Web 2.0 Can Be Dangerous...
Ripped directly from web/usability guru Jakob Nielson's weekly newsletter:
Summary: AJAX, rich Internet UIs, mashups, communities, and user-generated content often add more complexity than they're worth. They also divert design resources and prove (once again) that what's hyped is rarely what's most profitable.
The article is a goldmine of info related to Web 2.0 missteps and perils. Even as a social media junkies, we still need to be cognizant of where/what can go wrong, etc.
The link out to his previous article on "participation inequality" is of particular value in thinking about our members' level of engagement in all this stuff.
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Comments
We have to take Mr. Nielson seriously and his article does offer some appropriate cautions. However, I hope association professionals do not use this as an excuse not to use the online channel to engage their constituents and foster improved networking and knowledge sharing.
We have all seen communities of practice, special intestest groups, and online forums be built and then languish or fail completely. But there are successful models out there that are working. Social media and Web 2.0 should be driven by real business needs and not simply the implementation of trendy, new technologies.
The Technology Council is working on a session for the Annual Meeting in San Diego that will profile some of these models and share the practices that have contributed to their success. If you are interested in learning more or participating in this session, please feel free to contact me at rjohnston@ironworks.com.
Posted by: Rick Johnston, CAE | December 21, 2007 11:46 AM
I just don't buy that Nielsen is relevant at all these days. That whole article is nothing but an unsourced rant. Where is any evidence of what he's talking about? He throws out the term "ROI" and expects people to go "not worthy" at the throne of the master. I mean, I don't mind when people have opinions but they should be framed as such. Nielsen star has faded and he hasn't gotten the memo.
Posted by: Nick | January 1, 2008 4:06 PM
Nick, I'll grant you that some of the things Jakob offers, such as "the percentage of Web 2.0 infusion that might benefit different types of user experience," are unsourced opinions that might give the impression that they are based in more scientific fact than they are. But since this is a newsletter article rather than one of his (pricey) research reports, I'm kind of willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on it. I'm curious, what exactly is it about his opinion that you find so disagreeable?
Posted by: Kevin | January 1, 2008 10:44 PM