Customer Reviews

Building Your Business with Google For Dummies

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am the editor of Diabetic Mommy Online Magazine. I want diabetic women to be able to find my site, so knowing the ins and outs of using Google to increase your visibility is essential.

I am not an internet guru by any means. Nor am I well-versed in the wild business jungle of the internet. I am just a stay-at-home mom who has a little site and wants to create a little haven for diabetic moms. I want the same opportunity as the big guys when it comes to making my site findable.

My site wallowed in obscurity for a couple years. I thought that time would allow it to be found. Well time passed, and still nobody could find the site. I searched the internet for information and was bombarded with hype and pipe dreams. All I could find on the net was how to get rich. That would be nice, but my main concern is being findable to moms who are needing help.

So, I got this book and am giving it a whirl. I found it simple and easy to understand. Plus, the author...well...he's just silly - and I LOVE it. I rarely laugh outloud when reading a book, but a couple times some chuckles escaped.

This text gives a good overview of Googles services Adwords and Adsense and how you can incorporate them into your site and increase your visibility. He makes reference to another Dummies book about Google, and suggests you read that one too. He also talks about site optimization - both having someone else do it, and doing it yourself. Those are the sections that were of huge interest to me. I have to let you know, before you buy this book, it is assumed you know basic HTML and know how to build a webpage. He doesn't walk you through that - mainly talks about keywords, titles, description, headings, links, networking, etc.

I think this book would be great for both the little guy(girl) like me or for big sites.

I've been slowly incorporating the suggestions and have seen some improvements.

So now you are wondering, Hmmmm, seems like she really enjoyed th book, but why 4 stars?

Well, I do appreciate detail. However, I did not like the detail that described setting up and logging into sites (especially when they have instructions on the site). I DO appreciate the detail on setting up Adwords though. I thought it could have been done in fewer words and could have freed up some space for more detail in other areas, such as site optimization. Then again, that's my subjective opinion, somebody else might think the exact opposite of me!

"Building Your Business with Google For Dummies" by Brad Hill is one of many options for learning Google's tools. This one is focused on using it to promote business websites.

You might not need this book. To find out, go to Google's website, and create an account. Look at the FAQs, testimonials and the help areas. Much of what's in Hill's book is logical, but is organized in as sensibly as any I have seen. I need this book for that reason. It saved me time from having to learn this information in a too slow trial-and-error way.

You'll learn a few important things about Google, and how to help them help you attract traffic, sell products, or create interest in your website.

AdWords
I have an online e-commerce site, and need to know Google. As a smaller business, I can't compete with the major companies in being listed in categories I feel are important. That's where Google AdWords comes in. It allows me, for a fee per click, to compete.

Hill's explanation of strategies and process is solid. There are ways to lose money, and he helps show how to test keywords, use ad groups, edit ads, and how to bid intelligently. He also looks at the premium service that allows big businesses to use oogle with less worry about click-through rates.

AdSense
AdSense, the tool that places Google ads on websites based on the page's content. While I only make a few cents when a vistor clicks through an ad, it helps me provide a service to my customers who do not feel my site met their needs.

Hill explains how AdSense makes money, and warns against cheating.

Increasing Your Page Rank
No one knows Google's formula for ranking pages. The most important factor is having useful information, being linked on other like-minded sites, not abusing the process.

Hill tells you what page rank means, and how to avoid mistakes many webmasters make. This includes tips on design, domain choice, keyword use.

Using Froogle and Google Catalogs
These are two features I have never used. Hill gives a good overview of this Google tool, which provides exposure to those websites selling products in a catalog-style, or through AOL and Yahoo shops.

I fully recommend "Building Your Business with Google For Dummies" by Brad Hill.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

This has got to be one of the best references I've seen that addresses what can be done with online marketing using Google AdWords. AdWords is a confusing but powerful program, and this book offers an excellent primer to becoming an effective AdWords user. That's the primary reason I bought it. There seems to be no end to the ways you can use Google to promote your business. This book helped me familiarize myself with several tools I hadn't looked into beforehand.

Also a good intro to search engine marketing. I purchased Search Engine Optimization For Dummies at the same time that I bought this book. Also an excellent reference. Both highly recommended.

This is a book on Google's back end business aspects. It is not concerned with searching to find information. Instead it is on directing more attention, more business to your web site. The book is divided into two major themes, first working to make your site more Google friendly, and second working with Google's paid services including advertising on Google's site using programs like Google AdWords and AdSense. There's a chapter on Google's elusive Page Rank system that talks extensively about Google's philosophies on links and how they affect Page Ranking.

Since Google is currently master of the universe you need to understand what Google is looking for when it ranks web pages. This book not only does that but goes into detail of other Google services like froogle, adsense and adwords. I highly recommend this book to anybody trying to build a presence on the web.

Hi, I am an author of SEO book myself. I enjoyed reading this book. It is well rounded broad SEO book. It covers end user search tips, some general search engine ranking tip and information on Google Adwords, Adsense, and Froogle. This is a book that covers a wide area. If you want more specific details on how to improve your search engine rank I would recommend reading Google Hacks Exposed: Improving Your Rank on Google.

I am a sole proprietor looking to build a web page for my business. This book puts it ALL there thoroughly, concisely, quickly, with lots of great inside information. This has help me get a handle on all this very quickly. I would definitely say it's actually been a productivity gain reading this book. I'm going to look for others by Brad Hill. The guy does it right.

At the moment the only real game worth playing is Google. No, I'm not a spokesperson for them but it is clear that if you're going to play you ought to play with the guys that own the ball. There is power in "Building Your Business with Google for Dummies". The best thing is that when you meet the Google criteria and succeed with them you can use the exact same business building blocks with any other resource. Brad Hill understands this and does a great job relaying his knowledge via the "Dummies" format. I'm beginning my second read-through. Thanks Brad.

Larry J. Frieders, RPh
[...]
340 Marshall, Unit 100 ~ Aurora, IL 60506
Tel 630-859-0333

This book was very helpful in teaching novices how Google works with online businesses in order to make the businesses more profitable and also make Google move valuable. The techniques were easy to apply.

Ed
<a href="http://www.imonitsoftware.com">http://www.imonitsoftware.com</a>

I have not had time to fully review this book as yet. When I do read it I will gladly give a review.