Secret Confessions of a Social Media Introvert
I love social media. I have a natural knack for it. I was doing Social Media Marketing before I knew it was Social Media Marketing.
But there’s a reason I’m a Cult Classic blogger (yes, that’s a shameful plug).
I’m an Introvert.
And lately, I’ve been feeling overexposed and inundated with information.
Social Media is all about giving. Give blog posts, give comments, give Stumbles, give Tweets. Participate, communicate, connect, and network!
But for introverts, there is a point where all of this exposure exhausts us. This is true whether you’re talking Social Media or face-to-face meetings such as a Happy Hour. And far too often, we get a bad rap for it.
Over the years, I’ve had people think I was snobby, stand-off-ish, not doing my work, not dedicated, and many other less-than-flattering things simply because I don’t feel the need to communicate every detail of my existence. And, being the good introvert that I am, have taken such criticism and tried to reform myself. But when I do that, I still get criticism, because extroversion doesn’t look quite right on me.
So I’ve decided to just be confident in who I am. And to use the strengths of being an introvert to my advantage instead of trying to take on more extroverted characteristics.
And I have a lesson for all you extroverts: Stop placing your assumptions about introverts on the jump to conclusions mat!
Any other introverts? How does it affect your Social Media efforts?
I’m an introvert too. Blogging doesn’t bother me, because I feel like I’m just talking to a friend. But for Social Media, it doesn’t come naturallly – I have to give myself a little push to do it. That’s why my social media efforts go in streaks – it depends on whether I feel up to being social.
‘Atta way! Hey, and clearly it’s all been working out pretty well for you!
While I’m not sure if I’m an introvert (I’d like to consider myself a grey area), the whole social media schitck can get exhaustive. Sometimes you just need to stay under the covers with the computer off and recharge!
P.S. Any article that includes a jump to conclusions mat reference is A+ in my book!
“there is a point where all of this exposure exhausts us”
Overexposure and the need to converse on such a broad scale is a challenge of anyone wanting to maintain relationships at any level. For me, it’s not about personality type, it’s just about time management.
At a certain point, you are so successful in your efforts that you just don’t have the bandwidth to maintain every relationship you have built as well as you might like to. Add to that the fact that needs change over time. A relationship you had 3 months ago, may no longer be relevant.
I would love to read and contribute more to all of the amazing blogs, forums and social media sites out there in the world but I always try to focus on the best possible use of my time.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), that includes less reading and commenting and more client work and sales calls.
Luckily, I have an unbelievably talented team working with me who keep me up to date on relevant trends and movements in the social media, conversational marketing and SEM worlds.
PS> Keep up the great work!
I’m with you Nathania! But not just because I’m an introvert but also because I’m an action kind of guy. Social media, to me, isn’t action. I don’t network and don’t socialize well at all. I don’t do small talk either. I’m great in real conversations about something but I find I often can’t make small talk to get there. Blogging? Not a problem. I’m not forcing anybody to read. Social marketing… well, that’s another story.
Hi Nathania. I just discovered your blog. I’m ISTJ.
I’ve been writing about the topics of introversion and social media at my new blog. I think that social media can be a heck of a lot easier to take than face-to-face interaction but, to be honest, I’m not innundated with either form of interaction at the moment. I think that I’ll be getting more requests for interaction over time, but so far it’s manageable.
But face-to-face interaction can be VERY draining, no question.
@Kate – glad you liked the Jump to Conclusions mat reference.
@Adam – dude, you just had to use “bandwidth” in your comment. sigh.
@Stoney – I totally get where you’re coming from. Forget the small talk – get straight to the point!
@Mark – Nice to meet you! Thanks for stopping by the blog. I think introverts are more naturally attracted to the internet because the lack of face-to-face seems (and sometimes is) easier to deal with. But oftentimes in order to be what is considered “successful” in social media you still have to put so much of yourself out there.
Sphunn here: http://sphinn.com/story/19352
I had no idea Nathania … you’ve never seemed aloof to me. In any case, its nice to get to know you a little better. Thanks for sharing. Great post!
So it’s like a comedian who gets stage fright??
“I don’t feel the need to communicate every detail of my existence” — does this necessarily need to be true to be great at SMM?
Good post~
[...] recent post on being a social media introvert sparked this post idea (interestingly, it sparked a second post from her as [...]
@Marty – thanks for the Sphinn!
@Jeff – thanks!
@Mike B – i’m not sure it’s like a comedian who gets stage fright. some introverts have anxiety (i do) and some don’t. it would be like the comedian or rock musician who doesn’t want to sign autographs afterwards. it’s not that they’re unappreciative – it’s that they aren’t people-persons.
And yes, you can be successful in Social Media without communicating every detail. It just seems like some of the most successful people are very communicative about everything! One of the reasons I wrote this post was to encourage introverts that moderation is ok in social media. You can still be successful. In fact, you may even be more successful since you’re more free to be yourself instead of trying to role with the extroverts all the time.