Web 3.0: The Risks and the Rewards

But Let's Look At The Bright Side

Early on, I promised you a kaleidoscope, and that's what I've tried to provide – but looking at the Web and its possible future(s) even through a kaleidoscope can only give a hint of where we are, much less where we're headed.

So let's look, close-up, at some tools and initiatives that can help your business thrive on this Web, that Web, and whatever Webs come our way:

That last point speaks clearly to what the next Web will be, whether the Semantic Web we looked at here, or a 3-D virtual video game-like Web that some foresee, or something as yet unforeseen -- the point is going to be an increased transparency of relationship between content and communications and, as a result, increased transparency and ease and efficiency of communicating your content to your customers, partners, employees, and vendors.

And to the world, if you want, or only to the exact members of the world you want to reach.

Know your business — and make sure every member of your team knows it as well.

That's what the next Web will be about, that sort of deep and thorough knowledge of yourself and your products and services, the ways in which your customers use them, your competitors' positions, the trends and currents, opportunities and upheavals that you and your customers face, all open and readable by a variety of means, reachable via a variety of devices.

Be on your business game and be sure your IT and Web teams are on theirs, and you'll be ready for whatever Web comes your way.

See you there.

Don't Miss: Part 1 -- Where We've Been And Where We Are: Web 1.0 and 2.0

Don't Miss: Part 2 -- Web 3.0: The Next Web

Keith Ferrell is the author of a dozen books and countless magazine and newspaper articles. The editor of OMNI Magazine from 1990-1996, he also is a frequent speaker to corporate and institutional audiences.