Among the biggest mistakes crowdfunding users make is expecting visitors to automatically visit their crowdfunding page once it is created. At the end of the afternoon, crowdfunding platforms simply create the infrastructure essential for effective online fundraising; it is still your responsibility to promote your crowdfunding campaign among your existing network to mobilize donors.
So, how will you market someone crowdfunding page to increase fundraising results? I outline ten methods for getting the absolute most from your crowdfunding experience.
1. Tell a Story
Everybody enjoys a great story, making a great story valuable. Don't just tell donors why you need funding. Let them know the story behind what led you to start your endeavor. Consider making a blog to expand your story beyond what donors can see in your crowdfunding page. This really is especially relevant if you have photos of past experiences that relate to your cause, or documentation of ongoing fundraising activities and events.
2. Push Social Media Outreach
Generally, Twitter and Facebook are the top social networking platforms to push your fundraising page. Creating fundraising graphics for your organization and your supporters to share on social networking is particularly effective. The longer these graphics are on display, and the higher the amount of individuals who display them, the more impact they will have (setting the graphics as profile photos or cover photos is a good idea).
Additionally, creating Facebook groups or events to publicize individual crowdfunding campaigns is just a common practice. If you decide on to go this route, including a certain monetary goal in the name of one's event (Help Joe raise $1000 for Disaster Relief) encourages people to assist you reach a definitive goal. Make sure to include the hyperlink to your crowdfunding campaign in all social networking posts, as well as in virtually any graphics that the organization creates. Lastly, don't just post once and expect huge results, keep in touch with potential supporters frequently and regularly!
3. Launch a $1.00 Campaign
In today's social networking age, each member of one's organization has hundreds, if not thousands, of contacts that they may access instantly. Imagine the impact it would make if all of them donated only $1 to your campaign. An instant and effective fundraising strategy may be that: asking each member of one's organization to reach out to state, ten contacts, for a minimal donation amount. Usually, people are a whole lot more receptive to a request for a small and specific donation rather than a general request for an unnamed sum.
4. Offer Incentives
Whether you're a scholar or an established business, it's easy to provide donors some kind of reward for achieving a particular donation level. This is theatre tickets, gift baskets, etc., but the most effective rewards will undoubtedly be strongly related your fundraising cause. Incentives do not necessarily have to be expensive, something as simple as a signed thanks photograph can serve as an individual and cost-effective gift.
5. Interact With Your Donors
It's easy to attribute all of your fundraising efforts to the online world, but don't count out your face-to-face interactions along with your family, friends, and peers. Before going out the doorway each day, put some cards along with your crowdfunding page link written on it. That way, whenever you find yourself speaking about your cause (which is hopefully often), it'll be easy to bring up your fundraising efforts and slip the person a card.
6. Film a Video
Videos are one of the finest approaches to showcase your cause and bring donors on board. Many people are defer by this idea because they believe shooting a movie is time and budget intensive, especially if they are conducting individual crowdfunding campaigns with limited organizational resources. However, new apps for phones and tablets have simplified the video creation process immensely. Those people who are uncomfortable with the filming process can have a look at apps for stop motion videos (for example, iMotion HD), which is really a quick and simple way to create a professional looking video. Whatever route you determine to take, remember to incorporate the hyperlink to your crowdfunding page in the video, preferably at both the beginning and the end.
7. Obtain Press Coverage
Local newspapers and student publications on university campuses in many cases are available to featuring articles about individuals and/or organizations which can be making a positive impact, or attempting to attain a target for a great cause. In case a publication is prepared to feature your cause, make sure you provide the back ground story behind your fundraising efforts, as well as a request for readers to participate in during your crowdfunding page >StartEngine Review. Don't know how to start? An instant Google search of local publications and their contact information is a good solution to begin. Many publications likewise have submission information for interested guest contributors on their websites.
8. Mobilize Your Network's Networks
Odds are, someone you or your organization knows owns their very own website, blog, or an on the web presence. Some could even have use of the internet sites of other organizations that they're a part of. Learn who these people are and ask them if they would be prepared to feature your crowdfunding campaign on their site. This strategy has the best possibility of success if you find people who have site content that is strongly related your cause.
9. Set a Quantitative Deadline
This strategy is particularly effective by the end of one's fundraising campaign. When you are nearing your goal, it's time to create one last big push. Let your supporters know exactly how close you are to your goal, and how many days there are left to create it happen ("Only $50 from our $1500 goal, and 4 days to go!'). With the pressure of an impending deadline, supporters are more likely to pitch in the last bit and pull you through the house stretch.
10. Follow Up
Once your fundraising campaign ends, it's important to check out up with all of your donors and thank them for adding to your cause. This not merely lets them know that they're appreciated, but encourages them to aid you again in your future crowdfunding efforts. For small donor bases, an individual thanks card is better; for large donor bases, thanks emails may be much more practical. Lastly, it is good practice to let your donors know how the initiative they supported went (photos really are a plus), so that they may see what their money made possible.
