BeccaGetting funding for a startup is seriously difficult. And if you haven’t been blessed by an angel investor and VCs aren’t taking the bait, you can end up feeling pretty lost. But don’t panic just yet. There’s another option for the investment-seeking entrepreneur: crowdfunding. Crowdfunding not only gives you the chance to raise some serious investment, but it also lets you get some really helpful market validation. Do people want what you’re selling?
That said, it’s not easy. You might not have to deal with those elusive investors, but you do have to plan and execute a crowdfunding campaign. It’s going to take all the skills in your business arsenal to get it right.
Luckily, we’re here to help. In this hub piece, we’ll help you understand exactly what you need to run a successful campaign. From creating your campaign video to building a social media following, we’ll cover it all. Let’s jump in.
The Complete Guide to Crowdfunding your Startup
Which crowdfunding site should I use?
- Crowdfunding Platform Options
- How to set up a campaign on Kickstarter
- Crowdfunder.co.uk: How to set up your campaign
- Niche crowdfunding sites
What do I need to run a successful crowdfunding campaign?
- The Complete Crowdfunding Checklist
- Crowdfunding video: Top tips to get you started
- Crowdfunding campaign graphics: What do you need?
Getting backers
- Leveraging your network: how to get backers for your crowdfunding campaign
- Email outreach: top tips to get you started
- Crowdfunding social media: how to manage your campaigns
Crowdfunding Startups
- The 8 Best Crowdfunding Campaigns of All Time
- Equity Crowdfunding: what is it and how does it work?
- How long do crowdfunding campaigns take?
- Crowdfunding Startups: Capital
Which crowdfunding site should I use?
The platform you use will depend on what you’re fundraising for and how much flexibility you want. These guides will talk through your options.
Platform options
Crowdfunding platforms can be pretty confusing, right? There are lots of them, and they all offer different things. Because of this, it can be difficult to know which platform is right for your startup. But the right information can make a world of difference.
In this article, we’ll talk you through 5 different crowdfunding platforms and what you can expect from them: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Crowdcube, Crowdfunder, and Crowd Supply. We’ll cover their pros and cons and how well each platform caters to startups.
>> Crowdfunding Platform Options
Kickstarter
As the biggest name in crowdfunding, Kickstarter’s an obvious place to turn. But don’t see it as an easy option. The startling fact is two-thirds of all Kickstarter campaigns fail.
But why do they fail? I hear you ask. It’s because not everybody realizes just how much work you need to put into your Kickstarter campaign to make it successful. Even if your idea is the bee’s knees, it’s not going to get noticed without an all-singing-all-dancing campaign. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a guide to posting a Kickstarter campaign. Read it before you do anything else.
>> How to set up a campaign on Kickstarter
Crowdfunder
Like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, Crowdfunder is a generalized fundraising site. You can launch any kind of campaign there. However, the design and feel of the platform are more corporate than other general crowdfunding sites. For this reason, it’s perfect for startups and small business ideas.
It’s the UK only, so hard luck if you’re based abroad. But, for those located in the UK and looking to raise it’s perfect. To find out how to set up your campaign, read this guide:
>> Crowdfunder.co.uk: How to set up your campaign
Niche crowdfunding sites
There are plenty of niche crowdfunding platforms out there, each with its own individual benefits. It might seem risky to fund through a platform that’s less well known, but doing so could actually help your campaign.
Did you know a survey found that the top 4 crowdfunding sites according to user reviews are all niche platforms? Kickstarter came in at a lowly 5th place.
So why are the niche crowdfunding sites so popular? Seems like they can out-perform Kickstarter if you know which one to choose. After all, only one-third of Kickstarter campaigns actually reach their funding goal. Could your campaign do better elsewhere?
Find out what Indiegogo, Seed&Spark, Crowdfunder, and Crowdcube can do for you:
What do I need to run a successful crowdfunding campaign?
To get the most out of your campaign, you’re going to have to make your campaign page look as polished and exciting as possible. It’s got to be all-singing and all-dancing, complete with some professional graphics and a fantastic explainer video.
The Complete Crowdfunding Checklist
If you’re looking for a breakdown of everything you’ll need in one easy-to-find location, check out our crowdfunding checklist. You’ll find a summary of all the steps you’ll need to complete when setting up a campaign for your startup.
