Making the decision to start a home-based online business can be very liberating as well as scary. Even though you have complete confidence in your product, giving up a steady paycheck in return for sporadic pay is daunting. Rather than braving these new waters alone, find a community of other work-at-home moms for support and who can teach you some tricks of the internet trade.

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1. Find a mentor. A mentor can be a single person or a group of WAHMs who have established online businesses and who are willing to answer your questions honestly.

However, having a mentor does not mean she will hold your hand while you set up your business. You still need to do your own research and make your own decisions but a mentor can often give referrals for services, can help you understand the timing of certain things, or just be your cheerleader when you get discouraged.

2. Use the services of fellow work at home moms. What better way to become established online than to hire the services of fellow WAHMs. These women know first hand what you need to succeed and will offer you the appropriate services, often at more affordable prices, or will refer to you someone who is better suited to your needs. You will find WAHMs in every online service, from free web hosting to copywriting. Use these contacts to learn more about running a successful online business or possibly collaborating on a joint venture.

3. Network in online forums for WAHMs. Online forums can provide great exposure for your business. Generally, you should not divulge the inner aspects of your business in online forums but these members can give product reviews or service referrals. Other WAHMs like to support fellow mothers so forums are great for spreading the word about your new product or online contest as well as forming joint venture partnerships.

4. Learn from other's mistakes. Every WAHM you meet online has a story to tell. Many of these women have made past business mistakes from which you can learn valuable lessons. Reading online posts can help you make decisions about your business or product and it can also teach you to avoid certain practices that have been detrimental to others in the past.

5. Share your own story and become someone's mentor. No matter how little you think you know there is always another mom looking for some inspiration to make her home business work. Yours might be the story she needs to hear! Share your own business experiences, both good and bad, in some online forums and pass along some information or advice that you have learned along the way. "Pay it forward" to another work-at-home mom.

Learning opportunities abound all around us on the internet. Books and information sites tell us the specifics of what we need to get started but other work-at-home moms will tell us the truth about our business ideas or service vendors. Take the time to make friends with other WAHMs online who stimulate your mind with their ideas and input. Your business will thank you for it!

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Michelle Waters teaches physical product sellers how to build successful online businesses. Stop by www.michellewatersonline.com for tips and coaching on successful website building.

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