investing-online Books

Aaron Shepard doesn't mince words. He won't tell you how to make a million dollars, and he won't tell you how to write the next great American novel. But he will tell you how you can really make a living as a self-published author.

I wish I'd picked up his book a few years ago--it would have saved me the pain of bad reviews and some hard lessons learned. Aaron's book is going to replace Dan Poynter's book as the next self-publishing bible... it may have happened already.

Thanks Aaron. I can't imagine how many authors you've already helped!

Once you have written a novel you realize marketing is just as much work. Aiming at Amazon, makes so much sense, tips are plentiful, and the path is east to follow. If you've written a book, you want to be on Amazon with the full experience of utilizing Amazon's vast empire.

Norm Applegate
Author: Blood Bar, A Vampire Tale

I stumbled upon this book when I was considering writing a book of my own. It has been one of the most used books I own, with post-it notes all over. I have read and re-read it as I went through the process of writing and publishing my book. Although I eventually chose a different route than lightning source, I still found the material relevant and pragmatic.

I'm only about 1/3 of the way through the book; but it's quite obvious this guy knows from whence he speaks. The tips are excellent. The flow of the copy is very good, not to mention very easy to grasp. I would, without a doubt, recommend this to anyone who is looking to publish their own work.

Mr. Shepard has done an excellent job with researching Amazon.com statistics. He is a teacher at heart and in his book, he demonstrates in terms everyone can understand just how to market a book using Amazon.com.

Let me offer a little history in my decision to buy and read Aiming at Amazon. My book has been available for purchase on Amazon for a year now. However, my primary marketing has been through my website. I've spent some time selling directly off my web pages. This has meant fulfilling orders personally.

Keep in mind that my book had already experienced momentum and has had a history of sales with Amazon.com. However, I decided to apply the principles outlined in the book. The first changes I made included: adding a subtitle, directing my customers to Amazon.com, revising my blog, and updating the book's description. As a result, I have noticed a significant increase in sales and performance within a week. Additionally, I am selling more books without having to personally fulfil orders. The book created a marketing focus and I am confident that following the instructions in this book has helped increase sales performance.

My testimony or review reflects the increased success of a POD book with a track record. Mr. Shepard is careful to teach that a book's marketing success on Amazon takes time. So, results may vary. I do feel confident that a new book with good content will become successful with the application of lessons taught in Aiming at Amazon.

This book reveals secrets that can only help POD publishers and authors and I highly recommend it.

I love this book it has all the usefull details that ohter books seem to gloss over it is really usefull.

This book is an excellent resource for online booksellers, new and experienced. It contains lots of practical tips on everything from what books to buy, how to price, inventory management, where to list, packaging & shipment. Online bookselling 101!

I am new to the online bookselling business and bought several books on the subject before I found Mike's. This is by far the most thorough of them, very detailed and easy to follow.
I did have some questions for Mike and being he was so nice to put his email address in the book I contacted him, he couldn't have been more helpful and gracious!

I believe with this book as a good foundation that I will be selling books in no time.

Thanks Mike!

Of the handful of good books about online selling, this one is by far the best from a strictly business end, and the author also published a book + CD about bookkeeping for this type of business. This CD was included with my CD, however, I prefer to use Quickbooks directly.

The appendices are not as extensive as those of some others,but I think if I were to limit myself to one book about book selling, this would be the single book I would choose. What he does talk about is usually the best, however I do differ from him on some of what he says. I will not even say it here simply because I do not want competition, but it is always great to keep your eyes open to how others might be making money online, with bookselling or anything else.

I like MOSTLY what he has to say about sources to get books, but really this would depend on what kind of area you live in. For me this would mean my immediate area and also the larger general county in which I live.

I also like what he says about trying to resale remaindered books, and how it is hard to make a profit. I have watched this over and over with lots of really intellgent people, as their house start to pile up with 1000s of unsold books, not even realizing that it is obvious they are not selling them. I think it is possible to do this, but you would have to look long and hard, evaluate books thoroughly, and really know what sells.

There are some other things I disagree with, but some things the author just may left unsaid. This author does not, as far as I know, do anythig but sell books online, which is a giant plus for me.

