By Evan Vitale
This is the second in a two-part series on crowdfunding.
The key – and most important – part of seeking funds for your project via crowdfunding is the pitch (or presentation).
Consider your crowdfunding to be like a marketing event or like the television series “Shark Tank.” You need to make a huge impression on your viewers in order to persuade them to whip out the credit card and contribute to your project.
Here are some tips on how to prepare your crowdfunding presentation:
Plan your idea and your project. This includes your design; your team (if any) and your strategy. All of these things need to be in place before your create your presentation.
Create and build your marketing strategy. Even before you release your crowdfunding presentation, you can begin teasing your audience and creating some social media buzz. You don’t need to give away your million-dollar idea here, but you can make strategic announcements about your project, how it’s going to help consumers or businesses solve a problem, take pictures, etc. Release a little bit at a time and consider a crowdfunding countdown to the release date.
By doing this, you’ll immediately gain some social media fans and followers and that’s exactly what you want as these are the same people who are going to be funding your project.
Create a business plan. Yes, you need to do this. Your project should be treated like a business. What is the point of your project or idea? What will it do? Is it going to solve a problem, make money, etc.? How much money do you need to raise? What is the deadline for your financial goal?
As you are creating your presentation, think of all the questions that could (and probably will) be asked after your initial pitch. Then, be sure you answer all of those questions in your presentation pitch.
Remember, one of the best ways to generate presentation ideas is to review other presentations in crowdfunding websites. Review what projects reached their financial goals.
