Starting an Online Business For Dummies [Paperback]

Greg Holden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 13, 2010

The nuts-and-bolts for building your own online business and making it succeed

Is there a fortune in your future? Start your own online business and see what happens. Whether you're adding an online component to your current bricks-and-mortar or hoping to strike it rich with your own online startup, the sixth edition of this popular and practical guide can help.

Find out how to identify a market need, handle promotion, choose Web hosting services, set up strong security, pop up prominently in search engine rankings, and more. The book explores the hottest business phenomenon today—social media marketing—with full coverage of Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other technologies that are now firmly part of the online business landscape.

• Dives into all aspects of starting and establishing an online business, including the very latest big trends
• Highlights business issues that are of particular concern to online businesses
• Reveals how to identify a market need, handle promotion, choose Web hosting services, set up strong security, pop up prominently in search engine rankings, and more
• Covers the hottest social media marketing opportunities, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogs
• Shows you specific types and examples of successful online businesses
• Provides the latest on B2B Web site suppliers, such as AliBaba.com

Build a better online business from the ground up, starting with Starting an Online Business For Dummies, 6th Edition!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Start a new endeavor and open your own online business quickly and easily

Armed with a computer, an Internet connection, and a good idea — but hesitant to take that first step toward making money online? Starting an Online Business For Dummies gives you confidence by providing you with essential advice and up-to-date trends in e-commerce, all aimed at helping you make money online.

• Mind your own business — discover the latest strategies for promoting your business and outdoing the competition

• Getting to know you — identify your customers, get to know the marketplace, and establish a unique visual identity

• Outta site — get the most from your Web host, update your site to keep customers interested, and use tools to jazz things up

• The way to pay — choose an online payment system, set up secure credit card payments, and verify credit card data

• On the level — protect your domain name, figure out if a trademark is available, and explore legal issues you need to know

• Go straight to the source — sell on consignment, work with a wholesaler, or buy direct from around the globe

• Stand out in the crowd — increase your Web presence with search engine optimization, Web marketing, and social media tools

• No Web site? No problem — sell goods via eBay® auctions, Craigslist®, CafePress®, and other online marketplaces

Open the book and find:

• Guidance for creating an e-business plan

• Tips for making your site easily searchable

• The basics of online business accounting

• Advice for optimizing the shopping experience

• Ways to advertise with YouTube®, Twitter®, Facebook®, and blogs

• Pointers for maximizing Google's tools

• The essentials of opening an eBay store

• Ways to find products to sell or to work with wholesalers

Learn to:

• Identify a market need and choose the right Web hosting service

• Enhance site security and boost your customer service

• Improve your site's search rankings

• Market your business through social media

About the Author

Greg Holden is the founder of Stylus Media, which specializes in creating Web pages for small businesses. He is the author of nearly 50 books on computers and the Internet that provide readers with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to expand their operations into the Internet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 6 edition (July 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470602104
• ISBN-13: 978-0470602102
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Basic information, but not hands-on enough, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting An Online Business for Dummies (Paperback)

This book offers a good introduction to what you need to start your own online business. All aspects of starting such a business is covered, and after I read the book I could proudly say I knew the how's (as well as what's), and I was on my way starting a business.

But there are two major flaws to this book: first, it's not very readable, and second, it doesn't give you enough hands-on information. There are superfluous step-by-step instructions on how to use FrontPage Express, but the author doesn't tell you much about building store fronts or how to accept credit cards online, two of the more pressing topics for someone wishing to start a e-business.

The CD is a big disappointment. Just a collection of demoware and shareware. It is an environmental waste and makes the book a little pricier than it should be.

68 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book to get started with., August 13, 2001

By 

Ron G. Macari (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting an Online Business for Dummies (Paperback)

The title of this book reads "Starting an Online Business for Dummies" and the book offers the novice Online business person an easy way to begin understanding the concepts behind much of today's Online business without overwhelming the reader. In many other books I've read, terms like, "Meta-tags","Banner Exchange","Keywords" and many other terms are used without the author of the book ever considering the fact that the reader may not be familiar with these terms, or bothering to explain them clearly. "Online Business for Dummies" takes the time to explain each new term which is introduced, and offers many clever anecdotes which not only keeps the reading enjoyable, but also helps the reader to remember and understand the concepts.

In our own Online business we used "Online Business for Dummies" to draw out a mind map which helped our tech oriented support staff to gain a better perspective on the typical support needs of novice Online business people.

If you are just starting out I couldn't recommend a better book to get started with. Learning the in's and out's of Online business is not a one step process, and I think that "Online business for Dummies" does a fairly good job of laying a foundation you can build on.

119 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Offers the Right Stuff to Get Online & Noticed!, April 26, 2000

By 

Jim Moran - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting an Online Business for Dummies (Paperback)

Starting an Online Business for Dummies offers readers the right stuff they need to get online, to get noticed, and to remain competitive in today's highly competitive online business world. Readers will pick up on a number of important business development concepts, Website design considerations, and marketing strategies. They will also learn that the Internet is a cost-effective way to let others know about the products and services they have to offer!

Website design considerations featured in the book includes developing content, establishing a graphic identity, offering features like guestbooks and discussion groups, setting up sites to handle secure sales, providing various payment and shipping options, providing customer service, and becoming a resource for customers. Greg Holden points out that business people can attract prospective customers to their sites by offering important information, products, services, and features free of charge that will not only enhance the appearance and functionality of a Website but may also end up enhancing one's bottomline!

When it comes to marketing, Holden provides realistic and easy to use marketing strategies and advice developed to draw attention. Readers will learn about starting their own newsletters, using newsgroups and mailing lists, holding contests, establishing business partnerships, exchanging links, placing banner ads, and using meta tags to attract the attention of search engines!

Other important online business considerations covered in the book includes Website security, legal matters, trademarks, copyrighting, taxes, and record keeping. Holden offers instruction and advice on these and other matters and directs his readers to Websites where they can find further information. A 32-page "yellow pages" Internet directory is included in the book to give readers a jump-start on finding good online resources!

The CD that accompanies the book is loaded with the latest trialware editions of popular programs such as Paint Shop Pro, HotDog Pro, Norton Utilities 2000, Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, and the Adobe Acrobat Reader. A bunch of business programs are included as well to help businesses get up and running quickly!

Starting an Online Business for Dummies offers readers an excellent introduction to the art and science of setting up an online business. Every major aspect of starting a business is covered in adequate detail to help someone get started. Get a copy of this book and experience the thrill of operating your own online business - it can be very rewarding for you!