5 Ways to Amplify Your Crowdfunding Campaign
There are things you can do to re-invigorate your outreach during a lull and amplify your campaign to new audiences.
Most people know that crowdfunding can be a great tool for fundraising and gathering support for projects of all types. One important element often overlooked is that to have a successful crowdfunding campaign, you have to treat it as a part-time responsibility for the limited length of your campaign. You will focus on spreading the word and outreach the majority of the time. No matter who you are, your campaign will likely encounter the typical periods of lull where you aren’t getting donations, new viewers, or shares. The good news is there are things you can do to re-invigorate your outreach during a lull and amplify your campaign to new audiences.
Here are the top 5 ways to amplify your crowdfunding campaign.
1. Highlight a Partner
2. Highlight Your History
3. Create a “Giving and Sharing Challenge” Within Your Fundraising Team
4. Connect with the Local Press
5. Ask a Person of Influence or “Influencer” to Donate and Share
Now, let’s dig into more detail on how to implement these amplifying strategies in a bit more detail.
1. Highlight A Partner
Most projects come together initially with help from outside support. This could be a person, organization, or space that helped form your project or efforts. You can expand your reach and audience by highlighting those partners in a social media post or video testimonial and properly tagging them when you share the feature. This will allow your campaign to reach their audience. You should always include a link to your live campaign so folks can learn more about your project and support your efforts.
2. Highlight Your History
People love to have a bit of context. Share the story of how your project or organization got started. Tell the history of your space or organization and how it has changed over time, and then link back to your current crowdfunding campaign. You could also develop impact stats about your past work to share in a beautiful infographic. There are many formats in which you could tell your story, so we recommend finding a way that best fits the voice of your organization and will engage and resonate with the audience you are trying to reach. This could be a video, letter, or as simple as a social media post.
3. Create a “Giving and Sharing Challenge” Within Your Fundraising Team
A “Giving and Sharing Challenge” is a fun and encouraging way to get people on your team to spread the word and get their individual audiences and networks to see your campaign. Offer a fun reward for the winner and have everyone on your team see how many donations they can bring in for a given week or two. Most crowdfunding platforms have the ability to track where donations are coming from, including through social media sharing. This enables you to easily see where donations are coming from and select your team’s winner.
4. Connect with the Local Press
Your hometown wants to support its movers and shakers! You just have to give them the opportunity, and one of the best ways to do so is through the local press. Contact a local reporter or writer and ask them to do an interview about your efforts or project while your campaign is Live and link back to your campaign page. Connect with a local radio or television show and tell people how to donate and support your campaign. It can be intimidating to reach out to the press but know that they are always looking for stories, especially those with a positive impact on the community. Don’t be afraid to send an email or make a phone call. You’ll be surprised at the response you receive!
5. Ask a Person of Influence or “Influencer” to Donate and Share
Connecting with an Influencer will allow your reach to grow in a big way and expand to an audience you likely wouldn’t be able to reach on your own. Most people want the opportunity to give to good things going on in their community, but haven’t been properly asked or may not have heard about your campaign.
When you think of an influencer, you might think about a social media influencer or celebrity, but an influencer is simply an individual who can influence others.
Outside of your core team, community influencers can be a great way to expand your reach. These influencers could be social media influencers or community influencers, like local elected officials, television personalities, or business owners! Think outside the box and connect with individuals who have a unique interest in your campaign.
Be sure to reach out to them in advance of your campaign and request their support, whether by sharing your campaign or by giving. Your campaign shouldn’t surprise them!
Be specific about how you would like their support and provide clear details on the campaign and launch date. For them to spread the word, they’ll need to know exactly what the campaign is supporting and where individuals can donate. Be sure to thank them for their support and for helping to spread the word.
These are just some of the ways to get past typical campaign lulls and amplify your crowdfunding campaign.
Once you’re ready to launch, we’ll be here to provide support every step of the way, including helping you to amplify your crowdfunding campaign.
Start your campaign today at patronicity.com.