a transparent look through the lens of innovation

I believe in consumer innovation.  Organizations should empower customers.  Customers want the opportunity to add value to their favorite organizations.  Successful organizations today will embrace consumer innovation.  Proponents will quickly understand market demands and receive valuable feedback on new products and services.  They will implement improved practices and collaborate with their crowd to discover brand appetite.

Tap the brilliant minds of your loyal customers for ideas and reward them.  They want to be included in the decision making process.  Start innovating faster and more profitably. 

Your crowd is waiting.  Why are you?

/justin

Ladies and Gents,

The yinzit team is hard at work creating a beta version for everyone to freak out on.  Please hang tight.  It’ll be available within the next couple of weeks.  I’m sure you can’t wait to start exchanging your prodigious ideas for some legit prizes…

In the middle of our mentally exhausting wireframing and use case sessions we refresh by indulging in some fine delicacies conveniently ordered from CollegeBite – the sweetest food ordering website for delivery and pickup from your favorite establishments! mm mm mmmmmm.  If you haven’t experienced it yet, try it! It’s extremely easy and the website is pretty slick (see for yourself)!

-Justin

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Pitt’s Dogg’n It Challenge.  Here is our lucky winner, Ryan Burgess and his new PBR Mini Fridge. Be sure to stop by Pitt’s Dogg’n It for all your brew needs.

Pitt’s Dogg’n It
260 Atwood Street

The psychology of prizing is incredible, and it’s something we think about a lot at Yinzit.  Prizes have been used by philanthropies and private businesses for a long time to tackle the toughest challenges known to mankind.  Back in the 18^th century, the inability to measure a ship’s position made oceanic voyages a high-risk venture. The solution? In 1714, the British government offered a £20,000 prize to anyone who could develop a way to measure a ship’s position at sea. Although most people thought the answer would come from a prominent astronomer, the prize inspired John Harrison, a British clockmaker, to develop the marine chronometer which enhanced the safety of sailors embarking on transoceanic voyages.  This early crowdsourcing example is testament that the right prizes can attract desired results, not failures.  Prizes are an old idea that remains surprisingly powerful today.

We have found that three conditions must exist for prizes to be as effective as possible.

1. A clear objective
2. A large pool of solvers
3. The willingness for solvers to take on some of the costs and risks.

Most people don’t think they’ll win a contest so they’re less likely to participate.  We mitigated this risk by having lots of prizes! In addition to a “best idea” prize, Yinzit awards “randy” prizes to random individuals that participate.  Solvers get the sense they have a good chance of winning at least something.

Mi Ranchito (346 Atwood St) wants yinz to describe the most epic happy hour/drink special you’ve ever been able to remember.  If you have a habit of blacking out frequently, design a happy hour you would like to see.

The amigo that posts the best suggestion here wins 4 tequila shots & entrée.

Challenge closes Thursday, January 28 at 7pm.

A new challenge is posted on the wall of the Yinzit Facebook page. Head over there and post your idea! Great ideas so far, keep ‘em coming!

For those of you that don’t know, you might find Yinzit pretty cool. Challenges are posted for users to contribute ideas and suggestions. The seekers (local businesses who post the challenge) reward the solvers (creative people like you) for their efforts. Become a fan of our Facebook page and begin solving.

Good luck!