Crowdsourcing

This is going to sound weird to some who are yet to enter the age of technology which surrounds us today. I predicted over a year ago that Chicago would be without the Tribune and/or the Sun Times within the next decade. Since then both papers have been in bankruptcy and the Tribune has changed to a tabloid format, something which the paper has said it would never do. I say all of this to make the point that things are not and will not be as they have been in the past.

The New York Times is branching out and experimenting with the latest area of crowdsourcing – crowdfunding. Similar to crowdsourcing, the idea of crowdfunding asks people to donate small amounts of money to support a larger cause. In this case, users on the site Spot.Us raised funds to help reporter Lindsey Hoshaw travel to a remote part of the Pacific Ocean in order to report on an environmental story. It was the Times’ first crowdfunded story – and will most likely not be its last.” (I will let you read the full store at the link above.)

Suffice it to say that whether you are trying to solve a problem or raise funds as we go forward, you will be using technology and those who do not might as well look for something else to do to fill their time. The old ways just are not going to work anymore.

Let’s take a test. Describe what is a ‘mob’ and how does it work?

Take a look at all those folks on the train or in cars or walking on the streets with their heads inside that iPhone, Blackberry or other wireless device that is in their hand. Let’s say you have developed a group of ‘followers’ or contacts or call them what you like. This group cares about what you have to say or what you are doing. By texting your group to do something that they are supportive of, an immediate response will occur.

>watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=9C5623622606791F

*****

Tagged as: crowdsourcing, Paying the Bills