Product Description

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting an Online Business shows why and how to establish company Web sites and Intranets. It speaks specifically to the idea of distributed information as capital and how to use the Web and Web technologies to positively impact revenues. See how to set objectives, create strategies, and implement programs for Web-related communications that will impact your company's marketing, sales and financial activities. Learn to manage a Web site and maximize the use of information gleaned from an online presence. Also included: an overview of E-commerce, explanations of various Web software tools, the basics of Web design and how to set up a company Intranet.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #998917 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 345 pages

Amazon.com Review
There's no mystery about why Internet-centric businesses figure prominently in the popular consciousness these days: they're a great way to make a lot of money. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting an Online Business acknowledges that you can make a killing by taking a Web company public and explains, in layperson's terms, a bit about the process. However, the real service in this book is in the way it brings the reader down to earth by puncturing visions of instant e-wealth and then diligently explaining how to make real (read "bankable," not necessarily "enormous quantities of") money. The income streams you can build are generally tiny by Wall Street standards, but they can be very significant on a personal or family scale. You'll get a realistic view of Web business here, and that's why this book is worth reading.

The book suffers a bit when it attempts to explain the mechanics of Web publishing (a huge subject that's covered far better elsewhere), and there's very little discussion of the specific procedures involved in setting up a site to take credit cards. (This is a significant omission.) Coverage of soft matters, however, is good. The reader gets a tour through the thought processes involved in developing a business plan, plus all the details online entrepreneurs have to take care of (including dull things like fulfillment and order processing). Having a good idea and an attractive Web site won't cut it. Rather, a successful business has to know its product, know its customers, and unfailingly provide top-flight customer service. This book shows how to do all three. --David Wall

Topics covered: Selling products and services on the Internet, as the startup process applies to everyday entrepreneurs. Sections deal with defining a business plan, getting money for startup and growth, designing a Web site that draws and retains customers, advertising, marketing, and fulfillment.

From the Back Cover
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting an Online Business shows why and how to establish company Web sites and Intranets. It speaks specifically to the idea of distributed information as capital and how to use the Web and Web technologies to positively impact revenues. See how to set objectives, create strategies, and implement programs for Web-related communications that will impact your company's marketing, sales and financial activities. Learn to manage a Web site and maximize the use of information gleaned from an online presence. Also included: an overview of E-commerce, explanations of various Web software tools, the basics of Web design and how to set up a company Intranet.

About the Author

Frank Fiore has been in eCommerce since its inception on the Net and has authored Dr. Livingstone's Online Shopping Safari Guidebook. A direct marketer of products and an eCommerce consultant for five years, Frank knows eCommerce from both sides of the transaction. He is the Online Shopping Guide for About, an eCommerce columnist for both online and offline publications, and CEO for OneMinueShopper, a cutting-edge eCommerce company.

Customer Reviews

Don't bother
This book tries to cover all aspects of e-commerce on the internet but stays at a "dummy" level in terms of educating the reader about the specifics. It lacked depth and was too general for me to get anything out of it. Plus it is cluttered with many outdated and annoying web references that detract readers from the chapter readings.

A great reference tool
There are a lot of references to resources on the web relating to the topics covered in the book. Just what I needed! The book has straightforward and simple writing about the considerations of starting and running a web site for profit. Then if you want to do more research, there are plently of URLs to start your research on the web about the resources available. Perfect for a beginner. This book also is showing up on bookshelves under the title "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting an Online Business" under the same ISBN. Gordon Whyte is not given credit as an author on this version, he just does the forward for the book.

Best book for the starter
After reading this book, I have started my own website. It gives most of the information required to setup online business