To first understand what it is that people are calling Web 2.0, you should know a little about what is Web 1.0.

The first version, what went through the initial Internet Bubble, was a process of sending out information in a one way format. It allowed for users to interact on a singular platform, but didn’t allow information to move between systems, or even between users of the same system.

Web 2.0 is often referred to by a series of technologies; AJAX, Flex, Flash, and more. Others will refer to it by the style of the design of the web site.

While in reality, many of sites defined as the second generation of the web utilize these technologies, it is not what defines them.

Wikipedia, which we will discuss in greater detail later on, defines it as a series of “…web-based communities and hosted services such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies, which aim to facilitate creativity, collaboration, and sharing among users. …[I]t does not refer to an update to any technical specifications, but to changes in the ways software developers and end-users use webs”. This general definition came from Tim O’Reilly in 2004.

Were Web 1.0 was more of a one-way street, Web 2.0 is more of a two-way street allowing communication between initial author/publisher and the community, and then between the community and itself.

By allowing the users to share and comment between themselves, it allows people to gain additional insights, allow mistakes to be corrected, and share additional points of view. This is the strength of Web 2.0. Next we’ll look at how companies can use some this to help build and expand their customer base and get buy in from their employees. It is sometimes harder to see when being looked at from a non-Internet based company, but we’ll see examples.

If you have experience in using the Web 2.0 in your company, feel free to contact us, or add a comment.

Photo Credit: dogbomb

The results of a survey released at the end of 2007 show that small businesses aren’t buying into the hype of Web 2.0.

The study asked more than 300 small business owners in the U.S. to rate the relevance of different Web 2.0 tools as a means of obtaining business management information over the next five years. Only 14 percent of respondents said they believe that blogs will be very or extremely important. Wikis earned 21 percent with social networking sites and Web casts scoring 22 and 31 percent of the vote, respectively.

The results were attributed to small business owners wanting to know how it will help them. They want to know how will it expand or simplify this their existing business practice. I believe their reluctance comes down to two specific reasons:

1. Remember the hype and promises of the web in 1999-2001, and
2. A lot of what is shown is for social purposes with teenage and college students. Few businesses are shown being profitable with these ventures.

So what I plan is over the next few articles showing how small businesses, their employees, and their customers, can utilize Web 2.0. In these articles I plan to look at:

• What is “Web 2.0″?
• What is a Blog?
  • How do people use blogs…
    • to consume information?
    • to produce information?
  • How blog comments can help the author?
• How RSS feeds can be used for more than articles?
• What is a Wiki?
  • Building good documentation from Wikis.
  • Understanding the Wisdom of the Masses.
• What is Pod Casting?