Are You Crowdsourcing Gen-Y? Maybe You Should Be

The internet has allowed has to all to expand our horizons. Whether it be connecting with great individuals and brilliant minds across the globe or simply writing your own customer reviews for a brand and experience, one thing is for certain and that is most likely someone is watching and listening.

Usually that “someone” is a company trying to avoid a PR blunder by monitoring activity about what is being said about them. But more interestingly, these same companies are even trying to get ahead of the game by sourcing that information they’re receiving and hopefully pulling some strategic use from it. After all, the customer is always right. Right?

Well, let’s be honest, the customer isn’t always necessarily right. But they most certainly know what they want and have insights into areas most companies can’t comprehend. As a result, crowdsourcing is becoming increasingly popular and very useful. What better way to reach the consumer than to go to the source.

And what better way to understand the elusive, loyal but not loyal, always buying but can’t be reached through advertising, wanting everything, always connected Millennial generation. The combination of having the ability to get useful information quickly and reach has created a great movement towards Gen-Y Crowdsourcing communities.

Mercedes Benz has done it with Generation Benz, IBM has got into the action and as of late, Durex joined the game by creating it’s own Gen-Y initiatives. Crowdsourcing is definitely not a new idea. But at this moment in time, it’s becoming increasingly valuable just like stumbling onto a diamond in the rough. The value gained here is priceless. Where are your crowdsourcing initiatives?

And though this example is only but a few companies that have gone the way of strategically using crowdsourcing, there is also the emergence of online research communities directed at fulfilling the needs of anyone. At a moments notice, you could quite literally receive powerful and profound information, aside from all the statistics and studies – which are useful. But you can’t pay for information like this.

Gen-Y Crowdsourcing Communities, such as the Millennial Marketing Super Consumer Community, are fascinating areas companies, brands and corporations should be interested in, investigating and using. This is not just an assortment of random individuals. It is a delicate process of hand-picking the right minds for the subject matter. And I would know this, since I am a member of said community.

Crowdsourcing for Gen-Y thoughts is extremely powerful. Not only does it remove the company centric approach many companies painstakingly fail with, it allows the customer to say what they think, ultimately giving those who need the information the right direction to head in. You’d be surprised what Millennials have to say. After all many people are more than surprised and shocked once they realise I’m a twentysomething myself.

So why leave it to the old adage of “from the outside looking in.” Come join us Millennials on the inside. We’ll amaze you more than you think. We’re more capable and useful than you even know.

(Photo credit)