Make Your Site Web 2.0

Although Web 2.0 is a buzz word to refer to the “second coming” of the Internet, I thought we would talk a little bit about what exactly a Web 2.0 Site entails.  How can you upgrade your site to Web 2.0 today?  Below are some of the key things you should do today to make your web site Web 2.0 ready!

1. Add RSS Feeds and Subscriptions.
   Give your users the ability to subscribe to certain sections of the web site.  This way they can get notified via email that content has changed, or a new article added.  This will keep your visitors coming back for more.
   Web 2.0 Resource: FeedBurner
2. Add some AJAX Content.
   AJAX is great not only because it look cool, but also because it makes it very easy for users to use the site.  It makes a site feel more responsive, and more like an actual windows application.
   Web 2.0 Resource: Dojo, Script.aculo.us, Google Web Toolkit
3. Use CSS for all look and feel elements.
   So many of the old Web 1.0 web sites out there still use html tags for fonts and other such things that can all be placed with a CSS file!  This adds so much bandwidth waste and really slows down the users’ experience.  Switch to semantic HTML with CSS today!
   Web 2.0 Resource: css Zen Garden
4. Use Gradients and curves in your new buttons.
   Look at nearly all the new Web 2.0 sites out there and you will notice that most of them use a lot of gradients, with drop shadows, and curves.  This style is critical if you are going to look like a new Web 2.0 site!
   Web 2.0 Resource: Create Web.0 Buttons in PhotoShop
5. Have live active content.
   Nobody wants to visit a site that is always the same and doesn’t change!  This is extremely boring, and there is really no need to come back to the site.  Change your site daily, hourly if possible!  The more you update your site, the more visitors you will receive coming back for more!
   Web 2.0 Resource: SharePoint Portal Server 2007
6. Add social networking aspects to your site.
   Social networking is the way to go, if you can afford the development.  Build an entire community around your site and you will see the traffic skyrocket.
   Web 2.0 Resource: facebook, myspace
7. Tag your pages instead of creating categories.
   Creating categories for sites is very old school.  Create tags instead!  This allows users to quickly find related content throughout your web site, without the need to search through countless categories to find something!
   Web 2.0 Resource: WordPress
8. Give users the ability to rate content on your site.
   Digg gave users the ability to rank articles and other content on their site, and look how popular they became!  Add a “Rank It” button to your site today, and watch the expression take form!
   Web 2.0 Resource: Digg, Reddit
9. Provide Podcasts or Videocasts.
   Having audio content that your users can listen to is fantastic.  Think of all the iPod’s that are out there, and how often they are being used.  By creating a Podcast, you are making your voice audible across the billions of iPod’s and other music devices out there.  Videocasts can be even better, if you have the budget.
   Web 2.0 Resource: Apple Podcasting, Podcast Alley
10. Provide users with a Web API using Web Services.
    By providing programmers a Web API, you are giving people the ability to create custom applications to your web site!  Sometimes things can be created that you haven’t even thought of!  Make sure you keep it clean and simple, and try and stick to some standards.
    Web 2.0 Resource: W3C Web API, Google API
11. Make your site extremely simple to use.
    In this day and age, your web site has to be drop dead simple to use, or people will leave!  On average if it takes a user more than 8 seconds to figure out what is going on, or what they should click, they will leave your site!
    Web 2.0 Resource: Steve Krug, Jakob Nielson
12. Give users ability to participate with the site and its members.
    Users love interacting with other users.  Give them a way of communicating with each other, and expressing their emotions, thoughts, and ideas.
    Web 2.0 Resource: linkedin
13. Let users contribute content.
    It’s great that you are adding content to the site, but why not let your users contribute to the content.  Everyone wants to be heard, let your visitors do it through your site!
    Web 2.0 Resource: YouTube, Flickr
14. Use Flash or Silverlight to add some interactivity and response.
    Add some interactive applications to your site using one of these tools.  I prefer Microsoft Silverlight, as it has a proven structured programming engine to back it up, Microsoft .net!  You can use C# or Python to write this bad boy, and it also supports AJAX extremely well.
    Web 2.0 Resource: Silverlight, Flash
15. Let users “Social Network This” instead of “Bookmark This”.
    Bookmarking a site is great, but everyone these days is adding their bookmarks to del.icio.us or StumbleUpon.  Remove the “Bookmark This” button and add the “Digg This” button.  Not only will your users be able to keep track of the site, it will also allow them to share the sections of the site with other surfers, promoting your site for you!
    Web 2.0 Resource: del.icio.us, StumbleUpon