Even with consolidation going on left and right, the galaxy of sites that make up what we call “web 2.0” is expanding at a frantic rate (or perhaps that elusive goal of being snapped up by a bigger fish is helping to drive it). So how do you keep up with this ever growing array of web 2.0 sites? That is, other than reading Read/WriteWeb. The answer: via the ever growing array of web 2.0 lists.
A little over a year ago, Richard MacManus posted his List of Web 2.0 Lists. Just 13 months later a lot of those links are dead, or no longer being updated, and there is a whole crop of new sites that we can now add to our arsenal. Below I will endeavor to update Richard’s list with new sites and those that are still in business.
- eConsultant: Web 2.0 Directory – It appears not to have been updated in nearly a year, and is (hopefully) the only inclusion on this list that’s not up-to-date. But because eConsultant’s massive list is categorized so well, it is still very helpful.
- NEOBinaries – These guys keep a large, categorized list of web 2.0 sites on hand, updated Monday – Friday.
- BuzzShout – BuzzShout is similar to NEOBinaries — a big list of web 2.0 companies that you can rate and review. Nicely categorized.
- Go2Web2.0 – A really great flash-based list organized by tags, and a displayed using a dizzying array of logos. Clicking on a logo brings up a concise overview of that company or application.
- All Things Web 2.0 – This is where Christian Mayaud’s Sacred Cow Dung list ended up. It’s mostly up-to-date and obsessively categorized.
- Web2.0List – Categorized by tags, Web2.0List is just what it sounds like.
- Web2.0Logo – A sister site to Web2.0List, but this time with an emphasis on logos.
- Dexly – Dexly tracks over 3,000 web 2.0 companies in 53 categories, including blogs that write about web 2.0 (like this one).
- SimpleSpark – SimpleSpark lists web applications and is adding apps at a frenetic pace. They launched in May and earlier this month crossed the 3,000 applications mark.
- FeedMyApp – The new kid on the block, FeedMyApp launched just this month but already lists 299 apps in 36 categories.
- HappyCodr – HappyCodr is a list of Ruby on Rails-powered web sites. It’s not strictly about web 2.0, but given web 2.0’s infatuation with Rails you’ll find a lot of neat web apps and social sites on the list (mixed in with the occasional content site backed by a Rails-based CMS).
- Startup Search – Startup Search takes a different approach than the other lists in this round up, focusing on the people and funding behind web 2.0 companies rather than on the products.
- Museum of Modern Betas – MoMB is a great daily blog by Saurier Duval about all things beta.
- eHub – Emily Chang’s eHub is another must read daily blog covering new web 2.0 sites.
- Everything 2.0 – Bob Stumpel’s link blog is yet another great daily look at new web 2.0 companies.
- TechCrunch Company Index – Speaking of great blogs, our friends over at TechCrunch review a lot of web 2.0 companies. Luckily for us, they tag each one and arrange all the tags into a helpful company index.
- Listio’s Everything Web 2.0 Directory – Listio’s directory lets anyone submit new web 2.0 sites and then vote on them digg-style. Browsable by tags.
- KillerStartups – Another digg-style community directory of web 2.0, organized by categories.
- Progammable Web’s Mashup Directory – While this isn’t a general web 2.0 directory, many things we call mashups fall under the 2.0 umbrella, so this is a great resource for web 2.0 watchers nonetheless.
- Webware’s Top 100 – The recently completed Top 100 competition from CNet’s Webware blog isn’t the most comprehensive list, nor the most scientific way to find the top web apps, but even so, it’s a list of 100 apps that any web 2.0 fan will want to be aware of.
- SEOmoz’s Web 2.0 Awards – The 2007 edition of SEOmoz’s awards lists over 200 web 2.0 sites in 41 categories.
Conclusion
I think its safe to say that there are more sites devoted to tracking web 2.0 now than there were when Richard made his original list in May 2006. More than a few entries on Richard’s list were links to blog posts consisting of giant lists of web 2.0 sites, which have since evolved into full fledged directories or up-to-date daily link blogs. If you know of any other good web 2.0 directories or lists, please mention them in the comments.
