Webonomics [Paperback]

Evan I. Schwartz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1998

Webonomics, n:  the study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods, services, and ideas over the World Wide Web.

With tens of millions of people now on-line and Web sites springing up at the rate of one per minute, the World Wide Web has become a strategic tool for successfully growing a business.  But while the new digital economy mirrors the traditional economy in some ways, it exhibits unique properties of its own, and it can cost a business thousands, even millions, of dollars if used ineffectively.

In Webonomics, Evan I.  Schwartz defines the principles and strategies for maximizing the Web's potential and illustrates these lessons with numerous case studies of both successes and failures, from Web-based start-ups such as Firefly and Virtual Vineyards to large corporations such as IBM and Federal Express.  At a time when only the most agile and adaptable businesses can survive, Webonomics is an essential handbook for thriving amidst the accelerating changes of the
Information Age.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Webonomics: Nine Essential Principles for Growing Your Business on the World Wide Web, by Wired contributing editor Evan I. Schwartz, is simply one of the most intelligent and informative books yet to appear on the commercial possibilities of the Net. Through an insightful examination of the various forces that are driving "the new Web economy," it defines and dissects a series of fundamental concepts that businesses can utilize to build a profitable online presence. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Schwartz, a contributing editor of Wired magazine, has written the first marketing history of the World Wide Web. Though marketing successes and failures on the web have little history to offer, Schwartz has done a remarkable job of collecting the marketing experiences of companies that have entered this new medium. He introduces and supports new philosophies for web marketing in chapter titles such as "The Quantity of People Visiting Your Site Is Less Important Than the Quality of the Experience" and "Marketers Shouldn't Be on the Web for Exposure, but for Results." Readers will discover how web pioneers like Playboy and Volvo failed in their initial forays. Lucid, thoroughly researched, and packed with essential information, this work will serve as an indispensable resource for both blue-chip and mom-and-pop enterprises doing business on the Internet. Highly recommended for all academic and public library business collections.?Dennis Krieb, St. Charles Cty. Community Coll., Wood River, Ill.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (March 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767901347
• ISBN-13: 978-0767901345
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,911,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Evan I. Schwartz tells tales of invention and imagination. A former award-winning editor at BusinessWeek, he is also the author of THE LAST LONE INVENTOR, named one of the 75 best business books of all-time by Fortune. He lives with his family in New England. The idea for FINDING OZ came to him while reading L. Frank Baum's classic novel out loud to his daughter at bedtime.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful., January 10, 2000

By 

J. Weese (Russell, KS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Webonomics (Paperback)

I think Evan Schwartz has defined 9 good principles which could be really helpful to any e-commerce site owner who seeks to increase business. The 9 principles really do not change with every new computer chip or browser software created but rather hold true with most humans and what they are looking for on the Internet. Such principles like: add value to the information presented on your website, don't just make your site a virtual brochure but make it something interesting that people want to return to again and again. Give it a sense of community that makes people feel "at home" when visiting your site (like Amazon.) Other principles: traditional mass-media advertising (pushing your message on consummers) does not work on the Internet, rather advertisers need to seek information from users to customize the advertizements to Internet users' tastes and preferences (Amazon does this with its book recommendations based on which books you have ordered from the site.) Schwartz also states that even small e-commerce sites can compete with the "big boys" because the Internet provides a medium from which these sites can carve a niche market. Overall, this book is jammed with good ideas and case studies (though dated) that illustrate how each of his nine principles can be used to increase business. This book lays a good foundation for other books like Digital Darwinism or Net Success.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This chap knows what he is talking about!, January 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Webonomics (Paperback)

Reading Schwartz was a refreshing change. I came late to this area and have been playing catch up. Unfortunately I started with Blown to Bits and the Killer App type of book and discovered this by accident. I was hestitant since the book is "old" in internet terms. However, I must say that this books contain more down to earth principles that are really useful compared to the other hype out there. Value per page definitely beats the others hollow (e.g., Killer App, Blur, Blown to bits, Enterprise.com). Schwartz is very focussed, and precise in what he has to say. There is very little fluff in this book so it may take some time to read. All of it (at least most of it!) is actionable. His examples are EXCELLENT! I can't wait to get started on his next book - Digital Darwinism. You'll be making a big mistake if you pass over this book just because of its publication date.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good introduction to e-commerce, October 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Webonomics (Paperback)

This book is a quick read and a good introduction to doing business on the web. It focuses less on dry economic aspects, and more on web marketing. Digital Darwinism picks up where this leaves off.