Michael Mould has done an excellent job providing the nitty gritty details of what is involved in being an online bookseller. He has included some very helpful spreadsheets on a CD as well. In addition, he has started a website that is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the business. I highly recommend the book!

Many times during the day, I am looking for different bits of information online. Like many people, I often turn use the easiest source (Google) instead of the best source.

While I've read the book, The Invisible Web (some time ago), Sam Richter points out on page 99 of his excellent book, Take The Cold Out of Cold Calling, "In my presentation, when I ask people what percentage of web pages that can be accessed by search engines like Google and Yahoo, the typical response I receive is 75 percent or higher. Would it surprise you that at best -- combined popular search engines probably index less than 20 percent of publicly accessible Web pages?"

Step-by-step Sam Richter gives specific tools for the reader to excel at research and information gathering. Why? As a writer, the more you know about a target publication or publisher, then you will be more equipped to target your pitch and submission.

In the introduction to Take The Cold Out of Cold Calling, Richter writes, "Knowing what's important to your prospects, what their competitors are doing, and what their industry trends are is imperative for proper meeting preparation. Information is the key for building your credibility, offering customized and relevant solutions, and providing ongoing client value. Understanding your client's world is ultimately what differentiates one company--and one salesperson--from another." (page III of preface)

This book is packed with incredible online resources to learn about different industries. For example, in the publishing community, this book highlights [...] which is a database of more than 150,000 magazines, journals, newsletters and other periodicals. It is free but registration is required.

Or consider this resource Richter highlights, "Imagine if you could use the Web to locate a company's employee directory? Unless the company made a big mistake and posted it online, you probably can't. [...], however, might be the next best thing." (page 169)

I've only used two of many examples with great detail in this excellent resource. The other tool that every reader can use is the resource center called "the Warm Call Center." Go to this site ([...]) , register with your email address and you will have access to a wealth of links and resources for any time of research. I downloaded the toolbar to my browser and it's been an amazing resource to use as I do research.

Sam Richter has pulled together a remarkable resource. I highly recommend.

The most powerful prospect list is the one you build yourself. Sam has created a dynamic reference tool for all sales people to research and cross-reference and compile their own qualified list of contacts. He has done the heavy lifting and made it easy for the rest of us to click a few keys and find just what we are looking for. My copy rests on the corner of my desk with pages flagged for quick reference while his handy dandy tool bar is installed on my internet page for even quicker results. It is scary how easy it is to gather info when you know where to look. This book is a must have for serious prospecting.

This book is a must have for every library. Since reading this book and learning how to use the warm call tools my prep time for new prospect calls is much more productive and process oriented.

Last week I gave a presentation to a new prospect. After the presentation I was told I was one of the most knowledgeable people about their company and probably knew more than some of their employees! This compliment is a direct result of using the warm call tool bar to do my research.

I have since purchased this book for new college grads in the interviewing process and seasoned veterans as this makes the time put into research shorter and more productive.

THANKS SAM FOR A GREAT TOOL!

This book was given to me by a friend. I read half of it and put it down, grabbed my car keys and went to purchase my own copy. I then came home and literally finished the rest of the book in one sitting. Now it is not a book that you can just stick on your bookshelf. I will refer to it when I can not remember something. Though after reading the book and installing Sam's warm call tool bar in which he referred to in the book I have learned how to turn ordinary meetings into warm call meetings. It is no longer cold calling when you are already warm going into the meeting. The client may not know you are going in warm but they surely will after you start interacting. I would highly recommend the book to anybody in the sales, marketing or even out of a job marketing. Truly a must read and must own.

What a great book! Sam Richter provides incredible resources on the web to research companies, products, industries, and people. I keep his book on the corner of my desk and reference often. On his web site, Sam provides a customized web toolbar that puts his recommended resources at your fingertips. I was absolutely amazed at how much information you can find for free! You won't be disappointed by this book!

This is a very up to date read on Internet marketing for entrepreneurs. It is comprehensive, yet very easy to understand with practical insights that are viable in today's environment. I agree with the advice for providing a specialized service, reinforcing my beliefs in carefully targeting our audience or "becoming a bigger fish in a smaller pond."

