Starting an Online Business For Dummies, 4th Edition

Book Description

So you want to own your own business, be your own boss, set your own hours, and make real money. If you’re comfortable with computers and have a marketable idea, service, or product, this guide will help you become an ontrepreneur (online entrepreneur). It covers everything you need to know to set up shop in cyberspace. You’ll find out about using established storefronts as a shortcut (sort of like setting up shop in a huge, established cybermall) or building your own Web site from scratch. You’ll explore:

Doing research, defining your niche and target market, and putting it together in a practical business plan
Getting the hardware and software you’ll need to get going
Creating your own Web site with good organization, useful content, and eye-catching design, including ten must-have features and info on clip art and photos
Selecting a Web hosting service (with info on free Web site homesteading)
Setting up for handling business online, including building in security, accepting charge cards, creating shopping carts, and more
Managing your goods and services, including sourcing goods, handling returns, adding shipping fees, and maintaining inventory
Taking advantage of successful online business models, including storefronts such as Amazon.com, Yahoo!, CafePress, PayPal, or Microsoft that already have all the tools and systems, plus great traffic
Running a business on eBay
Marketing your business and the secrets to search engine success
Keeping good business records and staying on the right side of the law, including everything from trademarks , copyrights, and licensing to taxes, with info on accounting tools and software

Written by e-biz whiz Greg Holden, Starting an Online Business For Dummies, Fourth Edition has all kinds of case studies of successful cyber businesses, including a woman who sells her own insect repellent, a mapmaker, a housewife who sells sweetener and coffee on eBay, a sculptor and painter, and more. Packed with inspiration and information, it includes:

Lots of Web sites that will give you good ideas
A companion Web site that includes an online directory of Internet business resources
A list of legal and business requirements

Get going, and build a booming business right at home. The only people you’ll have to take orders from are customers, and those are the kind of orders you’ll like!

Customer Reviews:

Buy the latest version.......2007-09-16

This book is useful when you are just starting an online business. Just make sure you buy the latest version so that some information is not outdated by the time you are ready to set up your online business.

Worth it's weight in gold if you're going online!.......2007-08-18

I just got this book last week and I'm not even done with it and have gotten so many 'nuggets' that it has more than paid for itself already! It's well written, easy to understand, organized extremely well for easy reference and full of helpful resources.

The section on 'Keeping it legal' saved me great error already (I was going to buy a domain name that could've infringed on a copyright) and I have found several free web builders online that are 10x's better than what I had been using. There's so much practical information in this book that I no longer feel guilty for buying it new.

This book is zero fluff, tons of examples and free or very reasonable resources, and lots of food for thought. The table of contents is so detailed that it makes for a quick reference (does anyone read a book like this cover to cover?) Greg Holden's writing style is personable and to the point and very easy to understand.

I truly don't understand all the reviews that say this book is no good, not sure what they have been reading, but I have no less than a dozen books of this nature, and this is one of the few that isn't 75% fluff. I'm somewhat of a website newbie, starting about a year ago trying to do my own website. It's alot harder (for me)than I originally thought and have tried no less than 6 different hosting accounts, 4 different online web builders, and 6 different web editing software trials (Expressions, dreamweaver, publisher, coffee cup, page spinner and frontpage). One of the best discoveries in this book was that Firefox offered a FREE...quality...web editor!

This is the 2007 edition, maybe people were referring to the earlier version of the same title. I have gotten way more out of this book than I thought I would. I guess I must be a true "Dummie". It's definitely worth your time checking it out if you are new to the online business world, you can always resell it on Amazon and recover your moola.

this one really is for dummies.......2007-08-05

One of the worst "For Dummies" books I've ever read. Normally, I'd rate for dummies books a 3 or 4.

Not worth it.......2007-04-19

You could do an online search and find more information than this book gives you. I did not enjoy and I returned it. It is broad and never really gives you step by step instrucions on how the webite actually works and how to create it.

very rudimentary, broad overview.......2007-04-14

People who use the internet regularly will not get much out of this book--it's no joke when it says "for dummies". Greg Holden does give a broad overview of the many aspects to starting an online business but even then the information is outdated and at some points, simply not accurate making you wonder where this guy gets his facts.

