(Originally posted on The NIIC blog April 15, 2020)
This second blog installment is a continuation of the conversation (Karl R. LaPan) has been having with Kathleen Minogue to better understand the mechanics and dynamics of crowdfunding. This week they look closer at types of crowdfunding, platforms, the importance of known network, and the time frame you need to commit to properly plan for a successful campaign. Kathleen is a thought leader and expert in crowdfunding. Her insights are especially useful as you consider crowdfunding as a potential component of your capital stack. Her background and expertise are noted in a brief bio at the end of this blog.
Karl: Can you distinguish between the major types of crowdfunding (donation, rewards, investment, lending) and share who you think each type might be appropriate for when raising alternative capital for an idea or business?
Kathleen: The main types of crowdfunding are:
Donation – People donate small amounts of money to causes they believe in. (Donations are often tax-deductible.)
- This type is best suited for: personal causes, nonprofits, social enterprises, civic organizations
Rewards – People make contributions to businesses/projects in exchange for rewards. (It’s often used for product pre-sales.)
- This type is best suited for: idea stage & start-up businesses, established businesses, nonprofits, social enterprises
Lending – People loan money to businesses (rather than banks lending money).
- This type is best suited for: revenue-generating businesses with the ability to cover loan payments
Investment – People (or other business entities) invest in businesses/nonprofits using federal or state securities rules.
- This type is best suited for: start-ups, established businesses, nonprofits, social enterprises, real estate, local communities
This is just a brief overview. Crowdfund Better’s “Crowdfunding Cheat Sheet” outlines the types of crowdfunding, who it’s for, reputable platforms and typical fees. You can get your copy by visiting our website and signing up for our newsletter.
Karl: With over 600 active platforms, how do I know which platforms are most effective and for what specific purposes are they a “best” funding vehicle? How do I know if the platform fees are reasonable?
Kathleen: These days crowdfunding platform fees are rather standard depending on the type of crowdfunding. (For example, most rewards platforms have a platform fee of 5% of your raise and around 3% in payment processing fees.) Platforms are businesses and charge fees in order to maintain their technology and customer support. I would be wary of the security and reliability of a platform if they don’t charge fees or make it transparent how they cover their costs (some are nonprofits and have other sources of funding).
As for which platform is best for what kind of crowdfunding, your best bet is to visit crowdfunding platforms and see what kinds of businesses are having success raising funds on these platforms. What you’re looking for is a platform with campaigns that look like the kind of campaign you hope to launch. You can use Crowdfund Better’s “Cheat Sheet” mentioned above to get started with your research. Your other option is to get the help of a knowledgeable crowdfunding consultant who knows the industry inside out.
Karl: What are the biggest misconceptions about crowdfunding?
Kathleen: One of the biggest misconceptions about crowdfunding is that you can just create a campaign page on a platform and people will fund your campaign. Relying on platforms to find you backers will not lead to success. Statistically, anywhere between 50-90% (depending on sector) of your backers will be from your “known network.”
Your “known network” includes:
- people you know personally
- your customers
- your business email subscribers
- your followers on business social media
- organizations you or your business are part of
To find backers, you will also need to have an effective marketing and communications strategy to bring your campaign to the attention of your known network and to help others discover your campaign.
Karl: What is the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when embarking on a crowdfunding campaign?
Kathleen: The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is not giving themselves enough time to prepare their campaign before launching. I have never heard a campaign creator lament waiting until they were ready to launch a campaign, but I have heard many entrepreneurs tell tales of woe about launching too early and realizing halfway through their campaign that they were not prepared to handle the day-to-day work of a 30-45 day campaign.
Successful campaign creators typically leave themselves a runway of at least 60-90 days to prepare for campaign launch. If you don’t have a large “known network” you may need 6-12 months to expand your network and build a solid marketing foundation under your campaign before you launch.
You’ll also want to leave time to warm-up your known network and get them poised to support you BEFORE you launch. In fact, a campaign that raises 30% or more of its goal in the first 3 days has the highest chance of reaching its goal.
If you find yourself scrambling to get your communications together the day before your planned campaign launch, delay your launch and get your marketing assets in order. You never get a second chance to make a first impression in crowdfunding.
A valuable resource for you as you might embark on crowdfunding:
5 Reasons Why Your Crowdfunding Campaign is Not the Pebble Watch
Editor’s Note: Crowdfund Better is actively working to solve the issues around crowdfunding education for all. We’ve developed The Crowdfunding Opportunity online course to help you navigate the crowdfunding ecosystem to fund your business.
