Web 2.0 and the Future of the Internet

Wikipedia defines Web 2.0 as "a perceived second-generation of Web-based services—such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies—that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users." Social networking sites are huge today with power houses like YouTube and MySpace leading the pack. New websites like Free IQ and Friendster look to make their mark in this rapidly growing business as well.

For the internet marketer this means you have an ability to find highly targeted people in seconds. By utilizing their "search" feature you can quickly locate and market to a targeted niche of people with interests you are interested in. By using the best and newest web technology the savvy marketer can make use of the best video and audio software to filter traffic anywhere they want it to go. Tracking is often possible allowing a clear idea of what your visitors are doing from the Web 2.0 sites to your Thank You pages.

The above mentioned Web 2.0 sites become, or will become, multi-billion dollar businesses. That's right, BILLION. The buyout of YouTube by Google is a hint of what's to come in this rapidly growing area of the internet. The sites are hugely popular and command so much traffic that missing an opportunity to market on them is becoming less and more mandatory. Marketers will huge lists in multiple niches will probably be immune to the changing of the internet because they can filter their lists to their foot holds in Web 2.0 sites and do just as well there. The new marketer really needs to step up and keep up with the changes or the world may change around them before they learn how to adapt to needed new ways of marketing.