Internet Marketing Made Easy!

Review by A. Stanet for How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business: With Companion CD-ROM
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How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business is a legitimately useful guide to making money as an Internet entrepreneur. Unlike many sources of `advice’ for making money on the web, Web-Based Business gives the reader a complete set of tools in order to make a real business work. Author, Beth Williams, goes into extensive detail including everything from choosing a business name to promoting your site once it goes live. I found some helpful tips even for improving my own blog.

The book got off to a strong start and was engaging, especially when discussing the preliminary decision-making process necessary before starting any business. The text became a little dry in spots, which considering the topics (like the tax differences among various business structures) was forgivable. Some of the tax information could have also contained a little more in the way of explanation. For example, the section on excise taxes was vague, stating that it only applies to, “certain types of businesses,” that “manufacture or sell certain products.” It would have been nice to get some idea of what those businesses or products were. I found a couple of minor inconsistencies or inaccuracies. For instance, Williams says that Skype is free for Verbdate members, when in fact in can be downloaded for free by anyone. The index was a little off as well, which made it a little challenging to go back and search for information.

Williams handled some of the more technical aspects of setting up a web-based business well. I particularly liked the web-design chapters and found the information helpful without being over my head.

Overall, the book was well done, pretty well researched, and engaging to read. There were a couple of flaws, so I’d give it 4 stars out of 5 and would recommend it, although, be prepared to do a little more digging on your own.

Review by Lenzi Hart for How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business: With Companion CD-ROM
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Haven’t we all had dreams of working from home in our pajamas, being our own boss, with no one to answer to but ourselves? Dreams like these can become reality, according to Beth Williams. She is the author of How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business; a guide that can get you on the fast track to launching a website for your already-established company or guide you through the processes of parlaying your business idea into a marketable force on the internet.

With a significant rise in internet-based sales each year, businesses have recognized the importance of having a website for their merchandise. Williams details the brief history of web-based businesses, and explains how the upcoming “dot com boom” will learn from the past mistakes made during the first boom in the early nineties. She asks readers insightful questions about their web-based business intentions, which requires anyone reading the guide to be honest about their intentions. Are you serious about establishing a successful business, or are you having fanciful thoughts of never having to wear your business attire, or tolerate the daily grind of commuter traffic? After making it through Beth Williams’s question and answer session, readers will know where their true intent lies.

In no way does Williams lead us to believe that this guide is a magical link to web-based business success; she continuously reminds us that this endeavor will require much forethought and perseverance. Just because you may have the desire to own and operate an internet based business, certainly doesn’t mean you have the tools you need for it to be successful. This 290 page guide illustrates that there are MANY steps and concrete planning that must take place before establishing yourself in the web-based business world. Williams discusses how to find your “niche”, and gives practical advice on how to determine if there is a legitimate market for your idea.

This guide is a stellar handbook for anyone looking to initiate a web-based business, because Williams covers every aspect of launching and running a site. If you are not computer savvy, Williams offers suggestions and explains how to find a professional web designer, and how to use templates to create web pages. With the right idea, anyone can have a profitable website…even those who have basic computer skills. Exceptional and creative ideas are also offered by the author to enhance your webpage once it has been established; ideas that are insightful and easy to implement.

This book achieves a rating of four out of five stars, and should be considered a vital guide for any entrepreneur wanting to expand their business or ideas onto the internet.

Review by Nicole Stiles for How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business: With Companion CD-ROM
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How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web-Based Business by Beth Williams paints an honest picture of exactly what you need to do to start your own web-based business. There’s a lot more to it than just sticking some products up on a web site and hoping they sell.

This book provides you with all the steps you need to follow, things you need to consider, advantages and disadvantages of a web-based business, resources and where to find them, and probably just important things you shouldn’t do. Reading it almost makes me what to start my own web-based business. The knowledge to do so is included in this book with all the resources included. Various helpful web sites such as web sites for payment options, Better Business Bureau, and drop shippers, are listed throughout the book and compiled conveniently at the end.

This book is definitely a must-read for anyone who is considering starting a web-based business. The author details all of the many things to consider when embarking on this adventure that I would have never thought of until I read this book.