In an environment that is not only competitive but also changes rapidly it is important that you are equipped with the most up to date information. This book however, still proclaims AOL king and web sites using tables and frame "advanced". Although the book was published in 2006 (and in its 4th revision), it feels more like it belongs to the 90's.

So even if you are new to the internet and need a place to start I recommend you find yourself a different book.

Starting an Online Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Average customer rating:

Even experienced sellers will learn something
Excellent- From Basic info to More Advanced all in One!
A Great Reference!

Starting an Online Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Shannon Belew , and Joel Elad
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Entrepreneurship | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

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Internet Riches: The Simple Money-making Secrets of Online Millionaires

ASIN: 0764599291

Book Description

Eleven minibooks comprising nearly 800 pages offer would-be online entrepreneurs all the information they need to launch an e-business and succeed in today's marketplace
Unlike competing guides, this book explains how to redesign a site, retool marketing strategies, and run a nonprofit site as well as offering in-depth coverage of how to secure a site and move from retail to e-tail
Minibooks cover online business basics, legal and accounting matters, Web site design, operational issues once a business is up and running, Internet security, how to boost sales, taking a brick-and-mortar business online, storefront selling at eBay and elsewhere, fundraising at a nonprofit site, running a niche e-business, and advanced e-commerce techniques and strategies

Customer Reviews:

Even experienced sellers will learn something.......2007-07-08

I have bought and sold stuff online for years and this book still had useful information in it. It gives useful, specific sources for many different categories of eCommerce.
I have paid much more for courses and books from so called marketing experts that didn't have near as much information.
So often you will read or hear that you need to do this or that, but they never tell you the specific places that you can go to get it done.
The many different categories of selling advice would at first make you think that it just glosses over them but once you start to read you see that they are one of the strengths of this book... you just keep finding good advice to tweak and improve your online business.
From web site design and boosting traffic to credit card acceptance to keeping your customers happy or even legal advice for people just starting out, it's hard to name just one part that would be considered the best part of this book. Site security to even the basics of chosing a business name are covered.
It doesn't matter if you are only thinking about starting an online business or if you have various web sites and are an experienced eBay user, there will be something in here that will make you glad you bought it.

Excellent- From Basic info to More Advanced all in One!.......2007-06-18

This book was a real surprise. I fully expected to use it as a resource for new Ebay/Web commerce users that we help teach but found it excelled not only in the basics but in pretty much the whole plan of where you would want to be online in the long run. I am particulary fond of books that discuss legal and accounting set up and this one covers a lot of good info like type of organization, record keeping, copyrights and trademarks, a tax overview etc. A great foundation for the new online business. There is a lot of information regarding web site design, internet security and boosting your sales. Usually many books would leave off in this area but not this one. It has information on taking your retail business online , selling from a storefront and covers some important ideas like affiliate marketing and finding a niche. Whether deciding to operate on Ebay or with your own website this book is jam packed with information. Even as an experienced online user I found myself making notes from many of the sections in the book including those with suggestions on what to do to expand sales, deal with changes and other customer issues. Just as a note this is one huge book. Over 800 pages including the index and for the price a bargain. For Ebayers I would recommend this book and a general Ebay book as a package to buy. If working directly on your own e-commerce site I would recommend this book with with a web 2.0 or social marketing book.

A Great Reference!.......2007-01-12

A wonderful reference to have at your desk. It truly is like having lots of books in 1 - 800+ pages!

Starting a Yahoo! Business For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

Average customer rating:

Disappointment
I was so lost 'till I found this book!
WONDERFUL!!
a great book for any yahoo business owner
A must have for small business owners!

Starting a Yahoo! Business For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))
Rob Snell
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Starting an Online Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

ASIN: 0764588737

Book Description

Turn browsers into buyers, boost traffic, and more

Build your store from scratch, or make the one you have more profitable

His online business has been paying his mortgage for years. Now Rob Snell is sharing his Yahoo! Store secrets for planning, building, and managing an online store that delivers the goods! Here's how to profit from keywords, handle credit-card payments, find out what's hot in other stores, maximize your marketing efforts, and much more.

