Building A Community To Support And Inspire You!

As you all know, I talk a lot about the importance of support as an entrepreneur. Like… a lot.

And there’s a reason for that.

Being an entrepreneur means you don’t sit in an office of colleagues that support you. You don’t have your colleagues dropping by your desk to chat. You don’t have the HR teams, accounting or lawyers that can help you out. You’re the one wearing all those hats and more often than not, you’re doing it by yourself.

That’s why you need to build a support system and community.

“Okay Ash, that’s great but I work from home…I’m not just meeting people in my kitchen.”

I get it. If you run an online business or spend most of your time in your home office, there’s not going to be many opportunities for you to make those connections. But there are ways you can do it- you just need to put yourself out there. Here are my top five tips for building a community that will support you and your business in the long run.

1. Be Bold

I have built some of the best connections and made some of the greatest support systems I have from people I messaged on Instagram. Reach out to others in your industry via IG or FB or LI or Pinterest or Twitter and ask them questions or see if they will provide you with any information on how they built their business. You’ll be surprised by what people will share if you simply have the courage to ask. Not to mention the incredible friendships that can come out of making those connections!

2. Provide Value

You always hear people talk about providing clients and potential clients with the most value you can. But what about your community as a whole?! Just because a person may never buy from you or become a direct customer, doesn’t mean they can’t have a large and lasting impact on your business. By always providing value, rather than just selling, you build a relationship with your community. You are supporting their businesses without even knowing it and, in turn, they learn to trust you and your expertise. They then not only share who you are and what you do, but they also support you and provide you with value that your business needs. So share your knowledge, lend a hand and give advice without expecting something in return. Trust me, your community with reward you for it. ⠀

3. Be Consistent

I’ve talked before about the importance of being consistent and it’s all the more important if you want to a build a community. Be consistent in your message, consistent in the value you provide, consistent in responding to messages and consistent in supporting other entrepreneurs!

4. Give More Than You Take

A piece of advice, a review, an ear to listen, a comment on a post, a gift, a freebie, a meal, a ton of value.⠀
Give.⠀
Give.⠀
Give.⠀
Then give some more.⠀

The more you give, the more the universe will reward you and your business for your generosity. The more you give, the more your community will support you in return, especially in the moments when you need it the most. Give as much as you possibly can without asking for anything in return and watch the magic that happens.

A community that celebrates you, inspires you, lifts you up, has your back, and makes your business stronger and more successful is something every entrepreneur needs. So reach out, let people in and watch your community grow exponentially!