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Top Technologies for 2008: Understanding and Applying Web 2.0 Definitions to Organization Websites
March 18, 2008
Ask around and you will hear the same concern from show organizers, meeting planners and show producers - Web 2.0 technology is here but what implications does this have on the industry? The hype suggests that meeting professionals are behind because they haven't yet implemented Web 2.0 features into their websites. However, this may not be such a bad thing. The truth is that most executives need to better understand what Web 2.0 is all about before they rush into expensive website makeovers.
The term Web 2.0 describes a compilation of web-based tools that make websites more interactive. This allows users to be active participants, enabling them to change and edit content for their own purposes, as well as for their industry. Examples include blogs, which enable users to leave comments and feedback; RSS feeds, which enable users to subscribe to articles and content of interest; and the ability to tag any information with easy keywords so one is easily able to find it again.
These expensive website makeovers are likely to flop because they haven’t resolved all of the technology issues of the basic web tools before attempting to implement Web 2.0. It is the whole concept that you need to be sure you can walk (and walk well at that) before you try to run. Though many show websites are not up to the latest standards, the first step to implementing Web 2.0 is to ensure that their website has the fundamentals running smoothly before launching more sophisticated tools. Web 2.0 tools will enable show organizers to take their websites to the “next level,” but they should remember not to jump in too deep, too quickly. First, they need to thoroughly update the basic content and structure of their websites. There is a trend among industry websites to adopt Web 2.0 tools without revamping sites from the ground up; however, this tactic will likely be unsuccessful and sure to complicate preexisting website issues. The most important part of the Web 2.0 update process is redefining the fundamental functionality the website requires.
Posted by Stephen Nold on March 18, 2008 | Comments (0)
