For an introverted or shy entrepreneur, public relations may not be a favorite pastime, but it is a necessary one. Without good PR, you won’t be able to spread a positive message about your business or engage effectively with potential stakeholders, both of which are vital to growing your business.
If networking and talking about your company doesn’t come naturally to you, the members of Council for Young Entrepreneurs have a few tips that can help you improve. Below, they discuss these tips and how to successfully (and confidently) help introverted or shy entrepreneurs with any PR activities they may need to participate in for the good of their business.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Change your mindset around PR
If in doubt, reformulate the problem. I’m on the shy side myself and PR used to be torture. It felt fake and inauthentic. In hindsight, I underinvested in anything related to talking to people, especially strangers and especially on a stage. When I think about it now, it’s pretty clear to me that this isn’t shyness; it’s that I didn’t understand or appreciate the “why” behind all these things. It is now crystal clear to me that as the CEO of a tech startup, I do everything I can to get our story out there. I see exactly how important it is for our progress and also for the potential customers we can reach and help. What used to feel like “inauthentic communication” now feels like storytelling, and I’m in love with the story. It’s all about framing. – Alex Furman, Performance
2. Focus on quality over quantity
I wouldn’t say I’m an introvert, but like many, I’ve been afraid to approach new people at some point. However, to get over that and build lasting relationships, I developed a strategy that brought me to the right people in many industries: I never attend an event to meet everyone in the building. For example, if I’m attending a conference, my homework is to find out who is the most influential and best-connected person in the room. In this case, the organizer. So instead of going from person to person, I find a way to befriend the organizer, and they will usually introduce me to the most relevant people at the conference. In short, the best advice I can give is to do your homework and focus on quality rather than quantity. – Alexandru Stan, tekpon
3. Push through your fear (and your comfort zone)
As someone who is very introverted by nature, but is a PR professional, I’ve learned that in order to combat feelings of shyness or introversion, it’s important for entrepreneurs to step outside their comfort zone, get involved in public relations, and “do it anyway.” .” Entrepreneurs have to go through whatever fear they have to get the job done. The more they do this, the easier it gets. – Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
4. Practice and prepare
My tip for an introverted or shy entrepreneur who wants to succeed confidently in public relations activities is to practice beforehand. It’s important to think about how to answer questions and talk about your business in a clear and concise way. Preparing a few “go-to” statements can help you feel more confident when it’s time to engage in public relations activities. In addition, practice with a friend or colleague beforehand to help you become more comfortable and confident with your message. Practice also helps to make sure you are prepared ahead of time. – Jay Dalal, Machnet
5. Start small and work your way up
One tip I have is to start small. If you’re an introvert or shy, PR activities can be daunting. But if you start small and gradually work your way up, you’ll build confidence and eventually be able to handle anything that comes your way. For example, start attending local networking events. These events tend to be smaller and more intimate, so you have a chance to get to know people before you start pitching your business. Once you’re comfortable with that, you can start attending bigger events and even speaking engagements. It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to be the center of attention. You can still be successful in public relations by being a behind-the-scenes player. Just find the role you feel most comfortable with and get started. – Andrew Munro, AffiliateWP
6. Look for one-to-one settings
Whenever possible, limit activities to one-on-one conversations. If larger settings are difficult to handle, try to get them to your comfort level, whether that’s 15 people, five people, or two. Being in an environment that works for you will take a lot of the pressure off and allow you to play to your strengths. If talking to a large group is the problem in general, the same strategy applies. When you’re in a smaller setting, people will ask questions and you can then respond naturally in a way that builds the relationship and plays to your strengths. – Liam Leonard, LION COVE
7. Focus on your business, not yourself
A helpful tip is to realize that other people don’t judge or scrutinize you as much as you think – which is the biggest fear an introvert could have. As you go through PR activities, try to remember that the focus is on your business, not you as a person. Focus on sharing your company’s story and what it has to offer. This will help distract from any fear or embarrassment you may be feeling. – Syed Balky, WPB Beginner
8. Share by writing
If you’re shy, you don’t always have to do live webinars, speaking engagements, and in-person networking. Focus on becoming a good writer, create a profile on Medium or any social platform and start broadcasting your ideas and vision through your writing. Many of history’s most influential people shaped the future – and their success – by sharing their ideas through the power of writing. The pen is always mightier. – Andy Karuza, NachoNacho
9. Name someone to help
One of the top tips I would recommend is appointing a representative to handle social matters on your behalf. People who shy away from networking have probably been introverted all their lives, so they can’t just expect to overcome this overnight. It’s part of a person’s personality, so even if they try to overcome it, the transformation can take months or even years. In the process of all that, countless opportunities will be lost. It is therefore best to appoint a network and PR specialist. Meanwhile, build your confidence and try to overcome your fears. We often hire people for their skills, and this scenario is no exception. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable shapes
