This document provides a guide for running a successful crowdfunding campaign through RepayVets. It outlines 4 missions: 1) pre-launch planning and evaluation, 2) managing the first half of the campaign to build momentum, 3) keeping momentum during the second half, and 4) thanking donors and managing funds post-campaign. Key steps discussed include assembling a team, creating video/written pitches, sourcing gifts for different donation levels, setting goals, tracking progress, and thanking supporters. The guide emphasizes preparation, engagement on social media and calls, adding new gifts over time, and transparency with donors.
4. 2014 - 2015
Building
Planning & Evaluating
Building the Idea
It is very important to forecast how much you are asking for, create a budget that details how you plan on spending the money, and evaluate if these two things match with the public world of Crowdfunding. Do some research on other crowdfunding sites and talk to as many people as you can. Don’t be afraid of feedback—either good or bad—this will help you see that there are going to be a variety of feelings and will help you understand how you might go about answering questions in the future. Try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and consider what you would donate your money towards.
The Pitch
This is the part where you take all that preliminary work of building your idea and submit it to RepayVets for approval and consideration. Special points to consider:
-Full Funding: You keep all the money if you hit goal
-Flexible Funding: You get all money if you hit goal or not
Notes:
-Make sure you have thought about your gifts to your donors and the upfront costs you might need as these are crucial to getting donations
-You will need to be able to earn 20% to 30% from friends & family and this can be done prior to your launch so you are showing the world you are a good businessperson
-45 day campaigns are the most successful
5. 2014 - 2015
Building
Planning & Evaluating
More about Gifts
Do the work of strategizing about your gifts and sourcing them 30 days prior to your campaign launch
Gifts for your donors—especially at your highest levels—are crucial to the success of your campaign.
Yes, most people are happy to donate $5-$25 dollars but think about how many people at these levels you will need to reach to make your goal.
Consider how important it is to your campaign to get as many $50-$250 donations. Then think about what you would like to receive if you were making that kind of donation.
If your campaign is for a product it would be easy to give a unit of product or if you were trying to open a restaurant then it would be just as easy to give a dinner. So consider your gifts and get creative. Here are some ideas:
-Offer to perform tasks or services for top donors
-Get local businesses to donate dinners, products or services
-Contact brands and corporations and ask for sponsored products—people love chocolate!
6. 2014 - 2015
Building:
Checklist
Video
1 minute to 3 minute video starring you!
Show any drawings or mock-ups
Give a short bio & story about your project
Written Summary
Same as video but in written form
Write the things that are hard for you to say
Build trust and compassion for your effort
Gifts
Larger donations require the best gifts
Offering a shirt for $100 donation doesn’t work
Offer a broad range – from $10 to $1000
Add pictures or videos of your gifts
Social Media
You must be active so get all of them ASAP
Post a link to your RepayVets campaign
You must be disciplined & post everyday
8. 2014 - 2015
Managing your Campaign:
Starting the Momentum
Assemble Your Team
Enlist 2-10 people that will be running the campaign with you.
Before launch assemble your team and each of you make a list of your contacts by type:
-Phone
-Email
-Social Media
-Live events (do not discount the importance)
Make a Master Calendar of when you will be doing each of the types of outreach. Consider:
-Start the process 30 days before launch
-Email & Social should be update every week
-2 weeks in – hit the phones & live events!
10. 2014 - 2015
Managing your Campaign:
Keeping the Momentum
Make Goals & Track Progress
•Make it a goal to get 1 new donation per day
•Post a new social media update
•Get others to post your donation link on their social channels
•Make follow-up calls to your family & friends
•Source & add new gifts to your higher levels
12. 2014 - 2015
Thank your team and donors!
Money Management
Remember that your whole experience whether successfully funded or missing your goal has been made possible by all those around you that believed in you and supported you from the start.
There is no shame in missing your goal and you should still thank everyone even if this is the result.
For the rest of you – now the hard work begins!
Depending on how detailed you made your pre- campaign spending plan you should now think about revisiting it and making any adjustments.
Keeping your donors appraised of adjustments will go along way in helping to practice the type of transparency that will help you if you decide to eventually go after additional funding opportunities.
13. 2014 - 2015
START YOUR NEW LIFE TODAY!
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