Web Rules: How the Internet is Changing the Way Consumers Make Choices

By Tom Murphy

The author contends that Internet growth will shift power away from corporations and into the hands of individuals. The book analyses current trends and outlines likely changes. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 079313613X
• ISBN13: 9780793136131
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Dearborn Trade Pub
• Length: 303 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Particularly relevant right now

This book is easy and entertaining to read , really informative without being over-techno or relying on business jargon like "visioning" and "mission statement." The author's insights are refreshing, explaining in concrete terms that companies need to compete and keep their customers, not just put something on the Web and hope it floats. The insights on customer expectations of the Web are particularly relevant, and particularly so right now as people in the Web business are learning sobering truths about business realities. Much of what Murphy writes about, and his interviewees talk about, is coming to pass.

great for anyone running an online business

Web Rules does a great job of focusing on the importance of understanding consumer's expectations in running an online business. I've worked at a number of e-commerce and consumer web services over the past few years, and the biggest mistake I've seen is either not understanding what the consumer wants or not listening to consumer feedback after launch. Especially since the web really has changed what consumers want and expect from a business. Competition is brutal and consumers can find the best prices instantly through shopping engines, so businesses must understand their customers in order to compete. This book did a really nice job helping me step back and get a big picture view of how customers interact with businesses online.

refreshing insight

Tom Murphy does a great job of identifying ways in which consumers are being empowered by the internet. It's a refreshing, optimistic look at how business-to-consumer relationships are being transformed by new technology. It's also a good heads-up for businesses targeting a new breed of educated, powerful consumers.

The perfect book for an Entrepreneur

As a web entrepreneur myself, I have found Tom Murphy's book to be insightful and realistic. Instead of "techie" jargon and useless acronyms, this book paints a picture of the Internet like nothing else I have come across. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Internet and would say it's a "Must Read" for those who make the Internet their career.

WWW: Well Worth (W)reading

Finally, a book about the Internet for the rest of us! Web Rules explains in clear language what the Web really means to consumers and small businesses without a lot of jargon and condescending attitude found in most of what we see and hear about the Internet. Let's face it, most of us aren't part of the vaunted digerati. Murphy's book provides the big picture that can help anyone catch up with the latest trends from the biggest thinkers in the field -- people like Andy Grove and Paul Erdman and Barry Diller.It was great to see someone recognize that the Web is about something more than just another way to sell things. It's about millions of people interacting. This book is all about how companies and their customers will relate on the Internet. And about education, entertainment, information, democracy, choice and more.Most Internet books only deal with the corporate point of view. This deals with the power of their customers (What a refreshing viewpoint!) His conversations with the "Big Players" show that even they don't always agree on what's happening on the Internet. Their comments support the author's conclusions: that despite everything else you read about the World Wide Web, it's the consumers who will ultimately decide which companies succeed and which fail. In other words: it's up to us. Not only do I recommend this book to any consumer (or business!), but I encourage readers to take that advice to heart. The customer IS always right!