Even though the web is at the brink of a revolution, there are still countless people who are not up to speed with Web 2.0 and what it means for their companies, their websites, and, most importantly, their customers. So, we at Digital Function searched far and wide for all the information on Web 2.0 to reveal the quiet storm brewing over the Internet.
So, first thing’s first. Web 2.0 is not some unattainable, expensive piece of software that you buy and install on your site or your computer. It’s not a subscription service or a pay-per-use system. Web 2.0 can best be described as a movement in the use of the web. Initially, the web was used as a one-to-many channel of communication for entities to publish the information they deemed acceptable and interesting for the public. Interactivity, or feedback, from the visitor was not required or solicited and definitely not allowed. Enter Tim O’Reilly, CEO of O’Reilly Media and inventor of the term Web 2.0, with a new point-of-view about the way the web should and could be used.
Social collaboration, visitor input, and user-generated content are just some of the outcomes of Web 2.0, not to mention a new wave in web design. The web was no longer about downloading; uploading is now more relevant to the web than ever. Users can upload their own pictures, stories, videos, music, games, and other brainchildren to the web and have it accessed by anyone. It’s all standard in Web 2.0.
What does Web 2.0 mean for businesses? Web 2.0 means that businesses can no longer afford to remain unapproachable or inconsiderate of their web visitors. It’s no longer a one-way street with communication over the Internet. You can be surprised by the type of brand-building that comes with visitor comments, blogs, online games, private member areas, user-friendly designs and layouts, and all of the other value-added functionality. In the acclaimed book Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands, Kevin Roberts, CEO of global ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi, outlines that your brand should carry a punch online in order to help your customers and visitors ‘own the brand.’ Web 2.0 is the vehicle that will bring this into fruition; it encourages brand engagement, making sure that your visitors stay inspired by your products and services and remain loyal advocates for your company. With the economy as it is today, brand engagement online has to be at the forefront of any business’ online marketing strategy.
Digital Function has made sure that Web 2.0 is incorporated in its website management solution, Kalibrate, by making it adaptable and flexible to the needs of the client and the web. From custom applications to blogs to member profiles, Kalibrate can handle it all. When it comes to Web 2.0, a business of today should be well aware of the benefits it can reap online. Hiding behind a one-to-many communication channel that does not adequately reflect the brand in functionality or design can hurt the user’s perception of the business, which can mean money lost to a competitor with a strong, online Web 2.0 presence. Don’t let technology be the best friend to your foes. Get on top of Web 2.0!
