Web 2.0
refers to the usage of the World Wide Web as an interactive
medium, inviting users to take part in shaping the content of their
favorite websites. A few examples include Wikipedia, Myspace, and
Del.icio.us. All these sites allow users to create their own content,
which then becomes available for everyone to read. Many magazines and
newspapers have done articles stating that web 2.0
is the next
evolution of the Internet and the Web, and a conscious person will want
to take advantage of Web 2.0 for career development and advancement. So
what can you do with Web 2.0 to further your career?
One easy way is to use LinkedIn.com’s networking feature. LinkedIn
is similar to Myspace and other social networking sites, which allow
the user to create a specialized profile detailing their personality.
However, LinkedIn is especially focused towards business use, and being
“Linked In” could help enormously when you meet and network with other
professionals in your field. It also can help when potential employers
use the site to search for relevant candidates for a job search they’re
performing.
Another possible way is to self-promote by submitting relevant websites
to the various Web 2.0 sites that promote sharing of bookmarks and
interesting sites, such as del.icio.us and Digg.
These sites allow anyone to post a website, which then becomes publicly
viewable by all site viewers. As more and more people submit a link to
the same post, it becomes more highly rated and easily viewed by people
coming to the site. If you are a photographer, for instance, you could
submit a link to an amazing photo you took to all the different
bookmarking sites, which would broaden exposure to your photography by
putting the image in front of a large set of eyes.
A third popular way is to use Myspace’s networking feature. Myspace is
a website which allows people to create profiles unique to themselves
or their band. Within a Myspace profile, you can select several
different job titles as ones you would like to inform people that you
are interested in. In this manner, you can start to network with other
people who have profiles on Myspace and are also interested in
networking about the same job. Myspace is especially valuable simply
because so many millions of people use it everyday.
A commonality between Web 2.0 sites is that the ability to post
content is free, and thus is a great place to market yourself and your
skill set while still remaining within a specific budget to handle your
personal advertising. This is in contrast to traditional methods of
promotion, such as direct mail, that have high costs. Therefore if you
run your own business, or feel that your name recognition is important,
Web 2.0 sites can be invaluable self-promoting mechanisms, both within
your industry and across the web.
In summation, Web 2.0 offers someone looking to further their career
many different options for enhancing their visibility within a
particular industry. Try and submit great content, across a broad range
of Web 2.0 sites, and see where the technology revolution takes you!