Creating a successful crowdfunding campaign is not easy, and it can be even harder when you aren’t marketing a tangible product but a downloadable EP. However, as a small artist, it can be hard to get yourself off the ground without the financial help of a crowdfunding campaign. How can you knock it out of the park the first time with your music crowdfunding campaign?
Be Yourself
As a musician, your backers aren’t just supporting the music that you make, but you! Your launch video should be a reflection of who you are, what inspires you, how you go about creating your music and where you find your inspiration. From watching the first minute or two of the video, the viewer should have a good sense of who you are and why they should love your music.
Plan (And Show Your Work)
Before you ask for money, you should have a concrete plan of how you are going to use the money that you get through your music crowdfunding campaign. Beyond your personal planning, you should also share your work with anyone looking to invest. If you make your stretch goal, will there be more tracks on the album? Or, will you instead host a free concert for your backers? Be clear about what investors are “paying for” so that you don’t let anyone down.
Offer Incentives
At the core of many successful music crowdfunding campaigns is a great incentive. In many cases, the most popular and enticing rewards for music campaigns are simple and straightforward. Things like signed posters, nicely printed art prints, a name listed in the album’s credits or a vinyl copy of the latest album are all awesome incentives. Unrealistic rewards include things that you can’t afford to obtain for the backing price once your actual production costs are subtracted. If you are offering everyone a free hoodie for pledging $15, unless you have someone donating them for free, you either won’t be able to deliver or will dip into your own, already-empty pocket to do so! If you are offering experiences as a reward, you should be clear about where they will take place in advance. Grabbing dinner with your top funder is easy if they travel to you, but if it involves you flying across the country, you might be in for a costly reward!
Work with the Professionals at ECHE Music
At ECHE Music, we are dedicated to helping independent Christian recording artists build their fanbase, promote their music effectively and learn the business of music. To join our community, please visit our website.