Why introverts make the best social media managers

Posted on April 1, 2013 by William Ruzvidzo

I can be a pretty outgoing person so most people are surprised to learn that I’m an introvert. But I am. My gregariousness is a coping mechanism that I’ve developed to help me survive in a world that highly values extroverts.

Here’s the deal with introverts. We’re not shy, reclusive loners. We’re actually pretty sociable and enjoy interacting with people. It’s just that at the end of the day, we tend to think a lot and generally only talk when we feel like we have something to say. Otherwise, we much prefer listening to talking.

I’ve just finished reading Susan Cain’s book, “ Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking ”. If you haven’t read it, pick it up. It’s an excellent read. In the book, Susan sheds light on introverts and how they can make their traits work for them in today’s workplace.

Reading her book got me thinking about my job as a social media manager and how my line of work is perfect for introverts. Whether you’re one or not, there are some characteristics that introverts have that you can use for your social media strategy.

Firstly, introverts are great at listening. We are perfectly happy to sit back and observe and listen until we are ready to jump in the conversation. It’s the same deal with social media. Sit back and listen and pay attention to what your followers are saying, what they like, and what conversations they are participating in. Hootsuite and Social Bro are great listening tools for this. Once you have an accurate picture of who your followers are and what they like, then jump in and create content and conversations that will appeal to them. Keep listening and observing how they respond to your brand or business by using Facebook and Google analytics along wit Hootsuite and Social Bro.

Another thing about introverts, is that we tend to think a lot before we act or speak and we choose our words and actions carefully. This trait is perfect for social media.  Social media is great for responding quickly to things, but the great thing about it is that you still have some time to think carefully about how something sounds and can edit and reword things before posting or tweeting. This can be particularly useful when dealing with a pr crisis or customer complaints.

Many introverts also hate small talk. I know I do. We actually do love to talk but we prefer meaningful engagement and conversations over talking just for the sake of it. Again this can be applied to social media. Try to avoid the mistake of only talking about your brand or business. Instead, also try to build meaningful and quality relationships with your followers and with influencers in your industry. Engage them and build rapport with them. This might take some time but believe me, it’s worth it.

At the end of the day, it’s all about listening, engaging and building meaningful relationships. Do those three things well and it will make a huge difference for your social media strategy.

William Ruzvidzo is a Social Media Strategist and Content Manager at 88 Creative. Find him on Twitter @william_ruz and at williamruz.com .