While your family and friends have an idea of the things you're going through with your new business, they may not have the first hand experience. This will make it hard for them to relate, understand, and make suggestions. You need to find people who have already been there. So where can you look for these peers?

1. The internet - It's an obvious place to start. Your business is online, your customers are online. Who else would know more about running and online business than a fellow online business owner? They can be a wealth of knowledge, providing you with experiences and sources. They will know of other sites and helpful software. They can lend an ear when you need to vent or just can't seem to figure out how to solve a problem. Look for message boards and email groups.

2. Community small business groups - While your business is an online venture, it is still a business. Most cities have several groups and resources for their small business owners. Try checking with your local chamber of commerce or looking for a small business newsletter that circulates in your area. You may be able to find small business support groups that meet from time to time to discuss issues facing businesses in the area.

3. Look to your competition for help - This may seem like a silly idea. After all, they are your competitors. However, you may find that if you ae not in direct competition with you, they may be very willing to trade ideas. If their similar business caters to a small local community and they don't have an internet presence, you would not be competing directly. You may even find yourself able to partner and increase gains for both parties.

Having a support system of people you can bounce ideas off of and exchange information with is a great idea, especially when you're just starting out. You will find yourself with questions on things like what to do if you need to "close" while you're on vacation. A support system will give you a place to gather information and answers from people who have been there and tried out various things already. More than that, it will give you a place to vent or be encouraged on those bad days. Maybe you think it's just your business that has slowed to a crawl, only to find that several of your peers are experiencing the same thing and have ideas as to why it's happening.

You may also find yourself needing to invest in software and your peers will have great input as to which is the best for your needs. After all, they have already tried it. At some point, you may even find yourself the person giving the newbies answers and it always feels nice to be the experienced person.

So get out there, make some friends, and you and your business will benefit from having a good strong support system.

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Diego Norte
http://www.DiegoNorte.com