Social software and Web 2.0—notably blogs, wikis and social bookmarking—offer powerful business opportunities and an advantage to staying competitive on the internet. Prescient Digital Media’s VP, Client Development, Julian Mills, will outline the value of Web 2.0 technologies and their associated ROI potential. Web 2.0 refers to websites, products or services that are highly interactive, deep in dynamic data and harness collective intelligence. However, given that its proponents can’t fully define it, we shouldn’t be surprised by its struggle to enter common business parlance.

Web 2.0 offers a valuable resource for many companies. At a relatively low level of cost and effort, organizations are increasingly beginning to harness this valuable tool. Within certain circles, there is a passionate and wide-ranging discussion about how Web 2.0 technology will transform the way companies do business. While the debate won’t be settled soon, there can be no question that this technology is being embraced faster by consumers than by corporations. And that adoption pattern has significant implications, both for how technology enters the corporate environment, and for the competitive advantages early corporate adopters can gain.

This session will take the audience beyond the hype of Web 2.0 and deliver a jargon-free understanding of the concept and its enabling technology, specifically: Key technologies and applications enabling Web 2.0, including blogs, wikis and RSS; Statistics and examples of the emerging trends around Web 2.0, notably social networking; consumer generated media and enhanced communities of practice and management models required to harness the power of these new applications. In addition, the audience will leave with a concise checklist they can use to develop a tangible Web 2.0 action plan for their organization.

This session is geared towards a wide ranging audience from those well versed in Web 2.0, to those with little or no Web 2.0 knowledge, who are simply interested in what the hype is all about. Participants are sure to come away from the session with not only a firm understanding of Web 2.0 technologies, but also the associated opportunities involved with this exciting trend and how it can directly benefit your specific company or line of work.