Web 2.0 | How-to Guides for running your business from Business.com

The term "Web 2.0" was first coined by O'Reilly & Associates to refer to the post-2001-dot-com-boom Web sites that seemed to be part of a new Web generation. Web 2.0 generally refers to sites that leverage collective intelligence and use the Web as a platform. Common hallmarks of Web 2.0 sites are social sharing of resources or media (social media), collaboration, tags (users add keywords to data such as links, creating a "folksonomy"), open user platforms, syndication (RSS), mix-and-match of content ("mashups"), content filtering, and useful user services provided such as bookmarking, photo storage, etc. which in aggregate create an interesting user zeitgeist.

Another aspect of Web 2.0 important to business is the "long tail", or the concept that by using inexpensive technology, it's easy to create a distribution channel where it makes sense to sell products that individually have low sales volume.

Do you want to have an informed opinion when you are at a business networking event or cocktail party and the term "Web 2.0" comes up? Are looking for inexpensive collaboration tools? Do you want to create a new Web site that provides services or sells products?

Here's how to be aware of what Web 2.0 is and the opportunities it provides:

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Become aware of the Web 2.0 big picture

The tech publisher O'Reilly coined the term Web 2.0 and held the first Web 2.0 conference in 2003. Hear about Web 2.0 straight from the horse's mouth.

I recommend: Read O'Reilly's definite article: What Is Web 2.0: Design Patterms and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software, or read more about how people define Web 2.0 on the O'Reilly radar blog. Consider attending the Web 2.0 conference to find out more about emerging business and technology developments that utilize the Web as a platform. Make sure to be aware of long-tail business opportunities that Web 2.0 allows.

Has Web 2.0 helped your business? Are you making use of long-tail business opportunities? Let us know by adding a comment.

Visit Web 2.0 lists to see the latest sites

The best way to understand what Web 2.0 is and how it can lead to opportunities for you is to look at a lot of Web 2.0 sites.

I recommend: Go to the Web 2.0 lists at AllThingsWeb2 or Go2Web20 to find new examples of Web 2.0 sites.

Have a Web 2.0 list to add? Add it as a comment.

Explore the most popular and successful Web 2.0 sites

Make sure you take the time to use some of the most popular Web 2.0 sites, so you gain an intuitive understanding of Web 2.0 power and potential.

I recommend: Visit the following Web 2.0 sites: flickr.com, 43things.com, del.icio.us, last.fm, popurls.com, youtube.com, librarything.com, wikipedia.org, upcoming.org, digg.com, newsvine.com, bloglines.com, technorati.com, zillow.com, jotspot.com, 30boxes.com, 37signals.com, writely.com, zimbra.com, jigsaw.com.

Have a great Web 2.0 site to add? Add it as a comment.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Think Web 2.0 is the cutting edge? Think again. After becoming a Web 2.0 expert, get ready to learn about Web 3.0 and the mainstreaming of virtual reality.

The official source of Web 2.0 is the Web 2.0 page at Business.com

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