What is Web 2.0

Today's question comes from Tom J. from Ohio and he writes, "I have been hearing a lot about Web 2.0. What is that exactly?

Tom, thanks for your question!

The term “Web 2.0” is being touted as “The Next Big Thing” for the Internet, and if the popularity of this new breed of highly interactive sites is any indication, it might just be the case. Which begs the question: “How can I convert my site to keep up with (and cash in on) the current trend known as “Web 2.0?” Before you get all excited about re-tooling your site to reflect this new phase of “user-driven” websites, let’s take a look at just what “Web 2.0” is all about. Once you understand the terminology and the thought process behind it, only then can you properly apply it to your online endeavors.

The term itself is indicative of a new version of software. Only in this case it’s used in reference to the way the Internet itself is developing. “Web 1.0” is what the ‘Net has been up until the recent explosion of media and multi-media applications for websites. It was essentially a text-based approach, much like a direct mail marketing piece, with little if any interaction with the user. Everything was static—and wasn’t very user-friendly at times.

With the advent of technologies and concepts like audio and video for the web, along with blogs and podcasting, the focus began to shift from the website itself to the content it was delivering. As Paul Colligan has so aptly stated, it is “time-shifting.” Content is no longer chained to a specific site or place, nor is it static. It can be accessed in a variety of forms and in a variety of ways, irrespective of place or time of day.

But technology is only one aspect of this “new way to Internet.” Another fundamental feature of Web 2.0 is interactivity. The website must be designed to let the user do what they want to do when and how they want to do it. Of course, this is all tied to content. The user must be able to access content that is readily available to them in a variety of formats. And you should also provide ways to encourage user interaction, user feedback and comments. This is vital because the new goal is to create experiences, not sites. With the continuing advance of Web 2.0 technology and thought, providing a service is now deemed to be much more valuable than merely providing a place.