How can you use crowdsourcing for effective innovation communication with your customers?

2 Choose the right platform and tools

There are many platforms and tools available for crowdsourcing innovation, such as online platforms, social media, mobile apps, surveys, polls, contests, hackathons, and workshops. Depending on your goals, scope, budget, and target audience, you need to choose the ones that suit your needs and preferences. You also need to consider the features, functionalities, and user-friendliness of the platform and tools, as well as the data protection and privacy policies. You want to make sure that your customers have a positive and seamless experience when they interact with your crowdsourcing initiative.

3 Design a compelling and clear challenge

One of the key factors for successful crowdsourcing is to design a compelling and clear challenge that attracts and inspires your customers. You need to craft a challenge statement that describes the problem or opportunity, the context, the benefits, and the call to action. You also need to provide relevant information, resources, and guidance to help your customers understand and solve the challenge. You want to make your challenge appealing, relevant, and solvable for your customers.

4 Promote and incentivize participation

Another important factor for successful crowdsourcing is to promote and incentivize participation among your customers. You need to use different channels and strategies to reach out to your potential participants, such as email, social media, website, blog, newsletter, press release, or word-of-mouth. You also need to offer incentives that reward and recognize your participants, such as recognition, feedback, prizes, rewards, or opportunities. You want to make your participants feel valued, appreciated, and involved in your innovation process.

5 Manage and moderate the process

Once you launch your crowdsourcing initiative, you need to manage and moderate the process to ensure its quality and effectiveness. You need to monitor the progress, performance, and feedback of your participants, as well as the quantity and quality of the submissions. You also need to facilitate and moderate the communication, collaboration, and interaction among your participants, as well as between you and them. You want to create a supportive and constructive environment that fosters creativity, learning, and innovation.

6 Evaluate and implement the results

After you close your crowdsourcing initiative, you need to evaluate and implement the results to achieve your innovation goals. You need to use objective and transparent criteria and methods to assess and select the best submissions, such as rating, voting, ranking, or expert review. You also need to provide feedback and recognition to your participants, as well as communicate the outcomes and impacts of your initiative. You want to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions and achievements of your participants, as well as demonstrate the value and benefits of your innovation.