If you're not sure whether your idea is worth crowdfunding for, this one's for you.
Are you a creative?
It's always been pretty tough for artists to sell their work, but with IndieGoGo, you can raise money to cover some start-up costs of your next artistic endeavor.
RAISE MONEY FOR:
- studio time
- rental space fee
- raw goods and materials
- equipment
- crew
- business cards, postcards, posters and other promotional materials
- website building
- travel and lodging expenses for tours
- manufacturing costs of products
OFFER PERKS LIKE:
- hard good physical products (CD, DVD, Book, artwork)
- merchandise
- free lessons
- exclusive/first-look access
- show/screening tickets
- screen credits
- personalized/customized/"based-on-you" items
- walk-on roles
- a "say" in the final product
SPREAD THE WORD BY:
- reaching out to bloggers that cater to your niche
- reaching out to bloggers that curate new and emerging talents
- reaching out to organizations or charities whose mission support your chosen art or niche (Don't pitch them to raise money, but to be a partner and share the campaign with their members, offer to do an event/class just for their members)
- joining forums and start a dialogue with the people that share your interest
- following hashtags and take advantage of trending topics on Twitter that relates to your project (i.e. #comiccon for Comic Book projects) but share your project in moderation so you're not considered as spam
Here's a few examples of creative projects that have and are successfully raising money and building fanbase:
RUTH LORENZO – SINGLE PRE-SALES and VIP EXCLUSIVES
UK-based singer turned to IndieGoGo when she took a sharp left turn from being with a major music label to taking the independent route by asking her fans to fund her next single. Her fans received an exclusive Limited Edition CD single of the track that includes b-sides and exclusive acoustic versions in exchange for a minimum contribution of $10.
HERITAGE and GENERATION TOURING ART EXHIBITION
Another UK-based artist is raising additional funds for her touring art exhibition project. For a contribution of $20, funders receive limited edition prints using the larger images from the touring artwork.
This ambitious project that has 4 years in the making is a 260-page anti-War (Non-Profit) comic book anthology & CD which raised money for Campaign Against Arms Trade. The book itself features "the cream of underground & international talent from 17 countries,& well known respected artists from the comics world such as Spain Rodriguez (Ché: The illustrated Biography), Peter Kuper (World War 3 Illustrated/ Speechless), Alexsandar Zograf (Regards from Serbia), Ulli Lust (Warburger), Mazen Kerbaj, Ben Jennings (The Guardian), Alejandro Alvarez (The Bush Junta), Paul O Connell, Dr Parsons, Abu Mahjoob & many more.
An $8/ £5.00 contribution gets a 50% DISCOUNT off the price of the book and CD when it comes out, which is to be priced at £12 /$19.00 on release.
Are you raising money for a cause?
Do you know that your supporters can launch campaigns on your behalf? Also, non-profits themselves can raise money for a specific project.
RAISE MONEY FOR:
- travel and lodging expenses
- event space
- equipment for event
- crew for event
- promotional materials
OFFER PERKS LIKE:
- a prominent display of the name of the funder on website
- the name of the funder on your charity event's program
- souvenirs from the location or village you are visiting to help
- pictures of the family/children/people you're helping
- postcard
- DVD copy of your journey (if you're documenting it)
- merchandise
- event tickets
- ad space on your ogranization's website (if funder has a company/business)
SPREAD THE WORD BY:
- reaching out to your local news and radio station
- reaching out to reporters of your local newspaper
- reaching out to other organization whose mission is the same as yours
- reaching out to sponsors
Below are examples of projects that have successfully raised money on IndieGoGo:
KILIFI KIDS – CELLPHONES FOR HEALTH IN KENYA
Kilifi Kids is an all-volunteer partnership of young professionals in the US and Kenya working to make real changes in the world that focuses on the health and education of kids in a small region of Kenya called Kilifi. Co-founder Michael Olsen and board member Erik Michielsen started this IndieGoGo campaign to pay for travel costs to Kenya to lay the groundwork for the mHealth (Mobile Health) pilot project.
Project owner Slava Rubin, whose father died of Myeloma had partnered with International Myeloma Foundation and created the "Music Against Myeloma," with a goal to raise awareness and funds.
JOHN STAMLER'S RUNNING THE NEW CITY MARATHON
After six major operations in seven years culminating with open heart surgery in May 2010, John Stamler is running the NY City Marathon (26.2 miles) on November 7, 2010 to raise awareness for people suffering from rare diseases and to raise money for www.BensFriends.org, an international network of patient support websites for people with rare diseases.
Are you an entrepreneur?
Even small businesses can use IndieGoGo to raise money! Your customers can pre-buy your products and get a more personal experience.
RAISE MONEY FOR:
- website development and hosting
- logo and graphic design
- manufacturing costs
- packaging costs
- raw goods and materials
- lab analysis fees
- business registration fees
- product launch event
- promotional materials
OFFER PERKS LIKE
- finished goods
- limited supply of the finished goods
- VIP treatment at events
- free services
- exclusive/first-look access at new products
- ad space on your website (if funder has a business)
- an opportunity to have a "say" in one of the aspects of the product
SPREAD THE WORD BY:
- reaching out to your local newspaper
- reaching out to YouTube bloggers to review your product (beauty channels)
- asking your funders who received your product to write a testimonial/review and put them on your website to help increase credibility
Here are three great examples:
LA-based makeup artist, Suzi Thompson, is starting her own makeup line that is paraben-free and will be packaged in bio-degradable bottles. Suzi's successful campaign promised to name a product after anybody who claimed the $100 perk!
Partners Shaya Rubin and Gavriel opened Manhattan's first ever kosher wine bar, but needed some additional funding to cover start-up costs so they turned to IndieGoGo. The minimum contribution of $20 secured a glass of wine during your first three visits to the bar!
SEE THE AMAZING MARKETS OF NEW YORK CITY
New York City writer, blogger, and Marketing Consultant Karen Sieger surpassed her goal on IndieGoGo during her fundraising campaign on IndieGoGo to raise money for camera equipment cost to be used for her video blogs. Many of the perks she offered are products from the vendors she's featured in her blog as well as on her book called "Markets of New York City."
