Product Description

Web Business Success: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Web Sites That Work aims to demystify the often-confusing world of ecommerce. Whether you plan to hire a consultant or create a business Web site yourself, Web Business Success gives you the information you need to avoid wasting a whole lot of time and money getting your business online. Authors James Byrd and Susan Daffron share practical tips and strategies to help business owners make good choices when they put a Web site online.

Web Business Success is for: - People planning on starting an online business - Business owners trying to extend their business with an online presence - Anyone who is completely mystified by the hype and confusion surrounding ecommerce

If you've thought about starting an online business or augmenting your existing business with an online presence, you've probably been assaulted by hype. Web Business Success: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Web Sites That Work cuts through the clutter with the proven strategies and techniques you need to know to earn a decent income online. It's like having your own ecommerce consultant right by your side, explaining things in straightforward terms, without a lot of "geek speak."

The authors have been creating Web sites professionally since 1997 and understand that dealing with Web site designers can be a challenge; many business owners have had bad experiences. Web Business Success contains practical information on how to get a business online and save time and money in the process. The book is based on the authors' real-world experience developing Web sites and is filled with the same common-sense advice they have been giving their own clients for years.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #448430 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 212 pages

From the Publisher
Web Business Success: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Web Sites That Work gives business owners the tips, techniques, and information they need to get an effective Web site online. When it comes to ecommerce, knowledge is your best defense. If you understand the basics of how a Web site works, the developers, designers, and financial institutions you're dealing with in the process can't talk you into buying technology or services that you don't need or won't do the job.

In Web Business Success the authors explain: how to decide when it is better to take the "do it yourself" approach and when it's time to outsource; how to screen Web developers; how to plan a sales-generating Web site before spending money on design or development; the ins and outs of online payment; and how to market the site and keep visitors coming back. Authors Susan Daffron and James Byrd wrote "Web Business Success" after years of working with clients who had negative experiences with prior Web developers. After re-developing many sites, the authors realized that their clients had made these costly mistakes earlier simply because of lack of information.

Susan Daffron has been a writer and graphic designer since 1989. She taught herself HTML and hand-coded her first Web site around 1996. Susan is the author of more than 70 articles that have appeared in national magazines, 250 newspaper articles, online software training, software books, a cookbook, and book chapters.

James Byrd has been a programmer since 1985. Along with his work for his own company, he also was a Senior Internet Developer and then Internet Development Manager for a $100 million ecommerce Web site (and several back-end systems) at women's clothing retailer Coldwater Creek. During his tenure he managed a team of programmers, developed customer loyalty and credit card programs, and helped keep Coldwater's ecommerce site (spanning four server farms) up, running, and making sales for several years.

"Web Business Success" explains the basics of how a Web site works in easy-to-understand terms. It teaches readers how to communicate and negotiate when dealing with Web developers and designers so they do not get talked into buying technology or services that they do not need, or will not do the job. It also includes a complete index and a glossary of terms.

From the Author
Our names are James Byrd and Susan Daffron and we own Logical Expressions, Inc. a company that has been helping people build Web sites since 1997, with literally hundreds of sites to our credit.

We wrote Web Business Success after years of work with many clients who had appalling experiences with their previous Web developers. These folks came to us after spending a lot of money on Web developers that just plain didn't know what they were doing.

We've helped business owners when they: · Were so upset and embarrassed about the state of their site that they actually wouldn't hand out business cards that had their Web site address on it. · Spent a whole lot of money on a site just plain didn't work. The crummy "content management" script that had been foisted on them by their Web developer was old, poorly integrated, and buggy. The site couldn't even do basic things like process email. · Couldn't find their own site using any search engine. (And neither could anyone else, including their customers!) We wrote Web Business Success because we don't want any of these expensive mistakes to happen to you!

From the Back Cover
Wondering How to Get Your Business Online?

Armed with a little knowledge, the Internet can set you free to live a life you love. With an online business, you can dump the commute and work from almost anywhere you want. (The authors work from a log house in rural Idaho!)

