Crowdsourcing is the practice of utilizing the wisdom of a group for a common goal. It is best applied when attempting to solve complex problems in an innovative way or streamline intricate processes.
Let’s look at few key crowdsourcing ideas,
Crowd Contests
It is the easiest and most successful and most widely used technique to solve specific problems. Identify a problem, accept solutions, offer a reward and broadcast an invitation.
Good for: new product, product development, testing products, identifying issues, generating outside ideas
Where to run it: Social media websites, your site, independent landing pages, third party websites.
Collaborative Community
Just like Yelp and Amazon reviews, ask customers to review or compare your product with competitor products, encourage them by providing them badges or cash rewards for answering questions posed by customers.
Good for: Customers reviews, FAQ, sharing information, sharing and building knowledge.
Where to run it: preferably on your website and social media sites.
Freelance Labor
Not all companies have experts in all the domains all the time, instead of hiring a new resource for a small project try to visit the third party intermediaries to find the right resources across the pool of professionals.
Good for: Short term projects, new technology ideation, data entry and validation.
Where to run it: Third-party intermediaries such as Elance, oDesk, Guru, Freelancer, and CloudCrowd
CrowdFunding
Crowdfunding is a powerful for running disaster relief campaigns, fundraising for a project, startup kickstart and ideations.
Good for: Product kickstart, new technology ideation, proof of concept
Where to run it: Third-party intermediaries such as Kickstarter, Gofundme, Indegogo.
In addition to organizing contests, engaging communities and hiring freelancers, companies can use can take a more internal approach to idea generation and creativity, like “jams,” idea marketplace and personal creative projects will increase the scope for innovation and exploration inside companies.
For centuries communities helped kick-start industries, what has changed now is technology. With the rapid grown of social media platforms and mobile phones crowdsourcing is easier, manageable and cost effective. As Steven Johnson said, “Innovation doesn’t come just from giving people incentives; it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect.”
World/JasonSiu/Mind 