IN LITTLE MORE THAN HALF A DECADE, Facebook has gone from a dorm-room novelty to a company with 500 million users. It is one of the fastest growing companies in history, an essential part of the social life not only of teenagers but hundreds of millions of adults worldwide. As Facebook spreads around the globe, it creates surprising effects—even becoming instrumental in political protests from Colombia to Iran. Veteran technology reporter David Kirkpatrick had the full cooperation of Facebook’s key executives in researching this fascinating history of the company and its impact on our lives. Kirkpatrick tells us how Facebook was created, why it has flourished, and where it is going next. He chronicles its successes and missteps, and gives readers the most complete assessment anywhere of founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the central figure in the company’s remarkable ascent. This is the Facebook story that can be found nowhere else. How did a nineteen-year-old Harvard student create a company that has transformed the Internet and how did he grow it to its current enormous size? Kirkpatrick shows how Zuckerberg steadfastly refused to compromise his vision, insistently focusing on growth over profits and preaching that Facebook must dominate (his word) communication on the Internet. In the process, he and a small group of key executives have created a company that has changed social life in the United States and elsewhere, a company that has become a ubiquitous presence in marketing, altering politics, business, and even our sense of our own identity. This is the Facebook Effect.

Price: $9.99 USD

From Enron and WorldCom to the Catholic Church and Major League Baseball, reputation crises have never been more widespread. Now Ronald J. Alsop, a veteran Wall Street Journal authority on branding and reputation management, explains the dangers -- and gives organizations the eighteen crucial laws to follow in developing and protecting their reputations. Consider this example of a simple decision made by a low-ranking employee: When rescue workers at the site of the World Trade Center disaster sought bottled water from a nearby Starbucks outlet, they complained that an employee charged them for it. In a matter of hours, the Internet had picked up the story and Starbucks' carefully cultivated worldwide reputation was quickly besmirched. This is just one instance among many of how the business world, ever more global and competitive, has become increasingly difficult to navigate. Studies have demonstrated the powerful impact of reputation on profits and stock prices, and yet less than half of all companies have a formal system for measuring reputation. Clearly, companies in every industry -- from Dow Chemical to Disney to DaimlerChrystler -- have much more to learn. It is still the rare company that realizes the full value of its reputation: how corporate reputation can enhance business in good times, become a protective halo in turbulent times, and be destroyed in an instant by people at the lowest or highest levels of the corporate ladder. Mr. Alsop provides eighteen thoroughly documented lessons based on years of experience covering every aspect of corporate reputation, with a clear distillation of the complex principles at the heart of a reputation. He explains: • How to protect your reputation when the inevitable crisis hits • How to cope with the many hazards in cyberspace • How to create a reputation for vision and industry leadership • How to establish a culture of ethical behavior • How to measure and monitor your ever-changing public image • How to make employees your reputation champions • How to decide when it's time to change your name The result is a book that is important not only for business executives, consultants, and advertising, public relations, and marketing professionals but also for anyone eager to learn more about the companies they work for, buy from, and invest in.

Price: $17.99 USD

The American toy business is massive, world dominating, cutthroat, exciting, and increasingly willing to sacrifice our kids in its frantic rush for profit. And yet, for all its rapaciousness, the industry is in the business of delighting and fascinating our children. Toys are one of the most emotive subjects in the world. We all remember our own toys; we care desperately about those we choose for our kids, knowing these objects help shape children's lives. They are also a constantly newsworthy item: every Christmas, which toys are hot -- and the scramble by parents to grab them before the stores are empty -- is front-page and TV bulletin news. The Real Toy Story tells the tales of these toys and of the vast, world-dominating $22 billion American industry that creates them. The rewards for success are enormous: a top toy can earn billions -- H. Ty Warner shot into Forbes's World's Richest People list with his creation of Beanie Babies. The price of failure is just as huge -- the battlefield is littered with the corpses of once-successful toy companies whose multimillion-dollar gambles did not pay off. It is a world of contrasts. The Real Toy Story looks at both sides: at Slinky, Elmo, Barbie, Transformers, and their creators, but also at the dark side of an industry that leads the way in cold-blooded marketing targeted at children. Parents will want to learn about how this seemingly benign industry exploits, sometimes surreptitiously, the many new media: cable television, the internet, CD-ROMs, sometimes even invading the playgrounds to peddle their wares to unsuspecting young people. Perhaps more disturbingly, this hard-hitting book examines the vast gap between the cuddly image of toys and how almost all toys destined for America are actually produced in China under sweatshop conditions. Today the toy industry is in the midst of rapid change. Tapping into the concern millions of adults have about the toys they choose for the children in their lives, this riveting exposé is essential reading for everyone who cares about kids.