I am a little sick of all the Internet marketing books that hype the "get rich quick" phenomenon and I particularly like the that this book does not promise you that by reading it you will make thousands of dollars, or even hundreds of dollars, or for that matter any money at all! The author states, "There is no quick money or quick fix here . . . this is solely up to you! I'm sure you've heard the biblical quote: "you reap what you sow". This is so very true. Whether its building a website, making money or creating wealth - it all comes down to what YOU do, not someone else! The more effort you put into your business, whether it's hard work, resources, or investments - the more chances that you and your business will thrive."

I particularly enjoyed the reference to the "9 effective business models." The book provides enough information and inspiration to allow the reader use it as a guide to develop their own business model and a good implementation plan.

There are many other facets to this book that make it a good resource and it provides a foundation for online business development. Van Der Hope gives focus and clarity to niche marketing on the Internet. I highly recommend this book.

Eric,
This book has everything and more for every online niche marketer. The mind maps are the highlight for me. They have removed all the obstacles in my online marketing business. Thank you

Oliviah Moyo

Mastering Niche Marketing shows exactly what's possible when you set your mind to a goal and TAKE ACTION. Eric Van Der Hope has revealed exactly what it takes to become a profitable niche marketer.

I particularly enjoyed the niche marketing 'mind maps' that lay out the entire process and break it down into tiny, manageable steps. The success stories and case studies show small but significant examples of what's possible by finding and capitalizing on the right niche, and the Additional Resources section...well, let's just say it will keep your mind spinning with ideas for months to come!

Overall, a fantastic niche marketing resource that no serious online marketer should be without!

In last 5 years, I do not even remember how many books I have read on Internet marketing and wasted my precious time. The self-proclaimed Gurus do write about methods of online niche marketing but they never tell you how to go ahead with it. There is never a `how to do it' guide.

Eric is not a self proclaimed Guru, but He provides you the meat of niche marketing and how to do it yourself - if only You Act. I have not read another book which provides a lot of to the point information. It is a must read book especially for those who wish to generate traffic to their sites - the most important thing for running any business online. (Which is like an added bonus).

I wish I had met Eric before and read this book instead of wasting my time and money on countless other books. 5 stars No Doubt

This book is one of the absolute best books I've read in the Internet Marketing niche for a very, very long time. No matter if you're just starting out or have years of experience, this book will help you make money online.

This book is literally an A-Z guide covering all the details you need to run a successful online business. I've used several of the techniques and tactics in my own business. But what I loved most was there are little gold nuggets sprinkled throughout that I never even thought about before. I'll be implementing those ideas immediately to make even more money. I highly recommend this book.

this is very informative on many levels. However, in 1997 there was hardly the selection of online brokerage companies that there are today. After much review, i ended up going through Scottrade which offers online trades at just $7, plus useful tools to help me analyze my trade info. Use referral code YVCF9745 to get 3 free trades after starting new account.

Reading this book provided me with good basic information about investing in the stock market. Some of the information is now outdated - the resources the author mentions as newspaper subscriptions are now available online, such as the Pink Sheets, the information bible about penny stocks. However, the basic information is still relevant, and I do recommend this book for other people who are thinking about investing in stocks for the first time.

A MUST READ for any beginner. If you're looking for your first book on Stocks, look no more, just buy this one.

This book is highly reccomended for all beginners. This book will give you the basis for everyting you want to know about the stock market. Period!

I loved this book. It talked about every facet of the stock market, but didn't go overboard with jargon. I knew absolutely nothing about stocks and after reading this book I am ready to learn more. It was well written, interesting, and, unlike some investing books, the author was not trying to sell anything. This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to invest but has no knowledge of the subject. I really enjoyed this book.

This book is clearly written and user friendly. Biafore gives links to information sources, making it easy for the reader to get more information on each of the hacks. These links alone are worth the price of the book.

I've been trading for over twenty years, including a period as a floor trader on the Chicago Board of Trade. Even with that experience there are tips and tricks in this book I found useful to the point where I employ them daily. To be complete as a reviewer I will say there is a lot of pretty basic stuff from my point of view, but still well worth reviewing since some of it I had forgotten.

Well written, easy reading, well organized

Online Investing Hacks is an excellent introduction to the world of investment. Though the title does contain the word 'Online', I would say that the general information the book provides on investing is not limited to the online realm.

