How to Promote Yourself Online When You’re a Total Introvert - Adobe 99U

The design world seems to favour those who develop a strong presence on social media. But what happens when you’re an introverted designer who naturally shies away from self-promotion?

I am an introvert who knows how to be an extrovert. I have done this for so long, so well, that many of my friends, team, and colleagues find it hard to believe. But to recharge, I must have time alone to think, process, and restore.

In Susan Cain’s book, Quiet, I was introduced to ambiverts and ambiversion. An ambivert can show the qualities of both introversion and extroversion, and they can switch to either depending on their mood, context, and goals. Perhaps I am an ambivert?

Being able to switch to extroversion when I need to is a tool I use to get things done and achieve things I don’t know how to accomplish as an introvert. Sometimes the only cost to this for me is feeling drained of energy by being in ‘extrovert mode’. Other times, as well as the drain on my energy, there can also be ‘butterflies’ or nervousness about doing something outside my natural comfort zone.

Adobe’s 99U has a good article about How to Promote Yourself Online When You’re a Total Introvert. They recommend that you carefully choose the platforms you’re active on, seek meaningful interactions, and outline a way to approach social media that is useful for who you are. Well worth a read for those who are not natural extroverts online.