As a host, have a clear objective and make an agenda for your brainstorm so you make the most of your time with contributors. If this is your first time facilitating a brainstorm, check out our blog post for tips on hosting brainstorms.
As a contributor, make sure to review all the material provided and do some thinking in advance. Brush your hair, get settled in a spot that’s free from distractions and make sure you have a good internet and audio connection. Check out our Brainstorming 101 guide for more advice.
Here are a few ways to position yourself as a quality Contributor:
- Complete your profile.
- Write a bio that identifies your top 2-3 strengths and any industries or job roles in which you have experience.
- Upload a quality headshot that shows your personality.
- Add your social media handles.
- In Crainstorm events, ask the host to review you following the session. Work on developing a five-star rating.
It’s challenging for contributors to bring their full energy and attention to a brainstorm that is longer than 60 minutes. If you think you need more time, consider scheduling multiple brainstorms, each with a unique objective.
For example, the first session could be generating new names for a restaurant, the second session could be evaluating names to choose the best one and the third session could brainstorming ideas for a launch event. You could invite the same Contributors to each event for efficiency, or shake it up by inviting new people with new perspectives.
Crainstorm BETA does not currently save information from the brainstorm sessions. Be sure to copy your notes when you’re done your brainstorm or grab a screen-grab of the whiteboard. Don’t worry, export functionality is coming soon!
Cancel your brainstorm before it starts to receive a full refund. Check out our tips on getting more people to apply for your brainstorm in the FAQ above.
The easiest way to attract people to your brainstorm is to invite them. Once you create and fund your event, scroll down to the Manage Contributors section of the Event Details page, and click on Invite Contributors. Browse bios and invite the folks you’d like to hear from.
Here are a few more tips:
- Increase your budget. Doing so will make your event standout and it will also improve the calibre of talent applying to your brainstorm.
- Promote your Crainstorm event to your network. Social media is a great way to do this. Tag us in your post and we’ll help amplify.
- Give your event a catchy title, a clear objective and helpful background information.
- Read our blog post on Choosing Contributors.
