crowdfunding: its all about your story
TRANSCRIPT
CROWDFUNDINGIt’s All About Your Story
0 7,500 15,000 22,500 30,000
2011
2010
Projects on Kickstarter.com LAUNCHED SUCCESSFUL
27,086
11,836
11,130
3,910
2011: 30.59M visitors -- $99.34M total pledgesAverage Pledge: $3.25
Source: Mashable.com
‘MUST HAVES’ FOR YOUR STORYPRINT, VIDEO, ONLINE & IN-PERSON
•WHO you are
•WHAT your company does
•WHEN did it/will it start?
•WHERE it operates
•WHO needs your product
•WHY it’s a great idea
•WHY you’re passionate about it
‘MUST HAVES’ FORYOUR CROWDFUNDING STORY
•SPECIFICS - What do you need the money for?
•TIMELINE - Dates for action start and finish
•GOALS - What will funding achieve? (What happens without it?)
•REWARDS - They’re awesome, right?
•ASK for support. How else can people get involved?
•GRATITUDE - ‘Thank You’ for their consideration.
•CONFIDENCE - Believe in your idea & in yourself
•PROFESSIONALISM - Wardrobe, grammar, expertise
•ENTHUSIASM - Show your excitement!
•AUTHENTICITY - Do you.
PRESENTATION ‘MUST HAVES’PRINT, VIDEO, ONLINE & IN-PERSON
How do you describe the project when you’re talking to a friend? Try that.
PREPARING YOUR STORY
•CROWDSOURCE your content - Why do others think your product is special?
•LIMIT story basics to 2 paragraphs!
•TEST the story on other eyes & ears.
•RE-PURPOSE finished text. Don’t re-write.
Outsourcing? IPGCleveland.org @$250-$500+ odesk.com - elance.com @$100+
2-PARAGRAPH TEMPLATESource: Indiegogo.com
Hi. We’re [biz]. We are [who you are, how many of you & your backgrounds, briefly] from [location]. We [describe mission/bulk of work]. Our next project is [next plan of action/what you’re raising funds for]. But, we need your help.
2-PARAGRAPH TEMPLATESource: Indiegogo.com
Hi. We’re [biz]. We are [who you are, how many of you & your backgrounds, briefly] from [location]. We [describe mission/bulk of work]. Our next project is [next plan of action/what you’re raising funds for]. But, we need your help.
We need to raise [amount] to cover the cost of [what you need funding for] or [consequences of not doing the work]. So, we’re turning to you [certain type of person?] to ask for contributions. In exchange, we’re offering [list the best perks]. Your contribution will help us [re-state your goal], and further, it will help [share the big picture]. Thanks!
BACKSTORY
• BEGINNINGS - How’d you get the idea?
• STATUS - What’s been achieved already? Honors?
• TEAM - Who else is directly involved?
• EXTRAS - Researched facts, photos, testimonials
USE EVERY TOOL
• #1 - Fundraiser Site - text & video
• Your Website - direct visitors to funding site
• Elevator Speech - direct listeners to funding site
• Leave-Behind - project-specific biz card directs to funding site
• Mobile - text a select group with link to funding site (limited)
• E-Mail - contact a select group with link to funding site (limited)
• Social Media - LinkedIn & Facebook links to funding site
Plan & schedule consistent, universal messaging.
“Typically, 30% of your funding will come from your social network before anything
comes from an anonymous resource.”--Jason Best, Crowdfund Capital Advisors
Slides are available at: www.slideshare.net/KarenMW
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Karen Malone Wright