Raising money online has never been easier. There are so many tools and resources out there to help you. However, the sheer number of projects means it is a little harder to get noticed. Setting it up is easy, making big money from it is more difficult. With a few tips and tricks, you can learn the best way to stand out. More importantly, you can learn how to convince people to part with their hard-earned cash.
As with most projects, raising money online requires strict planning. It’s no different to fundraisers in the real world. You need a clear defined goal. You need a plan for reaching it and you need a passionate and compelling pitch. Get it right and your project could be pulling in thousands from online fundraising. There are some real success stories out there. Your project could be one of them.
How does it work?
First of all, you’ll need to find the right site. There are lots out there but some are more suited to your project than others. If you’re raising money for charity, ‘JustGiving’ is the best site. However if you’re raising capital for a business or cultural project, ‘Kickstarter’ is your best bet. Typically, you’ll set a target and a deadline based on how much you need to complete the project. You write a pitch and share it with your friends. The donations begin to come in. You don’t get any of the money unless your project reaches the target by the deadline you set.
Have a plan
Setting it up is easy. To make a really successful campaign you need a good plan. Start writing a campaign plan well before the fundraiser goes online. Once it up, it will whizz by and you need to be prepared. Write press releases and have them ready to go (if applicable). Schedule email newsletters to your community and strategize a marketing plan.
Write a compelling pitch
It’s tough to get heard in the online fundraising world. There are hundreds of projects vying for people’s donations. The most successful projects tap into a passionate story. They win over people’s hearts and make them want to be a part of their project. The headline and pitch is your chance to do this. You need to create a project so interesting that people feel compelled to be a part of it. They need to feel strongly enough to donate and then share it with friends. Take your time over this.
Offer great rewards
If you’ve hooked people with a compelling title, now’s the time to convince them with great rewards. You can set different donation amounts that correspond to a reward tier. You should offer exclusives to high bidders. If you’re raising money for a comic book, offer them a signed first edition. Get really creative and let your donors become a part of the project through rewards.
Each crowdfunding project is different and you’ll have to think creatively to make it work. Getting started is easy, so there’s no excuse not to have it up and running. There is money to be made with a compelling story and a great product.
Thanks to Keith Cooper for the image.
