THREAD: NETWORKING FOR INTROVERT FOUNDERS

1/ Networking is an important aspect of building & growing a startup.
Being an introvert, are you at a disadvantage? It’s harder yes, but not impossible. Here are my learnings:

2/ Leverage email. At a conference, post a talk, want to meet the speakers but are intimidated by the crowds around them? Just ensure you have their email addresses from the coordinators. Go home, add them to your mailing list.

3/ Send a quick thank you note post the conference.
Create different, segmented mailing lists for different purposes. Potential clients, potential employees, potential investors and so on.

4/ Create a monthly update email template - documenting everything you’ve done in that month. Keep it in a personal casual tone.
Send it to the relevant lists. Respond asap to replies, if any.

5/ Repeat 2 to 4 multiple times and you’ll start building a network within a few months.

6/ It’s hard to write emails to people you don’t know. Use the “fairness framework”. Am I being fair to my business and all my employees if I don’t write to this person, who could potentially help the business grow? The answer should push you to do the right thing.

7/ Get an extrovert co-founder (I found one in @dhimant), who also pushed me to document this thread.

8/ Get a Twitter account. Even if you don’t post much, it at least serves as a destination in case any one is searching for you online.

9/ Once you have a Twitter account, force yourself to put out business updates. Or your observations. Easier said than done, I agree. Monitor other, more active accounts and see what works for them.

10/ Become a connector. Connect people who need something with those who have it. Help make connections, many people will remember you for that.

11/ Are you an introvert founder too? Would love to hear from you on how you circumvented the networking conundrum :)