Will paying the crowd be new business model?

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Dave Ingram, CEO of Brownbook.net, had a business problem: how can he build a world-wide business directory, but one with much more up to date info than any database that exists so far?

Well, he’s paying people who add data. He and co-founder Marc Lyne explains how it works in this video.

Already they are seeing 40% growth per month and tons of new businesses added all over the world. Can’t argue with that. I’ll be putting in my favorite Half Moon Bay businesses into Brownbook.net.

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

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28 thoughts on “Will paying the crowd be new business model?”

  5. Pingback: Business Directory Pays Users To Enter Data
  6. Pingback: » Robert Scoble chats with Brownbook Brownbook.net - the free directory that anyone can edit, small business marketing, free marketing, free website
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  11. @ChristineMAdolf in Miami (who works for Brownbook in Miami) just told me about this – on my way to check it out, thanks for the vid.

    Like

  14. I think that crowdsourcing is gonna take off big time.

    This is just the beginning of a trend. Imagine the results of crowdsourcing to solving various organizational problems, to book reviews, to R&D using open innovation models. Think of companies that are now focussing on developing competent staff, providing good working conditions etc. Do they at some point need to reconsider their business models? Simply the fact that sourcing innovation from a million people will be more succesfull than from 100 people.

    Like

  15. I think that crowdsourcing is gonna take off big time.

    This is just the beginning of a trend. Imagine the results of crowdsourcing to solving various organizational problems, to book reviews, to R&D using open innovation models. Think of companies that are now focussing on developing competent staff, providing good working conditions etc. Do they at some point need to reconsider their business models? Simply the fact that sourcing innovation from a million people will be more succesfull than from 100 people.

    Like

  18. Pingback: » New Brownbook for business video Brownbook.net - the free directory that anyone can edit, small business marketing, free marketing, free website

  19. I use Brownbook for my websites http://www.bbyourway.co.uk & http://www.hotelyourway.co.uk to give my customers more web presence as well as my own.

    They are very receptive to the fact that we initially set up their page and they can then go on to update, edit or claim the page for their listing.

    I do not not feel that there is any real competition between us as far as search results are concerned because my customer base for searchers is 90% established users and then word of mouth, organic searches are a small amount of our business model

    Like

  20. I use Brownbook for my websites http://www.bbyourway.co.uk & http://www.hotelyourway.co.uk to give my customers more web presence as well as my own.

    They are very receptive to the fact that we initially set up their page and they can then go on to update, edit or claim the page for their listing.

    I do not not feel that there is any real competition between us as far as search results are concerned because my customer base for searchers is 90% established users and then word of mouth, organic searches are a small amount of our business model

    Like

  21. It’s good to see the chaps at Brownbook.net doing so well. I signed up with my own plastering business when they first launched, and there was only a few other listings. I naturally claimed my position in the Plastering niche in Berks, UK. I never realised how much the site had developed though, and need to go back to see how I can utilize all you’ve spoken about here.

    Haven’t they done well?

    Pete moring.

    Like

  22. It’s good to see the chaps at Brownbook.net doing so well. I signed up with my own plastering business when they first launched, and there was only a few other listings. I naturally claimed my position in the Plastering niche in Berks, UK. I never realised how much the site had developed though, and need to go back to see how I can utilize all you’ve spoken about here.

    Haven’t they done well?

    Pete moring.

    Like

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  24. Pingback: BrownBook Open Data Business Directory « The 28-Hour-Day diet
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