How to be a superstar Crowdfunder ⭐️

Our top tips will help you reach more people and raise more money

Make sure you can summarise your project

Most online crowdfunding platforms will require your campaign to have a title - this is the first thing people will read when visiting your page, and is featured whenever you share your project on social media. It should therefore clearly state what your project is about in as few words as possible. Keep it catchy and memorable by including specific names and locations involved.  

Write a compelling story

This is your chance to expand on why you’re Crowdfunding, and what you hope to achieve with the funds. Writing this in an honest and open way will better connect with potential supporters, helping them to understand your motivation for starting up the project. Make sure you include the most important information in the first few lines (remember, most people will be visiting your page from mobile), then if you’re able to, provide a specific breakdown of exactly how the funds will be used. Try to highlight the direct impact donations will have by listing, for example, specific pieces of equipment or activities the project could fund, plus how much these cost.

Get social

Facebook and Twitter are two of the best methods of sharing your campaign with as many people as possible. Not only can you post to your personal networks, but there are plenty of online communities who might care about your cause. Search for relevant Facebook groups or pages to join, or even create your own and start building a community from scratch. It’s important to not purely “broadcast” about your campaign - no one likes a spammer. Make sure you keep your supporters engaged by replying to any comments or questions people may have about your campaign, showing you’re genuine and willing to earn people’s trust.

Set a realistic target

Setting a target gives your campaign a sense of purpose and a goal to work towards. Seeing that a donation is contributing towards an overall objective can also really help motivate donors to give. You might have a certain amount you need to raise for a specific purpose, but if your campaign is more general, set your target at the minimum amount you’d need to get started.

Choose an image with impact

You don’t need high-tech equipment to take a great photo that will really help to tell your story. Pick a stand-out image that clearly relates to your project as the cover photo - this is likely to be one of the first things a potential sponsor notices on your page. You should also make use of photos in updates to keep people informed of your campaign’s progress - it’s an easy and engaging way to show the direct impact people’s donations are having.

Share with your close network first

Before releasing your project into the wild, share it with your close friends and family first. They’re the most likely to show their support with a generous donation, setting the standard for anyone else who then visits your page. You could even make an initial donation to the project yourself to kick things off.

Utilise influencers if you can

We’ve seen some Crowdfunding campaigns on JustGiving really fly after getting support from celebrities on social media. Identify influencers who you feel your campaign might resonate with and reach out to them online - a share or retweet from someone with an already established network will immediately expand the reach of your campaign and the pool of potential donors.

Pitch to the media

Identify the journalists or media outlets who would be most likely to write about your type of campaign - make sure you keep location in mind here as the more local the story the better. When contacting the media, include clear reasons as to why you think your project  is relevant for their specific audience, and highlight the human aspect of the story. Journalists receive hundreds of stories every week, so be concise and direct, using powerful language to really grab their attention.

Updates, updates, updates 

Lead by example and show your supporters how engaged you are with your project by keeping your page regularly updated. Inspire them to interact with and share your campaign by giving them an insight into your progress, struggles and achievements along the way. Make sure to also share all your updates via social media channels to keep driving traffic back to your page.

Thank your supporters

Don’t underestimate the power of a simple thank you. Turn your donors into true supporters of your campaign by showing them that their donation really means something to you and is making a real difference to your cause.