Before discussing the numerous advantages and disadvantages of Web 2.0, we want to first introduce Web 2.0 and what’s it’s advances compared to Web 1.0. Web 1.0 is basically a one-way communication where firm deliver their message for customers to read. It utilized top-down information distribution where firm is the major player in publish content and control the information. However, Web 2.0 had emerged and changed information distribution to a two-way distribution where online users become contributors instead of meager viewers. It switched from top-down information distribution model to more democratized bottom-up model. Also, Web 2.0 allowed consumers to correspond and spread ideas with each other rather than receiving the information from a the company.
Advantages of Web 2.0: Companies are one of the heaviest users of Web 2.0 who are also enjoying benefits such as increased knowledge sharing and more effective marketing. These benefits often have a significant effect on their business, UnME Jeans was no different. Web 2.0 could help them reach a huge community of their potential customers, it gives them a chance to communicate their value to customers and improve their brand awareness. For example, because of its target market are women aged from 12 to 24, one way to increase brand recognition by using Web 2.0 is to open up a UnME Jeans virtual store on Zwinktopia. Zwinktopia users are girls aged from 13 to 24 and the site is primarily focused on fashion and music, which perfectly fit UnME’s target market. After launch their virtual store on Zwinktopia, UnME could focus on develop its online marketing strategy including more innovative products and services. This approach could end up offering UnME more effective marketing, better access to knowledge, lower cost of doing business and higher revenues in the long run. By utilizing Web 2.0, UnME can reach out to their customers more effectively, they are able to deliver message to them, to have a conversation with them and eventually to deliver more value to them.
Disadvantages of Web 2.0: Because most of business like UnME are so comfortable with their one-way conversation with customer in Web 1.0. The fact that Web 2.0 had bring customer into the conversation and made them co-creators and disseminators results in company’s lack of control of their brand presentation. Instead of a one-way conversation, Web 2.0 incorporates a two-way conversation, which enables consumers in control of the brand message therefore it is not always possible to control where their brand appears to their customers. Additionally, investing in social media is expensive and it is difficult to measure result; “social media is ahead of the capacity of the advertisers to take advantage of it. Real spend