WeFunder is one of the top performing equity crowdfunding sites out there—especially when it comes to Regulation Crowdfunding Campaigns.
If you are thinking about running a Reg CF campaign, then WeFunder might be the best platform for you.
More than 200 companies have raised money under Reg CF guidelines on the platform, with 73% of those campaigns getting successfully funded.
In this article, I’m going to give you some killer tips as to how you can run a successful crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder, and hopefully leave your more equipped to get your passion project off the ground.
Let’s get started!
Put in the time for Pre-Launch
Every successful campaign undergoes a pre-launch phase that generates buzz.
You can’t expect people to find you. Instead, you have to take your project to potential backers!
This means utilizing social media resources, email lists, and creating a circle of dedicated backers before you launch.
You’ll want to hone your narrative and create a great story around your product. Using campaign text, videos, and images all help to persuade backers that you can fulfill a need in their lives.
You should also work to create hype within your own circle. Having family members, friends, and people closely associated with the campaign sharing information about your product is a great way to build initial hype.
Already have customers or people showing interest? Utilize this to your advantage by kicking off your fundraiser with a bang.
Email Outreach
Getting people interested by signing up for an email list is a great way to deliver critical information that demonstrates the value of your product.
During the weeks leading up to your campaign, you can send out general high-level benefits (with images!) to show some of the greatest features of your product.
You should be especially active with your email lists in the days leading up to your campaign. It’s a good idea to send out at least three emails:
- 3-7 Days Prior to Launch: ‘Something Great is Coming to WeFunder!’
- The Day Prior To Launch: ‘[Product Name] Launches Tomorrow!’
- Day of Launch: ‘We’re LIVE on Wefunder!’
These emails should always take on a highly personal tone, and address the consumer directly. Don’t be afraid to be aggressive in your email marketing: make the potential backer take action and convert them into an investor!
It’s also a good idea to invite people to respond to your emails to create conversation around the product. Then, you need to respond to their inquiry. The more personalized your approach, the more likely that your customers will invest in your product.
Establishing a Social Media Presence
You don’t have to use every social network available to run a successful campaign.
You should, however, identify which platform(s) will work best for your specific WeFunder campaign.
This will require research to determine which social media platforms your potential backers are using most frequently. Are they on Instagram or Snapchat? Twitter or Facebook? Where are they spending their time?
It’s about discovering where their attention is so that you can begin to develop what type of messaging will most effectively market to your targeted group.
To optimize the benefits of social media, you should:
- Assign Tasks To Your Team: You should assign dashboard managers, content producers, and people to respond and interact with mentions/messages.
- Stay Consistent: Use the same logos and information across platforms. This will create cohesiveness and make your profiles easier to access.
- Identify Keywords: Target words that people search for in relation to your project. A great tool for this is Uber Suggest.
- Build a Crowd: Posting, following relevant people in your industry, and asserting yourself as a thought-leader are all vital to cultivating a dedicated following.
- Engage Your Crowd: Don’t passively post a bunch of links; nobody notices those. Ask questions, participate in conversations, and post inspirational pictures to get people interacting with you on social platforms.
Product Messaging
A lot of companies, especially for more modern products, feel weird about soliciting users for money.
In truth, your target market is probably not as ‘woke’ as you think it is.
You shouldn’t view your product messaging as a means of soliciting money. Instead, you should convey your product as an opportunity for interested individuals to become owners for your WeFunder campaign.
Equity crowdfunding—WeFunder’s specialty—differs from platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Your backers aren’t buying a product; they’re buying a piece of the factory.
Press releases are a great way to convey the philosophical and strategic benefits of supporting an equity crowdfunding campaign.
You should communicate the fact that by supporting your WeFunder Campaign, they are also supporting the growth of your company.
And when your product takes off, your backers will have a share in the company. They’ll deserve it, too—as they were the ones who took that initial leap of faith to support your vision.
Maintaining Momentum
You want to have 30% of your crowdfunding goal raised within the first week of launch.
This can usually be achieved by following the guidelines above.
But how do you keep the momentum going?
You should schedule out a plan for continued growth of your campaign. That means releasing new content, getting the press involved, and targeting your niche.
Convince the influencers in your industry that you have the next big thing. By reaching out to bloggers and social media influencers, you can garner additional support and expand your target base.
Most importantly, you need to be consistently releasing new content on social media platforms, your email lists, and the WeFunder campaign page itself.
Acknowledging your success will also lead to increased conversion rates. ‘We’ve already raised $6,000! Join our large community of investors to help us reach our goal!’
Takeaways
Running a successful WeFunder campaign takes a lot of work.
But with the right vision, a dedication to producing meaningful and interactive content, and a strong presence on various media platforms, you can run a killer campaign to launch your dream project.
WeFunder offers an awesome opportunity through equity crowdfunding to get people invested in your company. Take advantage of this perk, and educate your target base about all the benefits!
I have an awesome book, Equity Crowdfunding Explained, that goes way more in-depth to the issues discussed in this article. If you’re serious about getting your WeFunder campaign off the ground, I highly suggest you check it out.
Additionally, you should subscribe to my Youtube Channel and listen to my Podcast for a ton of great tips about everything in the crowdfunding industry.
Ready to launch your WeFunder campaign? Schedule a free coaching call with me— I’d love to help you out!
