What is Web 2.0?

Web 2.0. You've probably heard this phase thrown around lately, but what exactly is Web 2.0? Is it another version of the internet? A way of thinking about the web and websites? A new system of usability?

Quite simply, it's all of the above. Wikipedia, a free on-line encyclopedia (and a good example of a Web 2.0 site) defines "Web 2.0" as a "supposed second-generation of Internet-based services - such as social networking sites, online collaboration tools (wikis), and communication tools that let people collaborate and share information online in ways previously unavailable."

Others define Web 2.0 as a new wave of technical standards that focus on advanced techniques to ensure website usability. Web 2.0 really describes the new generation of websites and the internet. Think of sites like MySpace, Netflix, Shutterfly, Café Press, Flickr, YouTube, podcasting blogs, forums...the list goes on and on. They tend to be community-based sites where users can upload their own content for others to review, share, comment on, and collaborate.

This new shift signals a change in user-expectations. Today's web users want more. They don't just want to read information. They want that information faster, when they want it, whenever they want it, the way they want it. Some say this shift was inevitable. With the death of dial-up internet, broadband demanded faster websites, bigger experiences.

User's wanted...

Users wanted	Web 2.0 response
Access to experts	Blogs and forums
Faster alternatives to reading text	Streaming audio and video
More information online	Community blogs/Q&A forums
More of life online	Online movie rentals, online banking, games
Socialize online	Social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Classmates)
24/7 access to the internet	Cell phone/Smart phone ready websites

And today's business owners want more:

Businesses wanted	Web 2.0 response
Grow/expand site whenever they wanted	Content Management Systems
Longer visit duration from site visitors	Sticky content - visitor-centered information (resource libraries, forums, blogs)
Sites accessible to people with disabilities	Section 508 web accessibility standards
High search engine ranking	Search engine optimization
Make advertising money on their website	Google Adsense

Web 2.0 and selecting the right web designer:

Web 2.0 is not only changing what's on the web, but also how it works. Today's users and technologies alike demand more. This is why selecting the right web designer is key. Be sure to select a designer/developer who knows the trends, knows the technology and has both the resources and the knowledge to use it to your advantage. Internet best practices are changing as fast as user expectations are increasing in complexity. Don't be left behind. Make sure you're in good hands.

Want to learn more about...

...how your business can take advantage of new Web 2.0 technologies or how changing expectations mean business opportunity for you? Give us a call at 562.436.5802 and we'll help you determine how to best utilize existing and emerging technologies to communicate with your customers and prospects.

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