The Web 2.0 Phenomenon

Perhaps you've heard of the term already, perhaps not. But the thing is, Web 2.0 is here and is changing the way we use the internet.

Web 2.0 was first conceptualized in a conference between O'Reilly Media and MediaLive International. It is not a single technological feature or software enhancement. Rather, this is used to describe the current trends in web applications, which focuses more on visitor interaction and is user-centric.

The exact definition of Web 2.0 is not clear, since there are still dissenting views among experts about its exact coverage. Usually, Web 2.0 applications are the ones that have replaced or had improved upon older models, and are usually in greatest use today. A good example would probably be Google. The search engine giant caught on like wildfire when when it was first introduced. Aside from the usual search inquiries made with Google, it has also become a host of other services for its users.

Most probably, you're already using Web 2.0 applications even without you knowing it. As mentioned above, Google is a Web 2.0 application already. Other Web 2.0 applications are Facebook (a social networking site), YouTube (a video sharing site), and blogs (topic-specific sites primarily created by users). If you have noticed, all of these applications are user-focused, and aims to bring people with similar interests together. This is done through the use of information sharing and collaborations between different users. In other words, Web 2.0 is no longer about information retrieval, it is about being able to interact and participate with other people.

As of the moment, Web 2.0 is still taking the whole internet world by storm. A lot can be expected from this unique phenomenon, especially with the SEO community. After all, the internet is the bread and butter of the these professionals. They would be certainly interested in these changes that can very well improve the way they do business.