When Janice first told me what her book was about, my first thought was, “Well, okay — but what else is there to say about websites? Plus, I just outsource all this stuff.”
Of course, what I’d conveniently forgotten was what it’s like when you first start a business and you’re strapped for cash. The ideal is that you’ll get an expert to do it for you; the reality is usually somewhat different, unless you’re very lucky.
When I started reading Cracking The Website Code, I only got a few pages in and my first thought was, “I wish this book had been around when I started my business.” Because although there are tons of nerdy, technical manuals about how to code and how to do this, that, and the other, there isn’t much at all out there for the “normal” business owner who needs to know the basics about websites.
And even if you do get someone else to build your website, you still need to know the basics — otherwise, how do you know what you’re getting? How do you know you’re not being taken for a ride or sold a lemon?
Janice’s book is filled with smart, practical, simple stuff you need to know about the online world. And the regular exercises mean you actually get stuff done. Unlike so many business books, Janice’s focus is on practical actions that make a difference right now.
If you’re a business owner just starting out, and you don’t have the budget for a professional web developer, you need to read this book. And if you do have the budget, you still need to read this book because you’ll be able to stay in full control of your new website as the experts develop it for you.