I just took a CLE course about improving client communication. The instructor used the Meyers-Briggs assessment to explain how different people relate to the world. I’ve taken the Meyers-Briggs self-test several times in the past, but don’t always get the same results on all four of the functions or preferences.

One thing is clear, however. I am an introvert.

You might be, too. According to the instructor, while the general population (U.S.) is 49% Extroverts, 51% Introverts, among lawyers it is 43.6% Extroverts and 56.4% Introverts.

What does this mean? It means we process information differently from Extroverts. According to Wikipedia,

“People who prefer extraversion draw energy from action: they tend to act, then reflect, then act further. If they are inactive, their motivation tends to decline. To rebuild their energy, extraverts need breaks from time spent in reflection. Conversely, those who prefer introversion “expend” energy through action: they prefer to reflect, then act, then reflect again. To rebuild their energy, introverts need quiet time alone, away from activity.”

I started thinking about this in the context of social media. I know many people draw energy from sharing and conversing on Facebook and the like, but I do not.

In a physical social setting, you will usually find me off to the side of the room, speaking to one or two people I know, rather than meeting new ones. I’ll be thinking, observing, and soaking it all in. I’m not shy. I do a lot of public speaking. But for me, social media isn’t energizing, it’s enervating.

If I understand it correctly, Extroversion and Introversion aren’t about personality. Introverts and extroverts are often very much alike in many respects, it’s just that we have a different process for digesting and utilizing information and relating to the world around us. So perhaps it is an oversimplification to say that Extroverts like social media and Introverts don’t. It’s entirely possible that the way I feel about social media has more to do with my being a private person (or overly cautious) than anything else.

But the question remains, how can people like (you and) me, utilize social media in our work, specifically, in marketing our services?

I don’t think there is a simple answer. Some of us are more open to sharing and engaging than others. We may not love it but neither do we hate it. So we do it, because we think it has to be done or because we want to learn and grow.

I use social media to share content. I use it for research and to find people I want to meet. I visit Facebook regularly, to see what others are up to, and to get ideas. I share quotes and links to stories. I comment occasionally and “like” cautiously. But mostly, I lurk. There I am, on the side of the room, observing, thinking, taking it all in.

If you enjoy social media, God bless you. Your challenge will be to not let it take up too much of your time.

If you don’t love social media, but want to make the effort to use it, you can get some help. No, you can’t delegate “relationship building,” meaning using social media to locate people in our niche and build relationships with them, and while that is arguably one of the best uses of social media, it’s certainly not the only one. You can have someone manage your firm’s Facebook page. You can automate posts and tweets.

Social media can be an excellent tool for marketing legal services, but it’s not the only tool. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. People did business, found clients, networked, made money, and had a life, long before social media, the Internet, and smartphones.

Social media marketing for introverts is very much possible. Even the most private of persons can find ways to utilize it in their work. But nobody should feel like it’s something we must do or that we’re missing out on if we don’t.

Now, if you’re an Extrovert, please share this with everyone you know. Like, Tweet, Post, and Pin. And leave a comment on the blog. I’d like you to do the same thing if you’re an Introvert, but if you don’t, I’ll certainly understand.

Internet marketing for attorneys made simple. With or without social media.