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Don't Miss This Excellent Book! 
As a web professional, I read many books written for my industry. SMART STARTUPS is probably the single most useful book I've yet read on Web 2.0, and it makes the phenomenon of Social Networking online entirely accessible and exciting. If I were teaching these days, it would be an indispensable textbook. As it is, I always insist that clients who approach me about social networking sites read this slim but powerful volume before we begin even talking about development. There are invaluable examples of successful startups and cogent discussions of what factors contributed to their success. This is a gold mine of information for the would-be web entrepreneur. I heartily encourage you to get a copy for yourself and one for each of your partners and/or investors.
Dreams and practical advice can go hand in hand
My copy of smart start ups is highlighted, full of post it notes and gets reviewed everytime I am thinking about next steps for my social networking site. (www.imspirit.com) Davids approach to show you what has worked in the past and what is working now is both encouraging and enlightening. I have avoided some common mistakes because he pointed out things that didn't work and gives you real sites to look at and study for their model of success. My favorite advice is to put a cold cloth on your head when you are tempted to try to grow a social site by marketing it. He is not a soft touch on what works, he makes it very clear. He explains the specific business models that have transitioned from physical communities into wildly successful cyber communities such as weight Watchers. The price of the book is already paid in the preface: " I have written this book to encourage the massive and worldwide formation of useful and profitable online and mobile phone communities..." Whatever your dream is, there is encouragement and sound advice in this book! We have just gotten started but I know I have the information to make great decisions and to let my dream come true.
Great overview, but do your own research 
I bought this book to get an overview of the social networking space. I found it very valuable. He does a good job laying out the space, the levers to use, etc. It gives you a good idea of how to think as a socnet business person. This space changes very fast, so a lot of the ideas are already being implemented in various forms. Its emphasis of mobile over online is debatable two years on. verall, great for someone who is not too familiar with the space.
Mindblowing with a wealth of knowledge
Unbelievable amount of research on the topic. Finished the book in two sittings because I couldn't put it down. The formula for starting a great business is priceless. I've never read anything that helped break down the different channels of revenue which is very important if you want to start an online community. I enjoyed the chapter about product formation. Having a community that will help solve a huge problem is very important. The bigger the problem, the more someone will pay to join. The different business models at the end are brilliant. The only problem now is getting a team together. So who's coming with me?
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Great Book - Provides Tools and Invaluable Suggestions
David Silver's "Smart Start-Ups" is by far the best book I've read about social communities. Besides providing terrific examples of communities that work, Silver offers a concrete recipe for internet entrepreneurs in the form of his "First Law of Entrepreneurship" and "The Eight DEJ Factors" (DEJ = Demonstrable Economic Justification). At a time when some venture capitalists question the traditional community business model, focused on advertising, this business veteran tells serious readers how to make money. His case study for Fungible.com makes it easy to put pen to paper for anyone seeking to build a social network. What I particularly found useful was the way Silver translates marketing, bottom-line finance and behavioral economics into a user-friendly message - If you want your business to succeed, go online now! Thanks Mr. Silver - great job.
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