If you haven’t noticed, the internet seems to be an ever changing evolution that is happening right before our very eyes. Do you remember the days of having to dial up to AOL and providers like Prodigy? You’d have to wait literally 15 to 20 minutes to find an access number that was not busy just to be able to check your e-mail. Well, in the last two decades the internet has gone from old technology to changing literally every year.

Today we welcome what many web savvy users and marketers call “Web 2.0.” What exactly is Web 2.0 you ask? Quite simply, Web 2.0 can be defined as the new world wide web. It’s the most efficient way of bringing people together to solve the internet’s real goal, sharing information. Web 2.0 is a concept where webmasters focus on building communities, rather than plain websites, to have people from all over the world come together to communicate. These people can communicate by photos, music, text, and now video. Web 2.0 has always been around, but 2006 and beyond is when it has really started to explode. It’s now being looked at as “the wave of the future.”

Now, you’re here reading this post because you want to learn how to use Web 2.0 to bring massive amounts of traffic to your website. Well, don’t worry, you’re about to learn secrets smart and innovative marketers have been using for years to monetize their websites. Follow me through the next few posts (you may want to subscribe to the blog’s RSS Feed, so that you don’t miss anything) as I completely expose how to use the new Web 2.0 to your full benefit.

What exactly is Web 2.0?
Alright, so you’re still in the dark as to what exactly Web 2.0 is. Don’t worry, I’m going to put it in very easy terms for you to understand. Let’s go over what I call the old internet vs the new web 2.0 internet.

Old Internet:

• Plain website with content to present the visitor with information.
• One-way e-mail to you.
• Content on website 100% controlled by you.
• Now, the fact is, there have always been message boards and forums, but the NEW internet is making the whole internet social and interactive.

New Web 2.0 Internet:

• Completely encourages social interaction among users
• Medians in which users can interact in real time
• Sharing of text, pictures, video, and audio.
• Updates automatically with little moderation

The reality is Web 2.0 is taking over the internet because of how massive and viral a website can become practically overnight. It allows the webmaster with the best capability to become a “giant” on the internet.

Examples of the New Web 2.0 Internet:
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter
Craigslist
Wikipedia.org
Squidoo.com
Blogs

For the most part, everyone is switching to Web 2.0 due to the response these websites are receiving from their visitors. Plain and simple, visitors to websites now want to be able to interact and see information in real time, not when the webmaster feels like updating the website. Web 2.0 websites are not built using the old programming of just simple HTML and PHP. They are built using advanced coding in order to allow real time and open communication among users.

Why are Web 2.0 sites so popular?

• Unrestricted space for webmaster and visitors to communicate.
• Web 2.0 looks at the web as a platform for building communities and conversation.
• The overall vision and philosophy promotes a “need for participation” in which the user feels a sense of urgency and fulfillment for contributing to the development of the website.
• The web simply becomes a platform for individuals to connect with others.

Web 2.0 plain and simple is a collection of some of the most addicting websites with the most loyal user bases the internet has ever seen.

Don’t believe me yet? Well, let’s go over how Web 2.0 is changing how business is done. Using Web 2.0 is quickly being regarded as one of the most efficient and profitable ways to perform business ever known.

Businesses are quickly learning that Web 2.0 is the way its consumers, managers, and employees want to operate. Rather than the old way of performing business where information is being placed from the top (CEO) to the bottom, information is now being passed in real time for the whole business to see. One of the most apparent ways we’ve seen business evolve in the past few years is with the introduction of “LinkedIn.com” into the business world. LinkedIn in simple terms is a “Business MySpace.” In a future post I’m going to go over exactly how you can use LinkedIn for your business to bring in more money, profit, and connections.

Software and hardware is now being made with Web 2.0 in mind. Rather than having individuals only use stand-alone systems, company’s can now encourage the use of joint computers and software. Meetings can now be held online in an interactive manner, problem solving can happen immediately, and data can now easily be shared from one person to the next with no problem at all. As with anything new and existing, with benefits there is also known drawbacks. Business has long been known as a place of structure for employees and consumers to follow. With Web 2.0, businesses are quickly learning it’s a community of chaos in which the business must constantly stay on the cutting edge. There are definitely risks apparent for businesses that choose to operate using a Web 2.0 standard, but the benefits most certainly outweigh the risks in most situations.

In closing this post I want to really point out that Web 2.0 is a direction that users and businesses are taking. It’s been proven and very apparent day after day that users prefer to communicate on a community that encourages its users to join in. Now, I’m sure you are wondering “Yes, that’s great, but how in the heck do I profit off of a Web 2.0 website?” The answer is, there is MANY ways. You don’t have to create the next Facebook in order to gain massive profits off of Web 2.0 websites, all you need is to put in some good old fashioned hard work and show a bit of creativity. For now, be prepared to step into areas of technology and ideas that I’m sure a good percentage of you have never even considered.

In the next few posts we will be going over how to use my four favorite Web 2.0 websites and techniques to bring in massive traffic to your websites. Follow me with an open mind and be prepared to be amazed at some of these techniques.

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