- You must have a specific project in mind, with a timeframe attached to it. Ideally this should be something you can explain easily to your potential donors, with a clear outline of how their money will be used, who it will benefit and how. This will make it more likely that they will share it with their networks.
- Be realistic with what you want to achieve and how much money it will cost. That way, when the Crowdfunding campaign is over, you will be able to show your donors you have achieved what you set out to do with their money. This will make it more likely that they will donate to future projects.
- Be transparent about where donations will go. Make sure you have budgeted carefully so you know how much money you are asking for, and what you will do with it. Make sure you factor in the cost of any rewards you are giving to your donors.
- Well thought out videos or images will make your Crowdfunding campaign much more appealing, and it provides content for your donors to share with their social media networks. A video should be short (no more than two or three minutes) and concise, outlining what your project will do and who it will benefit. Make the story compelling, and appealing to human interest. What’s your story? What makes it unique?
- Choose your platform. There is a range of platform available and some of the best ones have been covered in the above section. It is important to research different platforms to get the best one for your project and organisation.
- A successful crowdfunding campaign is hugely dependent on a strong social media campaign. Your campaign needs to resonate on a personal level, with a clear focus on how they, the donors, can make a real difference in people’s lives.
- If possible, engage the local press to tell them about your campaign and how people can help. Find blogs or newsletters which are relevant to your cause, and ask if they will advertise your campaign.
- Because the project is time limited, it needs momentum from the beginning. Ask key supporters to donate before the social media campaign goes live; this enhances its credibility and make others more likely to donate.
- Say thank you to every donor individually. Personalise your message, and make sure they know their support is truly valued. Even after donors have given money, introduce new features to your campaigns (new pictures, human interest stories, statistics) to maintain the interest in the campaign, and give people something new to share.
- What kind of resources do you need? Perhaps it is just a question of time, or perhaps you need postage materials, leaflets, badges and promotional items. Is your campaign going to be run entirely online or will you use events?