99 Designs You Can Crowdsource on crowdSPRING Ross | October 21st, 2009
Whenever we are asked what types of projects people can post on crowdSPRING, we typically answer with a snarky “uh, there’s like a hundred different things!?!”
That is, until someone recently said “oh yeah, like what?”
Dumbfounded at this unvarnished display of brazen audacity, we set out to show them. So, we settled in with a case of beer, a sheet of paper and a pen. We were pretty sure there were 100 when we went to bed but, when we woke up, it appears that there was a mistake (or a few too many beers). We’re still asking for a recount but it could take a while. In the mean time, help us spread the word.
We’re giving away three (3!) prizes of $100 each to anyone who helps us spread the word about all the great stuff you can do on crowdSPRING. Oh, and we promise it’ll be $100 – not $99. Maybe…
Here’s all you need to do:
1. Post a short article in your blog or on your website (it doesn’t need to be long – a few sentences will do) with a link to this page: 99 Designs You Can Crowdsource on crowdSPRING (hyperlink below):
http://www.crowdspring.com/99designs-you-can-crowdsource-on-crowdspring
2. Send an email to: spreadthelove@crowdspring.com with a link to your post.
That’s it! And if you’re feeling particularly generous, please hit the DIGG and/or TWEET buttons on that page to spread the love even more.
We’ll end this contest in 14 days (on November 5), pick three winners from everyone who’s posted to a blog and sent us the link, and contact them to arrange for payment of $100 each.
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22 Comments
Until you actually read the article and click on the link, it first almost sounds like your taking a ‘dig’ at 99designs.com … lol
Hmm – I certainly see how one can read it that way. Didn’t think about that until I read your note.
Hmm – I certainly see how one can read it that way. Didn’t think about that until I read your note.
This is obviously a poor & coward attempt of re-directing traffic from 99designs towards CrowdSpring. You are using these very specific keywords (“99designs”, “crowd source” and “crowd spring”) that just scream “Hey, we do crowd sourcing also, not just 99designs.com”.
I was really expecting more from CrowdSpring – perhaps some fair competition instead of barely hidden keyword games ?
This is obviously a poor & coward attempt of re-directing traffic from 99designs towards CrowdSpring. You are using these very specific keywords (“99designs”, “crowd source” and “crowd spring”) that just scream “Hey, we do crowd sourcing also, not just 99designs.com”.
I was really expecting more from CrowdSpring – perhaps some fair competition instead of barely hidden keyword games ?
Wow – that’s low.
Wow – that’s low.
Seriously, I also read 99designs. If you really had that at the back of your mind when coming up with this then you are really really missing it cos you just reminded me to check what’s new at 99designs and not exactly post a blog to enter a draw to win maybe $99 ! Copywriter, get a litltle more creative without necessarily advertising for your competitor.
Seriously, I also read 99designs. If you really had that at the back of your mind when coming up with this then you are really really missing it cos you just reminded me to check what’s new at 99designs and not exactly post a blog to enter a draw to win maybe $99 ! Copywriter, get a litltle more creative without necessarily advertising for your competitor.
It must have taken some time to come up with all those ideas. My favorite is the train wrap. Not too many private trains out there, but I see a lot of advertising (and lots of graffiti) on public trains and they have to buy the advertising somewhere.
It must have taken some time to come up with all those ideas. My favorite is the train wrap. Not too many private trains out there, but I see a lot of advertising (and lots of graffiti) on public trains and they have to buy the advertising somewhere.
Dylan – it did take a bit of time. Many of these ideas come straight from projects that have been posted to crowdSPRING. As for the train wrap – I actually think the plane wrap is one of the most interesting. We had a plane project – someone wanted a totally custom plane paint scheme for their small plane. The designs were excellent and we’re hopeful that the client will send us photos when they complete the paint job.
Dylan – it did take a bit of time. Many of these ideas come straight from projects that have been posted to crowdSPRING. As for the train wrap – I actually think the plane wrap is one of the most interesting. We had a plane project – someone wanted a totally custom plane paint scheme for their small plane. The designs were excellent and we’re hopeful that the client will send us photos when they complete the paint job.
This is an attempt to steel search engine traffic from their major competitor, which is 99designs.com. You’ll notice they use the keyword “99designs” in the link they’re promoting – they are effectively tricking their users into linking back to crowdspring using the keyword “99designs” which builds their link ranking in google for the word “99designs”. Very unethical Crowdspring, tricking your users into doing your dirty work for you.
This is an attempt to steel search engine traffic from their major competitor, which is 99designs.com. You’ll notice they use the keyword “99designs” in the link they’re promoting – they are effectively tricking their users into linking back to crowdspring using the keyword “99designs” which builds their link ranking in google for the word “99designs”. Very unethical Crowdspring, tricking your users into doing your dirty work for you.
Can CrowdSpring give an official response on the concerns raised as to the reasons for this competition? Seems a little, mmm well, I don’t want to make my mind up once we’ve got their response.
Can CrowdSpring give an official response on the concerns raised as to the reasons for this competition? Seems a little, mmm well, I don’t want to make my mind up once we’ve got their response.
Offering a cash payout for linking to a site probably falls under the jurisdiction of ‘paid links, something Google takes a very dim view of indeed. They view it as unethical in terms of their search index, the manipulation of which is obviously part of this tactic.
The other is unquestionably unethical – deliberately setting up an in-bound link campaign in order to confuse people searching for your competitor. You want internet users, searching for 99 designs, to find your page, driven to the top of the search indexes by the inbound links you’re offering cash for.
I’m disappointed that Crowdspring would engage in such a transparently shady campaign and I’m amazed that you didn’t think people would see right through the charade. It ain’t clever. It ain’t cute. It’s underhanded as hell.
There’s no comeback to this really. You’d try and pull something like this on a site full of web developers/designers?
Ha. You cannot bullshit your way out of this one, sorry.
Disappointed that crowdspring has failed to respond to this so far. If this was a deliberate underhand tactic then I wonder if they are waiting until the dust has settled so they collect as many inbound links as possible for the competition.
I’ve only used crowdspring once before and I used to recommend them, now I’m on the fence, I’m hoping they can win me back to their side but its looking less and less likely.
Disappointed that crowdspring has failed to respond to this so far. If this was a deliberate underhand tactic then I wonder if they are waiting until the dust has settled so they collect as many inbound links as possible for the competition.
I’ve only used crowdspring once before and I used to recommend them, now I’m on the fence, I’m hoping they can win me back to their side but its looking less and less likely.
Well, 99designs can post something like “101 designs that you can crowdspring in 99 designs” but that not have the same effect.
But is low the advertising of Apple Vs. PC, or Pepsi Vs. Coke, or….
Is a free market!
Crowspring introduce a lot of innovations, like Pro contest, hidden entries, scrow money, etc.
Now a lot of sites are ofering the same features.
That is low?