The online business world can feel isolating sometimes. We’re constantly behind a screen with no real human interaction and this can feel very unnatural to us, especially when we work from home and have to force ourselves to get out in the real world some days. For some of you (I’m looking at you, introvert), this may be one of the top reasons you chose the online space as your place of work. But even the most introverted people need some kind of human connection to feel sane. Here are some tips for those looking to build a community when working online!

Network in Your Area

Try and find people who work online but in your city. You can find like-minded people who work in the online space and who are craving that same connection and community. For me, this can be such a refreshing change of scenery. Networking and meeting new people in your area can be scary and daunting, but if they also work in the online space I guarantee they might be feeling just as lonely and isolated. One great way to meet professionals in your area is to search for local networking events. I always head to eventbrite.com or Facebook and search for “networking events.” You’d be surprised at the types of events and people you run into right in your backyard!  

Get in their DM’s! 

Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you admire and want to work with. Not in a salesy way, but just a genuine friendly interaction. Compliment them on their work, slide up on their stories, comment on their posts, and hype up their life events. We are all humans, and I think we get disconnected from this. The online space can be lonely and isolated but knowing people IRL can be such an amazing feeling! It costs nothing to send someone a nice message and, who knows, it could lead to a virtual friendship.

It doesn’t always have to be about work!

Make sure you strengthen your relationships outside of work. I always tell my entrepreneur friends that it is HEALTHY to get out of your work zone. We all need that one friend who we can let off steam with and just hang out, and not talk shop. So with your friends outside of work, make sure it’s not about work when you hang out! It can be very hard to shut off as a solo entrepreneur but these relationships outside of work can be just as refreshing and important for your mental health as having friends connected to your work! 

Are you a member of my VA close friends list? Head over to my Instagram and shoot me a DM and I’ll add you to my close friend’s story just for virtual assistants! I share tips and resources to help you in your VA journey.