Where There's a Widget, There's a Way

In the computer world, a web widget (or simply widget) is a stand-alone application that can be embedded into a third party site. Widgets are usually engaging, useful applications that allow users to turn personal content into dynamic web apps that can be shared on just about any website.

Even if you have no idea what any of that means, chances are you've used a widget or two at some point in your computer-operating career since widgets are often seen in the form of on-screen tools like weather updates, clocks, countdowns, and stock market tickers.

Because embeddable chunks of code are as old as the Internet, widgets are definitely not a new technology. The examples listed above are some of the more antiquated, but most common, widgets in existence. Recently, however, with the advent of the social web, widgets have begun to permeate the realm of social media.

While most are satisfied with merely adding stand-alone applications to blogs, or unknowingly attaching third-party apps to their social media profiles, much of our widgetting energy has been focused on building experiences fully integrated with Facebook. Essentially, we've been creating fully functional microsites, embedding them into Facebook fan pages, and turning them into landing pages for new visitors. If that's not a testament to the power of widgets, we don't know what is.

Take a look at the following screenshots to see what we're talking about.