Overall, I was very happy with the book, and found it incredibly useful. Though I do have several investments (401K, some stock, mutual funds etc) I would hardly consider myself an authority on the subject. This book provided very detailed explanations and tips on various forms of investment, from CD's to Index funds, and everything in between. While the experienced investor might not glean much from reading this book, anyone just getting started will find it an excellent reference, and resource.

The format of the book is similar to the other books in the 100 * Hacks series published by O'Reilly. There are exactly 100 hacks, or topics, which are spread across 9 chapters. Each one is an individual entity and can be read and understood without reliance on any of the other hacks.

One minor annoyance I had with the book is that it is geared toward those of you who, for some reason or another, run Microsoft's Windows OS, or have access to Microsoft Excel. Luckily, of the Excel examples that I played with, Open Office's Calc program handled them with minimal tweaking.

I can easily recommend this book to anyone who wants to invest, but is unsure of what to invest in, or needs some tips on making the most of preexisting investments. Those of you who enjoy research and building your own stats and graphs will also find parts of this book rather intriguing, as it covers data acquisition and manipulation with Excel in great detail. It will make an excellent addition to my reference shelf, and I have a feeling it will be well thumbed through in a very short time.

It seems like everyone is involved in investing in some form or another. While I always felt like I should be investing too, it was never clear to me how to begin this process. After all, it's my money. How can I be sure I'm investing in something that will provide some sort of reasonable return? This book is an excellent resource in answering some of those questions and putting the new investor on the right track.

This book is written in the same format as the other "hacks" series by O'Reilly. This format is very easy to read, and the format makes it very easy to find answers. Rather then having to read the book from cover to cover, the reader can pick out topics they are dealing with, read the answer, and move on. Since many of the people interesting in a book of this nature will likely have little time, the book's format works to its advantage.

The book begins with some basic introduction to the stock market and tips for selecting appropriate stocks or mutual funds. The whole middle section of the book deals with data analysis. The author discusses how to understand a company's balance sheet (e.g. what that P/E ratio means), how to spot companies in financial trouble, how to pick a good stock, and even how to trade. There is also a good discussion on minimizing the effect of taxes on your little return on investment.

The author even goes further and gets into a discussion on financial planning. In addition to discussing debt reduction, the author also talks about IRA plans and different strategies for saving for your child's education expenses. I think my favorite part of this book was the discussion on different education savings plans. The author discusses the ins and outs (as well as tax consequences) of each of the plans, and provides some examples illustrating the fact that it's better to start saving earlier than later.

This is an excellent book, not just for its investing advice, but also for its sound financial planning. This is a great book for anyone who is interested in increasing their wealth, saving for a rainy day, or simply saving for future financial goals.

Online Investing Hacks by Bonnie Biafore (O'Reilly) is one of those books that can pay for itself in short order, as well as over and over.

Chapter list: Screening Investments; Hacking Excel for Financial Analysis; Collecting Financial Data; Analyzing Company Fundamentals; Technical Analysis; Executing Trades; Investing in Mutual Funds; Managing Your Portfolio; Financial Planning; Index

I worked at Enron from 1998 through 2001, and spent plenty of time during that dot.com era following my stock portfolio. I watched my Enron stock value go from incredible value to a point where it cost more to sell the stock than it was worth. I won a few bets (face it, that's what they were) on a few dot.coms and lost many more. What could have been an incredible nest egg, isn't. This book would have been a lifesaver if I had read and paid attention to it a few years ago. Biafore shows you how you can analyze and invest wisely using a variety of tools available to everyone.

If you're an Excel user, you'll find it an invaluable tool for analysis. She'll show you how you can use it to create financial charts (#13), calculate compound annual rates of growth (#26), and use rational values to buy and sell wisely (#36). #39 - Spot Hanky Panky with Cash Flow Analysis (using Enron as an example) would have literally saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars had I known about it. Even if you don't care about the investing tips, the hack on downloading data via Excel web queries (#7) was something I didn't know how to do (or that you could even do it!). The book has a little something for everyone.

