Introducing yourself to a room full of strangers and grasping for ideas for scintillating small talk during a networking session can be tough for anyone. But for the approximately 30 to 50% of people who are introverts, the task can be painfully awkward.

Entrepreneur Jessie Li counts herself as an introvert and struggled to find a way to master this essential skill.  Traditional advice like practicing an elevator speech or tagging along with a more extroverted coworker didn’t work for her, she says. “I’d constantly wonder when I could leave or go home. I found myself avoiding networking and small talk. After each event, I was drained of energy and left feeling like I didn’t really connect with anyone,” she writes in Forbes.

But she discovered several secrets that make networking much less daunting.

 “As an introvert, I found workarounds to the traditional ways of networking. It comes down to this: Introverts network differently because for introverts, networking is best when it’s almost entirely one-on-one,” she writes.

Meet Individuals, Not Crowds

By having an in-depth conversation one-on-one you can build a stronger relationship, according to Li. Invite someone you’d like to build a professional relationship with to lunch or meet for coffee. “You’ll have time to engage in thought leadership and start discussing ways of how to work with one another. It feels more like building a friendship than just doing business,” she says.

Internet Introductions

Social media can help you ease into new networks without having to strike up a conversation with a stranger. LinkedIn can be a good tool to find new professional connections. Blogging or writing articles can also help foster new introductions—or you can reach out to others’ posts via email or social media.

No More Cold Calling

Li advocates what she terms “warm introductions,” in which you ask a colleague or friend to make an introduction to someone who can help you with your work life. They can do this via email or arrange a dinner for the three of you to meet and learn more about the work each of you do.

Once you’ve made initial connections, take the next step. “Great ways of following up are sharing thanks, keeping them posted about your current status, or my personal favorite: paying it forward by asking how I can help them reach their goals,” concludes Li.