Using Google in the title was a clever move by Dave Taylor, the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide To Growing Your Business with Google.
If you'd checked the searches made for the keyword "Google" on the 2nd October, 2006 you'd have found 17,651,063 searches. That compares to "just" 4,503,871 for the keyword "Yahoo." As Taylor says, his book is all about increasing businesses visibility on the web. As he points out, "companies with high visibility invariably are more successful..." Using Google as a keyword in his book title makes him several times more visible on web searches compared to people searching with Yahoo as the keyword.
Taylor doesn't assume a level of knowledge with his book and starts every reader off with the basics. First he challenges the reader to check their current internet strategy. Then he moves on to offer the reasons why you shouldn't be trying to get more and more traffic. Instead you should be aiming to get more and more customers. He points out there are some businesses that, contrary to popular thought, are just not cut out for an internet business.
Throughout his thoughtful book Taylor encourages you to take action and even has a section called "The Least You Need to Know" after each chapter. This is where he highlights the key messages and actions you need to take from the chapter. True to his word, Taylor talks about all the different aspects of Google, including Google Labs, Froogle and Blogger. He helpfully explains exactly how to conduct a useful basic search for something using Google. Then he goes into the slightly more complex multiple term "searching" and the notation you can use for quite specific searches.
This book is not just about Google, it's about running a business on the internet. Part way through the book he asks "What's Your Core Business?"; a question that has stopped many an entrepreneur in their tracks. He then helps you understand that an Internet business, or a business that is online and offline, requires the same approach. That is: who are your customers, the need to focus on core values, knowing your competitors, and setting measurable goals.
Article comments
1 - Vikk Simmons
Finally, something this lone idiot might understand. Sounds like the sort of checklist I need. Now, if I could get one for Amazon I might get somewhere.