How to Build a Community That Will Support Your Crowdfunding Campaign

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Identify and Understand Your Target Audience
• Leverage Social Media Platforms
• Start Building an Email List Early
• Develop a Crowdfunding Pre-Launch Pages
• Collaborate with Influencers and Micro-Influencers
• Host both Online and Offline Events
• Engage in Niche Communities
• Conclusion

Why Community Building is Crucial for Crowdfunding campaign Success

As we all know that crowdfunding is the method of raising money for a business idea, creative project, or cause through a large number of people via online platforms. Raising money online will never be possible without the people who will support your dreams or ideas to make it come into reality. That is why this blog focuses on how you can build a community of people that will help you make your crowdfunding campaign successful. 

As an individual or organization that wants to raise funds via any crowdfunding platform, it is necessary to understand that building a community before launching a crowdfunding campaign is very important. A dedicated community is the foundation that supports your crowdfunding goals and gives you the momentum to hit your target. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo use algorithms that favor campaigns that show strong early support, so having a community ready to back you from day one is key.

Like the campaign image attached above with 2,722 followers, this clearly shows that the campaign has developed a community base that enables the audience to support the project at an early stage which will also lead to a massive success when the campaign is launched. 

Key Takeaways 

Early Support: A strong community gives you immediate backers, which creates early momentum and shows credibility to potential new backers.

Increased Visibility: Crowdfunding platforms prioritize campaigns with initial success, making it easier for new people to discover and support you.

Trust and Engagement: A community that feels involved and invested will likely stay engaged throughout the campaign, share it with others, and provide continued support.

Example: One of the most famous crowdfunding successes, Pebble (a smartwatch company), raised over $10 million on Kickstarter, surpassing its initial goal by a huge margin. The secret to their success was that they built a strong community of early adopters long before launching. Through social media engagement, email newsletters, and active participation in relevant online forums, they created a buzz that exploded once their campaign went live.

Identify and Understand Your Target Audience

As discovered in another blog, identifying and understanding your targeted audience is crucial for crafting messages that resonate and creating a space where your potential backers feel connected.

Key Takeaways:

Demographics: Understand the age, location, interests, and values of your potential backers.

Audience Behavior: Know where your audience spends time online. Are they on Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn?

Needs and Desires: What are your audience’s pain points, and how does your project solve them? Understanding this will help you create messaging that speaks directly to their desires.

Refers to my other blog on identifying the right targeted audience here

Example: For a tabletop game project, your target audience might include gamers and board game enthusiasts who are active on social platforms like YouTube, Discord, Reddit, and Twitch. They follow gaming influencers on YouTube and Twitch, engage in discussions on game design forums, and attend online or in-person events like gaming conventions. To build a community, you can engage with these communities by sharing your journey and seeking feedback on the game’s development. Research shows that YouTube happens to be the leading platform for gaming content while 56% of YouTube gamers use the platform to connect with other gaming communities 

Some valuable tools to use:

Google Analytics: Helps you understand the demographics and behaviors of visitors on your website.

Facebook Audience Insights: Provides detailed insights into your target audience’s interests and behaviors.

Surveys or Polls: Tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms allow you to directly ask potential backers what they want in a project.

  Leverage Social Media Platforms

 Social media remains the most powerful tool for connecting with your potential audience. Before launching your crowdfunding campaign on any crowdfunding platform, it’s essential to identify 

The platform where your audience is most active and likely to engage. Keep in mind that not all social media platforms can be used for promoting your crowdfunding campaign, you can use the strategies outlined in the second section of this blog to understand who your audience is and which platform is the most effective for reaching them. 

Key Takeaways:

Choose the Right Platforms: Different projects require different social platforms. Creative projects might perform better on visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok, while professional services or B2B projects could thrive on LinkedIn.

Engage Consistently: Regularly post behind-the-scenes content, updates, sneak peeks, and even ask for feedback. Build anticipation by making your followers feel like they are part of the process.

Content Mix: Balance between educational, entertaining, and promotional content to keep your audience interested.

For example:

A game developer looking to build a community around their upcoming game can leverage platforms like Discord, YouTube, slack, and Twitch effectively. Discord allows them to create a space for gamers to interact, discuss game development, share ideas, and participate in community events. On Twitch, the developer can host live streams, showcase game progress, hold Q&A sessions, or even play early versions of the game to gather feedback.

For instance, an indie game developer might set up a Discord server where fans and followers can join, chat about the game, suggest features, and engage with the development team. They could host regular “developer diaries” where they share updates on game artwork or storylines. On Twitch, the same developer might stream weekly gameplay sessions or live development streams, where viewers can watch coding, animation, or sound design happen in real-time. 

These sessions give the audience a behind-the-scenes look at the development process and help build excitement for the upcoming game. By using Discord for community-building and Twitch for real-time engagement, the developer can create a loyal fan base eager to support the project once the crowdfunding campaign goes live.

Example: A tech gadget startup could use Instagram to share behind-the-scenes images of the design process, and Twitter to engage in real-time conversations with early adopters.

Social media tools to use:

Buffer or Hootsuite: Schedule and manage your posts across multiple platforms.

Canva: free-to-use online graphic design tool to create eye-catching social media graphics and videos without needing advanced design skills.

