Web 2.0 Design – The New Look of the Internet
Web design has evolved rapidly in the last 10 years. Many of the changes are the result of the advent of Web 2.0 over the past 5 years. Web 2.0 is the current period of web development that uses the internet as a platform for information exchange. Previously, information travelled on the internet in much the same way it always travelled, from sender to receiver.
Web 2.0 allows the receiver to respond, or anyone else to take part in the sending or receiving of the message. Web 2.0 has manifested itself with applications like YouTube, FaceBook and Twitter. As well as being the information superhighway, Web 2.0 is the communication superhighway, bringing everyone on earth as close as ever to being in direct communication with each other.
The opportunities for business brought on by Web 2.0 are at once tantalizing and terrifying. While word-of-mouth has always been important, for the first time, businesses can play an active part and have a greater influence on the WOM around their business. The terrifying part is WOM spreads almost instantly on the web and involves exponentially more “mouths” and “words” than before. However, just like before, regardless of their participation or influence in it, businesses still have very little control over what customers say.
Web 2.0 has influenced business web site design. Perhaps no more so than in making web design be more than just about looks. With web communications at a fever pitch, and growing more feverish each day, online customers need to find quickly the products and services they seek. Merely having a web site is no longer acceptable; businesses now need a web site with a profile.
Enter internet marketing; the promotion of your site and products through channels that are unique to, or have evolved since, Web 2.0. A good internet marketing strategy begins with a site designed for Web 2.0. Of course, looks are important, but the best looking site could be useless on today’s internet.
With the virtually instant exchange of information between customers, and businesses, when someone searches for products or services like yours, your site needs to be found. Still, even a high ranking on search results doesn’t mean your internet marketing strategy was successful. Unfortunately, other sites appear in along side yours in search results, and your internet marketing strategy and design has to make your site an obvious choice. Once a potential customer is on your site, you have precious little time (three to five seconds) to keep them there. Your site design must quickly deliver precisely the information your visitor needs.
Then it has to do something really important – turn the visitor into a business lead or paying customer. A site that is well designed for Web 2.0 will do all of these well – and look good while doing them.
Learn more about how WSI can help you achieve your internet business objectives with our free, no obligation Internet Business Analysis.
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