Lewis Write Blog

From the San Francisco internet labs to East coast entities that are on the verge of converting to a Web 2.0 interface, it’s clear that the time to invest in Web 2.0 is now! Web 2.0 has captured the minds of thousands of web users, encouraging the dynamic interfaces that promote online collaboration and information sharing at a whole new level. Web users can create and develop their ideas in real-time, something not formerly possible with static websites that required administrators to disseminate and share information.

Niche websites and blogs in particular have launched a new epidemic of communication styles on the web, encouraging people to rate, reveal, and provide insightful information on specific topics and discussions. From the news stories on Digg to coverage of a breaking story on YouTube, investing in a Web 2.0 company’s is proving to be a successful venture.

Thousands of companies are being developed by independent users and businesses alike; each concept is delving deeper and deeper into the social media phenomena, highlighting the benefits of online collaboration, using media tools to create unique content, and publishing visitor traffic reports to attract the right advertisers.

Most websites begin at the Beta stages, monitoring and tracking traffic and learning how to open up new channesl for user participation. The industry giants that have embraced Web 2.0 wholeheartedly include Google, Yahoo!, Jobster, YouTube, and Wikipedia. Facebook and Friendster have created fresh avenues of opportunity for advertisers, rasiing millions of dollars in ad-based revenue solely from their prominence in social networking channels. Techcrunch and Aniboom have cornered niche markets, specifically in the topics of animation and technology. Technology blogs are a very popular segment of the blogsophere today, driving millions of visitors every day.

Podcasting and webcasting promise to be the next new medium and sites such as YouTube have led the way in user-driven media content that is readily available and shared in networks across the web. It seems that any company that can offer self-publishing a unique but user-friendly format is on the brink of Web 2.0 success. Wikipedia, although not advertiser-driven, is another site that has created a new way for people to collaborate and contribute to a growing website. Wikis have become a popular tool for additional sites, many of which are making use of affiliate networks and ad-based incentives to grow. Investing in these wiki-based communities can be the next investment strategy for many ventures and partnerships.