How To Build Your Reputation, If You Are An Introvert

Even if you are an introvert, you can still build your reputation, have a voice and people to notice you.

You don’t have to be the loudest in the room to be seen.

If your nature is to be quieter, being persistently generous is how you achieve recognition.

Let me explain how I have done it:

Getting involved?

I didn’t understand Twitter to begin with but knew I had to learn. I cut my teeth on a community level before business. It clicked with the foodie businesses and foodie visitors to Southbourne.

I realised that I needed one personal account that could involve the wider range of views and involvement of Gordon Fong, but I also needed to create an account for the Southbourne work, as some people would just be interested in what’s happening and not my other musings.

Document what’s around you?(by not being at the front of the camera)

The easiest way to start is not to talk about yourself but to talk about what’s going on in the area, new businesses opening, local events and what can be relevant to others.

You don’t have to be doing selfies, or videos, or talking to the camera to begin with, or even ever if that’s your choice.

Participate in events you want to join in with

There was a vintage weekend event called Shake and Stir happening. I started the day and posted all day long. Well, it started by promoting it before the weekend, and on the day I would share my walk up, their setting up, the first acts, and schedule they printed, keep sharing photos of it being busy and encouraging people to come.

Lee Taylor, from Steele Raymond, messaged me and asked if I was the official social media channel for the event as he was getting more from me that the event organisers.

Let organisers/community leaders know you are present

The easiest thing you can do is to share, join in and like the posts from others.

They see you as being supportive and this does open the door to join in, if you wish.

You don’t have to read books or talk (acquire your own info and path)

I’m not a huge book reader but so many times I get told I need to read this book and that book, and if I’m not doing this then why not as I should be.

After 22 years in business, I am a lot more confident in myself to think…. I’m doing OK. I can do better and I selectively take on improvements, but at my own pace.

Have something in the background that one day is ready to share (I had a talk)?

There is that cliché of everyone has a book in them.

For a while, I had wanted to tell my story and one day I had the courage to ask You Are The Media (YATM) to give me that stage.

I received a lot of support with the biggest turnout for a lunchtime event, from people inside and outside of the YATM circle.

I also have a recent talk brewing about the Dorset economy and who will look after us when we are older?

Show support for others

I’ve reached a stage in business where I can get to be out of the office, attend local business events, networking events, workshops and collaborative events.

That can be a lot of time to give up, not doing business development, not doing customer projects, but it is an investment to be seen, and then known.

Do things because you want to (not because you have a social calendar to post)

My timelines on social media are not a clean cleverly curated wall of content, all colour matched, with Canva designs to boot.

Sometimes it is being vocal with what is buzzing around my head, or something I am doing, or something that I need to rant heavily about.

There is no written strategy that I follow or plan.

Be independent ie. no bias to an organisation

I do turn up to many events from different and maybe similar organisations. I like it, I learn things and I get a chance to support them.

Share other people's work?

Sharing news of other people’s work, and their successes, can help bolster your narrative and confirm what you stand for, regardless of whether you are doing it. I want to see Dorset do great as an economy. I know my channels are not self-preening posts about how great I am doing, but how the world is from my perspective and the people who play their part.

Here is the return:

• you leave a digital footprint
• people know who you are
• you influence change?
• commercial return?
• confidence?
• you become better by doing and better at your craft?

It’s not easy if your nature is not as social as others, but we can all have a rightful place to influence, help others and be known within our communities