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Digital Darwinism 7 Breakthrough Business Strategies for Surviving in the Cutthroat Web Economy |
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Author |
Evan I. Schwartz (also the author of Webonomics) |
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Published |
1999 |
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Synopsis |
True to its title, Digital Darwinism discusses the winners and losers of the evolving internet economy as Schwartz reviews and evaluates various B2C and B2B internet models to hit the screen. His book reflects on the struggle of internet companies competing for consumer loyalty amidst increasing market sophistication. We gain insight into the major types of internet business models and the reasons for their success or failure. From this, we learn about key strategies for developing an enduring online presence. |
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Each major topic is emphasized with specific examples of internet companies and resulting key strategic recommendations for firm executives with the charge to develop an internet strategy. Schwartz provides a "survival list" on each key internet strategy to guide the executive’s approach to e-business. |
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What I got out of this book… |
It is important to note that this book was published in 1999, giving us a starting point to evaluate the emerging business models and his predictions on which models will be successful. We are thus able to determine the outcomes of some of these internet pioneers, particularly in light of the stabilization of internet company market valuations in early 2000. |
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The real value of this book comes from the detailed descriptions that Schwarz provides on many of the now-famous internet legends and up-and-coming innovators. He describes the value proposition, strategy, as well as strengths and weaknesses of well-known names such as Yahoo, Priceline, E*Trade, Amazon, Napster, and Band-X, as well as more obscure but equally interesting companies such as thelobsternet.com and shades.com, among many others. |
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After reading this book, a cynic would think that nothing in Schwartz’s book is new. We’ve known about effective branding, core competencies, supply chain efficiency, strategic partnerships, etc. for some time now. What Schwartz is able to do, however, is to remind us that these very same critical principles are still relevant to the new economy. |
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Schwartz’s 7 Strategies for Internet Survival |
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Build a brand that stands for solving problems |
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Allow your prices to fluctuate freely with supply and demand |
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Let affiliate partners do your marketing for you |
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Create valuable bundles of information and services |
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Sell custom-made products online, then manufacture them |
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Add new value to transactions between buyers and sellers |
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Integrate digital commerce with absolutely everything |
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Parting Darwinism Insight |
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As each successive generation of Web commerce passes, there will be more rational companies and fewer irrational ones, more fit business models and fewer unfit ones. In the future, there may be no such thing as an Internet company. The Internet is becoming so important that all companies will eventually become Internet companies. And Internet start-ups will have less and less of an initial advantage. But that doesn’t mean that today’s Internet start-ups are all operating within a bubble that will pop. It may just mean that many of the more traditional species are undervalued. ¾ Digital Darwinism, page 192 |
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