Crowdfunder UK Reveals the First Step to Crowdfunding: Building a Team

Kicking off its new How to Crowdfund series, crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder UK revealed the first step to using the funding method.

The Crowdfunder UK team stated:

“Most of the actual exposure and building of a movement around the project should happen outside the crowdfunding platform before the project is launched. Be prepared to invest a minimum of twice the duration of your campaign in campaign pre-planning.

 

“Research other projects that are crowdfunding for similar projects. Find out what they did right and apply it to your own project. It’s important to research both successful and failed projects, so you can identify what they got right and see if they could’ve done better and learn from those mistakes.”

While sharing details about the pre-launch timeline, the crowdfunding platform noted:

“Begin researching, strategizing and building up your target audience at least three to four months before launching your actual project, because it makes up the foundation upon which all later elements of your campaign will rest. If you take shortcuts or skip steps, you’ll find you will have to work harder than you should have to. Being efficient, organized and disciplined will make a huge difference in the outcome.”

The pre-launch timeline includes the following:

• Organise your Videos, Photos and Logos: “Be a little thoughtful when planning these. You need someone to write a script & get someone to take the video (even if it’s on a phone). Plan where, when & how you are going to take them. Decide what theme you want, but make it engaging with the person taking the video, because your audience is behind that camera. When taking photos, make them relevant, but not just the product itself. If you have an old outdated logo, now might be the time to get it updated. Make sure that you have the raw size images, so they can be resized.”
• Leadership, drive & vision: “If you want your campaign to succeed, be prepared to work hard and very long hours to make it happen. Learn from your mistakes. If something isn’t working, figure out why. Measure your results. If users don’t react positively to something, change it.”
• Subject & market knowledge: “Browse successfully funded projects, and look for projects that are similar to yours, and then compare. If a project fails, compare it’s characteristics to yours. What kind of social networks and strategies did they use? Find out whatever you can about these projects’ backers, including age, occupation, location, and which demographics pledged the most money.”
• Networking: “Build your networks before launching & go to relevant events. Build up a social following and promote that your project is coming soon. Let your supporters meet the people behind your project, so they can connect with the person behind the product, and they can believe you’re trying to make the world better with your idea.”
• Someone to shout about it!: “Make sure you have a core team of people promoting the campaign for you and have them reach out to organizations and workplaces. Get them to start the conversation on social networks & keep it going. To have the greatest chance of success, start using this a month before your project starts. This way, people are aware and eager to be involved, when you do release the project officially.”