Marketing and Selling for Introverted Folx with Monica Schrock of Unsocially Inclined
Episode 539: Show Notes
Today on the show, we have Monica Schrock, who is cautiously optimistic and is an introverted copywriter who works as a marketing consultant. She has a mean coffee habit and a serious nerd streak. She revels at the intersection between intention and strategy, hoping to make the world a better place one word at a time. Monica has spent the last 14 years navigating the extroverted field of marketing, helping 200 clients craft their brand message and increase their sales from double to over ten times. We are talking about all the tips and tricks she has learned on that journey on the show today.
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So, if you resonate as a fellow introverted entrepreneur, who started their business to maybe escape ever having to talk to anyone again, and then realizing that you have to do that in order to make sales, put your offer out there, and grow your business, this episode is for you. We are talking about how to set boundaries, how to schedule (or not schedule) your week in a way that fits your personality so that you can actually get stuff done without feeling guilty and feel like you’re putting marketing and sales messaging out there that doesn’t make you feel icky.
Being an Introverted Entrepreneur
When Emylee started her business, she thought she wouldn’t have to do so much of what she didn’t want to do as an introvert, but she is probably doing those things more than ever. The magic of what Monica does is finding a way to put yourself online as an introvert. Having worked in an office for years, Monica felt like it just wasn’t for her and when she ventured out on her own, she found much of the same thing. This is when she discovered the niche that she now occupies, helping other introverted entrepreneurs. Her page, Unsocially Inclined, initially started out as a place for her to express herself. However, she quickly saw that so many other people felt the same way, feeling like they had to be a certain way to achieve success. But, as Monica shows, you absolutely can do it on your own terms and be yourself. This is easier said than done, especially in a world that values extroversion, and introverts are made to feel like they’re doing something wrong. Monica herself has been there so many times where she has followed someone else’s roadmap, and even though she has managed to succeed, it did not sit right with her because she was not aligned with who she is.
How to Sell as an Introvert
As the world is increasingly moving online, there must be more transparency around how success is reached. Monica is always open about how she got to where she is, and this is something people who have joined her membership identify with. People saw that she was doing things differently and were drawn to working with her for this reason. Naturally, Monica had to share some of her life with people, which for many introverts, is nightmare-inducing. So, how can you do it? Start with establishing boundaries around what you do and don’t want to share. There is absolutely no reason for you to share all of your feelings online if you don’t want to. You are allowed to keep some things to yourself and share what is fun for you. These boundaries are also not set in stone. Maybe, at some points, you will feel like you want to share more than other times; it is entirely up to you. You might be wondering how all of this translates into sales and marketing. For Monica, she calls sales calls “vibe checks”, which takes the pressure off and is more about establishing needs and asking for consent to sell, if it comes down to it. By framing it this way, it is far less pushy than ordinary sales calls, which can be daunting for introverts. Another way to take the pressure off is also doing things via email, which means people don’t have to respond right away. By establishing better communication at the beginning, it creates a healthy relationship right away.
You Don’t Have to Sell on Social Media
Even though social media is one channel for marketing, for many it has become the center of their marketing strategy. It is important not to put all of your eggs in one basket and make sure that you are selling from other places, like an email list. You can view social media as a place to test your content. So, if something doesn’t work, you can absolutely ditch it or change it to suit your needs, whatever they are. For many years, Abagail just could not convert on social media, because let’s be real, she’s an awkward turtle. If you see people mostly using social media to drive sales, they are probably extroverts, which is why they are able to do this. There is nothing wrong if this doesn’t resonate with you! For Monica, Instagram is an acquisition and nurture platform, and everything else happens by email or in-person (when that was a thing). You have to figure out what is comfortable for you and what feels good. When you do this, you won’t have that sleazy feeling that can come with manipulative marketing.
Create Days that Work for You
There are so many productivity hacks out there and tips on how to structure your day, but this can be draining for introverts too. Monica, for example, hates schedules because they don’t work for her. She does not have weekly calls with her clients, does not have theme days, and just does what works for her. As someone who has great boundaries, she is very good at separating things, but at the same time, she is not afraid to follow inspiration when it strikes. If she comes up with a great idea at 8 PM and can get it done in an hour, she will do it because that’s what feels good for her. Rather than beating herself up for not working like most people, she realized that she knew what was good for her and tuned into her needs. It's fine to want to emulate other people but only do so if it makes you feel good. Also, listen to your body, experiment, try different things, and you will eventually find your groove. It's ok to give yourself grace about the fact that your schedule will not look the same every week. Some weeks you can crush it, and other weeks, you have to take it easy. Be kind to yourself and only do what you are capable of.
Quote This
What feels good to you and what your version of success is a big question to ask while you’re trying to fit someone else’s mold.
Highlights
Being an Introverted Entrepreneur. [0:01:15.1]
How to Sell as an Introvert. [0:10:12.1]
You Don’t Have to Sell on Social Media. [0:24:15.1]
Create Days that Work for You. [0:32:00.1]
ON TODAY’S SHOW
Monica Schrock
Unsocially Inclined
Monica is a cautiously optimistic, introverted copywriter and marketing consultant with a mean coffee habit and serious nerd streak living in the Pacific Northwest.
She revels at the intersection between integrity and strategy, hoping to make the world a better place one word at a time. Monica has spent the last 14 years navigating the extroverted field of marketing, helping over 200 clients craft their brand message, and increase their sales or donations from double to over ten times. Her true joy lies at the moment she gets to craft a message that captures the essence of why a movement, organization, or brand was created.
She helps rebellious mission-driven, introverted folx make a full-time income with their service-based business without the pressure of acting extroverted through inclusive marketing and messaging that feels good to them.
KEY TOPICS
Introvert, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Sales, Boundaries, Structure, Transparency
