In the “dark ages” of the internet, the gulf between information provider and internet user was a huge one.

Getting something as simple as a block of text posted on the net was something done by people with degrees in computer science and a lot of time.

Badly formatted and difficult to read web pages were the norm. Setting up a page could take many hours. Even uploading to your server via a telephone line could take several hours for even a modest site.

Dropped lines, inexplicable error messages and virus attacks were everyday occurrences for those brave enough to try and run their own sites.

I’m not talking fifty years ago either, just ten or twelve.

Of course it is all very different now. WEB 2.0 is a term used to describe the new way in which massive media and social sites actively encourage participation from all users. Adding content and forming opinions.

Myspace, Twitter and Youtube lead a huge number of sites who depend on input from the communities they represent. Articles, videos, pictures from users are just welcome, they are essential.

So, while more and more people are participating in the internet, the opportunity for those wishing to get a clear message across has increased as well. Huge populations of internet savvy people are now clustered in these massive WEB 2.0 sites.

The key for an internet marketer is first to understand the function of these sites. Join each site in turn, fill in complete user “profiles” for yourself.

Join the existing discussions in your niche. If none exist - start them. Join or form special internet groups.

The final step is to be an asset. Provide answers and information. Be seen as an expert in your field. It might just be possible to add a link back to your own site.

It is not that hard to be an asset, and that is the method I would highly recommend. Being helpful and transparent as an active member in your niche is the best way to proceed.

The internet is an open and (generally) friendly space. WEB 2.0 has changed the playing field to a huge extent. Getting your message across while learning from others has never been easier for those prepared to make a little effort.

With the massive increase of WEB 2.0 media sites, comes new and quick ways of driving web traffic to your own web pages.

Along with WEB 2.0 came a whole range of new jargon and slang to describe the building blocks and concepts that it introduced. Like all new ideas, it can seem a little confusing for the newcomer, and might even deter some from participating in it altogether.

To help, here is a list of three of the main building blocks of WEB 2.0. Buzzwords and systems that, if you take a little time to understand them, will make your efforts yield far better results.. After all it’s not just about getting a message across, it is often about getting people to act on that message in the way you intend.

1 - Tags. Think of these like keywords. Words that a search engine will get hold of and use to understand what a particular web page is all about. Tags are vital. A mis-match between tags and content can be a disaster!

2 - Collaborative Work - Having teams of people add to a topic, pushing the conversation along, adding backup videos, voting up your work, linking it to other work in the same field. This is part of the new collaborative way of using the internet. It works both ways. Initially you may want to see how things are done, and add to existing discussions, rate other people’s videos and articles in a constructive way. Then produce your own and hope that you start a conversation of your own.

3 - Syndication. If your message is good, clear and unique, then others may want to spread your word for you. Simple content platforms such as Wordpress offer one button press syndication.

A great benefit for both the original author, who sees his message spread to a wider audience. And the syndicator themselves who benefits “by proxy” by having this much sought after information on their site or domain.

Of course WEB 2.0 has helped to increase the number of people on the internet by a huge amount.Finding a stream on internet traffic is now relatively easy.

The hard task is convincing them that your own message is one they should spend their time listening to.

With the huge expansion of WEB 2.0 social sites, comes easy and exciting ways of driving web traffic to your own web holdings.

What is WEB 2.0? Well the answer to that question depends on who you ask. Web developers will say it’s tied up with the adoption of stricter coding techniques and XHTML. Web developers point to the blurring of the lines between provider and user.

The general consensus though is that WEB 2.0 is the increase in social networking that the web now offers. Sites driven primarily by user content such as Myspace, Youtube etc.

Whatever the exact definition proves to be, WEB 2.0 is the changing face of the web. It deals with how the end user interacts while visiting sites. It is about having a participating in conversation rather than just reading text and looking at videos and images.

There are more people on Facebook each day now than use Google. At certain times, Youtube has a greater audience than any TV station you would care to name, and not by a small margin either!

Standing back, you realize how massive this social media is, and what a huge opportunity it offers for people wanting to share information or market products.

That’s what marketing is after all. Getting a message across. So WEB 2.0 represents a massive opportunity to be heard.

The issue for many is simply “How?”

What methods are best to make sure that you are targeting your information to just those who would benefit from it? How can you spread your word to as wide an audience as possible without spamming those who have no interest?

Well, it is possible. With a little imagination, a willingness to adapt existing thinking, and maybe learn a few new tricks along the way, it is more than possible to leverage WEB 2.0 into an effective business strategy.

Taking the time to understand how these new methods of reaching out to your marketplace work is becoming a vital part of internet success. Getting in early and making the most of your knowledge will turn the key to a massive increase in the internet traffic that hears your opinion or visits your site.

With the huge increase of WEB 2.0 social sites, arises easy and exciting ways of gaining internet traffic to your own web pages.