Price: $17.99 USD

The first clear guide to the Semantic Web and its upcoming impact on the business world Imagine that, in 1992, someone handed you a book about the future of something called the World Wide Web. This book claimed that through a piece of software called a "browser", which accesses "web sites", the world economy and our daily lives would change forever. Would you have believed even 10 percent of that book? Did you take advantage of the first Internet wave and get ahead of the curve? Pull is the blueprint to the next disruptive wave. Some call it Web 3.0; others call it the semantic web. It's a fundamental transition from pushing information to pulling, using a new way of thinking and collaborating online. Using the principles of this book, you will slash 5-20 percent off your bottom line, make your customers happier, accelerate your industry, and prepare your company for the twenty-first century. It isn't going to be easy, and you don't have any choice. By 2015, your company will be more agile and your processes more flexible than you ever thought possible. The semantic web leads to possibilities straight from science fiction, such as buildings that can order their own supplies, eliminating the IRS, and lawyers finally making sense. But it also leads to major changes in every field, from shipping and retail distribution to health care and financial reporting. Through clear examples, case studies, principles, and scenarios, business strategist David Siegel takes you on a tour of this new world. You'll learn: -Which industries are already ahead. -Which industries are already dead. -How to make the power shift from pushing to pulling information. -How software, hardware, media, and marketing will all change. -How to plan your own strategy for embracing the semantic web. We are at the beginning of a new technology curve that will affect all areas of business. Right now, you have a choice. You can decide to start preparing for the exciting opportunities that lay ahead or you can leave this book on the shelf and get left in the dust like last time.

Price: $19.99 USD

“Refreshingly irreverent and lucidly written…go for it whether you’re a wannabe or an old pro!” – James H. Kennedy, Founder, Consultant News, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies .  . “Whether you are a novice consultant or a pro, Consulting For Dummies coaches you to outstanding success. It is crammed with practical, proven tips and techniques to attract clients and to deliver a quality project profitably while having fun.” – Bradley Zehner II, Ph.D., Professor, Pepperdine University , and Founder, Zetec, Strategy and Marketing Consulting, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies.  . “This book is a revelation – a must read.” – Ken Shelton, Editor, Executive Excellence, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies .  . Product Description. So you want to be a consultant? If you have expertise people are willing to pay for and the motivation to work hard at this exciting and rewarding profession, Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition, supplies the rest. Newly revised – with lots more information for aspiring and established consultants alike – Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition is without a doubt the most current and comprehensive book available today on the art and business of consulting. In it, you’ll find everything you need to set up your consulting business, generate demand for your services, create lasting solutions for your clients, and succeed!.  . This friendly, practical, guide shows you how to get your business off the ground and running smoothly, with the latest on developing a marketable idea, running your home office, writing winning proposals, selling your services, and getting referrals. You’ll find expert tips on setting fees, keeping track of time and money, and building a business with new clients, including the latest on using the Internet to market your services and make a name for yourself. Discover how to:.  :; Start a successful consulting business; Build partnerships with clients; Handle financial and legal issues; Set your fees (including advanced pricing strategies); Write winning proposals; Understand and develop solutions for client problems; Make great presentations; Negotiate contracts; Promote your business; Implement your recommendations and make them stick; Practice the ABCs of selling; Reward current clients for referrals; Troubleshoot common consulting issues; Take your consulting business to the next level.  . Complete with savvy tips on how to improve cash flow, find new clients, and increase your business with existing clients Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition, helps you get your business up and running fast. And if you’ve already got an established consulting business, Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition, helps you take your business to the next level – building your client base and increasing your bottom line. From the Back Cover. The fun and