Start Building an Email List Early

Email marketing remains the best marketing strategy we have because it enables marketers or even individuals to send messages to a large number of people using their email address which lands directly inside the recipient’s inbox. This direct connection and personalized approach often result in better engagement and conversion rates compared to other marketing strategies like social media. 

To start building your email list early, you can do that in two (2) ways,

1. Create a signup form on your website: Start by adding a signup form to your project’s website, encouraging visitors to join your mailing list to stay updated on the project. Highlight the benefits of signing up, such as exclusive perks, early access to updates, and the opportunity to be among the first to support the campaign when it launches. This not only builds anticipation but also creates a dedicated base of early supporters. You can read more about email marketing here 

2. Create a Pre-launch campaign: You can launch a pre-launch campaign on any crowdfunding platform such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Launching a pre-launch campaign will enable you to share the vital information necessary to start building hype for your campaign and present a direct call to action for potential backers to be notified when your project has launched. Running a pre-launch campaign plays a crucial role in determining crowdfunding campaign success. A creator who runs a pre-launch campaign and generates 10K email lists will have more chances of achieving his fundraising goal than someone who did not run a pre-launch campaign at all. You can read more about Kickstarter pre-launch campaigns here like Indieogo pre-launch campaign. Likewise, if you need an expert to guide you through the process of setting up and managing the campaign, you can hire my crowdfunding agency company called Boostfunders 

Tools for Email Marketing:

Mailchimp or ConvertKit: Email sender software for collecting email addresses and sending automated newsletters.

LeadPages: Create pre-launch landing pages to capture email leads.

5. Develop a Crowdfunding Pre-Launch Pages

Crowdfunding pre-launch campaigns are a powerful tool in the preparatory stage, allowing creators or campaigners to share their vision, tease their project, and, most importantly, gather followers before the campaign officially starts. 

Key Takeaway:

Kickstarter & Indiegogo Pre-Launch Pages: These pages allow potential backers to follow your campaign and be notified as soon as it goes live. It’s an effective way to gauge interest and build a list of early supporters.

Promote Your Pre-Launch Page: Share the page on your social media, website, and email newsletters to drive people to sign up for updates.

Create a sense of urgency by offering early-bird perks or exclusive rewards to those who sign up through your pre-launch page.

Example: Before launching their campaign for a new tech gadget, a startup could create a pre-launch page and offer early access to the product for those who follow the campaign before it goes live.

Collaborate with Influencers and Micro-Influencers

Collaborating with micro-influencers on different social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn can significantly boost exposure for your crowdfunding campaign. It’s essential to carefully select influencers whose content aligns with your niche and targeted audience. The right micro-influencer can help you tap into a highly engaged community that is more likely to support your crowdfunding project.

Before deciding who to partner with, firstly look for influencers who have consistently created engaging content in your niche, as their followers are likely to be interested in your campaign.

Here are some effective ways to collaborate with micro and macro-influencers across different social media platforms:

1. Sponsored Media Content: This involves having influencers create posts, videos, or stories that highlight your campaign. This method works well as it provides authentic exposure to their audience. For example, if you’re launching a new eco-friendly product, partnering with a sustainability-focused influencer to promote it on Instagram or TikTok can drive attention and potential backers.
2. Sponsored Blog Posts: Influencers can write well-detailed blog posts about your project, explaining the benefits, and features, and why their audience should support it. This is a great way to reach audiences who prefer in-depth content.
3. Hosting Events: You can collaborate with influencers to host virtual or in-person events, such as Q&A sessions, product demos, or live streams to showcase your project. This allows for real-time interaction with their followers, making it more personal and engaging.
4. Guest Blog Posts: If an influencer has a well-established blog, you can offer to write a guest post related to your campaign. This will not only drive visitors to your crowdfunding campaign but also position you as an authority in your niche.

Note: For someone looking to raise funds, sponsored media content is often the most effective. It provides visual appeal and gives your crowdfunding campaign authenticity through the influencer’s trusted voice.

Host Online Events

Hosting events Online can help you connect with your community on a deeper level and generate excitement for your crowdfunding campaign. People were attending so many live events because it gave them a sense of belonging to a real community. 

You can host a webinar or live-streamed demos are the most effective ways to connect with a large targeted audience and give them a closer look at your crowdfunding project. 

It’s also important to identify where your audience is most active to choose the right platform for hosting your event. Once you understand your audience’s preferences, you can decide whether to host your event on Linkedin, X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, Zoom, YouTube, or TikTok. 

For example: For a crowdfunding campaign that is about a new musical album, the artist could host an online live-streamed concert to build excitement and give fans a sneak peek of the music before the campaign launches.

 Engage in Niche Communities

There are various social and forum communities you can join related to your crowdfunding campaign niche. Engaging with those communities related to your niche will help you build trust and generate awareness for your campaign. 

You can easily join communities on forum platforms like Reddit and social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter), and Slack channels where your targeted audience hangs out.

When dealing with forum communities on Reddit, you must focus on providing value rather than directly promoting your project. 

In conclusion, building a community before launching your crowdfunding campaign is a crucial step toward ensuring its success. By identifying and engaging with your target audience, leveraging the right social media platforms, and collaborating with influencers, you can generate early lists and trust around your project. Consistent communication, offering valuable content, and making your supporters have a sense of belonging to a real community will not only drive immediate backers but also create long-term advocates for your brand. Remember, a strong, engaged community is the backbone of any successful crowdfunding effort, and investing time and effort into building that community will pay off when your campaign goes live.