Crowdsourcing has become a hot topic lately, as we see big brands getting in on the action! Many are coming to see crowdsourcing as a hot marketing avenue, capable of bringing in new fans and driving brand awareness on a national, or even global stage. Take a look at some of the world’s most well-known and awesome brands who crowdsourced in 2013:
1. Lego
For those who dreamed of being a hot-shot Lego creator, the opportunity to make your dreams a reality is here. Lego launched their Cuusoo crowdsourcing campaign a few years ago, giving Lego enthusiasts all over the world the opportunity to upload their Lego creations. Creators vie for votes, with the hope their suggestion will be selected as the next Lego newbie for production and sale. In 2013, Lego chose Peter Reid’s Exo Suit as its quarterly winner. The contest still lives on the page and new ideas are coming in daily.
2. Amnesty International
Amnesty International crowdsourced designs for their new t-shirts in 2013 that were inspired by their Universal Declaration of Human Rights, making it the third consecutive year in a row that the global brand chose to crowdsource. At the end of the campaign, Amnesty received 226 t-shirt ideas and chose this “Wishing for Rights” design.
3. PepsiCo & Beyonce
Superstar Beyonce also teamed up with PepsiCo in 2013 as the celebrity behind their Super Bowl half-time crowdsourcing campaign. Pepsi asked their fans to take snaps of themselves in various pre-determined poses, like hip-shaking or head-bobbing. The photos were used to create this video that acted as the countdown introduction for Beyonce’s halftime show. The winners were also given the opportunity to participate in the on-field performance.
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4. Lay’s
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay also got into the crowdsourcing arena in 2013 with their “Do Us A Flavor” campaign. They asked their chip-loving fans to suggest new flavors for their next potato chip product line. The campaign scored 3.8 million entries and after voting by Lay’s fans, chip experts, and even celebrities like actress Eva Longoria, the winning flavor of ‘Cheesy Garlic Bread’ was revealed as “America’s Next Great Potato Chip Flavor.”
5. Foxtel Australia
Foxtel also appeared to catch on to the benefits of video crowdsourcing in 2013 when they launched their “Green IT” campaign via video platform company, Brand Honee. Creatives were invited to develop a short video showcasing the positives of green technology, with winners receiving a cash prize, and the inclusion of their film in the promotion of the International Green IT Awareness Week.
6. Glenlivet Whisky
Whiskey lovers thought they’d woken up in heaven last year when Scottish whiskey distillery Glenlivet opted to crowdsource their next prestigious blend to a range of whiskey “connoisseurs” all over the globe. Fans were invited to a special event to sample three single malt whiskies and then vote for the one they felt should be produced during the maker’s 2014 limited edition run.
Hopefully these examples will inspire you to crowdsource your brand’s next campaign in the year ahead. What were some of your favorite crowdsourced initiatives in 2013? Let us know in the comments below.