>> The Complete Crowdfunding Checklist
Campaign Video
Kickstarter videos have taken on a life of their own, and it’s easy to see why. Campaigns with a video on Kickstarter have a 50% higher success rate than those without. So it’s important to get yours right. Our top tips will tell you how to tell your story in the most compelling way, how much you should budget and how you can get one made.
>> Crowdfunding video: Top tips to get you started
Campaign Graphics
On top of your video, it’s a good idea to break up your campaign text with some custom graphics, illustrations, and product photography. Graphics and visual assets are essential for a strong crowdfunding campaign – if you use them right, they’ll help convince more people to fund your campaign. Read our article on what you’ll need to make your campaign page, email marketing, and social media stand out from the crowd.
>> Crowdfunding campaign graphics: What do you need?
Getting backers
All the effort you’ve spent building your campaign page will be for naught if you don’t publicize it. You need to use all the channels at your disposal to get the backers you need to hit your target. A word of warning: you’re going to be sending a lot of emails. But use these guides to plan your outreach strategy so it’s as simple as possible.
Leveraging your network
The first port of call is your personal network. Get friends and family (and colleagues, and that one guy who works in the corner store) on board and you’ve got one of your easiest sources of funding locked down. Ultimately, it’s going to be easier to persuade your mum to fund your business idea than it is a random stranger who has stumbled across your page. Find out the best way to leverage your network:
>> Leveraging your network: how to get backers for your crowdfunding campaign
Email outreach
We’re often guilty of choosing social media over email because we assume it will have an impact and we can reach more people. However, research has shown that on the whole email is more effective. The stats say it all: for every $1 you spend on email marketing, you can expect a return of $38. Plus, it’s been estimated that by 2020, an email will be used by 3 billion people, and of those that aren’t using it, 1.6 billion don’t have access to electricity. This means email is the most effective way to reach customers in the developed world. We’ll help you get started using email to maximize your crowdfunding efforts:
>> Email outreach: top tips to get you started
Social Media Outreach
Even before your campaign goes live, you’re going to want to hit social media hard. You’ve got to choose which networks to target, build up a following and try to create a bit of buzz in the cybersphere…All before you even think about pushing that launch button. And naturally, it doesn’t stop there. Between campaign updates and pleas for donations, you’re probably never going to want to look at Twitter again. So make it easier for yourself by reading our guide on setting up your social media campaigns.
>> Crowdfunding social media: how to manage your campaigns
Crowdfunding Startups
8 Best Crowdfunding Campaigns of All Time
Whether it’s writer’s block or you’re just feeling a bit burnt out, putting together a crowdfunding campaign is exhausting and filled with what if’s. So take a break from the toil and get inspired by looking at what can be achieved if you run your campaign the right way. Whether it’s the quirky card game Exploding Kittens or revolutionary roads from Solar Roadways, these companies are killing it. Without further ado, take a look at our favorite campaigns of all time.
>> The 8 Best Crowdfunding Campaigns of All Time
What is equity crowdfunding?
Equity crowdfunding is a type of crowdfunding that’s a bit different from rewards-based campaigns like those on Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Instead of backers getting rewards, people agree to buy shares to have a stake in your company. If you’re more interested in traditional investment methods, this gives you the best of both worlds. Not only can you offer shares, but you can offer them to a much wider audience than if you were approaching angel investors on an individual basis. Find out more:
>> Equity Crowdfunding: what is it and how does it work?
How long do crowdfunding campaigns take?
If you’re not thinking about how long your campaign will last, you should be. The length of your campaign can seriously impact your chance of success. Too short and it won’t gain momentum. Too long and it’ll lose momentum altogether.
Campaign length differs from platform to platform. Kickstarter lets you choose anywhere from 1 – 60 days. Indiegogo lets you set any amount of time you like. So what’s the best timeframe to choose?
>> How long do crowdfunding campaigns take?
Crowdfunding Startups: Capital
Crowdfunding has helped so many startups and small businesses raise capital and secure their futures. But, for every campaign that’s a success, there are several more that have failed.
This is because crowdfunding isn’t right for every business model, and it could depend on the amount of capital you want to raise. Find out more about setting goals that will make you success:
>> Crowdfunding Startups: Capital
Crowdfunding is really hard. You need to be organised, aware of the struggle and motivated to make it happen. You can do it. So go out there and raise the money to make your company fly!
If you need any freelancers to help you on the journey, you know where you can find them.
Arun Kumar
Gorilla Accounting
Patrick Gribben
