crowdSPRING Shares Top 10 Tips for Crowdsource Buyers
CHICAGO, June 24, 2013 – crowdSPRING, the world's No. 1 marketplace for custom logo design, web design, business naming and other writing and design services, has released a top-10 list of tips for buyers of crowdsourced projects.
Since 2006, business leaders have embraced crowdsourcing. The concept was first introduced by Jeff Howe, contributing editor of Wired Magazine, and describes the act of a company taking a function once performed by employees and outsourcing it to an undefined community of people in the form of an open call. Buyers put a creative project on the table, such as a logo design, via a common web outlet and offer a monetary reward. People submit their own interpretations based on the project specifications and the buyer chooses the one he or she likes best. Companies of all sizes have found that crowdsourcing saves time and money and results in a wide array of creative concepts.
Because crowdsourcing is still a relatively new process, buyers often don’t know where to begin in selecting one design from hundreds of submissions. Recognizing that, crowdSPRING devised a free, downloadable ebook culled from insiders to serve as a guide. To see and download this free e-book, go to: http://www.crowdspring.com/help/guide/interviews-with-graphic-and-web-designers.
The following 10 tips, taken from the ebook, come from successful crowdSPRING buyers on how to manage a productive crowdsourced project.
- Take a chance with your brand. According to Dragan Loncar, from Belgrade, Serbia, today’s brands play it too safe. “I notice a general lack of risk-taking in branding, the opposite of something that was so characteristic in the ‘80s,” says Loncar. He advises buyers to a unique design to set your brand apart from others.
- It’s a black-and-white issue. Denis Wong, from Singapore, advises buyers to choose a design that offers a version on a white background as well as a black background. “A logo will have to work on both light and dark backgrounds, even though you are just starting a new business and only need it initially for your stationery and website,” he says. “What if your business grows and becomes famous?”
- Don’t be so literal. Chrissy Richards, from Eugene Oregon, says that designs are often too literal. She suggests looking for brand renderings that take more liberties. “People too often focus on depicting objects or products, instead of conveying a concept, which is usually more effective,” she says.
- Keep it simple. Don’t choose a brand name that is too long or one that is difficult to illustrate with a simple icon, says Fred Kylander, from Sweden. Instead, he suggests choosing “simple, iconic names and words that work as typographic logos and/or easily interpreted illustrations.”
- Communication is key. For Graham Smith, who hails from the United Kingdom, client feedback is a must. “If I see an interesting project with some good entries but no client feedback then I usually leave it alone despite the fact that there may be a good award,” says Smith.
- Clients should collaborate. Kai from Australia doesn’t want to be the only one driving the project. He says that it’s important to find a client who is willing to collaborate on all of the creative work that goes into a design.
- Trust your designer. For Allen, from Utah, finding the right designer means learning from his or her expertise. Buyers should listen to what the designer has to say about the design.
- Don’t be too brief in your brief. Tiffany Reed, from Norfolk, Virginia emphasized the importance of creative briefs. This is the vehicle for the buyer to communicate to the designer what he or she wants. A brief should be well thought out and err on the side of being too long. “When a creative brief is four sentences long it can be tough to get any ideas,” she says.
- Choose your language carefully. Buyers need to be aware that the design they choose is going to be one of their communication tools, says Svetlana from Sofia, Bulgaria. She adds that it is vital to choose the right words to represent the brand and respect the customer.
- Be respectful in your feedback. The graphic designers on crowdSPRING usually read the buyer feedback, says Tammy Collins, from Jackson. If a buyer leaves rude or condescending feedback, it could ward off graphic designers in future bids.
For more tips and information about crowdsourcing visit the crowdSPRING website or download the full crowdSPRING E-Book, 12 Questions: Interviews With Designers.
About crowdSPRING
crowdSPRING is the world's No. 1 marketplace for custom logo design, a new company name or other writing and design services. Entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofits and agencies simply post what they need, when they need it and how much they want to pay. Once posted, nearly 132,000 creatives from 200+ countries around the world submit an average of 110 options for the buyer to choose from until they find “the one.” crowdSPRING is a privately held company based in Chicago. To learn more on why crowdSPRING is trusted by more than 34,950 happy clients worldwide, visit http://www.crowdspring.com. To hear more about the world of small business, startups, design, marketing and business strategy, follow crowdSPRING’s blog, their Twitter stream or their Facebook page.
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Lauren Russ at 773.868.0966 or lauren@connectcomsinc.com
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