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“We wanted to take the crowdfunding concept and make it social,” said Tsinkler. “Danggle is all about asking your friends and family to help you buy that great pair of boots, that laptop or those concert tickets you want.”
So what makes a successful crowdfunding campaign?
“First, you need to be a persistent promoter,” said Fair. “You can’t just create a campaign and let it sit. You’ve got to create a buzz among your friends and family, on your social networks and in the media if you can.”
You’ve also got to make sure your backers understand what they’re funding, according to Mapp. “Always under promise and over deliver, be accessible and listen to your backers and of course, you need a great product.”
To keep the buzz going about your campaign, former South Florida newscaster Julia Yarbough recommends reaching out to your existing network of contacts first to promote it. She is raising money for Expedition Denali, a documentary about nine mountaineers who will attempt to become the first all-African American expedition team to climb Mount McKinley in Alaska. On Kickstarter, Yarbough is looking to raise $107,500 by May 10 to produce the film. “Have a large network of contacts ready to go and lined up so that you can email blast out the campaign to as many eyeballs as possible,” advises Yarbough.
Yarbough also suggests getting in touch with large corporations that may be interested in a branding or cross promotional partnerships. She is using this advice to promote Expedition Denali. “It’s worth asking for large donation amount because the answer may be yes — or in fact, you might find a complete sponsor.”
According to Fair, the most successful projects on Medstartr use video to tell their stories. “Invest in creating a quality video to tell the world what you’re trying to do and why it’s important.”
Making sure you use a reputable crowdfunding platform is also essential. “Find out how many projects have been funded through the site and do your due diligence,” said Tsinkler.
For more about crowdfunding, visit The Starting Gate on MiamiHerald.com/business. Miami Herald Staff Writer Nancy Dahlberg contributed to this report.
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