Description:
Coauthor Joe Cataudella claims to be one of the few merchants making money on the Internet. In Creating Stores on the Web, he shares his inside knowledge of how to set up an online business. The book begins with a set of frequently asked questions from those who are interested in growing a business on the Web. Cataudella then launches into his own success story, discussing his online store, Tronix, a video-game retailer, from its conception. He features profiles of other online businesses that have been successful, including the movie store Reel, clothing retailer L.L. Bean, and even Amazon.com. Along the way, he points out where many online companies go wrong and how to avoid the major pitfalls.Cataudella then gets you started on planning your store. He outlines how many people are shopping online, who they are, and what kinds of products they're searching for and then lays out a bunch of different business models to choose from. He takes you through the basics of designing, stocking, and creating content for your store before guiding you through the next step--promoting your store--by showing you how to attract customers and where you should be advertising. The guide features a detailed section on how to accept and process payments for your product, including information on security issues, Electronic Software Distribution (ESD), and shipping concerns. Finally, Creating Stores on the Web offers valuable information on how to maintain your store, highlighting important marketing principles such as building customer loyalty, staying competitive, and keeping abreast of legal issues. The author closes with a list of helpful online resources that further discuss the topic of online commerce. -- Cristina Vaamonde
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