The Australian Guide to Online Business, by Tony Stevenson

If your business does not have an online presence, then you are probably missing out on a range of opportunities to promote your business and increase your sales. If your business does not yet have a website you may be concerned about how to go about setting it up, maintaining it and why you even need a website.

The Australian Guide to Online Business is a comprehensive guide to setting up a business website, by internet maestro, Tony Stevenson.

Stevenson begins by discussing the reasons for having a website – from making direct sales, to simply outlining services and directing customers to your brick and mortar premises. The different kinds of website are clearly explained.

The book then goes on to explore how to go about setting up a website. Practicalities such as registering a domain name and finding a host are clearly explained, and readers are given advice about deciding who will design and maintain the website and how. The possibilities of using web design software as opposed to paying someone to do the designing are discussed.

In part three of the book, Stevenson explains how and why a website must be marketed. Getting and maintaining search engine rankings, using web rings and web directories, attracting customers, using mailing lists and a range of other marketing suggestions are explored, before the final section of the book discusses the maintenance issues associated with running a web site.

Stevenson does not paint the running of the website as an easy task, but shows how it can be done, and why it is such an essential part of any modern business. His book is packed with practical examples, screen shots, useful URLs and common sense information.

The Australian Guide to Online Business is an essential resource for any one considering setting up a web site, and for those businesses who believe that they don’t need one.

The Australian Guide to Online Business, by Tony Stevenson
Pearson Education, 2001

The Australian Guide to the Internet, by Tony Stevenson

If you are reading this review, then you probably already have basic internet skills – you have, after all, connected to the ‘net, opened a browser and typed in the URL, http://www.aussiereviews.com (or, alternately, clicked on a link from an email or other website). Having these skills, however, does not mean that The Australian Guide to the Internet is not for you. This book is packed full of useful information for internet users of all abilities and experience levels.

Expert Tony Stevenson provides a concise explanation of the many facets of the internet in easy to follow language, suitable for even the least tech-savvy reader. The first part of the book is geared towards the novice internet user, providing a basic history of the internet, and going to explain how to connect to, and use, the net, including finding an ISP and setting up . Part Two continues in this vein, introducing novices to using a browser, communicating via email, and using newsgroups and mailing lists.

With the essentials covered, parts three and four of the book delve a little deeper into the wonders of the web, dealing with effective searching, downloading files and software, and using the net for entertainment. For those wary of using the internet for shopping, there is a whole chapter devoted to the hows and whys of online shopping, including security issues.

The final two parts of the book deal with creating a web presence, through starting your own web site, and avoiding net nasties such as viruses. For parents the chapter about protecting your kids online will be invaluable.

Throughout the book, Stevenson’s clear explanations are aided by screen shots, simple exercises and web references to get more out of the internet experience. The book is a must for all Australian internet users and would make a great gift idea for a computer novice.

The Australian Guide to the Internet
, by Tony Stevenson
Prentice Hall, 2000