Crowdfunding Success Guide[Kickstarter etc.]

Discover how crowdfunding kicks off with the three magical f's—family, friends, and fans—and convert subscribers into fans by growing your email list and leveraging social media.

Leverage the all-or-nothing principle by keeping it active on crowdfunding platforms; it builds trust, triggers refunds if goals aren't met, and can mobilize late backers at the campaign's end.

Don't deactivate the all-or-nothing principle on Indiegogo; use fixed funding to build trust, avoid higher fees, and enable you to refine your project if goals aren't met.

Learn four essential steps to prepare a crowdfunding campaign: build and entertain your crowd from the start, study campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and support others to learn and improve.

Discover the best crowdfunding tools for managing a Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign, including social media, email list building, and ongoing tool updates through a linked text file.

Compare Kickstarter and Indiegogo to choose the right crowdfunding platform for your project, considering scope, eligibility, fees, and post-campaign options like Indiegogo InDemand.

Identify the platforms where your crowd is most active and leverage influencers for your crowdfunding campaign. Start with Instagram and a Facebook fan page, and skip less-used channels.

Leverage Facebook groups to engage your crowdfunding crowd behind the scenes and connect the group with your fan page, offering a closed, open, or secret setup.

Identify top influencers in your field using free tools: run targeted Google searches, use social platforms as search engines, and compile a contact-ready list in a spreadsheet before outreach.

Give to influencers first with shoutouts or helpful ideas, then build genuine relationships via private messages or short video messages before asking for promotion or testimonials.

Write personal crowdfunding emails by using subscribers' first names and a personal perspective, sharing authentic behind-the-scenes stories. Keep to one plain-text call-to-action to avoid corporate vibes.

Learn how to start an email list with Mailchimp's forever free plan for up to 2000 subscribers, create campaigns, craft subject lines, and schedule or send emails.

Reach out to family and friends with a brief email to gauge interest and add responders to your list; encourage referrals to grow to hundreds.

Grow your email list by placing landing page links in every email signature, inviting sign-ups. Engage in person at events and join online conversations to drive momentum and subscriptions.

Learn to grow your email list to 1000+ subscribers by engaging in Facebook groups, helping others, avoiding spam, and using surveys to collect emails from interested members.

design a compelling campaign video by showing the product with b-roll and visuals, not just talking; keep it under two minutes and finish with a clear call to action.

Boost your crowdfunding with personal, emotional photos in landscape orientation, avoid logos, use three to four repeating images for recognition, ensure high quality and Fiverr retouch options, and show rewards.

Set a funding goal as low as possible by calculating platform fees, shipping, production costs, and taxes, then use overfunding to boost social proof and attract backers.

write a concise, vivid campaign description that includes bolded highlights, images of rewards and mockups, testimonials, and media coverage, while keeping readers on the crowdfunding site.

On Kickstarter, avoid earlybird offers that make late visitors feel left out and hurt conversion; explore alternatives that deliver the same effect and respect backers' experience.

Activate your crowd from the start by encouraging supporters to share your Indiegogo campaign, post regular updates, and engage on social media to influence the GoGoFactor and popular categories.

Learn to manage a crowdfunding campaign end-to-end using an exclusive Trello board, from pre-launch tasks and influencer outreach to launch-day essentials and post-campaign wrap-up, with color-label workflow.

Build the pre-launch phase by starting crowdbuilding, launching an e-mail list, and growing social media followers to expand your list. Research other campaigns and entertain your crowd to boost engagement.

Win the middle game, the death valley, with regular planned updates across Facebook, Instagram, and email, using soft-pitches, social proof, milestones, and non-sleazy reminders to backers.

Leverage the end phase of a crowdfunding campaign by actively communicating urgency. If you’ve reached the goal, invite immediate action; if not, apply the all-or-nothing principle to finish strong.

Express gratitude for joining the crowdfunding course, invites questions for future updates, and encourages honest reviews to ensure satisfaction.