Ever since the advent of social networking, I've noticed that the term "2.0" seems to come up again and again. As far as I'm concerned, the term was always meant to symbolize the next step in evolution for online business. However, the term has been applied to almost every facet of the web.

Almost everyone has heard of "web 2.0". All web 2.0 really means is the injection of social media into the web and individual websites. The term has also been applied to actual web design for some bizarre reason. I've actually had a bunch of clients that have said, "I want my new website to look more web 2.0". While I understand what they're asking for (it's just a current design trend/fad), the moniker has become a bit annoying when used so broadly that it can also be applied to design rather than functionality.

Speaking of broad, I've been hearing more and more about "SEO 2.0". What does this mean? You guessed it: search engine optimization with social media and networking in mind. That's it. So, instead of a simple evolution, we have to call everything "2.0". I know it's just semantics, and I'm sure I'll get over it soon. Really.

My main beef with this term is that you can't just use one or the other. It's not like you can drop "SEO 1.0" and just implement "SEO 2.0". If you just do one or the other, you'll most likely fail... big time. That's why I have a problem with it: it's all the same thing. It's a simple evolution. In the end, "SEO 2.0" is just another part of SEO that you should pay attention to.

For example: instead of just going out and manually building links, exchanging links, or even buying links, "SEO 2.0" would dictate that you also gain links naturally from gaining a readership from blogging, commenting on other blogs, socializing online and creating link bait. Some search engine optimizers out there discourage all "old SEO" for the shiny new "SEO 2.0". Don't listen to them. In fact, I'd say that "SEO 2.0" and all it entails should be considered a part of current and up-to-date SEO as a whole. However, not all "SEO 2.0" is SEO. (Much like the concept of how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.) A lot of "SEO 2.0" is actually social media marketing. Again with the semantics - but there is some overlap there.

A good SEO expert knows that the best SEO is user friendly and is geared for the humans, not search engines. The best SEO handles both with elegance. Google has gone to great lengths to make sure that their search engine spider (googlebot) mimics humans as much as possible. Both SEO and "SEO 2.0" dictate that you cater to the user, both on and off your website - whether it's your blog, facebook, twitter, delicious, or a normal page on your website.

So, if you're trying to decide which "SEO" is more important, less antiquated or just plain more useful, you'll do yourself a favor if you use both SEO and "SEO 2.0". It's all the same thing.