As with all Hacks titles, you probably won't be interested in every single item. Some may not be applicable to your situation or may be too complex for what you care to handle. But all it would take is one hack to work out and change your investing for this book to pay huge dividends. If you do your own investing, you owe it to yourself to get this book.

If you're like me, and you have your own business, you've probably read countless business "how-to" books; most of them well-meaning, but, also, well...boring! What good is even the best information, if you fall asleep learning it! Trust me, that won't happen when you read Lynn Thorne's new book, "Word-of-Mouth Advertising." From page one you'll find yourself picking up a wealth of new strategies to move your business forward, while thoroughly enjoying the ride. With her natural wit and sass, Thorne reminds us that learning can still be fun (and funny!) That is not to say that the book is all fluff and no substance; quite the contrary! Her full title is: Word-of-Mouth Advertising, Online and Off: How to Spark Buzz, Excitement and Free Publicity for Your Business or Organization With Little of No Money. I know, it's a mouth-full and it promises a lot, but Thorne delivers! The book is impressively well-researched and thorough; a real "how to" manual chock-full of case studies and references. And one that you'll actually have fun reading!

"Word of Mouth Advertising Online and Off" is a solid resource for both large and small companies, non-profits, and independent sales people, on word of mouth marketing. Although the book starts off slowly and is somewhat repetitive (each chapter is unnecessarily summarized at the end in an "After Word"), the content is comprehensive and thoroughly researched. Especially in these rough economic times where every dollar spent needs to produce some sort of positive return, business owners and sales people will be looking for alternative (read: cheaper) methods to get the word out about their product. This book explains the most effective way to utilize email marketing, blogs, viral marketing, customer generated marketing, podcasts, etc.

I especially enjoyed the concrete examples of inventive word of mouth marketing successfully (and unsuccessfully) utilized by start-up companies, local businesses, as well as Fortune 500 corporations. I found much of the information was useful to me, as a small business owner, as well as for my husband, who is in medical sales for a large corporation. Over dinner one night discussing the ideas in the book (romantic, I know), we actually came up with a marketing idea for him to pitch to his company as a great way to get people talking about his product. As a small business owner and a consumer, I especially appreciated the discussions about customer service and, separately, the ethical considerations of word of mouth marketing. This book covers it all in a very easy-to-read, written-for-the-average-person kind of way.

This book is well-written with dozens of tips for the reader on how to maximize the many opportunities that exist right under their nose for free, or nearly-free advertising. There are so many ways to generate 'buzz' for yourself or your product, but most of us are just too danged busy CREATING our product to go about marketing it with any degree of success.

Thorne uses humor, insight and experience to underscore her tips-of-the-trade to good effect. An enjoyable read that's sure to give you many "a-ha" moments where you say, "Wow... I'd have never thought of that!"

Well worth the purchase price, it's sure to generate many times' that amount in new opportunities.

I highly recommend this information packed marketing tool. Over the past 15 years of business we have spent thousands of dollars on marketing classes. And it has been worth every penny.

But, if you want a resource for twenty bucks that will cover much of what I have learned over the past 15 years. Then this is the book. Lynn has compiled a wealth of information in a easy to read entertaining way. There is so much information that it is a bit like taking a drink of water from a fire hydrant!

My advice to you would be to pick two WOM tips that are in this book. Pick one that is comfortable for you, and pick one that you feel is absurd!! And then follow the formula exactly!

Be diligent and prepared to wait. It doesn't happen overnight. But if you stick with it, they will come!
www.irvingharris.com

Nice book. It is well written and well outlined. It explains pretty clearly what you can do to get free publicity for your product or service and how to create buzz. It has 12 chapters and two appendices:

0. Introduction to Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM)
1. First words - 5 advantages of WOMM
2. The C-word - The customer is king
3. The B-word - Buzz
4. Virtual words - Internet marketing
5. All the world's a stage - Affiliate marketing
6. For words - Viral marketing
7. Is that even a word? - Blogs
8. In words and out words - Email marketing
9. A word from our sponsors - Chapters 6-8, but for NPOs
10. The F-word - False, fake, and forthright
11. Bad words - Monitor negative buzz
12. Conclusion - Famous last words
A. Proven secrets and tips from WOMM
B. More types of low cost (or free) WOMM campaigns

There are many different types of marketing plans. Some are pretty much just advertising plans. Others are personal networking plans. Some are stickly Internet-based, i.e., Internet marketing. While others involve public speaking and doing seminars and workshops for a fee or free. The one that tends to touch upon all of these different styles of marketing is Word-of-Mouth (WOMM).

