We have seen a lot of change in the advertising and marketing industry over the last couple of years. One of the most impactful disruptions is the use of crowdsourcing to problem-solve, engage
audiences, and create content.
The impact of this new way to source work and ideas has been significant. As crowdsourcing becomes a staple in cutting-edge marketing practices, it has come to
represent a fierce challenge to the traditional agency model and the marketing industry in general. The disruptive nature of crowdsourcing is not only causing a major cultural shift in the ways a
client’s work gets done but has rattled the foundations of many leading creative agencies and marketing firms.
Consider this: online creative communities built on crowdsourcing
principals essentially form a virtual agency that is bigger, cheaper and more productive than any in history. Top brands -- GE, Philips, LG, Coca-Cola and hundreds of others -- have not just
taken notice, but have effectively leveraged crowdsourcing in their own efforts to engage audiences. Yes, the very brands that have been the bread and butter of the traditional advertising
agencies, marketing shops and PR firms have embraced the crowd for everything from innovative campaigns to creative collateral, and user-generated content.
As the tide has shifted, we
have seen more evidence of the ongoing erosion of the traditional ways of delivering services and creating marketing and advertising campaigns. For instance, creative professionals who traditionally
held down full-time jobs at agencies and brands are enlisting in crowdsourcing communities by the thousands. They participate on these platforms to find new clients, reap the benefits of freelancing,
earn money, and engage with their peers. Leading firms are looking hard at the economics of crowdsourcing and the evidence is indisputable: increased ROI, meaningful cost savings, improved client
service, and measurable improvements in customer engagement.
Brands have alsp undertaken efforts to streamline the creative process. The traditional RFP process that a brand undertakes as it
searches for an agency has become a dinosaur. Many companies now recognize that in the time it takes for the RFP process to run its course, any number of crowdsourced creative projects could have been
completed.
Creative crowdsourcing projects are efficient and affordable, and are characterized by massive selection, a diversity of ideas, a huge pool of creative talent, and the distinct
flavor of innovation. The process is simple: a buyer writes a creative brief and describes the project for a community of creatives, determines how long it will run (typically one to two weeks), and
specifies how much they wish to pay for the service, eliminating any haggling over cost. For example, a newsletter project can cost as little as $269 and a buyer can expect writers and designers
around the world to present submissions and concepts from which to choose. At the end, the buyer selects the entries they like best and the chosen creative is awarded the fee. No office space rentals,
payroll expense, additional taxes or benefits due; the buyer also avoids invoicing and hourly rates, monthly retainers, and any unanticipated costs that might come with a traditional freelance
arrangement.
As brands adapt and embrace new paradigms, it’s imperative that innovative marketing agencies change the way they do business. But it’s important to remember
that crowdsourcing and marketing agencies don’t have to be mutually exclusive; smart agencies are already leveraging this new approach to evolve and sell differently. Brands already see the
strategic value-add from marketing agencies that develop the game plan, oversee the process, manage the crowd, and supply the creativity, ideas and innovation to better serve their clients.
The
question is -- will you adapt your business to embrace the crowdsourcing phenomenon?