The Cost of Being Real in Your Reels: How Introverts Can Thrive in and on Social Media

The Cost of Being Real in Your Reels: How Introverts Can Thrive in and on Social Media by Jennifer Marie, Creative Director at Facets of Hospitality

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As an introvert, it can be a challenge to stay afloat in the fast-paced and ever-changing world of social media. From Instagram Reels to TikTok, it’s hard to keep up with the latest trends and figure out how to make yourself stand out. But the key to success on social media isn’t about being loud or flashy; it’s about being real. In our teachings and think tanks, we preach the importance of being real on your social media...

We'll dive a little deeper here, We’ll discuss the cost of being real in your reels and how introverts can thrive on social media. We'll discuss the expense of letting loose from social stigmas and trends. We'll discuss the operational method of "post and go."

First, let’s take a look at the cost of being real. Regarding social media, it can be tempting to promote yourself in a way that isn’t true to who you are. You might post pictures of yourself that make you look more glamorous than you really are or videos that make it seem like you’re having the time of your life when in reality, you’re not. When we talk about brands, this looks like static posts, run-of-the-mill templates, and cold, flat captionless images to say you posted. While this kind of content might get you more likes or followers or tick off a box on your marketing "To Do List" it won’t do you any good in the long run. In fact, it can lead to a disconnect between who you are online and who you are in real life.

The best way to be successful on social media is to be genuine and authentic.

Showcase your unique talents, skills, and interests. Relate them to your business, or don't. Relate them to you and let your followers find your business. The method depends on your person and personality. And the truth is that trends don't always equal huge sales. Don’t be afraid to post content that’s true to who you are, even if it’s not what everyone else is doing. And if you don’t feel comfortable posting something, don’t do it. It’s better to be yourself than to try to be someone you’re not. Post what you're comfortable posting, and if it fits into a trend, great. We'll talk about the cost of going viral and whether is it really worth it in another blog.

So, how can introverts thrive on social media? As an introvert, it can be not easy to put yourself out there and share your thoughts and opinions with the world, especially if it's about a business you have created or are in charge of promoting. With a few prayers, simple tips, and inner peace pep talks, you can make social media work for you... or don't. That's worked for some, too. The trick is to do something and keep it real.

1. The first thing you can do is to focus on quality over quantity. Don’t feel like you have to post every day or constantly check your feeds. Instead, take the time to create content that is meaningful and speaks to who you are as a person. Quality content will attract more like-minded people who will be interested in what you have to say.

2. Create engaging content - Introverts can create content that is meaningful and thought-provoking. This can be done through writing blog posts or creating videos that share interesting insights or stories. These often make pieces that go viral or are well-liked because unique gets people thinking. If your creation method is different... give the world a little piece and let that market your sales link.

3. Take part in conversations - Social media is a great way for introverts to express their opinions and engage in meaningful conversations... Even if that's a "Like"... They can join groups dedicated to topics they are interested in and participate in the discussions.

4. Ask questions - Introverts can ask questions on social media to start conversations and learn more about a topic. This can be done through polls, surveys, or simply posting a question.

5. Share stories - Introverts can share stories, photos, and videos that capture moments of their lives. This can be a great way to connect with people who may not understand them in person.

6. Connect with people - Social media can be a great way for introverts to connect with people from all over the world. They can use it to find like-minded business owners or customers who share their interests and consumer needs. This feedback can be invaluable for a business owner looking to grow.

Secondly, let's say you decide that social media just isn't for you or your business.

There are many ways to market in the community without social media. One way is to create flyers and posters to distribute in public places such as libraries, grocery stores, shopping malls, and other places where people are likely to congregate. Have other business owners share them or give them in their bags or shipments. You can also use word of mouth to spread the word about your product or service. By talking to friends and family, and even neighbors, you can create a buzz and potentially get more people interested in what you have to offer. Think about referral cards and such. Additionally, you can host events such as workshops and seminars or even offer free samples of your product or service to generate interest and build relationships with potential customers. Lastly, you can use traditional newspaper and magazine, or even radio advertising to reach a wider audience and to build brand recognition. The key to not using social media is not stepping into the mindset of "If I build it, they will come." The reality is... "They will come if I tell them I'm here."

Finally... Let's wrap this all into how you can set boundaries for your life around social media use and not justify the scrolling endlessly for hours as "I'm working." The popular method I teach my clients, who are willing to listen, is "Post and Go." For some, I use to call it the brain dump method..., but a prettier name meant people would listen, I thought.

Anyway, the idea behind this method is that when you feel inspired, create. When that post content makes it's way to your brain, and you're feeling it-- write it in an email to your marketing team. Put it on your bulletin board. Make a Google Doc of ideas and add to it when you're inspired and it's flowing. Then use those resources when planning your content or to send to your marketing team. It's hard always to be creative or to do it daily. If you feel it, feel it. Then forget it and move on. That's where the CEO genius comes in, and you can continue growing with more ideas and more methods. But you don't want to lose that content, so create a system with your team that will allow you to post and go (safely... if you're a person who always posts errors or doesn't know how to tag, hire a team and post a google doc to them with brain dump messages allowing them to finesse and turn them into beautiful posts in your brand's design message.) I won't bore you with talk of algorithms or references, but there was a movie about social networking and the programmers who wrote it, and they said that the apps like you on them. When you're not on them, they'll send notifications and views and buzz to your accounts to get you to come back. There's something about posting a great video and then going to live your life for a few hours before you come back and check if anyone has liked it yet that... hits. Try it and see if I'm wrong. Let me know... @NerdInCharge is my Instagram as a test account. This account has been abused and mistreated in so many ways and shouldn't get organic traffic. Yet, despite random efforts to fail at social media-- I still get 20k hits on a reel.

Being real helps. People like it. Probably because they are real, too. Let's start marketing to them like they are.

Being an introverted business owner can be challenging on so many levels... but with the right attitude and strategies in place, it can be a rewarding experience. It is important to remember to take time for yourself, to practice self-care, and to find ways to build connections with others. Connecting with like-minded people and having a strong support system can help to ensure success and help to cultivate a positive mindset within your chosen industry. With the right balance of self-care and hard work, introverted business owners can find success and thrive.