Give your business the edge with crowd-power! Crowdsourcing is an innovative way of outsourcing tasks, problems or requests to a group or community online. There are lots of ways business can use crowdsourcing to their advantage: be it crowdsourcing product ideas and development, design tasks, market research, testing, capturing or analyzing data, and even raising funds. It offers access to a wide pool of talent and ideas, and is an exciting way to engage the public with your business. Crowdsourcing For Dummies is your plain-English guide to making crowdsourcing, crowdfunding and open innovation work for you. It gives step-by-step advice on how to plan, start and manage a crowdsourcing project, where to crowdsource, how to find the perfect audience, how best to motivate your crowd, and tips for troubleshooting.

The easy way to get started in crowdfund investing Crowdfund investing (CFI) is going to be the next big thing on Wall Street. U.S. investment banks, brokerage houses, and law firms are gearing up for the creation and regulation of new financial products that will be available to the general public starting in early 2013. The introduction of these products will revolutionize the financing of small businesses and startups for these key reasons: Entrepreneurs and small business owners, who have had difficulty obtaining capital through traditional means (such as bank loans and angel investors) in recent years, will have access to investors around the world through social media. For the first time, investors (so-called unqualified investors) will be able to purchase an equity stake in a business or new investment vehicle. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is overseeing the creation of online portals that will allow entrepreneurs and small investors to connect. When these portals go live in 2013, Crowdfund Investing For Dummies will be on the front line to educate business owners, other entrepreneurs, and investors alike. Crowdfund Investing For Dummies will walk entrepreneurs and investors, like yourself, through this new investing experience, beginning with explaining how and why CFI developed and what the 2012 JOBS says about CFI. Entrepreneurs will find out how much funding they can realistically raise through CFI; how to plan and launch a CFI campaign; how to manage the crowd after a campaign is successful; and how to work within the SEC’s regulations at every stage. Investors will discover: the benefits and risks of CFI ;how much they can invest; how a CFI investment may fit into a broader investment portfolio; how to provide value to the business or project being funded; and how to bow out of an investment when the time is right. Crowdfund Investing For Dummies is an indispensable resource for long time investors and novice investors alike.

How would you like to work for yourself in your own home? Sounds good right? The commute would be a breeze. Starting a small business from home can mean minimum fuss and minimum start-up costs - so it's no wonder that around 60% of new businesses are started from home. Whether you're looking to go freelance, start a home-business full-time or a new venture on the side of your existing job, you need 'Starting a Home Business For Dummies'.

Tips and techniques to help your nonprofit thrive More so now than in years past, a significant number of nonprofit organizations have experienced a major decrease in funding and contributions. Nonprofit Kit for Dummies, 4th Edition caters to these organizations and shows you how your nonprofit can thrive and survive even in the most unpredictable and uncertain economic climate. This new edition of Nonprofit Kit For Dummies offers tips and information on everything you need to navigate the process of setting up and effectively running a nonprofit organization, including: hybrid corporations; employee performance reviews; IRS regulations; social media; nonprofit marketing and fundraising; building cash reserves and risk capital; online research and fundraising; and much more. Covers raising money, applying for grants, and developing the perfect mission statement Details on how state laws vary, how to conduct program evaluations; and how to conform to accounting standards CD includes forms, worksheets, templates, and more—plus stronger, more specific examples of organization plans and resources to guide organizational financial systems and procedures Whether you're thinking about starting your own nonprofit or are already working in the sector, Nonprofit Kit For Dummies is a valuable source for getting the latest information and practical advice on running a prosperous nonprofit organization. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

Getting Started with Crowdund Investing In a Day For Dummies shows small business owners what they can do now to prepare for crowdfund investing since the signing of the 2012 JOBS Act into law. It includes an overview of how crowdfunding came about; the steps you can take to get ready for CFI once it is available, and ways you can make your company or business project attractive to investors. • The origins of the JOBS Act • Working within the legal standards and processes for the business and investor side of crowdfunding • Requirements for investors, internet-intermediaries, and small businesses • Shopping for the best crowdfund investing platform This e-book also links to an online component at Dummies.com that extends the topic into step-by-step tutorials and other “beyond the book” content including: advice and articles on how to find a startup worth funding; information on the future of crowdfunding; pros and cons of CrowdFunding; an exclusive “Part of Tens” chapter; and more.

