Starbucks wants you

Source: The Viral Garden

…and not just because you're addicted to those grande half-caf soy lattes. Mack Collier points us to a new site, MyStarbucksIdea which is closely patterned after Dell's Ideastorm community. The big idea? Starbucks takes "suggestions from customers on what changes they would like to see Starbucks make. The community then votes on their favorites, and comments on them."

The Starbucks idea with the most votes? A Starbucks card system that offers customers a free drink, after purchasing a set number of drinks. Also, free drinks on your birthday. These are loyal customers looking for rewards.

Starbucks, like Dell, is looking to tap into the collectiv e intelligence of their customers. It can be scary and unpredictable to give your customers a public voice, but companies like Dell, Lego and others are discovering just how powerful it can be.

At WeeWorld we start every day reading and charting our user feedback and checking the conversation flow (while sipping our Starbucks coffee).

Your customers are out there having conversations. Make it easy for them to talk to you.

Mack – it was great to meet you in person at SXSW!