Thanks to the Internet, small businesses and sole proprietors can now connect through online communities for business. An online community for entrepreneurs allows people who don’t fit into other categories to access like-minded people with similar concerns.

Entrepreneurs chat with one another through these business online communities. They create an entrepreneur chat forum to deal with highly specific issues. An entrepreneur message board provides information on vendors, trade shows and similar offerings on a broader level.

By using the available resources—and perhaps creating your own—you’ll be able to:

1. Build an informal online entrepreneur community that offers support and advice—an online “water cooler”
2. Learn through your colleagues about other online business communities that offers tips and strategies for growing beyond your current goals
3. Create an ongoing entrepreneur chat forum that grows with time and brings a steady flow of new voices into the picture

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Explore existing online communities for business

There's no shortage of online business communities out there, so it shouldn't be hard to find one. What you'll want to do, though, is target your search so that you find the right online community to suit your needs. Some websites may be highly specific. If you find a website like this that is specific to your business, it can be a huge plus.

I recommend: Popular groups include LinkedIn, Universal Clients, Konnects, Business Scene, and Ryze. They give you a good overview of what's out there for entrepreneurs.

Explore traditional business venues that link to entrepreneur online forums

Besides the obvious online resources, seek out professional associations that provide information about their own entrepreneur chat sessions or online communities for small business. Often, these websites link to other websites that have still more resources for you.

I recommend: For general small-business or solo entrepreneur assistance, look for groups such as Unit of 1, which provides networking assistance and information as well as a members' forum. For specific industries, look for websites that address your needs. For example, Philly-Freelance, which started as a group of writers and editors in the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) area, now extends nationwide and offers members a forum for learning about networking opportunities on several levels.

Keep up-to-date on the newest entrepreneur online community offerings

The entrepreneur online community is growing daily, so look for resources that tells you what's out there. Look for large websites that offer the broadest range of information on a variety of topics including online communities for entrepreneurs..

I recommend: Check out HiveLive for business innovation and Social Media Today for the latest on Web 2.0 advantages for business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't spread yourself too thin. While having a large exposure in entrepreneur online forums may seem like a good thing, it's possible to belong to so many online communities for small business that you won't be able to keep up with what each has to offer.
• •  Share your expertise. If you're part of an online community for solo business owners, help your peers by providing information or advice about issues you have special knowledge of--anything from tax laws to government regulations to information on vendors.
• •  Think about starting your own online community for solo business owners. You and a few colleagues may be able to set up an 'entrepreneur chat room' specific to your field and the unique needs that you have.