In this book you learn about the 5 steps to successful WOMM:

>>Find all the right people
>>Massage your message (give people something to talk about)
>>Give "the message/talk" away (send out free samples)
>>Pass "the talk" out (blog, viral campaign, reviews ...)
>>Stay on track

The author covers a lot of angles in this book when it comes to WOMM. I think it is definitely a worthwhile read for any small business owner who wants to reevaluate their company's marketing plan and make sure it is using WOMM to its fullest potential. 4 stars!

PS. I just read and posted a review for "Dirty Little Secrets of Buzz" (ISBN: 9781402213373). In my humble opinion, the instant book being reviewed should be read along with Dirty Little Secrets. Both books compliment each other.

I bought this book because of my confusion with index funds after reading different advertisements from newspapers and websites. The result of my learnings are three limit orders I just placed for different sector funds.

This book is written objectively without a slant towards a specific product. Also, written for the inexperienced as well as the professional trader. It provided some real insights as to how trading is accomplished (in plain English).

The bing "WOW" was seeing how I was being penalized as long term investor in mutual funds because of the annual tax distribution. Also, the majority of funds do not beat the S&P500 index!! Why invest in them when these new investment resources are available?

Highly recommend this book to all levels of investors.

The book introduced me to exchange shares. I bought it a few day ago.I read it with out putting it down. I have re-read and underlined it. This is a very exciting addition to the concept of "index investing". Exchange traded funds (ETF) are a part of my retirement education. Orthopedic Surgeon, Emeritus

This book introduced me to an area unknown to me as an individual investor-EXCHANGED TRADED FUNDS (ETF). It was very informative and exciting. I read it and then underlined it,immediately. Max, since I read your book,the world has exploded about i shares. Thank you for the introduction and stimulation to look further. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD.

This is a great book with lots of helpful information about stocks and indexes and which ones to invest in. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to participate in the domestic and international markets.

I bought this book because of my confusion with index funds after reading different advertisements from newspapers and websites. The result of my learnings are three limit orders I just placed for different sector funds.

This book is written objectively without a slant towards a specific product. Also, written for the inexperienced as well as the professional trader. It provided some real insights as to how trading is accomplished (in plain English).

The bing "WOW" was seeing how I was being penalized as long term investor in mutual funds because of the annual tax distribution. Also, the majority of funds do not beat the S&P500 index!! Why invest in them when these new investment resources are available?

Highly recommend this book to all levels of investors.

An excellent overview of trading options, especially well written especially for those who have been intimidated by the concept of options trading. Examples are clear and reflect objectivity by the author, including those trades that didn't go so well -- lessons learned. Have been trading options for a few years and have done okay, but can enhance future trades with what I have learned from this book.

After reading a few beginner books about buying and selling stocks, I found this stock options book very helpful. It really allows you to take the 'next step' into the world of stocks. The visuals present in the book were extremely helpful, and the examples provided portrayed options as simple, easy to perform trades. I'd recommend this book for beginners and beyond because of the detailed way things are explained. Even if you're just getting into stocks and are plowing through a book about general trading, this book is definitely manageable and will give you a heads up into the possibilities of the stock market.

This book was really helpful. It was easy to read and had a lot of great tips and insight!

I am a stay at home housewife. I found this book to be a good primer for beginners who want to begin doing some simple option trading.

I found this book to be an excellent source for my everyday trading activities. I especially like the actual trades represented in the book. Too often trading resources tend to be too theoretical and not demonstrate actual trading practices.

Whether you are arranging flowers in your basement or operating a full-fledged floral shop, How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business both Online & Off, written by Stephanie Beener, will provide you with the information needed to survive in the competitive field.

I have been an amateur flower arranger for a few years. I have provided decoration etc. for a few friends and their parties, but I never had the first idea of how to start my own business. After reading, Stephanie's book, I realized there is much more to the floral industry than just flower arranging and delivery. She breaks the business down into pieces and details the peaks and valley of the business and taught me to think of it as a business with a product. I was surprised in her chapter about the ins and outs of daily business exactly how much work, organization and planning went into the daily running of a floral shop.

