Are Web 2.0 Sites Useful?
April 29, 2008
Okay, so maybe defining Web 2.0 can be a challenge for
non-techies and technology virgins. But it’s just too d
ifficult to ignore something that is so ubiquitous that it a
ctually reminds you of Calvin Klein underwear ads back in
the day. However, when there’s so much being said about
something and it’s actually being hailed just for being
itself, wouldn’t it be dangerous on your part to ignore it?
Web 2.0 has become such a buzzword that people have begun
asking the inevitable: are Web 2.0 sites useful?
What are Web 2.0 sites?
Web 2.0 sites are easily recognizable. Let’s just take a
look at how websites have evolved from way back when. If
you’ve been using the Internet for some time, you probably
remember the days when websites were merely for browsing.
You click on the site, read some stuff, look at some
pictures, click some more, probably copy a few useful
items and then leave.
These days, though, people can do so much more than just
look at a site and read entries. People actually go to a
site and participate in something and do so actively. Gone
are the days when all you could do with a web page was watch
it. Here are a few more reasons why you will find Web 2.0
sites very useful indeed:
Knowledge-based sharing
Web 2.0 represents one of the best things that have happened
to millions of websites. A website with technologies based
on Web 2.0 allows people to share information easily. A
great example here is Wikipedia, a site that has grown and
expanded thanks to contributions from experts, professionals
and enthusiasts around the world.
A site using Web 2.0 technologies is very useful for
individuals who want to bring an issue or a problem to light,
invite other individuals to take a look, make suggestions and
contribute directly.
Interactivity
A great characteristic of Web 2.0 technology is that it
allows people to log in and interact. No longer are people
expected to remain as passive observers – they can actually
participate actively with other users. This is very useful
for several reasons. Interactivity allows a site to become
a platform for sharing and information exchange.
People also are more likely to stay longer in websites that
offer so much more than just plain text or images. A Web
2.0 site owner can also offer so much more, including
interactive games, quizzes, videos and surveys, while at the
same time taking advantage of lightning-fast connection.
Communication
It is in people’s nature to want to reach out and communicate
with others. Websites utilizing Web 2.0 technologies are
very useful when it comes to this need. MySpace, that
repository of billions of personalities (some real, others
fake) is one such example. Without Web 2.0, MySpace would
just be a boring slumbook, something to read and go back to
for updates. Well, MySpace is so much more than that –
people can actually log on to it, create their profile, check
out others’ profiles, leave messages, communicate actively,
exchange information and just plain hang out in cyberspace.
Web 2.0 technology in a site also allows a user to
communicate with other users in real time, cutting back on
delays and virtually eliminating the problem of physical
distance. This, after all, is how online networks are born
and bred.
Entertainment
If you’re still doubtful about whether or not Web 2.0 sites
are useful, think fun and excitement. Some of the most
popular websites are not just informative – they are
actually entertaining. People log on to these sites to
watch, comment, laugh, be amused, get shocked or intrigued.
Who ever thought that a website could provide a means to
entertain and be entertained? As a means for
self-expression, a Web 2.0 site remains an unbeatable
contender.
Here is where I end for today.
I really hope you enjoyed this!
Successful wishes
Angela
Angela
http://www.social-marketing-database.com
http://marketing.services4all.biz
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