I think the Internet is one of the best things that has ever happened for introverts! Never before has it been possible for an introvert to comfortably approach a person or group of people and say “Hi, I’m an introvert, and this is how I feel about it…” There are so many websites, blogs, and discussion groups online that there’s really no need for any of us to feel misunderstood. Now we just need to get extraverts to “get” us!

On her blog Don’t Be Shy, Dee has written a number of articles discussing the difference between introversion and shyness. One which really caught my eye is Introverts don’t like small talk and other interesting facts. It’s a quick and easy read, and perfect to share with your extraverted friends and family members who just don’t understand you. Be sure to bookmark the site (or add it to your RSS feed) so you’ll remember to go back and read some more – I know I will!

Most of the business tips that I’ve shared on this blog have had to do with networking, probably because this can be such a challenging activity for introverts. But although networking is a very important aspect of marketing, it’s certainly not the only one.

Here are some other ways that introverts can really tap into their strengths when promoting their products or services.

1. Do your research before you meet with a potential client. If you’re well prepared for your meeting, you’re less likely to find yourself at a loss for words.
2. Ask open-ended questions and listen to what your prospect has to say.
3. Write awesome follow-up letters for optimum results.
4. Establish your credibility by blogging, writing articles, or speaking to small groups.
5. Build relationships with journalists who will be happy to tap into your expertise, giving you free exposure at the same time.

For more information about any of these strategies, read An Introvert’s Guide to Marketing and Selling like a Pro.

As an introvert, I’ve never really been part of a large group of friends, but I have had many close friends throughout my life. Generally speaking, I have formed close relationships with people who have been part of my daily life at the time, whether it be at school, work, or another organization. Very often, once one or both of us left that common ground, we drifted apart. Now, Facebook and similar sites have allowed me to reconnect with some of those people, which I think is quite wonderful. Between former classmates and co-workers, relatives, and my current business contacts, my “friends list” has grown to over 200 in just over a year. This just boggles my mind, as it doesn’t seem that long ago that I didn’t feel I had many friends at all.

My list of 230+ friends seems insignificant, however, in comparison to the lists of some of my colleagues with online businesses. One of my contacts has over 3000 “friends” on her list, and it grows every week. As it happens, I have had business dealings with this person, but I’ve also received friend requests from people I’ve never heard of. Sometimes they include a note to explain why they want to connect with me, but often they don’t even do that. When I check, these people usually have 800 or more “friends” already. To me this type of activity has about as much value as attending a large networking event and running around and exchanging business cards with as many people as possible, hoping that sometime, somewhere, something may come of it. I find it much more valuable to take the time to get to know a few people well enough that I will feel comfortable sending referrals their way, and hopefully they may do the same for me.

Which brings me to the question – is this amassing of “friends” an extraverted thing? Or am I missing something?