So I’m talking to my friend Randy who works at an inventory optimization software company called Smartops (simple name for a mouthfull of an explanation) about a site of mine called Howzitsound that really needs in no particular order ….angel investors, a face lift, some marketing, and some people to do the heavy lifting. I mentioned that the site needs to be pushed into the Web 2.0 stratosphere, and in saying that, I asked,”you do know what web 2.0 is don’t you?” Below is our email conversation.
“on a locallized level… i.e www.howzitsound/pittsburgh.htm myspace was developed for bands and music fans but morphed into a major big ass social networking site predominantly because of the coo tools associated with creating…”your space”
Randy:
Is this a quiz? From what I know, Web 2.0 is a next step in online networking, where the users create much of the content ie- MySpace, wikipedia, etc. It’s a wave I have not ridden. I know it’s enormously pervasive and popular since everyone seems to have a myspace, but frankly I still feel like it’s a teenager phenomenon and I don’t care to follow. Not to say that I wouldn’t like to have some of the myspace $$
Me:
well you’re somewhat right, but where you are wrong is thinking its a teenager phenomenon, what you will eventually see is that content and content creation will become more interactive and robust than it already has. web 2.0 is more about the tools and apps used as well as the sites that have evolved from it such as a myspace. web 2.0 is more about getting your information and sharing your information and creating it as well, through social networking sites but also individually as well i.e. blogs.
What you will eventually see is that social networking will evolve onto enterprise levels, it already has in some aspects. What it does is, it creates better communication between entities working on a project, or collaboration on a contract, or temporary virtual communities, etc etc. So the easier the tools are, the more apt are the client to embrace the notion. Think Ajax, and xtml..
Him:
Interesting take on it and a valid point. I think your point on it developing to an enterprise level is where more focus needs to be placed. I tend to ignore a lot of the “real” applications because I’m sick to death of everyone talking about their myspace or their blog as if they’re someone who I should be paying attention to just because they have a webpage. Everyone wants to be a celebrity now, and it frustrates the hell out of me.
Sorry for the rant, I think there is tremendous application for the content development tools, I just wish it was limited to people that actually have something to say
Me:
Yea I guess everyone is a pundit and a builder of web pages now even if it is with wizards and what not. so having said all of that, howzitsound/pittsburgh for example would not be totally user generated but could be user driven. i think on a local level a branded sight that i knew i could go to that had THE places to go for live music and possible just cool clubs would far outweigh fucking doing a local search and ending up on myspace or about.com….
Him:
Exactly, if I wanted people’s opinions I’d give it to them. Ha.
I’m still a big fan of the howzitsound concept. keep me in the loop for it
So that’s where we left it. What do you think? Did we get it right? Someone out there needs to give me the definitive explnantion of what web 2.0 will be, or what it is. Maybe he just needs to go to the start of direct marketing observations and check it out and read it all?
Direct Marketing Observations 
I like to think of Web 2.0 by substituting the concept of “Collaboration”. How do I get people to collaborate on something? Web 2.0 is just the medium for that collaboration. Before I can apply it, I need to understand what I’m trying to accomplish in the way of collaboration.
Even the medium is a complex idiom, because there are so many styles. Given how much love/hate there is around things like Twitter, I personally think the style piece is linked to Personality Traits that have to do with how people prefer to interact with the web based on their Learning Styles.
Here is more from my blog:
http://smoothspan.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/web-20-personality-types/
I can agree with that to a certain extent. What Web 2.0 is providing is, a way for newbies and novices to communicate with any and all in a way that all can relate to. You’re right about style though. Maybe Web 2.0 is more about style and widgets and CMS. It allows everyone to control their domain so to speak. I wonder if personal websites would ever become De Rigeur? Similar to the bar code that is on someones license. Because Thats what web 2.0 and social networking sites are doing, they are providing everyone with a voice, a look and a feel…