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Advanced Selling For Dummies® is a terrific resource that can energize your business performance and boost your bottom line. An excellent guide for both seasoned salespeople who want to take their productivity to the next level and small- and large-business entrepreneurs who are missing the advanced selling strategies that they really need to generate business and revenue. This book is packed with practical advice on how to boost sales, productivity and profits through the full-court-press approach to marketing and sales. Unlike other books that claim to reveal the "secret" to selling, Advanced Selling For Dummies is based on the premise that no single secret exists. You need a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, a creative mind, and the "sticktoitism" to survive and thrive in today's competitive marketplace. In the book, Ralph R. Roberts and a select group of the top sales people and trainers across the country give readers the necessary tools to become top-producers. Stressing the importance of focusing on your innate skill sets and creating a distinctive brand for yourself, Advanced Selling For Dummies teaches the tricks and habits that can benefit you both in your professional and personal life--things like:. · Believing in and motivating yourself. · Planning the work and then working the plan. · Techniques for honing your sales skills. · Hour of Power-100 phone calls, one hour a day. · Personal branding through shameless self-promotion. · Credibility building through websites, blogging, and social media. · Personal partnering for inspiration and accountability. · Tapping the un-served and under-served multicultural marketplace. · Embracing change and taking risks. · Implementing the latest productivity-boosting technologies. · Hiring an assistant so you can pursue your passions. · Tapping the power of R-Commerce (Relationship-Commerce. Roberts also tackles the process of running a sales operation, which requires deft maneuvering. Here, you'll learn to create solid partnerships with like-minded, talented people; set the right goals and reward yourself properly when you reach them; embrace change in your industry (and the world at large) to grow your business; create your own USP, a kind of personal resume and mission statement; "seed" your business cards; take a weekly "Hour of Power" to keep in touch with your contacts; and use the latest technology such as the Internet and blogs to grow sales.

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Hauptbeschreibung Im Rahmen der rasanten Entwicklung und der weiten Verbreitung von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien hat das E-Business mittlerweile eine signifikante Position in der Untersttzung von automatisierten Geschftsprozessen eingenommen. Die Unternehmens-Webseite, oft als reine Visitenkarte im World Wide Web betrachtet, bietet mehr Chancen fr den Vertrieb als bisher technisch und konzeptionell umgesetzt wurde. Besonders bei Geschftsmodellen, die eine E-Commerce-Plattform fr den Onlinehandel nutzen, gibt es Anstrengungen die Kundenbeziehungen zu vertiefen. Die Erfolgskontrolle mittels Webanalyse-Tools wird immer mehr genutzt, somit wchst das Verstndnis fr die Messung z. B. von Online-Marketingkampagnen. Eine signifikante Problemstellung gilt es dennoch zu lsen. Diese Analysesysteme bieten zumeist vergangenheitsbezogene Daten ber Besucher. Das Echtzeit-Internet fordert mehr Optionen in diesem Zusammenhang. Eine Mglichkeit ist die bidirektionale Verbindung zum Web-Besucher ohne das Medium zu wechseln - ein zentraler Vorteil fr die direkte Marketing-Kommunikation. Dabei bietet ein professionelles Live Chat/Support-System Abhilfe, das eine bidirektionale Kommunikation mit dem Web-Besucher ermglicht. Ziel ist es den kompletten Online-Vertriebsprozess von der Bereitstellung der Daten in Echtzeit, der Analyse, der Erfolgskontrolle und der Mglichkeit zur Kommunikation abzudecken. In diesem Buch wird erlutert: Wo Live Support-Systeme ihren Platz in der Marketing-Kommunikation im E-Business-Umfeld einnehmen. Dabei leitet der theoretische Teil ber zur Studie, die ausgewhlte Lsungsanbieter auf dem deutschen Markt untersucht, technische Features vergleicht und die unterschiedlichen konzeptionellen Anstze erlutert. Die beispielhafte Darstellung der Implementierung eines Live Support-Systems in die webbasierte Kundenbetreuung gibt Aufschluss ber die Einsatzmglichkeiten respektive Vorteile und Problemstellungen dieses Kontaktkanals. Das abschlieende Experteninterview bewertet den deutschen Markt und gibt Ein- bzw. Ausblicke zu den Themen Technik, Kommunikation und Datenschutz.   Biographische Informationen Jrgen Frster wurde 1974 in Mainburg geboren und wuchs in der Metropolregion Nrnberg auf. Nach dem Erlangen der Fachhochschulreife sammelte er als kfm. Angestellter Erfahrungen in der Kundenbetreuung bzw. Dialogmarketing in Projekten fr Finanzdienstleistungs-, Telekommunikations- und Informationstechnologieunternehmen bei Outsourcing-Dienstleistern. Um die erworbenen praktischen Kenntnisse auszubauen, entschied sich der Autor fr ein Studium der Betriebswirtschaft an der Georg-Simon-Ohm Hochschule fr angewandte Wissenschaften. Als Werkstudent und Diplomand befasste er sich tiefergehend mit dem Thema "Kundenbetreuung im Web 2.0". Mit erfolgreichem Abschluss des Studiums 2009 nahm er die Herausforderung als Online-Marketing Consultant bei der New Elements GmbH an, und betreut verschiedene interne und externe Projekte im Bereich

