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Crowdsourcing and the Small Business:
5 Tips to Make the Process Work for You
It's kind of a new term. A new wave in business.
Wikipedia defines crowdsourcing as "the act of taking a task traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people, in the form of an open call."
More and more businesses are going to crowdsourcing sites like 99 designs and crowdSPRING, especially when they are looking for low-budget, quick turnaround products. It doesn't make as much sense when you are considering, say, a new website, where you need one-to-one support in project development and consistent follow-up to address usability, quality control, and other issues.
How crowdsourcing works
Take graphic design. Here is the process: A business owner or startup needing a logo posts their project, waits for the designs to come in, and chooses the one she likes.
Compare it to an audition. Think the Broadway show, A Chorus Line. But whether you call it an audition or a design "contest," keep in mind that it will not be the same interactive relationship you would have with a single designer. So your close involvement in the process will make it more likely that you will be happy with the results.
5 Tips for a smooth crowdsourcing experience
1. Explore the sites. The main design sites are 99 designs and CrowdSPRING. Check their rates, the quality of the designs and exactly what you get for the price you pay. Look also at the terms of agreement and the dispute resolution policies.
2. Know exactly what you need. It helps to know something about design because you will not have anyone who asks questions to get the information they need to create a design that perfectly reflects your business.
3. Put enough time into writing your design brief. The designers will use your brief as a guide when they create their designs. Be as specific as possible with: size; colors you like (and those you don't); brand image (corporate, fun, quirky), etc. Tell what the logo will be used for. Give the address of your website so designers get a feel for where the logo will be placed.
4. Browse the designer/artist profiles to find styles you like. Identify what appeals to you and invite specific people to submit designs.
5. Give timely and detailed feedback. "I don't really like this one" doesn't give the designer much direction. The more detailed your feedback, the more on-target revisions you will get.
Attention to your part in the process will make for a more successful crowdsourcing experience.
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