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Let’s jump right to the point—not only is Web 2.0 real, it is the future of internet interaction, and business. As defined by Wikipedia, Web 2.0 is as follows – “A term often applied to a perceived ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a full-fledged computing platform serving web applications to end users. Ultimately Web 2.0 services are expected to replace desktop computing applications for many purposes”. So what is the ongoing transition? What is meant by a full fledged computing platform? How will desktop appliances ever be replaced? This blog entry has the answers to these questions along with an in depth look at what is Web 2.0, and will give insight into the proper way to harness and make the most of this new internet movement.

The promise of Web 2.0 is delivered in the form of richer and more open technology. The application of this technology, with a focus on user experience and customer service, is helping companies achieve their desired expectations in regards to what the first dot-com-explosion could not deliver. These technologies, coupled with open source and collaborative development, are driving companies in all industries to take a closer look at how they are best using this technology to meet the needs of their business and provide the best user experience possible for their customers.

Web 2.0 is about customer service. If you find ways to make your products and services friendlier, easier to use, and, in some cases, impossible to live without, then embracing the new applications that are Web 2.0 will have a broadening effect throughout your entire organization. Many Web 2.0 technologies help businesses ensure that enhanced efficiency, combined with customer ease of use, can be achieved immediately.

Technologies such as weblogs, social networking, wikis, and podcasts (among numerous others) are becoming the technical norm, and imply significant change in web usage; change that will lead to the rise in economic value of the Web—surpassing the impact of the dot com boom of the late 1990’s.

So what are the applied characteristics of the most internet savvy and efficient (most “Web 2.0-ness”)? One must recognize, and harness data as a driving force. Open source development is providing innovation for the assembly of systems and sites by synergizing features from distributed and independent developers. Web 2.0 will allow for an open architecture, a virtual democracy if you will, that encourages users to add value to the application as they use it, all the while maintaining the ease-of-picking-up by early adopters. Social-networking, enhanced graphical interfaces, and delivery of applications entirely through a browser are a few of the necessary mediums for harnessing the internet shift that is Web 2.0.

The most influential sites (i.e. EBay, Craig’s List, Wikipedia, MySpace, Amazon.com, Google, Apple, and Yahoo) grasp the characteristics of Web 2.0 by employing the philosophy that e-businesses will grow in effectiveness the more people interact with them on a personal level. The unique features of e-business revolve around building applications and services—both which must be taken advantage of—that derive their power from the human connections and network effects that Web 2.0 will make possible.

So it is imperative, that companies of all shapes and sizes take a closer look at how Web 2.0 can help them. This starts by aligning business goals with the tools you have in place for accomplishing necessary objectives. If you are starting from ground zero, then you will want to have an audit done to help expose Web 2.0 opportunities and possibilities of new profit centers.

Whether or not you’re a beginner to internet businessing, or a veteran web provider, the concepts, applications, and techniques that make up the basis for Web 2.0 is something you must adhere to, in order to maintain and offer the most successful internet experiences to your consumers.

Friday, October 19th, 2007 Both comments and pings are currently closed.

By Haley January Eckels