If you've thought about starting an online business or augmenting your existing business with an online presence, you've probably been assaulted by hype. This book cuts through the clutter with the proven strategies and techniques you need to know to earn a decent income online. It's like having your own ecommerce consultant right by your side, explaining things in straightforward terms, without a lot of "geek speak." The advice is based on the authors' real-world experience in advising clients, creating Web sites, and operating their own online businesses since 1997.

You'll learn: The four principal ways to make money on the Internet.

How to decide when it's better to take the "do it yourself approach" and when it's best to outsource projects.

An easy way to plot out your sales-generating Web site before you spend one dollar (or one hour) on design or development.

The steps involved in selling a product or service online, from shopping carts to payment gateways and merchant accounts.

How to keep your Web site visitors coming back year after year.

Learn what you need to know to create a Web business that actually earns you money!

Customer Reviews

This book is written for people wondering HOW to get an Internet presence or HOW to get their business online.

I loved this book. I rank it right up there with another book on the subject I like very much: The Web-Savvy Writer (ISBN: 0977830403). What I liked so much about this book is how it tells the authors' story of how they themselves moved their business online. One of the authors is a writer and the other is an IT professional. They earn their livelihood online for the most part and they have shared how they made the move to self-employment using their Internet connection and Web hosting.

The book cuts through most of the hype most authors write about concerning Web sites. And from page one on the authors build rapport with the reader and you learn to trust just about every word they say. Since I use Frontpage to build Web pages, and the authors advise against using it, I don't buy into all their advice. But I can see where they are coming from, even though I don't agree with their point of view. The book has the following six chapters and a glossary:

1. Introduction
2. Creating Your First Site
3. Getting Your Site Online
4. Promoting Your Site
5. Creating an eCommerce Site
6. Business Operations and Practices

I would have liked the book better if it had covered as much on graphics programs as it did on WYSIWYG Web page programs. When I first started designing and building Web sites back in 1998 I found Frontpage to be very easy to use in building sites. The hardest part learning that program was figuring out how to use it so I didn't need Frontpage Extensions on the Web servers I used. That wasn't so difficult. However, I was not very skilled at using graphics software: Image Composer, Photopaint, Paintshop, and finally Photoshop. Graphic files are VERY important when trying to make your Web site attractive to surfers. And I think it would have been nice if the authors had said just a little bit more about the subject than they did.

I also enjoyed reading that the authors self publish this book using Print on Demand (POD) technology. Somewhat recently I read a book that explains how to do that economically. If you are interested, then take a look at Aiming at Amazon (ISBN: 093849743X). All in all, this is a great book for any entrepreneur to read and devour. 5 stars!

Excellent for designing an ecommerce Web site
I recently revised my Web site with a new design, content and ecommerce features. Web Business Success clarified many options I wasn't aware of and helped guide me through the maze so I could make the right choices for this stage of my ecommerce business. I especially appreciated the information on hosting, search engine optimization, and ecommerce options.

The book is very user friendly, clear and has a minimum of technical jargon. My Web site is better, was created in less time and with less expense due to the very practical support that Web Business Success provided. I recommend it to anyone who needs a Web site that is designed to support financial transactions. It is an excellent guide both for hiring others or dipping into the world of do-it-yourself Web design.

Great no-nonsense guide to doing business on the Web
I've read a lot of books about doing business online, and I've never read a better one than this -- it's well-written and packed with practical advice. I especially appreciated that it had no geek-speak, it's written in clear English.

Whether you are only now considering an Internet business or you launched one years ago, this is a handy reference of all the critical information you need. It cuts through the hype and gives you the essentials about creating a site, promoting it, and making sure you've got the proper strategy.

I was glad to see that the authors advocate a highly ethical approach to online ventures -- I agree with them that's the key to success if you're in this for the long haul.

No matter what the nature of your business, you'll do well to pick up a copy of "Web Business Success." You'll find plenty of information that you can use to understand and improve your online business.