The Value Of E-Mentors Taking your business online? Get some guidance.
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You've decided to put your company online or use theInternet to expand your business. Feeling out of sorts? Needspecific advice? It might be time to get an e-mentor.
An e-mentor is simply someone who has the experience youcurrently lack who agrees to help you navigate this new digitalworld through regular e-mails. They aren'tconsultants-they're someone you e-mail a quick question toregarding finding a consultant. They've been there, done thatand are willing to share their knowledge.
How do you find an e-mentor? Just e-mail. If you know of someonedoing what you want to be doing, stop by his or her Web site andsend an e-mail. Networking at Internet and new media industryevents is another way to find a savvy e-business owner.
Set parameters to your e-mentoring relationship. One e-mail perweek, two e-mails per month-let your potential e-mentor know yourespect their time and won't overstep the bounds of anacceptable number of e-mails. Or say that you only need an e-mentorto help you make key decisions before setting up your onlinecatalog and that once the catalog is up and running, thee-mentoring will come to an end.
The convenience, speed and ease of e-mail makes e-mentoring agreat way to get advice from those in the know.
Aliza Sherman is an entrepreneur and author of Cybergrrl:A Woman's Guide to the World Wide Web (Ballantine Books).She is currently working on her next book and new company.