I found her information about creating a successful online presence to be particularly helpful. I know without this book, I would not have been prepared for the world of the floral industry and I would recommend this to anyone from the shop owner to the floral enthusiast.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business Both Online and Off goes beyond the basics of how to open a florist shop. The author provides detailed, comprehensive sales and marketing tools, along with practical business plans and realistic operations' goals. She presents a wide spectrum of business ideas in the floral industry ranging from retail to wholesale.

This author is very direct and honest in her approach as to how to get started in the floral business (both online and offline). She doesn't sugar coat her chapters and gives readers a very in-depth perspective on how the floral industry works and operates.

This book is a refreshing change of pace from other "how to get your business started" books. The author really gets into the nitty-gritty details of what it takes to compete and become successful in the floral industry. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is contemplating opening a florist shop or starting a wholesale flower business.

In her 2008 release, "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Floral and Florist Business Both Online and Off," author Stephanie Beener covers all aspects of launching a floral business in a comprehensive, easy-to-use format. The text is informative, yet entertaining, making for a quick, educational read.

Before getting into the specifics of becoming a florist, Beener guides readers through a thorough understanding of the trade. The book covers different types of floral business such as retail, wholesale, greenhouse and supplier, as well as what type of demands business owners can expect to face. The content is designed to help individuals make well-balanced decisions in order to be successful.

Several chapters are devoted to the business side of operations, addressing marketing and advertising, communications, managing employees, legal considerations, customer service, finance and bookkeeping. Once past the business logistics, Beener focuses on what makes for a successful floral business. The book covers décor, inventory, supplies, arranging and pricing. The author does an outstanding job of balancing information for both new and experienced business owners.

The text of Beener's manual is interspersed with interesting statistics, helpful pointers and actual case studies. She offers practical, hands-on suggestions that are geared toward motivating and encouraging entrepreneurs during every phase of establishing a business. Many of the author's tips are innovative and steer readers to underutilized and often-overlooked resources.

Beener had dedicated a significant portion of her book to the ins and outs of how to launch a successful business. She covers a broad range of topics, yet manages to organize the information into manageable, logical segments. The book is accompanied by a CD-ROM with all of the forms referenced in the book and a pre-written business plan to help readers put their plan into action. The knowledge is applicable across industries, making "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Floral and Florist Business Both Online and Off" a valuable resource for anyone interested in building a business from the ground up.

Florist shop owners do more than sell plants: they create displays and atmosphere and this book displays and creates an atmosphere of success as it tells everything needed for running such a business, from arranging flowers to bookkeeping, business set-up, customer acquisition and retention, and more. A companion CD-ROM enhances this fine reference, perfect for business collections.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business both Online & Off, written by Stephanie Beener, explores every aspect of making a successful entrance into the Floral Industry, whether it be for purposes of following the path leading to a serious entrepreneurial endeavor or merely pursuing a comparatively lucrative hobby. The information provided in this book is thorough and extensive, but presented in an easily understood format that is well suited for the emerging florist, while still remaining a truly helpful and supportive reference source for the experienced floral professional. This book also proves to be an ideal introductory resource for students interested in exploring the possibility of choosing a career within the Floral Industry.

From its preface to its conclusion, How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business both Online & Off, guides the reader through the process of becoming a successful floral business owner, beginning with a brief discussion on determining if their personality and temperament are suited for the industry and ending with an expansive list of available resources to aid in the actual startup of a retail floral business. Ms. Beener includes everything from writing business plans to product selection, along with inventory maintenance, management strategies, and the practical application of ownership practices as presented in actual case studies of various floral professionals within the industry. Additionally, the inclusion of a companion CD-ROM offers further support for the reader. This impressive guidebook even includes a section on specific floral meanings, a glossary of floral terms, and a glossary of flowers.

This title should most definitely be recommended to anyone interested in any area of the floral industry. It offers an abundance of information that is both quickly and easily accessible. Considering its overall topic presentation, content, and readability, I would assign a rating of 5 stars to How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business both Online & Off.