The term “Web 2.0” suggests that there was something at an earlier
time called “Web 1.0.” In fact, there wasn’t. There was simply the
Internet, or the “World Wide Web,” which started modestly, and grew
like crazy.
“Web 2.0” is a name coined several years ago by a gentleman called
Tim O’Reilly. He used it to label the raft of changes that were occurring
in the design of websites, and the many new platforms, technologies
and social interactions that were springing up on the web in quick
succession. Here are just a few examples:
1. Suddenly websites weren’t showing only text and still images —
but also more complex media.
2. Web pages were originally packed to the gunnels with text, ads
and such, and were mostly left-aligned. With Web 2.0, it
became popular to center them in the browser, use larger fonts
and leave more space on the page, for much more user
friendliness.
3. Websites became interactive with the visitor in a variety of
ways
4. Pages were no longer organized only with links to other pages
and sites, but also according to elements like tags.
5. The users of web pages didn’t just read and run — they stayed
and gave feedback.
6. Some web sites allowed users to edit them (a concept known as
a wiki).
7. Blogs began to grow dramatically in numbers, to where they
now attract more visitors than full websites.
Web 2.0 doesn’t use websites just as places for pointless copy.
Instead, it sees the web as a computing platform in itself. A platform
that allows complex applications to be developed, to the point where
they can end up replacing the old-style desktop programs.
Some of these applications have already been developed.
A Web 2.0 site is no longer a simple page, like those of a book.
Instead, it’s a gateway to a special kind of fast-response world —
regardless of whether that world is your company’s website, a
community site, a product you sell, or a service you provide.
Here are some typical Web 2.0 innovations.
For example, would you like to:
1. Start your business website with a 30 second video of yourself?
2. Have a blog as your main website?
3. Get rapid responses to your ideas, have your stories and
articles voted on?
4. Conjure up a stampede of visitors?
In Web 2.0, users interact in a very personal way. They exchange
ideas and impressions — and even in many cases make friends, and
develop a special kind of community. These users access their favorite
sites on a regular basis, and play an active role in the way the website
and the community evolve. They’re “sticky” visitors. And they hunt
in packs, often hundreds at a time. Meaning that if one or two of
them find (and love) your site, likely as not you’ll have
300 visitors by nightfall! Which could quickly turn into
thousands, if your site is bright,attractive and innovative,
has some intelligent things to say, and cross-links to some other
great material.
“Web 2.0” is the term used nowadays to describe all these radical
changes that are happening on the world wide web — and the next
generation of sites which adopt them. Remember, the main purpose
is to look at Web 2.0 from the viewpoint of the big sales and marketing
advantages it gives you. Especially while the fuddy-duddies are still
soldiering on with… what the heck, let’s call it Web 1.0!
