Virtual Community Spaces: 5 Ready-to-Use Templates for Bringing Your Online Group to Life

Most of us have tried building communities in Facebook groups or Slack. I did too. And honestly it always felt flat.

You post, you get a few comments, then the feed goes quiet again. Same with Zoom. You run the call, everyone talks for an hour, and then the room dies when you leave.

You end up managing tools instead of building a real place for people. That’s why I wanted to bring some stories from the real folks who faced the same challenge. Belinda Beaver, a community coach who tried running her sessions on Zoom told me, “If I wasn’t around, nothing happened.”. In other words, many times that’s not community life, that’s babysitting software.

Why Virtual Spaces Beat Plain Chat Groups

I’ve used Slack, Discord, Zoom, Google Meet. They all work, but here’s the issue: once the meeting ends or the chat slows down, the community feels gone.

As Belinda told me once, “I popped in my virtual room and folks were coworking. I didn’t even plan it.” No scheduling. No reminders. People just showed up.

Maddie Alexander Grout, who helps neurodivergent entrepreneurs with money and visibility, saw it from a different angle "Every single time I’ve had a sales call in this virtual office, I’ve converted that person into a client".

Her office wasn’t just decoration. It became part of her branding experience.

What Happens Inside a Virtual Space

Belinda’s café wasn’t just about timers and tables. Members made it their own. They started body-doubling (supporting each other to make things done), chatting in the lounge, or joining a focus room. 

Maddie went further. She built what she calls the Maddieverse. Stages with ramps. A rainbow café. Even a toilet (because that is where honest talks often happen). For her neurodivergent clients, details like this really matter. It feels safe, authentic and welcoming.

Gallery of Maddie’s pic

What makes these spaces different from plain tools:

• They stay open 24/7 so people can show up on their own time
• Rooms can match the vibe of the group, from cafés to stages to offices
• Members decide how to use the space instead of waiting for the host
• Branding and design make the space feel personal, not generic

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How to Create Your Own Virtual Community Space

You do not need to start big. Belinda made a single café where members could work side by side. Maddie built one stage for her program and expanded later into her full Maddieverse.

Here is what works best when you are starting out:

• Pick a core activity first. Co-working, weekly meetups, or group coaching. Build a room that supports that one activity.
• Choose a vibe your members already know. A café, a lounge, a stage. Familiar spaces make it easy for people to settle in.
• Keep it simple at the start. One or two rooms is enough. You can always add more when the community grows.
• Leave the room open. The magic happens when people use it without you needing to run every session. Even if the room is always open, you can still add a “working hours” sign so people know when to schedule themselves to join.

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Why Virtual Spaces Change the Game

When you move from a chat thread or a one-hour Zoom call into an actual space, the community feels different. 

Here is what we keep seeing in practice:

• Belonging
  People pick their favorite spots, just like in real life. It gives a sense of belonging..
  
  
• Branding
  Maddie’s clients now connect her rainbow cafés and cassette lounges with her business. The space itself is part of her identity.
  
  
• Engagement
  Belinda logged in and found people co-working without her. That does not happen in Facebook groups or Zoom calls.
  
  
• Accessibility
  Ramps on stages. Rooms designed for focus. Pronouns visible in names. Small touches that make everyone feel included.

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Virtual Community Templates

To help you get started, here are a few ready-to-use backgrounds you can drop straight into GoBrunch:

Cozy Café for Co-Working

Great for writers, coaches, or freelancers who want that “coffee shop” vibe without leaving home. People can body-double, run Pomodoro sessions, or just sit together while working on their own stuff. It feels familiar and warm, like your favorite local café.

Quiet Lounge for Focused Work

This one’s for when folks want to get things done with fewer distractions. Perfect for deep work, study groups, or accountability sessions. Members can hop in, pick a spot, and settle into focus mode.

Stage Setup for Events and Meetups

Ideal for workshops, live Q&As, or casual meetups. The stage layout makes it easy to spotlight a speaker while keeping the audience close. It works for both small events and bigger community gatherings.

Playful Hangout Space to Spark Conversation

Sometimes you don’t want structure, you just want to talk. This template gives people a relaxed corner where conversations happen naturally. Good for casual networking, icebreakers, or winding down after a heavier session.

‍Meeting Room for Team Sessions

A simple, professional setup for coaching calls, team check-ins, or client meetings. Clean design, easy navigation, and just the right vibe to keep things productive without feeling stiff.

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Watch Real Case Studies

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How to get started building your virtual community space

1. Sign up or Login in GoBrunch
2. Create a new co-working space with 1 room inside of it
3. Join your new room
4. Click on This room
5. Click on Background and Editor
6. Click on the background icon
7. Upload your template
8. Click on Save
9. Copy your link
10. Share with your folks

Enjoy!