The Purpose of this Book
The single most important objective of this book is to
help you build an interesting and compelling Web site.
When the Internet first opened to us ordinary folk, "browsing" those early Web pages was fascinating. The authors' personality literally leapt off their pages. Often times, you would have no serious interest in the subject being discussed, but the presentation was so personable that you felt like you were having a conversation with a real person.
Those early Web sites radiated individuality, and you seldom felt the need to question an author’s credibility or sincerity. Today the reverse is the norm and we find ourselves on the other end of the spectrum. A large majority of business Web sites go out of their way to be "Silly Valley-type" techno-babbling clones - and the results are aloof, mind-numbing brochures that are purposely designed to speak over our heads. Whoever can maximize the most paradigm-shifting, in vogue techno-lexis wins!
Your First Lesson...Be yourself. This is a bit early to talk about site design, but it is an important message and one we hope you will keep in mind as you read and develop your ideas. Be yourself and pour your personality into your Web site. Have a conversation with your visitors. Don't try to impress them; talk with them. You will receive many more compliments (and sales) if your personality shines through. (End of lesson) |
When it is all said and done, it is you who will determine the degree of success you experience online, not someone else peddling a "get rich quick" manual. No one knows more about your business than you. Your knowledge and experience, combined with the information we present in this book will help you reap the rewards of expanding your business on the Internet.
| The Internet Book is the sequel to our first publication, |
| The Complete Small Business Internet Guide |
The Internet Book provides straightforward guidance based on the author's personal experience and demonstrated results - with a significant emphasis on "common sense". The creators of this book are individuals who have been professionally involved with the Internet industry since 1993. We've experienced the hype phase, the dot-com mania and the post-meltdown aftermath.
Welcome. This book was written for you, the quintessential “common individual”. It aims to shorten the learning curve for the average person who wants to establish (or improve) a Web presence, but has limited time to devote to the process. In our business we have spoken with people from all walks of life who have expressed the same frustration with this Internet thing.
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“There is just too much information to absorb to make intelligent, educated decisions about building a Web site.” |
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“The technology changes too fast.” |
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“I’m confused by the technology and don't have time to learn about it” |
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“Just tell me what I need to know to be successful”. |
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“Can you recommend a book that will make me dangerous?” |
The Internet Book to the rescue. We have helped people build million dollar businesses around Internet technology and have facilitated scores of businesses to position and market themselves successfully on the Internet. We have a sense for what is practical, what is hype, and what really works. We’ve been there, done that but didn’t have time to collect the T-shirts. We have literally grown up with the business of the Internet and have a sound understanding of what’s important and what’s frivolity.
Our mission is to address the fundamental Internet questions of small businesses and offer cost-effective, reliable, easy-to-understand, solutions and recommendations. Furthermore, this book is one of the firsts of its kind. Not just an "e-book", but an integration of your desktop and the Internet. In order for you to receive the maximum benefit from this book, we are assuming that you already have an elementary understanding of:
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How to send and receive e-mail |
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How to use the basic features of a web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, etc.) |
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Rudimentary word processing skills |
However, if this is your first formal introduction to the Internet and the concepts discussed in this book, you may want to consider acquiring one or more of the helpful titles below. Don't let the "dummy" titles insult you, this is a great series of basic "how to" paperbacks.
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Save up to $5.00 |
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Also, if you are a new user there are some outstanding online resources that you may find helpful to include on your Favorites list:
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Learn the Net, a Web site by about.com dedicated to helping you save time and money when roaming through cyberspace. |
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The English Server is a progressive student-run cooperative publishing online since 1990. It distributes over eighteen thousand works representing a wide range of topics. |
A staggering amount of effort went into the development of our original book, The Complete Small Business Internet Guide. However, the online world has changed significantly in the years since its publication by Macmillan/QUE. In this sequel, we decided to abide by our own advice and produce a product that could be changed easily as market dynamics change. We decided to make this a serious 'Internet only book' and Webutize our creation for those folks who really need this book.
