Ryan Leland

I’ve been pretty hard on the industry buzz words, but I came across a definition for web 2.0 that actually made sense to me today. The definition was that web 2.0 is actually a computing platform, rather than a collection of web pages interconnected by URLs. I had heard similar definitions, but this made sense to me in a new way.

I’ve been researching OpenID for a website I’m currently building, as well as other various APIs. It is pretty interesting, because I’m starting to see so many opportunities for web products, and services that could be possible simply by making API mashups, or even just utilizing feeds in a clever way. It’s making me think more about where the industry is headed, and what the next youtube or digg might be, as an example.

I don’t think anyone can possibly know for sure, but I do think that looking at what the successful sites are doing, and taking it to the next step would be a pretty good start. I do think that where 5 years ago content was still king of the internet, it’s slowly transitioning to communication, and empowering users. I think any tools that could help people communicate in new and more effective ways are the best bet fir the future. I think youtube, and flikr are good examples of sites that empower users by providing structure. I mean, you could host pictures or video in many ways.

Certainly neither of those sites did anything revolutionary by allowing people to host media. But the service empowered the users by providing the audience, and the tools for communicating. I think based on these observations, there is a fairly simple formula to success on the internet. That formula is pretty much what I just said too. Empower users by providing an audience, and the right tools for communicating. Of course building the right tools, and doing the creative marketing to get the initial audience is where the unknowns come into play, but I really don’t think there is any magic in those either.

Anyway, I have to get back to my web 2.0 internet business marketing plan.