Mashups, you have been hearing the term, but you don’t know what it is. A mashup is a new type of web application using content already existing on the web in a new and innovative way. Mashups are considered part of Web 2.0. A good example of a mashup is chicagocrime.org, a web site that combines crime data from the Chicago Police Department with Google Maps. Google not only supports mashups, but they provide actual mashup framework and tools.

Not all mashups are map oriented, stumbleupon.com is search engine that is unique in that it matches the search results to your personal preferences. As they state on their site “Using search engines to locate relevant content typically means hunting through pages of results. Rather than searching for quality web sites, StumbleUpon members are taken directly to web sites matching their personal interest and preferences.” Joining is easy, over 3.3 million people have already joined.

If you have a blog and want to increase your reach you should use the mashup feedburner.com. FeedBurner allows you to “pubvertise” (their word, not mine) your blog through their web site. FeedBurner will analyze, optimize, publicize, monetize and troubleshoot your blog performance! An innovative way to build better blogging networks for a minimal cost.

If you want to customize your browsing use webwag.com. Webwag allows you to access all the information and services that matter to you, you can choose the newsfeeds, online services, live TV, emails, sticky notes, weather forecasts, etc. all from your Webwag page. You can even choose to have a Flickr feed so that you can keep up with your favorite pictures. My favorite is the Sodoku feed, you can choose how hard or how easy a sudoku challenge you want and can even see the solution if you get stuck!

There are a lot of good mashups out there, if you are interested in finding more just go to one of the mashup directories. I personally like mashup.com’s “Software Mashup of the day”. Have fun finding the right mashups for you!