Well for different people, the term can mean different things but the way I look at Web 2.0 is the marked change in sites online that moved from the standard “static” HTML pages that provided a basic text content environment to a more evolved “interactive” Web that not only allows, but really DEPENDS on the input and growth of content in the form of thoughts, audios and videos from the masses. Meaning to say that Web 2.0 is really an interactive “social” web now that calls for the feedback, comments and contributions to the growth of a website by its users.

Sure its easy to throw out the big names like MySpace.com, Facebook.com, and of course the hottest bandwagon now is Twitter.com… these truly are “Social” community based sites that allow for the two-way interaction between people OR between groups of people OR even between the user and the site content itself. This is easily seen in the interaction available to manipulate and modify data like on the Wikipedia.com site. But Web 2.0 is MORE than just casual social interactions on these types of “Social” sites…

…look at what Amazon has accomplished by taking its purchasing data from customers and introducing a new way to create a “tailor made” shopping cart experience for the customer that provides a win-win-win all around. And on top of the user shopping experience, Amazon was a true forerunner in the way they allowed the customers themselves to rate and comment on their experience of having purchased an item.

This is a great method of interaction that can and should be implemented to be of benefit to the small business or restaurant owner with their own sites–its NOT just for the “big boys” Online that can enjoy building customer loyality and feedback AND even maybe MOST important is the “social proof” of the value and wonderful experience your business has given a customer that can then be shared with other visitors to your site!

So is Web 2.0 the end-all be-all of what the Internet has to offer? No, and in fact, a quote from entrepreneur and author Andrew Keen blasts the Web 2.0 movement.

“As an ideology, it is based upon a series of ethical assumptions about media, culture and technology. It worships the creative amateur: the self-taught filmmaker, the dorm-room musician, the unpublished writer. It suggests that everyone — even the most poorly educated and inarticulate amongst us — can and should use digital media to express and realize themselves. Web 2.0 ‘empowers’ our creativity, it ‘democratizes’ media, it ‘levels the playing field’ between experts and amateurs. The enemy of Web 2.0 is ‘elitist’ traditional media.”

A harsh summary? Perhaps. Just take a random stroll through the back alleyways of YouTube.com and you will be sure to find some of the most off-the-wall, amuzing, disgusting, and down right idiotic levels of behavior to be seen.

But in the end I think you will agree that an “interactive” Web where connections with others can not only be made, but encouraged, can only help INCREASE your ability to build relationships and trust amongst your peers, customers and clients.

The question for you now is what are YOU going to do today to take YOUR business to the next level of Web 2.0?

PS – Take a quick sec to watch this Web 2.0 Video right now! This awesome video was made by a Professor in Kansas. I found it wonderful and profound…