12 Reasons Why Your Crowdfunding Fails

I'am running a crowdfunding project myself with as goal to pay for my photography study. Don't worry I will not spam the url here because a BuzzFeed editor would probably execute me on the spot with a silver bullet between my eyes if I did. We all heard the stories of people raising thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars in just a few days for the most stupid things. So I thought it would be a piece of cake convincing people to donate for study purposes. However, after 15 months and 6 people who've donated a total of 190€ (about 250$) I'am slightly disappointed in the whole crowdfunding thing. Probably I'am doing something wrong. After a lot of thinking and self-evaluation this is the list with 12 reasons why your crowdfunding fails.

1. You're asking too much money

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The total amount you're trying to raise is too high and/or unrealistic for the purpose. When you put the goal of your crowdfunding at 50.000$ to pay for 1 year of college people will know you are going to spend 90% to parties,booze,weed and hookers. Lower your goal amount, and always be honest.

2. The reason of your crowdfunding is too vague

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A girl who blinks with her eyes. Why am I putting this picture here? Nobody knows, and nobody cares, it's too vague. The same counts for your crowdfunding. Explain everything in detail to the visitors of your crowdfunding website. Always give them enough information about your project.

3. The introduction is not convincing

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You can use as many pictures, calculations, or other details as you want on your crowdfunding page, a good introduction is everything. It's a bit the same as with sending your resume for a job offer. Most employers will only read the first 5 lines of your letter and/or resume. If you catch his/her attention during those 10 seconds they will continue reading. Remember this when creating your crowdfunding page. Make the introduction fascinating enough, so visitors keep reading your story.

4. The rewards you offer in return are not good enough

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People who browse crowdfunding directories and donating are in most cases looking for projects that can give them (sooner or later) something in return. Not just something, but something that has a value of at least the double, the triple or even the quadruple of the amount they donate. Come up with good rewards and people will donate faster. Always ensure you have several levels of rewards. Something small, something bigger, something huge.

5. Your crowdfunding page hasn't gone viral...yet.

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Like with almost everything online you need to go viral. To go viral your crowdfunding page needs to be picked up by someone with a lot of influence online or by an influential website so people start sharing your page. That way you'll get the visitors you need very fast. It's a bit like winning the lottery however. You can't predict when your page will go viral, neither if it actually will go viral, but when it does, it will change your life forever. You can bet your kidney on it (just one please, you'll need the other one) you'll reach the goal of your crowdfunding in just a few days once your page has gone viral.

6. You're not working hard enough for it

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Crowdfunding is not getting money while you're asleep. You need to work for it too. Not only by promoting your project online and offline if possible in the hope it will go viral (see above), you also have to update your page almost daily. Never forget that you always must send a personal thank you message to every person who donates for your project.

7. You don't have enough friends

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Friends is the key when starting a crowdfunding campaign. Most crowdfunding campaigns will start very local with just a few shares from Facebookfriends or followers on Twitter. The more friends or followers you have over there, the faster things might go and the more chance your project will be picked up to go viral. If you have almost no friends online, crowdfunding might not be the best idea to put your time in.

8. Your goal or project is not crazy enough

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With crowdfunding there is one big rule : The crazier, the better ! Remember the guy with the potato salad? + 55.000$ in just a few weeks. Crazy is good, but always keep things safe. Don't do dangerous things yourself or bring others in danger in the hope to convince people that they should donate for your project.

9. Your nerd level is a bit low

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People like to donate to nerds or invest in their crowdfundings. Why ? Because they think most nerds will go and work for Google or that they might become the next Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates and that they will sell their idea for billions to one of the big players in just a few months. Try to look and act a bit like a nerd, but don't exaggerate either.

10. You're using a bad profile picture

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If you use a picture of yourself on your crowdfunding page, (and you should, it makes people trust you more) it's very important to choose a good picture. The first look does everything. Smile and look happy even if your mother in law comes over for the weekend, your dog just died, your boss fired you, or your life is a complete mess for another reason.

11. Your focus is too much on the money

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Crowdfunding is about money, but if you focus too much on the subject money, people will notice that and they will not donate. Be creative and communicate with your (target) audience. Try to be funny (humor always works) in the updates or the replies you post on your crowdfunding page or elsewhere online. Things will go much smoother when you do that.

12. You don't have a cat

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Online people love cats. Whatever your goal is, always mention you're a catlover and if possible have at least one picture or videoclip of yourself with your cat on the profile(s) connected to or on your crowdfunding page. If you don't like cats or don't have one consider robbing a bank instead of crowndfunding. In general people with cats will raise more money.

Use the above knowledge wisely, and good luck with your crowdfunding. I would love to paste a link here to my crowdfunding page, so I can go viral too, but that would be spamming. Remember : Spamming will irritate people, and people who are irritated wil not donate for your project !