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Consumer Behaviour in Tourism takes a broad view of tourism and looks at consumer behaviour in a number of sectors including: * tour operation * tourist destinations * hospitality * visitor attractions * retail travel * transport Now fully revised and updated, the second edition of this bestselling text looks provides an international perspective on consumer behaviour in tourism through the use of numerous examples and case studies drawn from a range of different regions of the world; an exploration of national differences in consumer culture; the dissemination of research findings and concepts from a number of different regions of the world. This second edition includes new chapters on ecotourists, destination image and choice, terrorism and the tourism market, the internet and tourist behaviour and the rise of the no frills markets. It also includes new material on health concerns and government travel advice, events and festivals, business travel, national and cultural differences and more. Each chapter features conclusions, discussion points and essay questions, and exercises, at the end, to help tutors direct student-centred learning and to allow the reader to check their understanding of what they have read. Cases include: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Currency exchange rates as a determinant of tourist behaviour; The adventure tourism market in the USA and New Zealand; The Chinese tourism market; The Islamic tourism market; The impact of terrorism on tourist behaviour; The health tourism market including cosmetic surgery tourism; The UK outbound market; The international conference market; Travellers experience websites; The international theme park market; The festivals and events market around the world 'Dark' tourism * Fully revised with new case studies including the Chinese and Islamic tourism markets, the impact of terrorism on tourist behaviour, the international conference market and adventure tourism marketing in the USA and New Zealand * Theories revised and expanded to include national and cultural differences, destination choice and how purchase decisions are made, the effect of the internet, terrorism, health concerns, government travel advice and much more * An interactive text with exercises and discussion points

Price: $54.95 USD

Praise for Energy Convergence "Another outstanding contribution to the understanding of risk management by Peter Fusaro. A useful work for the workplace, executive management training, and the classroom." -Dennis O'Brien, Director, Institute for Energy Economics and Policy and John A. Brock Professor for Energy Economics and Policy Sarkeys Energy Center, University of Oklahoma "Energy Convergence identifies and addresses the key elements in the ongoing development and evolution of the energy trading markets. This book is an important addition to the literature on contemporary energy trading markets. It pulls together in one place thoughtful discussions about the way the energy markets are converging from different starting points." -Andrea S. Kramer, Partner, McDermott, Will & Emery, and author of Financial Products: Taxation, Regulation, and Design "Peter Fusaro is the worldly-wisest commentator on commodity markets and exchanges that I know and should have been listened to far more often than he has been. This new book provides everyone with a fresh opportunity. With several colleagues he has written the best up-to-date introduction to market risk management and energy trading which should be studied by both the new practitioner and the oldest hand on the exchange." -Napier Collyns, Cofounder of Global Business Network, former Public Director of the New York Mercantile Exchange "Peter Fusaro has once again assembled a team of energy professionals to provide their views on emerging commodity markets and evaluation techniques. The book provides an excellent overview of market developments and market interactions, as well as presenting the business case for convergence of commodity markets via online trading and the Internet. Overall, a very unique and insightful book." -Wayne Moore, Manager, Risk Control, Generation and Energy Marketing, Southern Company "Considering the recent upheavals in U.S. energy markets, from the California electricity crisis to Enron's demise, this volume provides a timely introduction for anyone interested in developing a better understanding of the turbulent nature and complex interdependencies of energy markets." -Riaz Siddiqi, President and CEO, Capstone Global Energy, LLC

Price: $54.99 USD

The effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on globalization, innovation, growth and productivity are immense. ICTs contribute to the globalization of production and capital markets by reducing the cost of information and communication. These technologies have certainly made it easier for multinationals and other companies to spread production facilities all over the world, to co-ordinate international marketing campaigns, and to ease collaboration in projects taking place on different continents. While the anti-globalization movement may claim otherwise, individuals and consumers also have much to gain from the internationalization of trade and commerce. Using the Internet, consumers can today find products on sale in other countries or not available in their own countries, and compare their standard of living to those of others. It is also, as a result of the Internet, much easier for consumers to become better informed. As a result of this increased access to information, markets work more efficiently. Furthermore, globalization has speeded up the diffusion of innovation, bringing new knowledge, products and services to developing countries in months rather than years or decades. This book deals with the implications of a global economy and the emergence of a society permeated by information and communication technologies. The book includes a special focus on telecommunications markets and policy and on user perspectives. The editors have been careful to select a wide range of papers by expert scholars and policy analysts in order to capture the book issues from a number of perspectives. The book represents a holistic approach, bringing to bear a number of critical perspectives: economics, engineering, business, organization theory, psychology, policy analysis, and security concerns. The volume succeeds in providing a multi-faceted and rich view of the book topic.

Price: $155.00 USD