How to explain what web2.0 is to a client
Clearly it's the "future" and any self-respecting company can see a bandwagon of this size from a mile away; as a consequence it's important for you to try and sell it as a concept. How can you actually explain to a client what web2.0 actually is though? Do you even know without quoting O'Reilly sentence after sentence? Web2.0 has been around a while now and while O'Reilly's notions are as definitive as I feel possible, it's not especially helpful for regular users to understand.
"Web2.0 is just using the internet in
the way it should have been used from the start" So here is what I see web2.0 being in clear simple terms (find a word, but "ality" on the end):
Usability - it's important for all new sites to be usable by as many people as possible. Therefore there needs to have numerous ways of doing things or alternative versions. This treads delicately into...
Accessibility - it's not only fashionable but vital these days to have a site that adheres to certain levels of accessibility. While the majority of the notions are common sense, it's important to consider alternative browsing experiences when designing (not just for the blind but mobile devices etc).
Interactivity & Customisability - entirely static sites are no longer as popular, it's all about the user experience these days. Allowing users to define what information is relevant to them and what isn't. What menu items they want to see, what news items they would prefer above others etc.
Scalability - another fluid concept but part of web2.0 is designing sites that have the capacity to handle what the future may hold (web 2.1?) and therefore it's important to remain at the forefront of technology so bandwagons don't pass you bye.
Social/Community - a big element of web2.0 is allowing a sense of community around anything. Some businesses rely on the quality of their information being provided by the community (places such as Last.fm for example). A big element of web2.0 is giving anyone a voice on any topic.
So what can you say is web2.0? AJAX is not web2.0 (most clients will refer to Javascript like Scriptaculous as AJAX despite it not being it at all...). AJAX is a good concept and a key element in successful web2.0 sites such as Flikr, but it isn't the embodiment of web2.0.
"Web2.0 is just using the network to it's full capacity, maximising on social and technological aspects"
Basically, clients need to be aware that making a web2.0 site has it's costs, it's a bandwagon that some view with suspicious eyes. It will cost more money to make their site interactive and customisable and by extension it will cost more. But some original ideas can help establish a brand and convey a sense of fresh thinking, renewing any image the company had previously. The road to web2.0 success is a long and winding one with many competitors falling at the side of the road, but if executed correctly, a web2.0 site can really help their aims. Provided web3.0 doesn't come too quickly (joke).
Enjoy this article? Why not subscribe to the full RSS feed?