Discover how to

Use the Yahoo! Store Editor and Manager
Plan effective store navigation
Use better images to sell more products
Build successful advertising strategies
Generate more traffic from search engines

Download Description

Turn browsers into buyers, boost traffic, and more Build your store from scratch, or make the one you have more profitable His online business has been paying his mortgage for years. Now Rob Snell is sharing his Yahoo! Store secrets for planning, building, and managing an online store that delivers the goods! Here's how to profit from keywords, handle credit-card payments, find out what's hot in other stores, maximize your marketing efforts, and much more. Discover how to Use the Yahoo! Store Editor and Manager Plan effective store navigation Use better images to sell more products Build successful advertising strategies Generate more traffic from search engines

Customer Reviews:

Disappointment.......2007-10-14

Usually Dummies books are helpful but this one didn't cut it. Not sure if it's the auther or just that Yahoo stores is too complicated. I thought I could avoid hiring a 3500 dollar store designer but this book wasn't detailed enough. It only covers the store editor, the author isn't supportive of designing your store with straight html or another tool. Yahoo's support isn't very helpful either. If you want a website to sell your goods on, Yahoo and this book is not the way to go. Good Luck.

I was so lost 'till I found this book!.......2007-09-18

I have been working with websites since 1994. But when I came to edit my first Yahoo store I thought I had gone back in time. I didn't recognize anything, it all looked foreign and I needed to find help quick. Online proved fruitless so I grabbed my keys and heads to the bookstore for "research".

There were a few books there on Yahoo Selling but I found the Index of "Starting a Yahoo! Business for Dummies" easiest to navigate to exactly what I needed. As I scanned the book though I found more areas in which I could benefit. Much more areas than I had realized I could even do with Yahoo! Stores.

If you are lost with Yahoo Stores you will find all of your answers and more in "Starting a Yahoo! Business for Dummies"!

WONDERFUL!!.......2007-08-07

The book is absoultely the best "How To" for Yahoo Small Business on the market! Very clever and quick witted, Rob Snell is amazing. He not only has mounds of information regarding all aspects Yahoo! Stores, he has also helped me a lot personally in emails!

The book gives ideas, and points out common mistakes that i really needed help fixing. This book has helped sales, customer marketing and so much more.

A definate must-buy for any Yahoo! Stores owner.

a great book for any yahoo business owner.......2007-07-28

This book has been a great help in opening my business i still got a lot to learn, but this book gave me a jump start in my knowledge of the monster that is yahoo business. I love the book and recommend it to any one looking for some help, you will find alot in the book and at rob snell web site.

if you need help buy it

A must have for small business owners!.......2007-07-04

After reading this book, I no longer have to guess how to edit my own store! It breaks things down clearly with examples, and pictures.

Average customer rating:

eBay for Dummies
Ok but incomplete
Great beginning book
Not only for Dummies....
Great Buy

eBay for Dummies, Fourth Edition
Marsha Collier
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: 0764556541

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A Reference for the Rest of Us!

Author Marsha Collier is a recognized eBay expert, thanks to her bestselling books, appearances as an instructor at eBay University events, and appearances on NBC's Today Show, ABC's The View, and numerous print and radio interviews
Topics include: getting a user name, making first bids, completing transactions, selling items, and what to do if anything goes wrong
An ideal resource for everyone from corporate customers to mom & pop retailers, as well as individuals who are cleaning out their closets and garages

Download Description

eBay is the world's #1 online shopping destination and can be a bit intimidating for first-time users. Thankfully, though, the latest edition of eBay For Dummies addresses all the issues a first-time or inexperienced eBay user will confront. Readers will be up to date in no time on the latest changes in the eBay interface, fee structure, and methods for buying and selling. Readers will quickly be on the path that makes bidding, buying, and selling the fun it should be!
A Reference for the Rest of Us!(r)
* Author Marsha Collier is a recognized eBay expert, thanks to her bestselling books, appearances as an instructor at eBay University events, and appearances on NBC's Today Show, ABC's The View, and numerous print and radio interviews
* Topics include: getting a user name, making first bids, completing transactions, selling items, and what to do if anything goes wrong
* An ideal resource for everyone from corporate customers to mom & pop retailers, as well as individuals who are cleaning out their closets and garages

Customer Reviews:

eBay for Dummies.......2007-09-29

Excellent book and just what I wanted. It arrived quickly and in great condition.

