access to your ideal audience. 

Gatekeepers can be anyone, from the editor of an online publication to an admin in a relevant social media group.

Start engaging and offering valuable advice to get their attention. 

Then, when you ultimately pitch yourself, speak to who you are and how an interview or guest post would benefit their audience.

Here’s a pitch template you can use for guest posting:

Hi [Name],

I trust this email finds you well. My name is [Name], and I’m reaching out regarding a potential collaboration opportunity with [Publication].

As someone deeply passionate about [relevant expertise or interest], I can offer valuable insights to your audience.

I’d love to submit a guest post to [Publication], a platform I admire for its commitment to [relevant topic or theme]. Here are some topics I’ve researched that align well with your readership:

Topic suggestion 1

Topic suggestion 2

Topic suggestion 3

You can see examples of my work here:

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Please let me know if any of these options interest you or if you have other ideas in mind.

I look forward to working together.

Best,

[Name]

And here’s one you can use for podcasts:

Hi [Name],

As a dedicated listener of [Podcast], I greatly appreciate your show’s valuable discussions and insights. I’ve been particularly inspired by episodes covering [relevant theme or topic].

Given my background in [relevant experience or expertise], I offer an engaging perspective to your audience. I’m eager to discuss topics like:

Topic suggestion 1

Topic suggestion 2

Topic suggestion 3

I’ve had the privilege of being interviewed on other podcasts, which you can listen to here:

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Please let me know if any of these options interest you or if you have other ideas in mind.

I look forward to working together.

Best,

[Name]

Tap into your network

Believe it or not, your personal network is a great place to get new clients. 

Chances are, at least one person could use your expertise; if not, they can refer you to someone who does.

The key is making sure that they know about the services you offer. When you reach out, try doing it with a message like this:

Hey [Name],

As you know, I’ve been [specific task] for a while now, and I’m starting a business that helps people [specific goal].

If you’d like to work with me, please let me know! Or, if you know someone who might be, I would appreciate it if you could connect us. 

I’m happy to hop on a call so they can get to know me and learn about the process.

Thanks,

[Your name]

Once you’ve sent the message, be sure to follow up in a personal and polite (but persistent) way. 

Trust me, this works! I started my first online business when I realized that people in my network needed career advice.

Upsell your current customers

Put simply, upselling is persuading customers to buy into a more expensive version of your services. 

I see a lot of people balk at this suggestion.

Remember, upselling your clients isn’t scamming them. Upselling is about adding value and delivering better results.

It’s all about asking, “How can I enhance this relationship and improve results?”

When you upsell a client, you’re promising and delivering greater value. You deserve to get paid for it!

Trust me: If someone doesn’t want to pay you, they won’t.

The 4-Step Automatic Attraction System

for attracting more clients daily... without paid ads, social media, or "hustle"!

GET THE PDF NOW

When I started scaling my online coaching business, upselling was one of my most successful strategies. 

As soon as my students began to see results from the mastermind coaching program, I upsold them to one-on-one coaching sessions. It earned me $20,000 more in revenue.

Next steps 

There you have it!

As you can see, it’s possible to grow a business without ads as long as you follow the nine simple steps outlined above.

And if you want a more sustainable way to grow your client base that doesn’t involve ads, I’ll show you exactly how I did it in my masterclass, Clients Come to Me. 

Reserve your seat here.

Read more:

How to Build a Business Without Social Media

The Best Online Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business

The post How to Market Your Business Without Ads (9 Simple Steps) appeared first on Luisa Zhou.