Reviews of Richard Seltzer's Web Business Bootcamp

Review at Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge
"Richard Seltzer is all about saving money. His latest book, targeting both managers and technical people eager to plunge into e-commerce, offers sage advice on how to build Web sites using simple programs such as Word and PowerPoint [sic], and tips on writing or attaining excellent content. The next step, he says, is to let people know of your existence by submitting the site to major directories, and the sitemap page to major search engines. He even recommends tapping into the online community by participating in online chats as a form of advertising. If doling out money to Web experts leaves you feeling shell shocked, Web Business Boot Camp can help take the sting out." (review dated June 3, 2002) (Wiley, 2002). Buy it at Amazon

Review at Globe Technology by Andrew Allentuck
"The metaphor of this book, the boot camp thing, suggests a grizzled drill sergeant barking at raw recruits who are forced to do pushups for their  misdeeds. Indeed, the cover blurb for the book pushes the basic training idea,     but the "click right or die" motif ends with the hype. This is really a gentle book of ideas and suggested experiments.

"Author Seltzer, self-described as an "internet evangelist," preaches to those converted enough to buy his book. This book works the reader through the basic steps of e-communication from suggestions to sign up for free encryption  services at hushmail.com and a site that handles files up to 50 Mbytes called whalemail.com. Next come lessons on getting some free web hosting at angelfire.com and NBCi.com. There are lessons on creating bulletin boards and chats at delphi.com, discussions of hyperlinks and web page creation. There's a discussion of combatting search engines such as AltaVista that have methods for fighting spam. Want to use a search engine as a mail delivery system? Mr. Seltzer shows how. There are techniques for improving web sites, how to improve customer relations and how to get one's message out in foreign languages via services like http://babelish.altavista.com.

"Here's the skinny on this book. In spite of the menacing title, this is really a clever little book of web exercises. It's fun, it's instructive, and it's worth the price for novice web mavens. Those who work through the exercises it should become much more fluent in the web business. (review dated Monday, January 28, 2002)

Review in AsianZ Business Chronicle (a New Zealand publication "bridging the gap between New Zealand and Asian Markets")

Getting the best out of the web

"Let’s face it. We have all become entangled in the web and willingly spend hour after hour visiting sites around the world, ‘talking to people,’ monitoring the stock market movements, may be watching a movie or just looking up the dictionary. Direct and face-to-face conversation is becoming less and less relevant.

"And yet, to many, the web is a scary phenomenon, not to touched. And yet again, these are the mortals who yearn for a quick, easy-to-read book. They would be appeased with Richard Seltzer’s ‘Web Business Boot Camp.’ It is as much for businesses as it is for individuals but the former would find it more valuable.

"There are a few pre-requisites though. Says the author: “You need to step out of the boardroom and get your hand dirty. You need to experience the Internet business environment firsthand to appreciate the challenges and recognise the opportunities, to see new ways to save money and to make money. You need to understand how web pages design affects traffic and marketing.”

"Divided into twelve, highly readable and interesting chapters, the book is one of the best attempts at bringing to the average individual the nuances of the world wide web. He lets you know the ways and means of setting up free email accounts, obtaining free web space and a lot more. With useful tips and addresses of a number of interesting websites, Seltzer keeps you glued to the book.

"But is there such a thing called a free lunch? Not really. Says the author: “Sometimes, ‘free’ is far too expensive. The provider of the free service deliberately makes the experience so annoying that you will be willing to pay to get rid of the nuisance. That’s the case with the free Internet access today.”

"Ah, do you want to masquerade while on the net? Would you like to know who is hacking into your computer? And how about setting up a fire wall so that those nasties do not reach you, your colleagues or younger members of your family? Seltzer has answers for these and many more questions that you never bothered to ask.

"‘What next?’ is a question that many ask and the author has some good explanation. The Internet is said to be still in its formative stages with vast potential for growth. How would future businesses develop and how getting online would further revolutinise our lives is still unclear but Seltzer has no doubt that some things will never change.

"'The Internet is primarily about people, rather than technology. While it does connect computers to computers, documents to documents and people to documents, its most revolutionary capability is connecting people to people. It connects people together quickly and efficiently and in ways never before possible, leading to new kinds of relationships and new kinds of businesses.'

"Believe me, you will not put the book down until you have moved from cover to cover." (review dated May 14, 2002) 

I'll be posting the chapters that follow one per day over the next couple weeks.
7. Building your audience with online interaction
8. Building relationships with customers: what you can learn from selling at auctions
9. What to do with an audience and what else to do with your content
10. Going global
11. Experimenting with futures
12. The future of business on the Internet

This site is Published by B&R Samizdat Express, 33 Gould St., West Roxbury, MA 02132. (617) 469-2269. seltzer@samizdat.com

Web Business Boot Camp: Hands-on Internet lessons for manager, entrepreneurs, and professionals by Richard Seltzer (Wiley, 2002). No-nonsense guide targets activities that anyone can perform to achieve online business success. Reviews.

My Internet: a Personal View of Internet Business Opportunities by Richard Seltzer, on CD, includes four books, 162 articles, and 49 newsletter issues that will inspire you and provide the practical information you need to build your own personal Web site or Internet-based business, helping you to become a player in this new business environment.

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