Ok but incomplete.......2007-08-27

I read the Dummys Guide several months ago. Since then I have read a number of other books and watched the Dont Bid On It eBay video. I also read the Simplified Tips for ebay, Schills and Sharks, and several others. After going through everything I am ready to pass along my opinion. I will mainly compare and contrast the Dummys guide with my top choice.

The information in the Dummys Guide was outdated and incomplete. The information was good but there was a lot of important things that were left out. Pages are filled with cute cartoons instead of details ebay users really need. Lots of filler to make the book longer but when compared to newer books, the actual information was thin. It barely comments on snipe bidding but the like Don't Bid On It book(which is also available here at amazon), has a detailed article on snipe bidding plus a chapter on bidding strategies that explains how it works along with other bidding strategies. The Dummys guide only quickly mentions fraudulent sellers and feedback with little explination of how to check it. Dont Bid has an extensive chapter explaining how feedback really works, how to prevent bad buyers from leaving you negative feedback, how to use feedback to spot hijacked or fake accounts, a full chapter on feedback and how it works, it also has a full section on identifying honest buyers and what to do if you do have a problem with a buyer or seller, and much more than I can list here.

Did you know that any seller who says "I am not responsible for loss or damage if you do not buy insurance" is WRONG, they are legally responsible even if the buyer does not pay for insurance.
Did you know that if you select the wrong option when filing a PayPal complaint, your complaint will be automatically rejected and you will not be able to re-file? That is pretty important to know and both of these were in the Dont Bid book but not in Dummys Guide as well as many similar tips.

The Dont Bid book also has a demonstration video. Many of the pages in the Dummys guide were filled with explinations about what webpage to go to and what to do, it was much easier to see it demonstrated in the Dont Bid video than it was to read the step by step in the dummys guide. Some of the Dummy's Guide information was not useful, for example, they explain how to research a bidder by seeing when they return to re-bid every day, but in the Dont Bid book they explain that you should not be bidding against such an inexperienced bidder in the first place because that only runs up the price unnecessarily. By simply waiting until the last minute or using snipe software you can avoid this bidder running up the price. This was not part of the dummys strategy and as far as I can remember, that was the only strategy they had. The Dont Bid book had several bidding and several more buying strategies.

The Dummys Guide gives you enough information to get started on eBay, but not enough to trade safely or enough to buy/sell and obtain the best prices. The Dummys guide is not expensive so give it a read but dont use eBay before you read the Don't Bid On It series, only then will you really know how to use eBay safely and correctly.

Great beginning book.......2007-06-17

I hadn't done much with eBay before, so there was more explained in this book than what I had imagined eBay had. Very informative and easy to read.

Not only for Dummies...........2007-06-14

A Gotta Have book if you are planning on starting an eBay business in your home. Great reference for the experienced eBayer.

Great Buy.......2007-05-16

Great book for the beginner in Ebay buying and selling, I found it very informative.

Average customer rating:

No useful info.
Not helpful
Great

Selling Online for Dummies
Leslie Heeter Lundquist
Manufacturer: Hungry Minds
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Amazon.com

Once again the Dummies series takes a seemingly complex skill and presents it clearly with simple language, common sense, and a friendly presentation. The emphasis of Selling Online for Dummies is less on sales skills (which are covered in Marketing Online for Dummies from the same series) than on the nuts and bolts of setting up and running an actual sales site on the Web.

Lundquist guides the online entrepreneur-to-be through the maze of developing an effective store. She breaks the basic knowledge into six sections that discuss the thinking that should go into a sales site design; the technical matters of selecting hardware and software and maintaining the site; how to develop selling content; how to make a site strong through sound advertising practices (no spam advised here), database use, and customer service; the tricky area of accepting payment online; and the safe areas of Internet commerce law (an especially valuable chapter). Lundquist finishes with the customary Dummies series "Parts of Tens," three lists of top-10 tips to maximize chances of success. An enclosed CD-ROM contains software useful in constructing an interesting online store. --Elizabeth Lewis

