Crowdsourcing – Be the Visionary in Your Business

by Shauna Harper on March 30, 2011

This is a must watch video for EVERYONE in business. It is a short 5 min video talking about Crowdsourcing vs. outsourcing.

I have been outsourcing in my business for the last few years. I have a number of assistants that work virtually from their homes. After having to manage employees, I thought this was such a great system.

Well today, I have just learned just how to take your entrepreneurial vision to a whole new level by leveraging people on the internet.

This video is from Scott Klososky at the Tony Robbin’s Business Mastery Retreat. Crowdsourcing is the concept of using the internet “herd” to do the work on your behalf. Benefits: Cutting costs, more time and room for creativity and top quality.

I have seen it on a small scale, at 99designs.com. Scott mentions something similar on http://www.Logotournament.com . And I guess I have used companies like oDesk and Elance that are both companies that work is “bid” on.

However, listen as he describes other ways to build content, get books written, create videos and even crowdsourcing your PR. Tony Robbins actually used crowdspring.com to get his website designed. The difference is that you have freelancers not just “bidding” on the contracts, but giving you proposals of their idea concepts.

Love how this supports the entrepreneurial spirit. Enjoy!

PS. As much as you use it to get the work done in your business… you can also make money bidding on contracts as well.

Tagged as: Crowdsourcing, Scott Klosoky, Time Management, Tony Robbin’s Business Mastery Retreat, Video on crowdsourcing

  • http://area224.com Dave Van de Walle

    I disagree with this approach for creative work.

    I have found some great designers places like Elance. I pay them for their time and, if we discover that there’s not a fit, they keep their creative and I move on. I’d never ask a bunch of people to do spec work in exchange for the 1/100 chance of “winning” a few hundred bucks.

    • Shauna Harper

      Hi Dave,
      Thanks so much for your comment. I was hoping that someone would pipe up about the opposing side as I found lots of it when I Googled “crowdsourcing” after writing this article. I really thought about the other side… and I am still VERY much for this type of creative work.

      As an entrepreneur there has been a lot of work I have done “pro bono” for the chance to get to work with some great people and great companies. If you are talented and just starting out it is great way to get a chance to work with some solid companies that wouldn’t look at you before. Also it builds up your portfolio. PLUS, if your work is great, there might be future work available for you with the company if they want to bring your style through their entire business.

      Also, Just because something is crowdsourced doesn’t necessarily mean that it only cost a few hundred bucks. If you are putting up a bounty of only $100 for a logo, you probably aren’t going to get many seasoned graphic designers… but if you put up $300-400 you will probably get more seasoned graphic designers bidding on the option.

      As a creative person that designs and builds websites, logos and does all sorts of graphic work too (no longer for clients), this stuff comes easy for me because I love doing it.. it is fun and creative. And if I had a chance to play around and work on other people’s logos before when I wasn’t making a lot of money… I would have done it in my free time just to improve my craft. So at the end of the day, even if you aren’t “winning” the pitch, you are mastering your craft.

      At the same time, if you are only doing work for the money (don’t love it) and you aren’t really good at what you do (not the cream that will rise to the top), then that is another thing. I think this crowdsourcing could be a huge waste of your time. Anyway, thanks for your input… I think this deserves another full article. Hope you’ll join me on the next one :) Take care.

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