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Crowdsourcing your companies success

Guest post by: roxanne rives

Article Overview: More companies are turning to the people that love them most for ideas on all areas of their business by creating online public contests, games and increasing consumer interaction. Utilizing your consumers is smart marketing.

Crowdsourcing your companies success

It seems everywhere you go, there will be a person you meet who claims to be the "biggest fan" of a product or brand. You know, the guy that wears a compete 3 piece Nike suit with shoes every day, the office co-worker carrying a Starbucks into the office every day of the week and the family in my neighborhood that have 4 Volkswagen cars in their driveway. Does that family know something about Volkswagen that I don't? Or are they simply the biggest fan of a specific car company just because they know it runs forever and has great safety ratings. Any way you look at it, I noticed it, and chances are next time one of those companies ask for people to give their opinion or ideas...they will get a money making idea from one of their "biggest fans."

More companies are turning to the people that love them most for ideas on all areas of their business by creating online public contests, games and increasing consumer interaction. In 2008, Starbucks launched a major initiative to enhance their services with a website called My Starbucks Idea that polls members on decisions that would most directly impact them. Most recently,Dunkin Donutsran a contest for fans on facebook to create their own donut flavor, the top 12 (or dozen) fans will take home $1,200, a year's supply of donuts and get to compete in a bake-off at Dunkin' Donuts headquarters in Massachusetts.

This kind of sourcing from the people that know and love your product or business can make the company that encourages fan interaction a jump ahead of the competition. Why? Because not only are they having you participate in the next big thing, but they are in a sense saying that they trust and believe in the people that make it all happen...their biggest fans! And it is because of things like this, that make social media that much more powerful than any other type of marketing.

Remember, Social Media Rox!

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Article Tags: Dunkin Donuts, favorite social media ideas, social media and fans, social media marketing, social media trends, Starbucks, Volkswagen



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Re: Hi every1 - well, maybe this kind of business are not that known in here. We are designing every kind of office tools; we’ve got success because there are lots of companies looking for new styles and we’ve realized Christmas is a time for companies to renew installations and more. We are trying to be known in the market and we are getting it especially because we got our website some few months ago and now several contracts are made online. Would you have some tips for us?
So much for a family life - I can't imagine these CEOs get much quality family time. It's funny, although these are all CEOs of successful companies - how successful are they themselves? I guess if you define success as being the CEO then it's fine, but for me success shouldn't come at the cost of spending time with your family and friends.
Re: Hi every1 - [quote="2william":15x0fqaq]well, maybe this kind of business are not that known in here. We are designing every kind of office tools; we’ve got success because there are lots of companies looking for new styles and we’ve realized Christmas is a time for companies to renew installations and more. We are trying to be known in the market and we are getting it especially because we got our website some few months ago and now several contracts are made online. Would you have some tips for us?[/quote:15x0fqaq] Hi 2william, Are selling your office tools from your own website or will you be looking for a large retail chain to carry them?
Australian Computer Franchise looking to be taken Globally! - John I'd like to talk with you about your IT franchise project. I have a client that is looking for IT companies to support him. So, for the right companies, you would have business to offer to them from the start. Actually, in large metropolitan areas, it would be millions. Of course, I want to make sure that these companies are capable and reliable. I'd also like to learn more about your company. Alan Boyer alanboyer@leaders-perspective.com


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