I was presented with an interesting question by one of my email list members. She asked if I’ve ever posted about blogging as an introvert. The interesting thing is that I consider myself an introvert because I feel awkward and uncomfortable in social situations, and find it hard to come up with words to say when speaking with people that I don’t know. I also am more internal, prefer working behind the scenes and don't thrive in social settings. I do, however, still make new connections with other bloggers and interact with them often. Though I am an introvert, there are ways to still blog and meet new people if you are one, too. Today I will be discussing 5 advantages to blogging as an introvert and things that should put you at ease if you are one, too.
1 / You're online
The first and biggest advantage is that you’re online. You're not in person talking to people or feeling pressured to talk to anyone. You are posting words and people are reading those words. The internet works as a shield in a way. It is the thing that separates you from having to talk to people in real-time because everything is digital.
2 / Interaction is controlled by you
If you talk with someone on social media, through blog comments, etc., you have the luxury of planning out a response before replying. When someone asks you a question on the spot in person, you may not have an answer right then or get so tripped up on your words you completely flop. By having the internet as a buffer, you can do the necessary research to respond appropriately and on your own timeframe.
You also have the luxury of not having to respond at all. If the question or comment you receive appears to be from a troll, you can completely ignore! It’s more difficult to ignore someone in person than online.
3 / Videos can be previewed before posting
Video content is huge right now and happens to be an area that introverts fear. You don’t have to worry about mistakes when posting video content because you can view and edit your videos before posting them in most apps these days. This also applies to Instagram stories. The advantage of previewing content before posting has put me at ease and I’m more comfortable posting video content on Instagram now.
If you want to go Live, however, preparation is key. As long as you have an outline of what you want to talk about and practice it before hand, you will be more prepared and there will be less room for mistakes. I suggest getting comfortable with short videos on Instagram Stories first and at some point considering live video. Going live with a friend also helps! My first IG live was with my friend Katrina and it was great!
4 / Sharing common interests
When I find myself in a situation discussing a topic that I’m not well versed in, I feel nervous and anxious. When I’m talking about a topic that I’m passionate about, I’m a totally different person! I’m not as anxious and feel more confident when speaking. The great thing about blogging is that you control the content and essentially the audience that you attract. It should ease an introvert by knowing their audience is looking for and excited to read their content. It’s easier to communicate with people that you can relate to and share a common interest.
5 / Bloggers are friendly
I have met so many amazing people through blogging! The blogging community as a whole is very friendly and can be super helpful. The funny thing is that there are so many introverted bloggers out there, so they may face the same issues as you. These introverted bloggers may be looking for someone to connect with, too, and more often if you are the first person to reach out, they will welcome you with open arms. Feel comfort knowing that bloggers are looking to connect and make new blogging friends all the time!
So these are my 5 tips on blogging as an introvert. I hope they helped you feel a little more at ease about online interaction if you consider yourself an introvert.
What are some ways that you have gotten over your fear of blogging because you are an introvert? Let me know in the comments!