FAQ

What is The IdeaLists?

The IdeaLists is an experiment in social networking applied to communications solutions, a more efficient agency model, and most importantly, a chance to increase your ratio of good idea conceptualization to good idea realization.

The IdeaLists allows users to post their ideas, the idea’s value, and any other relevant information. If someone, be it a company or individual, is interested in using the idea in part or whole, we provide the connection to agree on appropriate compensation.

Inversely, The IdeaLists also allows those in need of good ideas—bands in need of a music video, marketers in need of a unique campaign, producers in need of a game show challenge–to post briefs and value attached.

The IdeaLists is a platform allowing creatives and clients to work together in a way that requires very little initial commitment or resources from either party.
 
We provide:

1: A matchmaking service for our community to buy, sell and trade ideas.

2: Custom services to clients in need of executing their ideas.

3: The ability to create your own ideaLists mini-site that can be shared specifically with your own personal networks.

My ideas are valuable. Why would I share them in a setting where they might be taken?

Ideas don’t hold value. Only potential. Our job is to help create value from that potential.

Aren’t you being a bit overly idealistic?

We have great faith in the communal spirit of the social web and want you to join us in that, but let’s not be naive either.

Open source communities have been achieving increasingly lofty goals that wouldn’t have been possible in traditionally closed environments that closely guard intellectual property. We hope to apply a dollop of these processes to communications with the belief that sharing outside your circle creates a stronger offering, therefore creating rewards far greater than any sum of its parts could have achieved alone.  

That said, though we have put precautions in place to protect IP, it should be understood that unrealized ideas are quite hard to legally protect. Therefore, if youre idea is so valuable you couldn’t bear to see it taken, then you shouldn’t post it here.

Why was this site created?

Like many fellow content creators, we were frustrated by having a stack of good ideas that were never realized due to lack of budget, off-timing, not knowing the right strategic partners, politics, etc. The age-old adage “its not what you know but who you know” is an enemy of idea iteration.

By side-stepping some of the pre-existing layers (some might call these middle-men) and by making information more accessible, execution becomes more efficient on multiple levels, creating new relationships and opportunities not previously possible.

Who is using this site?

The IdeaLists, for now at least, is invite only. Imagine the digital evolution of the Parisian salon, a place where interesting people come together to discuss, improve and realize fresh ideas. It is a community of artists, writers, designers, marketers, entrepreneurs, tinkerers, journalists, technologists, vandals, skateboarders, directors, planners, musicians, eccentrics and other fellow travelers excited by new ideas.

It is compiled from a cross-section of different skill sets and competencies, made up of unique talent from various communications related industries. No one can realize a big idea alone, but a powerful network of synergetic skill sets can tap into fresher, better ideas.
 
Why do you refer to The IdeaLists as being open source?

To quote Wikipedia, "The open source model includes the concept of concurrent yet different agendas and differing approaches in production, in contrast with more centralized models of development…"  The most direct comparison to our open source methodology would be  "messageboards (which) are about creating a conversation amongst its users where information can be shared freely and quickly. Messageboards are a way to remove intermediaries from everyday life." Removing intermediaries is our primary goal here at The IdeaLists.
 
What is the difference between an IDEA and a BRIEF?

That simple. If you have an idea that needs funding or support in order to become a reality, then you should post an IDEA on the site. If you have a budget to spend and are in need of a creative idea or execution then post a BRIEF the site.
 
What form can compensation take?

Compensation in this marketplace might take the form of credit, trade, money or even providing different parties the ability to collaborate in order to provide client solutions together.

How do I collect my money if my idea is sold?

The IdeaLists is a free matchmaking service. Negotiation and transaction should be handled directly between parties. Members can contact one another through our internal messaging system while keeping personal email addresses confidential. For more info, contact us here.

Can The IdeaLists negotiate on my behalf?

Yes. We also offer clients services in order to filter and mold the best ideas for their specific needs, while implementing custom-tailored teams to execute the idea. For more info, contact us here.
 
How can I protect my idea from theft?

We do take some steps to help you protect your ideas. You can keep certain parts of your idea or brief confidential until you specifically authorize a particular user to view it. This gives you the opportunity to connect with the other user and, if you think necessary, prepare and enter into a non-disclosure agreement, before disclosing the most confidential aspects of your idea. In addition, we require user registration and track individuals using the site. Thus, we maintain a record of who has seen what that could be discoverable in legal proceedings. Nonetheless, we are relying primarily on the honor of our users. 

A final note on the topic: we believe that in today’s information driven world, we are all absorbing the same cultural memes. With this in mind, any idea you might have, it’s a pretty good bet five other people had a similar one. At that point it becomes all about the one who executes first while the other four say: "oh I had a similar idea once but…" By posting here, at least you can be first to lay claim to an idea in a controlled, semi-public forum. 

But if you’re still not convinced or you are not interested in sharing with our network, The IdeaLists provides the ability to create and share specifically with those in your own personal idea network. 

Can client confidentiality be maintained on The IdeaLists? 

Yes. For further details on how to best maintain client confidentiality, contact us here.

Does The IdeaLists provide custom services?

Our idea listings are free to our members. To compliment this service, The ideaLists offers a full range of client services, acting as an agent for great ideas and great briefs. These projects are marked Powered by IdeaLists and we charge a fee for these services. 

As well The IdeaLists provides users the ability to create their own members-only idea sharing platform. If you or your company is interested in a fully-customized idea sharing platform, we can build this for you. Please contact us here for further details.

Why would I use Powered by IdeaLists?

We believe many of the most creative, interesting and talented people today choose to work for themselves rather than in companies, they choose their projects by passion as much as paycheck.  

Wouldn’t you rather have your ideas realized by a best-in-class creative team, assembled specifically for you? And what happens when you step outside a small, enclosed group of copywriters and designers and begin sharing ideas with creative minds across multiple spectrums? 

And wouldn’t you prefer to do all that without paying for a lot of lengthy, increasingly antiquated processes and overhead. 

By choosing Powered By IdeaLists, we act as agent for your project. This might include sales and negotiations, editing and helping craft the best ideas, organizing the best creative and production team suited for the task at hand, overseeing necessary account management services, etc. We can provide services you lack or complement services you already have.

In exchange for this service we charge a commission based on a percentage of the budget. This is decided on a case-by-case basis depending on necessary job requirements.

Who created this site?

The ideaLists was created by Adam Glickman. Adam worked his way up in the publishing and advertising industries in various art departments before founding Tokion Magazine. What began in 1996 as a 2 color, 56 page zine, would eventually grow to a full color glossy title with offices in New York and Tokyo, a conference series, boutique stores, product line and even documentary film production arm. By 2005 Adam had become increasingly absorbed in contemplating what new millennium media would look like and how to best triangulate content, technology and marketing in order to build success. Diving full fledged into creating such a model, he sold the Tokion title in 2006 and has since worked in various roles, consulting for such companies as Wieden and Kennedy, BBH and Nike.

For more on why Adam decided to launch this site, visit the blog here

This all sounds great. So how do I join?

The IdeaLists is currently in beta and is therefore invite only. If you are interested in joining email us here and we will be in touch as soon as we are ready to expand membership.