Having a Game Plan
Jul 14
Written By Stacey Carpenter
Crowdfunding can be incredibly challenging to say the least, and statistically speaking, the odds are stacked against you. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not a viable option to finance your film, or that you’re doomed for failure before you even start. One reason many filmmakers don’t reach their goal is that they don’t have a game plan and set unrealistic goals.
NEVER KICK OFF A CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN WITH OUT A PLAN. We know this from experience. Our first two ventures into crowdfunding, we literally just designed our campaign page, shot a quick video, and went live. As you can imagine, it was an absolute failure. We just jumped in, thinking people would be driven to our page, and donations would come pouring in. There’s a better chance of winning the lottery and getting struck by lighting on the same day. What we soon discovered the hard way, was that we needed a game plan.
Give yourself 90 days, a good 3 months before you launch your campaign. Why 90 days? Because there are a lot of things to do, if you’re hoping to have a successful campaign, and you need time to do them. You’ll need to find your team (see our blog “Family and Friends), find your target audience, and come up with a clear way to contact them, engage with them, and get them excited about your campaign.
In addition to a great deal of preparation, you also want to set a realistic goal. Remember, it’s not how much you WANT to raise, it’s how much you actually CAN raise. Connect with your team, come up with a reasonable goal, and work diligently to reach it. People don’t just invest in a project, people invest in you. If you have passion, a great story, and a great reason as to why you’re the one who HAS to make this film, it goes a long way in swinging the odds of success in your favor.
Sign up for our news letter to receive more tips on crowdfunding, and take our on-line Crash Course Crowdfunding class to learn proven techniques, that can help you reach your goals and make your film a reality. Until next time, Dream Big, Dare To Be Great! And we’ll see you in the movies. Peace!
