For an introverted or shy entrepreneur, public relations may not be a favorite activity—but it’s a necessary one. Without good PR, you can’t get a positive message out about your company or connect effectively with potential stakeholders, both of which are vital to growing your business.
If networking and speaking about your business don’t come naturally to you, the members of Young Entrepreneur Council have a few tips that can help you improve. Below, they discuss these tips and how they can help introverted or shy business owners successfully (and confidently) get through any public relations 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. Reframe Your Mindset Around PR
When in doubt, reframe 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 and everything that had to do with talking to people, especially strangers and especially on a stage. Thinking 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 of these things. It’s crystal clear to me now that as a tech-startup CEO I’m on the hook for getting our story out. I see exactly how important it is to our progress and also to 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, Performica
2. Focus On Quality Over Quantity
I wouldn’t say I am an introvert, but like many, I have been scared of approaching new people at some point. However, to get over that and build sustainable relationships, I developed a strategy that got me to the right people in plenty of industries: I never attend an event striving to meet everybody in the building. For example, if I participate in a conference, my homework is to find out who is the most influential and well-connected person in the room. In this case, the organizer is. 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. To sum up, 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 who is a PR professional, I’ve learned that to combat any feelings of shyness or introversion, it is important for business owners to get outside of their comfort zones, get involved in public relations and “do it anyway.” Business owners need to push through any fear they may have in order to get the job done. The more they do this, the easier it will become. – Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
4. Practice And Prepare
My tip for an introverted or shy business owner looking to confidently succeed in any public relations activities is to practice in advance. It’s important to consider how to answer questions and talk about your business in a clear and concise manner. Having a few “go-to” statements prepared can help you feel more confident when it comes time to do any public relations activities. Additionally, practice in advance with a friend or colleague to help you become more comfortable and confident with your message. Practicing also helps to ensure that you are prepared ahead of time. – Jay Dahal, Machnet
5. Start Small And Work Your Way Up
One tip I have is to start small. If you’re introverted or shy, public relations 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 by attending local networking events. These events are usually smaller and more intimate, so you have an opportunity to get to know people before you start pitching your business. Once you’re comfortable with that, you can start attending larger 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 that makes you the most comfortable and run with it. – Andrew Munro, AffiliateWP
6. Seek Out One-On-One Settings
Reduce the activities down to one-on-one conversations whenever possible. If larger settings are tough to handle, try to get them down to your comfort level, whether that be 15 people, five people or two. When you are in a setting that works for you, it will take a lot of the pressure off and allow you to play to your strengths. If talking to a large group in generalities is the issue, the same strategy applies. When you are in a smaller setting, people will ask questions and you can then answer naturally in a way that builds the relationship up and plays to your strengths. – Liam Leonard, LIONSCOVE
7. Focus On Your Business, Not Yourself
One useful tip is to realize that other people aren’t judging you or scrutinizing you as much as you think—which is the main fear an introverted person might have. When going through public relations activities, try to remember that the focus is on your business, not you as a person. Focus on sharing the story of your business and what it has to offer. This will help to distract from any anxiety or shyness you feel. – Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
8. Share Through 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 a social platform and start broadcasting your ideas and vision through your writing. Many of the most influential people in history defined the future—and their success—by sharing their ideas through the power of writing. The pen is always mightier. – Andy Karuza, NachoNacho
9. Appoint Someone To Help
One of the best tips that I’d suggest is appointing a representative to deal with social matters on your behalf. People who shy away from networking have probably been introverts their entire lives, so they can’t just expect to overcome this overnight. It’s a part of a person’s personality, so even if they try to overcome it, the transformation can take months or even years. During all that, there will be countless opportunities lost. So, it’s best that you appoint a networking and public relations specialist. In the meantime, 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 Forms
