The second generation of the internet—known as Web 2.0—takes online communication and collaboration to the next level. And it’s not on the horizon; it’s here right now. If you’ve shared pictures on Flickr, found information on Wikipedia or bought a book at Amazon.com, you’ve accessed Web 2.0.

But don’t think Web 2.0 belongs only to the MySpace generation. Businesses are rapidly jumping on the bandwagon and using Web 2.0 as a platform for applications that were once restricted to the desktop.

A blog is the first step into Web 2.0 territory. Want to promote your company or launch a new product? Post news and updates in a blog, and trigger an online dialogue with your customers as they respond with questions, suggestions and orders.

But a blog is just the beginning. Wiki technology allows collaborative authoring of web content. RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, automatically notifies visitors when content is updated and increases traffic to your site. Ajax, short for Asynchronous JavaScript + XML, is a combination of technologies that makes surfing the Web faster and more seamless for the user. Content Management System software, often found in an open source format, minimizes the time you will have to spend uploading and managing content.