What is the Web 2.0?
The “Web 2.0” is a term that refers to a perceived second generation of websites. The term was coined in 2004 by Tim O’Reilly. While it seems as though it refers to a new version of the internet, that is actually not the case. What it actually refers to is a change in the way end-users interact with the internet and web pages.
One of the changes in user interaction is using the web as a platform. What this means is that there are applications which we use that are not installed on our computers, but reside on the internet. The most common of these would be web mail applications such as yahoo mail, gmail, or hotmail (most of which have in fact been around since the “web 1.0″). Now we also have image editors, word processors, calenders, and spreadsheet applications which reside solely on the web. Even your documents can be saved on the web, so essentially you only need your computer to browse the internet.
The biggest thing to emerge from the “Web 2.0″ from a business or corporate standpoint is the blog, which stands for web log. It may as well stand for Better Listings On Google. Blogging allows you to keep your clients and customers up to date on the latest happenings in your business and industry as a whole. They keep users coming back to your website to find the latest news. Another aspect of blogs is the social interaction. Readers are allowed to comment which makes them a part of the action and encourages a two-way communication between the business and the client.
Another new part of web 2.0 sites are social networks, such as myspace and facebook. Social networking websites allow you to create a profile for yourself and then find people throughout the network to share thoughts, photos, ideas, and even business. You may or may not know these people in real life. Social networks are a great way to make new business relationships or to keep up with people you wouldn’t otherwise.
This is by no means either a complete definition of the “web 2.0″ or a complete list of the different types of sites included. These are a few of the parts that I feel are very applicable to the business world for now. Please stay tuned here as I will be posting more in depth about blogs and social networks in the coming weeks, or if you’re ready to dive in to the “blogosphere”, contact me and I will be happy to give you a free consultation of your online presence.
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