2012: Are you ready to take Crowdsourcing further?

The year’s just about to end, and looks like the Crowdsourcing platform isn’t going to stop dominating in 2012. A recent conference in Europe entitled ‘Social Commerce Trend Report’ became the channel of choice to share their ideas on what’s changing the social hemisphere next year.

Tara DeMarco has summarized on her post three main points on how crowdsourcing could help companies and organizations harvest data and ideas further, and here’s our take.

Improve your existing offering: customer feedback is the new focus group.

‘Personal’ touches are now more important than ever. Given that social media has entirely changed the game with regards to getting feedback, harvesting information can be easier but the real challenge is how to interpret this information. Nowadays, it is easier to grab customer information like sample sizing, class segmentation among others – guesswork has now been practically eliminated.

So what does this leave us? Well, the insights speak for themselves. Customers have the freedom of speech in social media channels and idea collaboration collectives and it’s the brand’s responsibility to listen to them. Are your products being faulty? Or are they the ‘dream product’ people are talking about? Even the slightest conversation could give you and your organization ideas on how to carry on your action plan to improve your services.

Create new products and services: social data is the new market research.

The days of hardcore door-to-door market research is somewhat getting numbered now that data could be easily harvested through social media platforms’ innovative functions. Facebook insights gives information right off the bat and sees your brand’s visibility right on your front page. Nowadays, it pays a hell lot if a brand is in touch with their customers, and listening to their opinions whether good or bad helps to channel campaigns more effectively.

Build an innovation think-tank: show customers their opinions drive change.

At OpenIdeas, this is probably the most important aspect crowdsourcing has to offer. Creating a think-tank would definitely help. Online platforms in sharing ideas, concerns and ways to improve on a product, service or cause gives your organization the edge in getting in touch with your target market. It is important that given these various channels, the customers and consumers should know and feel like your company is listening to them. Replying to their feedback regularly, creating solutions to common problems and having opportunities to make users feel like they are part of your company’s development is what’s important. If your company has a good understanding of your customers, this is what would make everything you do stand out.

We are also looking into these points to consider how we will grow OpenIdeas in the next year, and hope you will be part of our journey!

via BazaarVoice