Web 2.0

What is "Web 2.0"

[Excerpted from Wikipedia]

Web 2.0, a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in 2003 and popularized by the first Web 2.0 conference in 2004, refers to a perceived second-generation of web-based communities and hosted services such as social networking sites, wikis, and folksonomies that facilitate collaboration and sharing between users. O'Reilly Media titled a series of conferences around the phrase, and it has since become widely adopted.

Though the term suggests a new version of the web, it does not refer to an update to World Wide Web technical specifications, but to changes in the ways systems developers have used the web platform. According to Tim O'Reilly, "Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the internet as platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform."

As used by its supporters, the phrase "Web 2.0" can also refer to one or more of the following:

• The transition of websites from isolated information silos to sources of content and functionality, thus becoming computing platforms serving web applications to end-users
• A social phenomenon embracing an approach to generating and distributing web content itself, characterized by open communication, decentralization of authority, freedom to share and re-use, and "the market as a conversation"
• Enhanced organization and categorization of content, emphasizing deep linking
• A rise in the economic value of the web, possibly surpassing the impact of the dot-com boom of the late 1990s

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Read More....

Small Business and Web 2.0

So what does all of this mean to a small business?  Basically, it is moving from viewing the web as a separate "after-thought"  or "adjunct" to a business, to the web being a central focus on how a business is run. The internet and web-related technologies become part of every aspect of business.

To get a better picture, let's start with some typical tasks that a small business would use web technologies as a focus:

1. Customer Relations Management
   1. Using a web-based CRM application so that all aspects of managing a client is available 24/7 to all members of the company
   2. Leads generation - Focusing all marketing materials toward the website for leads and sales requests
   3. Survey and customer feedback opportunities
2. Customer Support
   
   1. Weblog that posts articles and FAQs for 24/7 access to important product and services materials
   2. Problem Ticket Form (Make sure you respond)
   3. Newsletters and detailed articles about using and enhancing your products and services
3. Developing Community
   1. Forums for user-to-user support
   2. Blogs for testimonials and user experiences
4. Sales and Payments
   1. Online purchasing and payment
   2. Specials and new opportunities (Test marketing of new products and services)
5. Business-to-Business
   1. Inventory availability
   2. Cross marketing via RSS feeds
   3. Supplies and inventory purchasing
6. Business Operations
   1. Documentation development - private wikis and blogs
   2. CRM functions (see #1)
   3. Project management
   4. Sales management

It should be clear from this listing that much of what is done in a business can be "hosted" on the web.  But why do it this way? There are a lot of different answers to this question, but the key issues center around a number of important qualities:

• Cross Platform -  anytime, anywhere.
  • Version proof, -get off of the "latest version rat race".
  • OS (operating system) independent
  • Location independent -  customers and employees can access resources anywhere, anytime.
• Backup and update transparency
  • The provider of the service handles all maintenance, backups, and updates.
  • Always running the latest version - NO updates, NO upgrades.
• Availability, 24/7
  • Customers can shop, research, or post a problem AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.
  • Remote employees can work at their own scheduled pace, saving time and gas.
• Participation
  • Customers and employees feel a sense of community and loyality.
  • Opportunities for participation increase quality of service, customer visits, and recurring sales.
  • Open access and interaction helps you keep up with the needs of your employees and customers.

If any of these ideas appeal to you and how you would like to see your company grow and develop, contact us at SonicSpider, a Web 2.0 Company!

SonicSpider LLC, High Performance Web Development

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Posted by John Moore on June 29, 2007 10:34:56 PM PDT #