Write a business model? Easy. Business Models For Dummies helps you write a solid business model to further define your company's goals and increase attractiveness to customers. Inside, you'll discover how to: make a value proposition; define a market segment; locate your company's position in the value chain; create a revenue generation statement; identify competitors, complementors, and other network effects; develop a competitive strategy; and much more. Shows you how to define the purpose of a business and its profitability to customers Serves as a thorough guide to business modeling techniques Helps to ensure that your business has the very best business model possible If you need to update a business model due to changes in the market or maturation of your company,Business Models For Dummies has you covered.

Crowdsourcing is an emerging paradigm that promises to transform several domains: creative work, business work, cultural cooperation, etc. Crowdsourcing reflects the close-knit interplay between the latest computer technologies, the rapidly changing work model of the 21st century, and the very nature of people. The interplay makes for an exciting but at the same time challenging new field to investigate under the lens of a diverse set of disciplines, ranging from the technical to the social and from the theoretical to the applied. Early research has focused on an aspect of crowdsourcing known as micro-tasking. Micro-tasks are simple tasks (like image annotations) that anyone could perform. An emerging area is how to utilize crowdsourcing to solve problems that go beyond simple tasks towards more complex ones, that require collaboration and creativity. In juxtaposition to micro-task crowdsourcing, this book investigates macro-task crowdsourcing and its potential.

In an era of an economy based on knowledge and Web 2.0 technology, knowledge is the foundation for improving the decision-making processes and relations between people both in and outside of an organization. Providing new and unique sources of knowledge outside organizations enables innovation and shapes competitive advantage. Crowdsourcing and Knowledge Management in Contemporary Business Environments is a collection of innovative research on the methods and applications of crowdsourcing in collaboration, idea implementation, and organizational development. Highlighting a range of topics including data analytics, crowd computing, and open innovation, this book is ideally designed for business managers, business professionals, business and social researchers, graduate-level students, and academicians seeking current research on the mechanisms of knowledge management in crowdsourcing.

Learn to manage, grow, and communicate with your online community Online community management is a growing profession and companies are investing in online communities in order to gain consumer insights into products and to test new products. An effective and dedicated community manager is essential to engage and manage a successful online consumer community. Clear coverage shares tips for dealing with customers and fans through Twitter, Facebook, forums, and blogs. A practical approach shows you how to ensure that visitors to your site are satisfied, kept happy, and return. You'll explore the various types of online communities and benefit from learning an assortment of tips and tools that will help you stand out above the competition, attract more visitors and gain the attention of potential advertisers and investors. Addresses the role of the community manager, the core community management tasks, and how to create an online community. Highlights ways to build relationships within your community, evaluate return on investment, and handle and respond to criticism. Offers advice for establishing policies and transparency and encouraging community interaction.

The most comprehensive guide to using Facebook Whether you're new to Facebook, a developer exploring apps, or a marketer interested in using Facebook for social media campaigns, this book has content you can use. Seven minibooks thoroughly cover the essentials, from how to get started with Facebook, to Facebook etiquette, to the best pages, apps, and games. You'll find handy information on how or when to share sensitive information and how to stay safe, even when settings change. If you want to join Facebook armed with the best information, this is the book you need. Packs seven minibooks in one practical guide: Getting Started with Facebook, Customizing Your Page, Marketing Yourself on Facebook, Facebook Advertising Basics, Facebook App Development Basics, Facebook Privacy and Etiquette, and Best Facebook Pages, Apps and Games Covers areas of Facebook you may not know about Helps you keep up with Facebook's tricky privacy policies, how to choose a tasteful profile photo, and when to watch your tone Puts practical and essential information in the hands of users, marketers, and developers—whether new or current Get the most out of Facebook and avoid hassles with this helpful, practical guide.