What did we do before Wikipedia? As I sat down this morning to write about the Colts and our “2.0″ adventure (Colts Fan Network), I had one of those “what the heck am I really trying to say” moments. What is “Web 2.0″ and how does it apply to us?
Wikipedia provides a convenient and complete definition which, now that I read it, reminds me that indeed we really are “2.0″ in our approach.
You know you’re witnessing ”web 2.0″ when you see a system where:
The Colts Fan Network (sample page) is not a fan club. Fan clubs are so “Web 1.0″!
The Colts Fan Network is intended to be a “network”. That’s key. We are building a “platform” to allow users to find eachother, interact, and co-create the content / environment.
Along with way the members of the network will leave “artifacts” (i.e. data) that we can use to improve their experience in the community, to remarket our products, and to introduce members to our valued sponsors. That’s our goal anyway.
The hardest part will be keeping management appeased. Everyone’s very concerned (and rightly so) about turning “our” platform over to the fans. What are they gonna say and do? How are we going to “control” it?
I’m proud to say that management is walking into this experiment eyes wide open. We know that things could get messy, but we believe that’s the cost of doing business in a “2.0″ world. The upside, we expect, will be worth the risk.
