Ecom Hell: How to Make Money in Ecommerce Without Getting Burned Paperback – July 27, 2013

I have been in e-commerce for about 20 years.... The one thing i have learned is that you NEVER stop learning. When I saw a book named Ecom Hell... Well.. I had to read it. This is obviously written by someone that has been there - done that! And that's the only kind of business book I want to read anymore...A couple of take aways from the early section of the book... And from what I have experienced these are tips that just about everyone needs, some for the first time and some need to hear it a million times... Like me!1. Do not start an ecommerce business if you hate dealing with customers.You ALWAYS have to deal with Customers... If people are trusting you with their sale and you are taking their money - You will interact with Customers. You will make mistakes... It's gonna happen and you need to be prepared to deal with it with GREAT Customer service!2. You do not have to be first; you just have to be better.There is a lot of competition out there. Learning how to be better is the key. And ya know what... As you get better, the other companies will knock ya and they will copy you. Remember the sincerest for of flattery is imitation, and when you're at the top, they will ALWAYS knock ya!3. Value is what the customer perceives it to be, not what you think it isIt makes ABSOLUTELY no difference what you, or your husband or wife, mom or dad or Priest thinks of your product or company. If the Customer doesn't think you are wonderful... Unless Father John is gonna buy what you sell... It doesn't matter. This is a game of perception... And THEIR perception is the ONLY reality that matters. Period! Their perception is their reality and you will never convince them of anything different!Great book. It's written from the heart with a lot of a really good mind!

If you're planning on starting an eCommerce business, this book is a MUST read! The author, Shirley Tan walks you through on how NOT to fall into the trap of eCommerce Hell. She'll walk you through the steps you need to take to avoid it at all cost. I love how she brings her own experience from being in hell to bouncing back out and seeing the light! :) Now, she shares her expertise with us so we can avoid all the costly mistakes she made. It's well written and an easy read especially with all the checklists she includes. It's a book you'll definitely want to reference back to since this book has everything from A to Z in building your eCommerce business. I heard that she is currently creating a How-To Video Course on eCom Hell which is exciting for me since I'm a very visual learner. Can't wait to get my hands on that!

The Good: Some of the best advice I have seen in print where before venturing with your idea test it first via an affiliate program. Brilliant. This will save a lot of people headaches and heartaches. Her competitive analysis information is strong. The advice on drop shipping is some of the best I have read. You can tell Tan has experience in this area and dropshipping always sounds like a great avenue until you try it and run into all sorts of problems. She tackles them and gives solid solutions.The Bad: More detail on the recommendations is needed. For example, for merchant accounts, Tan recommends two companies but doesn't say why or the benefit of either one. Needed even more was a quick summary of each of her favorite tools from Google and why they are a big impact for her. The SEO section could have been stronger, but of course, you figured I'd say that. :)Overall: Solid. The $7 price is a steal for the information you are getting. I found the book to be well organized and the writing style was smooth. The main issue is there wasn't a lot of detail where I wanted it.

Whether you are contemplating an e-commerce store, just starting out in e-commerce or are a seasoned veteran, this book is packed with great advice and tips.Shirley Tan takes you through the maze of what it takes to be successful as an online shopkeeper. As hugely successful e-commerce store owner, Shirley learned exactly what needs to be done in this highly competitive business arena. Most importantly, she knows how to share her expertise and vast storehouse of information in a friendly and conversational way.Although there are some highly complex subject matters covered in her book, Shirley manages to break them down into clear explanations and understandable concepts. The homework assignments and checklists will help you on your journey.After 11 years in e-commerce, I find that Shirley's advice is "spot on" and I have gleaned more than a few tips and tricks to use in our business!

Ecom Hell by Shirley Tan, for me was an ideal balance of giving a very comprehensive overview as well as a large amount of supporting detail, explanations, examples and advice so that you walk away with a very strong sense of how to get started in Ecommerce or how to improve your existing Ecommerce business. I'm not new to business, but I am new to Ecommerce. The wisdom shared in this book was exactly what I needed to see, understand and digest to survey the landscape and all the steps involved in growing a strong & successful Ecommerce business.Frankly, the depth of wisdom given in the book was far more than I had expected. It was something one might expect to only learn in an expensive multi-day seminar or high end coaching program. Tan's book is a very pleasant and welcomed surprise!