The Social Web

Over the past five years, the web has transformed into an interactive and social community. The word 'social network' has come to be general terminology. If you aren't on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, or some other such network, you aren't a member of the web. You don't have to be a social network to be a social website, however. Something as simple as adding a comments feature to your website is a bold first step in the right direction. Adding a user system, complete with a profile page (as simple or deep as necessary) is the next development. Before you know it, you'll have a full-blown community of fans providing rich feedback and information to further evolve your business.

Equally important to adding a social experience to your website is adopting mobile support. Whether it be a user at the store wanting to do a pricecheck comparison, or a user looking for the address of their nearest bank - the future of the web will (need to) exist in the palm of our hands. This can be as simple as designing a portable version of the website that can be viewed in a small format, or as complex as adding a new application to serve as a companion to your website or business. With geotagging, phone-to-phone blue tooth communication, and more features rapidly becoming available to the mass market, the possibilities are endless.

5 Ways to Expand Your Website's Connectivity

• Build a mobile version of your website.

  Besides just ensuring your website works on today's most popular web-capable phones, you should also increase the usability of your mobile website: remove useless images that require long download times and substitute made-for-the-mouse menu navigation for finger navigation.

• Add a comment system to your website.

  Everyone has their own opinion. In the real world, we are allowed to readily express our thoughts. Why should the web constrict us? Provided there is a system built to pre or post approve a user's comments, this seemingly simple feature can expand your website's reach and its daily return rate by leaps and bounds.

• Explore adding a forum or bulletin board.

  More robust than a comment system, a forum allows for users to discuss any topics they wish on your website. This open-ended communication system can quickly create a thriving community that can boost your traffic rapidly, as users send out links to their friends and colleagues.

• Provide collaboration or instant communication tools.

  With a built-in instant messenger tool that requires no downloading or setup, your users can stay in touch with one another like nowhere else. You could also consider sharing or collaboration tools that allow your users to send and receive files or information through the website where relevant.

• Create an iPhone or Blackberry application that serves as a companion to your business.

  This is more applicable for some businesses than others, but it is a great way to expand your reach to new audiences. Instead of having users find you through a serach engine or advertisement, they can constantly be reminded of your business everytime they use their phone.