Starting an Online Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)) [Paperback]

Shannon Belew (Author), Joel Elad (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback) | Publication Date: October 2, 2006

• 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

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

11 books in 1 — your key to a booming online business

Your one-stop guide to marketing, accounting, security, and more

An online business has specific needs and this handy guide covers every one. Find out how to design a buyer-friendly Web site, make sure your business is legal, protect it from cyber-thugs, boost sales with search engine optimization, and more.

Discover how to

• Identify your market and create a business plan
• Keep necessary records
• Build a Web site that grabs customers
• Choose the right payment options
• Understand the competition
• Market effectively

About the Author

Shannon Belew is the co-owner of several online businesses: bizoffice.com, allbizopps.com, allsmallbiz.com, workathome1.com, top10workathome.com, todayshomeoffice.com, and avespamedia.com. Bizoffice.com is a nationally recognized, award-winning global provider of resources for small and home businesses. Shannon writes the Huntsville Times’ column “Today’s Home Office;” has authored magazine and newspaper articles; and founded the public relations firm aVespa Media, Inc. Her clients have appeared in such venues as Inc. magazine. She has also consulted for an Internet provider, advising companies on developing and reengineering their online presence.

Joel Elad was a fan of the Internet before most people ever heard of the World Wide Web. He sells online as an eBay PowerSeller with an impeccable customer satisfaction rating; he’s a ProMerchant on Amazon; and he runs his own e-commerce business, NewComix.Com, which has focused on selling new comic books, Japanese manga, DVDs, and action figures over the Web since 1998. He is the lead instructor for the Learning Annex in New York and California for classes regarding eBay and advanced Internet sales, and he’s an educational specialist trained by eBay. He is also a contributor to Entrepreneur magazine and SmartBiz.com.
While at UCLA earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering, Joel co-founded his first Internet company, Resonance Internet Marketing. After graduation, he joined companies like IBM Global Services, where he performed software design, development, testing, and maintenance for e-commerce applications for global firms as well as internal IBM divisions.
After earning his MBA from the University of California–Irvine with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and information technology, Joel co-authored two best-selling books focusing on selling online. He’s now a consultant to e-commerce companies, a trainer to thousands of eager students in seminars and workshops, and a guide for helping people reach the freedom they can enjoy by growing their sales and establishing their own online presence.

Product Details

• Paperback: 840 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (October 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764599291
• ISBN-13: 978-0764599293
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.7 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent- From Basic info to More Advanced all in One!, June 17, 2007

By 

Martin "eBay Powerseller" (Wallingford CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting an Online Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)) (Paperback)

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.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even experienced sellers will learn something, July 8, 2007

By 

Wildman Keith - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Starting an Online Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me organize my business, April 5, 2011

By 

D. J. Martinez (Nampa, ID) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Starting an Online Business All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (Paperback)

I bought this book because I didn't know the first thing about an online business and I wanted to know more. It has helped me to orgnize my time and get everything together to legalize my business. I am not all the way through yet but so far I am impressed.