Web 2.0 – a simple explanation

You can go online and find a long list of explanations of the term “Web 2.0″ – some are short, some are long, but few are simple. I’ll stick to a simple one – because we love simplicity! :)

Web 2.0 is basically bringing the Web to a level where we (humans) can better relate to it (the Web) and with each other. Human beings thrive in community, we love being part of a group, we yearn for a sense of belonging. Web 2.0 allows for that – it has thus been dubbed “Social Computing” – and thus the many terms with the word “Social” in them – Social Media, Social Software, Social Networking, Social Bookmarking, etc…

Web 2.0 is not a new thing, but it has only recently reached a level of maturity. For this reason we’re all hearing about it only now. You can find old blogs that were created in 2005 – but at that time no one caught on. Now people want blogs. I’ve had 2 clients tell me recently “I want a blog” – but they both admitted they didn’t know what a blog really was! That sounds ludicrous, but it illustrates the strength of the “hype” out there.

So we’ve established that Web 2.0 is this “new world” of the Web – it includes blogs, wikis, podcasts, and many other things. Suffice to say it’s the new wave of the Internet. It’s disrupting many industries, and maybe yours too. On our blog we have a post of a YouTube video by Brian Kardon of Forrester Research (click here to view it) – in the video Brian urges executives to embrace Social Networking (a cornerstone of Web 2.0) or at least try it, and to interact with blogs.

Recently we sat in a presentation by Red Ribbon Communications – a local PR agency, and it was stressed that blogs are a vital element of any PR campaign today.

Collaboration is also taking new meaning with Web 2.0. Have you heard of Wikipedia? I’m sure you have! It’s a free online encyclopedia – and it’s one that anyone can edit. It contains millions of articles, and is now available in many languages, and it grows constantly – by eager participants the world over. It became the world’s largest reference work in four years, surpassing even Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Web 2.0 is going to be around for a very long time, the best approach is to get involved, it might be worthwhile!