Book Description

The biggest myth in online selling is that the world will beat a path to your door as soon as you launch your business-based Web site. This technique -- "If you build it, they will come" -- may have worked fine for Kevin Costner in the movie Field of Dreams, but here in the real world, where competition for online goods and services is growing increasingly stiff, you need all the help you can get. Now, you can take full advantage of today's online tools with Selling Online For Dummies, a smart, plain-speaking reference book for building and maintaining practical, professional-looking Web sites that will keep your customers coming back again and again. From the basic decisions of moving your sales operation online to choosing the right hardware, software, Internet Service Provider, and security features (for managing and protecting direct online sales), Selling Online For Dummies is packed to the brim with proven tips and techniques for success. The book's own CD-ROM includes great software for PCs and Macs -- software that can help you get your online store up and running -- including Web server software, Web site design and development tools, and templates for creating your own online database search engines. New to the concept of online sales and marketing? Be sure to pick up a copy of our companion book, Marketing Online For Dummies®, for more insight into the rapidly growing world of online commerce.

Customer Reviews:

No useful info........1999-07-04

Not much I can say about this book. Waisting of time and money

Not helpful.......1999-06-10

As a web-developer in the process of setting up a cyber-store I found this book quite inadequate. It covers the relevent topics - shopping carts, credit cards, ISPs, etc. but it never addressed any of my basic questions. I never got anything(idea, advice, tip) that I could apply to my cyber-store. I had to refer to many other books.

Great.......1999-02-19

Selling Online for Dummies complements Marketing Online for Dummies. As an individual who is starting an Internet Consulting business, I found both books to be very informative.

Average customer rating:

Buying Online for Dummies
Joseph Lowery
Manufacturer: Hungry Minds
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764503790

Book Description

Here's an astonishing little fact: In 1998, online commerce -- buying and selling goods and services over the Internet -- is expected to top $37.5 billion in sales. So put aside your skepticism, pick up a copy of Buying Online For Dummies, and start surfing for the best deals and bargains in cyberspace. Buying Online For Dummies tips you to the best virtual stores and the right products at the right prices, all from the comfort of your home or office computer. You'll find helpful advice to make secure transactions over the Net, buy and sell through online classified ads, and set up your own Internet connection optimized for online shopping. Be sure to check out this book's 70+ pages of great online outlets -- from travel services to books and music -- and the book's bonus CD-ROM, which includes current versions of both Netscape and Microsoft Web browsers as well as other cool shareware and freeware programs to make your online shopping experience fun, safe, and hassle-free.

Who, exactly, are the dummies?(damage control in online bank marketing)(Editorial): An article from: Bank Marketing

Average customer rating:

Who, exactly, are the dummies?(damage control in online bank marketing)(Editorial): An article from: Bank Marketing
Kevin Sheridan
Manufacturer: Bank Marketing Assn.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Bank Marketing, published by Bank Marketing Assn. on May 1, 1999. The length of the article is 704 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Online bank marketing clearly needs to be considerably more intuitive and its underlying technology needs to be more transparent. Bank marketing needs to show customers how to use electronic banking to their advantage. The objective is to develop well-informed customers so that books such as 'Online Banking for Dummies' need never to be written. Selling images of cool, detached people who cyberbank with one hand while sipping coffee with the other creates insurmountably high expectations among consumers that will be destroyed by the reality of the requirements of the hands-on experience.

Citation Details
Title: Who, exactly, are the dummies?(damage control in online bank marketing)(Editorial)
Author: Kevin Sheridan
Publication: Bank Marketing (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 1999
Publisher: Bank Marketing Assn.
Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Page: 5(1)

Article Type: Editorial

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

Wasted Time
Great book to read BEFORE you start your site.
A great book for the novice entrepreneur!
Don't buy this if you know how to use your browser.

Marketing Online for Dummies
Bud E. Smith , and Frank Catalano
Manufacturer: Hungry Minds
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764503359

Book Description

More and more businesses around the world are taking advantage of the Internet to promote a wide range of goods and services to an international online community. Why be left behind in the stampede to get online? Here's a book with all the answers and solutions to marketing your own particular business, large or small, on the Web.

