Crowdsourcing isn’t a new concept, it’s one that has been used by renowned brands worldwide. Not only does it drive creativity and innovation by drawing from a wider pool of ideas and talent, but it’s also simply good marketing. Consumers want to be acknowledged, so it’s always a good idea to get consumers involved in the development process, whether it’s in terms of product design or surveys. Besides, no one knows brands like consumers, so it’s a win-win situation.
Here are some interesting ways brands have gotten consumers involved:
- Oreo made a name for themselves when they launched their “Daily Twist” campaign, a crowdsourced 100-day cookie-design series, in honour of their 100th anniversary. The public was given the power of choosing the winning design. The campaign was a hit and Oreo’s Facebook page sharing increased more than 4,000 percent during the campaign.
- Lego has an established platform for customers to submit their product designs. Like with Oreo, Lego allows consumers to vote for their favourite product designs and ideas. Also, voters must provide a reason for their choice and a price that they’d be willing to pay for the actual product. The most liked ideas then get reviewed by Lego’s official committee. This allows Lego to get ideas from a wider pool, and survey the market demand. They also get free publicity on social media when users promote their ideas to win.
- In 2013, Samsung ran a crowdsourcing campaign to find the best design for a flexible phone display. Some of the requirements include the screen having to be the key element and cost-efficiency. Professional designers, entrepreneurs, and engineers were invited to submit their designs for a chance to win $10,000. Samsung would go on to launch its first foldable smartphone in 2019.