Social media often blurs the lines between consumer and producer; "Crowdsourcing" is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Coined by Jeff Howe of Wired Magazine to describe “the act of taking a task traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people”, Crowdsourcing is attracting controversy and kudos from those who have experienced the phenomenon. Join us to hear Monica Hamburg, a Vancouver-based writer and social media consultant/evangelist, deliver a lively presentation with real-life, intriguing examples of Crowdsourcing in action.

According to Monica, no one business can employ staff who, even collectively, possess every possible skill or experience. The public, however, is filled with experts in all fields and disciplines. Businesses who recognize this fact are asking people outside their organization to provide input and work with their company in some fashion. This type of collaboration has produced innovative ideas, inventive solutions, and increased profit for many businesses. Monica will share with us the benefits and concerns about Crowdsourcing. Come prepared for an interactive discussion at the end of the presentation.

About our speaker

Monica Hamburg is a writer and social media consultant/evangelist. She is a researcher, investigator, and observer of imagery in today’s multi-media world, helping clients use online media to communicate their message (and her "Me Like the Interweb" blog serves as a repository for some of her research and observations). She’s also a contributor to the popular digital marketing magazine "One Degree” well as a former actor who uses her dry humor and entertaining skills for speaking engagements and in her humor blog "Your Dose of Lunacy".
Social Media/Marketing: monicahamburg.wordpress.com
Humour: monicahamburg.blogspot.com