Whether you're using a PC or a Mac, Marketing Online For Dummies covers all the topics you need to know in order to market your products or services over the Internet effectively, efficiently, and successfully, including sound advice and real-world examples on how to

Create an online marketing strategy and match your customer base to the online community
Select the best ISP (Internet Service Provider) and rightsize" your site to suit your own online business needs
Design exciting content to bring customers to your site again and again
Increase traffic and awareness with Internet mailing lists, Listservs, and the latest innovations in Push technology
Use Newsgroups and Online Forums to promote your online site

Marketing Online For Dummies also features a special section of online resources to help you get more information about online marketing. On its bonus CD-ROM, this book also features a great deal of PC and Mac software that you can use for Web browsing, e-mailing, and developing your own online business strategies.

Customer Reviews:

Wasted Time.......2000-04-03

I am absolutely amazed that the folks at IDG Books let this one make it to the printer and than decided to allow it to be put into our hands, the readers who value their concerted "Dummy" offerings. This book will insult you if you know how to do something as simple as turning on your web browser. If you have never, ever ventured into the world wide web and have been living in a cave for the last 10 years, than read this book. Otherwise don't waste your time!

What's the most amazing thing to me is the fact that the "Dummy" series books are known for having substance that is geared both towards the novice and the more advanced/learned people looking for good reference material. I have thoroughly enjoyed some of their other publications and I can't highly recommend Business Plans for Dummies enough - that book was tremendous. This book, however, will insult you if you are like me, having moderate web based experience and it will leave you regretting the time that you spent to read it, not to mention the money that you spent to buy it. It was definitely an excercise in futility - throwing good money after bad. I will now have to rethink any future purchases of IDG reading material as the singular result of this poor offering by their company. In short, this is the absolute worst reference book that I've ever read.

Great book to read BEFORE you start your site........1999-07-06

I am only on page 90, but this book is worth its weight in gold. It helps you to understand the on line demographics to see how much of your marketing budget to put into a site vs. your off line dollars.

A great book for the novice entrepreneur!.......1998-07-11

Do you want to earn extra income from your business? There are plenty of people today who can offer you helpful information on how to market your business online. There are also plenty of fine books available to help you market your business as well. Feel like a real dummy at marketing? Maybe you are one but don't worry. IDG Books has published Marketing Online for Dummies to offer the average person on the street the basic marketing information they need to be successful.

Marketing Online for Dummies offers a broad range of useful information about the online world, domain name selection and use, Website content, and effective Website marketing strategies. Readers should pay particularly close attention to the chapter dealing with domain name selection and use. According to the authors the selection of an effective domain name can be easily overlooked. Because the use of a domain name will have a direct impact upon the marketing success of any company, it is important to come up with the right name for a company's Website in order to successfully market the products and services they have to offer. This book offers an excellent treatment on this very important subject.

Another bright spot about this book is the special Internet directory of companies and individual Websites where readers can obtain important business information related to online commerce and great shareware software programs. There are valuable resources available on the Internet today and you will find many of them listed here.

As are other books in the Dummies series, this one is quite easy to read and understand. This book is ideal for the novice entrepreneur. The information is first-rate. The software included on the accompanying CD will get the reader online. You won't be an online marketing dummy after reading this book but you may be one if you don't read it at all. The choice is yours!

Don't buy this if you know how to use your browser........1998-06-29

I considered myself a web novice, but I've since upgraded my self-regard after reading this book. This book could have been half the length. There's really nothing here that you can't find on the web marketing sites already. Much of the book explains how to use search engines to find things, how to submit your site to the search engines, how to use newsgroups wisely without spamming (and what that is to begin with)-- all of which I'm sure are helpful to people who have just taken their very first computer out of the box. This book is ground zero for web marketing, and will have very little use for people who are already marketing (or trying to) online. Chances are, if you've already tried it, it's in this book.

The Yellow Pages section at the end listing related web resource sites was helpful, but I wish I had bought the book, photocopied this part and returned it. I've found a lot the same subject matter in the book already on the web for free.

Another aspect of the book I found annoying is that it reads like a big commercial in places. The authors do a lot of cross-selling/recommending of another Dummies title, Selling Online. They also gently recommend Microsoft's Internet Explorer because it better integrates push technology, which the authors almost imply is the Second Coming, even though it hasn't really caught on with most Netizens.

The book also comes with a CD which, as I own a Mac, I have not used. There is Mac software on it, but it's not nearly as useful or plentiful as the Windows software. [The authors even go so far as to list the installation instructions and license agreement as "software" in the Mac listing of CD contents-- no such padding with the Windows list]

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