Mashing it up

When a small business or church leaders asks "What is the internet for?" the immediate answer is "an electronic brochure so young people can locate us and consider us relevant to their lives." This was indeed the correct answer in the 1st generation of the world wide web, retroactively labelled "Web 1.0" by the next generaion commonly called "Web 2.0." The next generation of technology and tools is mature and ready and is in use by the new generation already, who consider it essential to the connnectivity of their lives. It is time to re-examine our "Web 1.0" perspective on how the Internet plays a role for us.

Web 1.0 was about a read-only network of web pages, created and maintained by an elite society of those who called themselves "webmasters." In Web 2.0, "webmasters" create the canvas and leave the content to the enthusiasts who enjoy content but may not have mastery of the underlying technology that enables it. Web 2.0 is about collaboration and community, interaction and creativity, "every man a journalist," and participation through supplementing, remarking, reviewing, and remaking content they see. When a 2nd generation surfer reaches a read-only website, they have that "oh, another relic" feeling and move on to something more inviting and participative, through which they can have expression.

We live in a post-YouTube world, pastors and leaders. Get with it, and deprecate your old website, your old webmaster, your entire web department: sublimate them to a new team who can build you a Web 2.0 community. Or you will be left behind and become increasingly irrelevant to anyone born after 1987.

Are you podcasting? you should be. Do your blogs allow visitors to leave remarks and public responses? the world has changed. It isn't about a new look with shiny buttons - it is about giving your audience a voice and empowering your customers and clients to communicate. As we lerge on the precipice of 2008, prepare for the new year with a new point of presence on the Internet.

Fight the politics necessary to sideline your Web 1.0 site and personnel.