One of many biggest mistakes crowdfunding users make is expecting visitors to automatically visit their crowdfunding page once it is created. At the conclusion of the day, crowdfunding platforms simply create the infrastructure essential for effective online fundraising; it is still your responsibility to market your crowdfunding campaign among your existing network to mobilize donors.
So, how do you market someone crowdfunding page to maximise fundraising results? I outline ten techniques for getting probably the most from the crowdfunding experience.
1. Tell a Story
Everybody enjoys an excellent story, helping to make an excellent story valuable. Don't just tell donors why you'll need funding. Inform them the story behind what led you to begin your endeavor. Consider creating a blog to expand your story beyond what donors can easily see on your crowdfunding page. This is especially relevant if you have photos of past experiences that connect with 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 generally share on social networking is particularly effective. The longer these graphics are on display, and the greater the quantity of individuals who display them, the more impact they'll have (setting the graphics as profile photos or cover photos is a great idea).
Additionally, creating Facebook groups or events to publicize individual crowdfunding campaigns is a common practice. If you select 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 help you reach a certain goal. Ensure that you include the hyperlink to your crowdfunding campaign in every social networking posts, as well as in any graphics that the organization creates. Lastly, don't just post once and expect huge results, communicate 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, or even thousands, of contacts that they may access instantly. Imagine the impact it would make if each of them donated only $1 to your campaign. A fast and effective fundraising strategy may be that: asking each member of one's organization to touch base to state, ten contacts, for a minor 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 college student or an established business, it's easy to offer donors some kind of reward for achieving a certain donation level. This is often theatre tickets, gift baskets, etc., but the very best 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 simple to attribute all of your fundraising efforts to the internet world, but don't count out your face-to-face interactions along with your family, friends, and peers. Before going out the doorway every morning, put some cards along with your crowdfunding page link written on it. That way, whenever you find yourself discussing your cause (which is hopefully often), it'll be easy to bring up your fundraising efforts and slip the individual a card.
6. Film a Video
Videos are one of the finest ways 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 who find themselves uncomfortable with the filming process can take a look at apps for stop motion videos (for example, iMotion HD), which really is a quick and simple way to create a professional looking video. Whatever route you choose to take, remember to include the hyperlink to your crowdfunding page in the video, preferably at both first and the end.
7. Obtain Press Coverage
Local newspapers and student publications on university campuses tend to be available to featuring articles about individuals and/or organizations that are making a positive impact, or wanting to attain a goal for an excellent cause. In case a publication is willing to feature your cause, make sure you provide the backdrop story behind your fundraising efforts, as well as a request for readers to join in through your crowdfunding page. Don't know the place to start? A fast Google search of local publications and their contact information is a good method to begin. Many publications also 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 online presence. Some may even have usage of those sites of other organizations they are a part of StartEngine Review. Learn who these people are and inquire further if they'd be willing to feature your crowdfunding campaign on their site. This strategy has the best potential for success if you learn individuals with site content that is strongly related your cause.
9. Set a Quantitative Deadline
This strategy is particularly effective at the conclusion of one's fundraising campaign. When you're nearing your goal, it's time to produce one last big push. Let your supporters know just how close you're to your goal, and how a number of days you will find left to produce it happen ("Only $50 far from our $1500 goal, and 4 days to go!'). With the pressure of an impending deadline, supporters are more likely to pitch within the last bit and pull you through the house stretch.
10. Follow Up
Once your fundraising campaign ends, it's important to follow along with up with all of your donors and thank them for contributing to your cause. This not just lets them know they are appreciated, but encourages them to aid you again in your future crowdfunding efforts. For small donor bases, an individual thanks card is most beneficial; for large donor bases, thanks emails may become more practical. Lastly, it is good practice to let your donors discover how the initiative that they supported went (photos are a plus), so that they may see what their money made possible.