How Authors CrowdFund Successfully

 

 

There are plenty of authors who successfully raise funds online through popular crowdfunding platforms. By generating cash flow even before your book is out allows you to finance its publishing and marketing. There is no downside to this. 

Which platforms are good? Look into Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon. Read up on how each one works.  

Financial backers tend to be passionate fans. They will not only give money to your cause, but many will help amplify your message on social media. 

First, think about what your needs are. Do you need an editor, cover design artist, and someone to design the interior of the book? Are there fees associated with publishing or printing your book? Marketing costs, too?  Put a price next to each and draw up a wish-list of goals. 

Second, identify your closest friends, family members, colleagues, and fans. Not only will you send them personal and direct messages that send them to your crowdfunding page, but you will also ask if they can recruit others to participate as well.  

Third, identify to donors what they will receive and remind them why you need their help and show how they can be a part of a special launch that can make a difference in your life and in the lives of potential readers.  

You want to set realistic pledging goals so that you can achieve them. Don’t look to milk your people beyond something fair and reasonable. Neither go too low nor too high in your pricing. Always give multiple levels/ choices of support.  

What can you offer donors?

• Early copies of your book
• Autographed copies
• Public thanks
• Swag like coffee mugs, t-shirts, and posters
• Free content beyond the books that you created
• Access to other free content contributed by others 

You can be creative here. Think of something that people view as useful or perceive as having value -- and then put a price on it. 

Once you fulfill your fundraising, follow up with each donor with a personal note of gratitude.  

Show them love and remind them of how much they helped you. Encourage them to post a book review and to share their support on their social media platforms. Keep them updated, along your publishing and marketing journey. Share good news with them and make them feel a part of your mission. 

You can raise thousands of dollars this way. It beats selling Girl Scout cookies!

Need PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.