How to seek potential donors? Read and find out...
Cold weather is upon us and we hope that some of our advice from the post Feeling cold? Fundition has some ideas what to do... has helped you to find inspiration on how to keep yourself warm. Today, we will talk some more about promoting your projects, where and how to do it.
Original image is CC0 licensed, Pixabay, author: TerriC
Some people who create projects on Fundition expect to get and focus only on getting support from us. Do not be like that. Fundition is a crowdfunding platform and that crowd part in crowdfunding is there for a reason. If it was about Fundition funding it would probably be classified as Funditionfunding but it is not. Every project on the crowdfunding platform should aim for the support of the crowd. It is the purpose of the crowdfunding platform to enable funding FROM THE CROWD. Do not aim for a single support from a single donator even if that donator is us. If that is your aim, go to a bank and ask for a loan or find a single rich investor and pitch your idea to him. Fundition is not here for that.
Your goal should be the completion of your project which means receiving the funds needed for what you planned to do with them. For that to be possible, you need donors. Seek potential donors and aim to gather as much of them as you can around your project. If you just happen to receive some additional help from us too, great. Consider that a bonus, not a requirement for your success.
Seeking a Fundition upvote
should not be your goal.
The success of your project can not depend on Fundition. Do not throw that kind of responsibility at us, we will not accept it. The responsibility is on you. You are the one who needs to create a great project, make updates about it, attract donors, and promote it. Every project creator thinks that his or hers project deserves our help, you are no different from the rest of the people. We know that you think your project is amazing. If you did not think that, you would not create it in the first place so it is kind of a requirement. We get it. What we do not get is people who think that Fundition exists as a bank. We are not a bank. Again, we are a crowdfunding platform and as a crowdfunding platform, we will do everything in our power to help you with your projects regarding education, guidance, and assistance. Our fund program has rules and not all of your projects are eligible for it. To learn more about it, you can read our post that was made specifically for that reason, to explain how it works: Learn about Fundition Fund Program and how you too can get our support.
Potential donors are everywhere, all around you. You meet them on your way to the store, see them in traffic, wave to them as you are having a walk, and talk to them online. Every person you come in contact with is your potential donor. It all depends if she is going to like what you have to say about your project. Is your project attractive enough? Is it clear enough? Does it have a set goal and a purpose? Can a donor be proud that he or she has supported it?
Never forget that people
do not share your brain with you.
Your project will carry your name as its creator. Will it make you proud? Be sure to create it to be the best it can be. As we have often said before, marketing and promotional activities are important. How can you expect a person to support your project if she does not know it exists? Promoting your project is step two, do not skip step number one and that is the creation of it. People will support your project if it is interesting, envokes some emotional response from them, visually attractive and easy to understand, makes them feel like they are making a difference, and brings them a feeling that they have to support it to feel good about themselves. If your project is badly composed, has no realistic goals, or is not understandable, it will not receive the support you think it deserves. People do not share your brain. What you think about the project and know about the project needs to come out of your head and into Fundition platform in an interesting, attractive, and captivating way to be understood.
Social media is the best way to promote your project. A lot of people are there and a lot of people can see it. Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, share it in discord groups that allow it, and wherever else you can. Another idea is to make a newsletter about it. You can put the info about the newsletter in your project and notify people about your updates. Do not forget to talk about it too. In this digital era, we often forget that talking to people has its benefits. When a friend asks you what have you been up to lately, talk about your project. When someone asks you how are you and what do you do, talk about your project.
Be creative!
Visibility and quality are two main things that will attract donors. Your project needs to be created in a way that people want to support it and then it has to be visible. You can create flyers, send e-mails, post on social media, talk to people and do not forget to include a note and a link to it in your steemit posts. It can be a part of your signature that you put under your text. Be creative. Call people to gather on discord and chat live about the topic related to your project and ask for their input. People like to be asked about their opinions, use that fact. People also like to be involved so consider allowing collaborators and organize meetings about the creation of promotional materials. Try to involve more people and do not forget about backer rewards. Personalized letters, mentions, and thank you notes work wonders. When a person supports a project that helps with educating young girls in some country, a personalized letter from one of those girls will melt the donor's heart, trust us.
People have a built-in need to help, especially when they can see that even the smallest amount makes a difference. It is in all of us. In a way, people are waiting to support your project oh and... A little psychology trick for you in the end... When creating your project on Fundition, write it in a way that it speaks to and about a person who is reading it, and not about the project. For example, instead of This family is in trouble and we want to provide some food for them. try this instead: As you are probably aware, this family is dealing with big problems and we agree with you that something needs to be done about it. Your donation will make a difference and they will be grateful that you recognized this project worthy of your support.. Do you see the difference? In the second sentence, we were directly talking to the reader and have put him in the center of attention.
You can use the same trick in your promotional activities so "This project needs your help" can become "You can help this project." The change of the subject and the object in a sentance makes a huge difference.
To learn even more about how your projects can be successful, read our previous educational posts:
A tutorial on how to make an attractive project presentation
Build your brand with Fundition
Use social media for your campaign success
Learn about Fundition Fund Program and how you too can get our support
Learn about collaboration and how collaborators may help your project
Tips&tricks on using images and videos in your project proposal
These are the things every project proposal should have
Start building the future today with:
Join a community with heart based giving at its core
Thank you for this supporting post. We will improve and do greater projects in 2019. God bless Team Fundition
You've been doing so great to build a better future. Hope your next project/event will be successful!
-Greetings Miemie from the Fundition team.
Great advice!
The wording... I still have to learn a lot from you. I can instantly understand the difference I just need the social skills to implement those principles.
Constantly looking for somebody around me who would like to put energy and creativity into it as well, so that we come up with good results. Because I also want to make an example of the project. It wouldn't be enough to do something in a single village when it has the potential to become a pattern.
However, for now I work mostly alone and some things, Facebook for example, have fallen behind. There will come the time to catch up, soon.
Still working on some promotional materials. I want more of the rewards to be already available first. Is that a mistake? I do share my project through personal meetings and in casual talk with friends and people I know, anyway. I also thought about the letters, as you might have seen, but that will come to practice in phase two.
Just sharing personal experience on the matter. I hope the discussion proves to be of help to others, too.
Hello @manoldonchev! Working alone is definitely difficult, lots of stuff going on, lots of stuff to carry, and lots of of stuff to think about.
The village is the first step of a bigger project I guess, but yeah the project had to start somewhere right? :)
Also I think using Instagram and Pinterest could be very nice for your project as those are visual social medias hehe. Ah right, don't hesitate to use Twitter and tag or mention the village or the biggest city near the village to attract local authorities to your project or organizations that could be interested in your project.
I just like to read personal experiences of our project Founders actually so don't hesitate to share them here, but also on the discord, or Fundition Facebook page :)
-Greetings Miemie from the Fundition team.
Thank you, sure I will try those. Soon.