Hacking Kickstarter, Indiegogo: Raising Big Bucks in 30 Days

by Patrice Williams Marks

- Revised June 29, 2013 -

WARNING: DO NOT LAUNCH YOUR CROWD-FUNDING PROJECT BEFORE READING THIS BOOK.
FACT: Over 65% of crowd funding projects fail. Why? Top 5 Reason's For Failure:

1) Campaign Missing Key Elements
2) Launched Before Gathering Their Tribe
3) Expected That if They Build It, They Will Come
4) Poor Advertising/Social Media Strategy
5) Lack of Partners

Hacking Kickstarter, Indiegogo (or any other crowd-funding site) How to Raise Big Bucks in 30 Days
walks you step by step into the process of creating, launching and wrapping your project.

Learn:

- How Curated Communities can give you added exposure

- How to get featured in Kickstarter and Indiegogo's newsletters (solid gold)

- How to grab funders attention the moment they land on your page

- How to generate traffic to your project

- How to easily find and target bloggers and journalist who want to publicize your project

- and much more!

Tried and true tactics, tips and secrets that work.

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2013

About the author

www.PatriceWilliamsMarks.com

"I've been a writer since age 6 when I pinned the wildly successful (in my own mind) THE DAY SNOOPY GOT MARRIED. My teacher was so impressed that she shared it with the entire school staff. Unfortunately, I never got it back!

I've written over 10 screenplays; some of which have been optioned. Hoping one will make it to the big screen some day. I envision Universal's spinning globe, with it's majestic horns announcing the opening of the film ... my film. Gives me chills.

I've written and directed a few short films, "STRINGER," about a rogue photog on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and "F-HARMONY"; a funny spin on the dating site with an unexpected twist at the end. I've written and produced a short stage play, as well as founded "two film festivals. I've also written and produced/directed three book trailers..

After reading short stories from Derek Haas' (bad-ass, big time screenwriter and producer/creator of Chicago Fire) website, aptly called "Popcorn Fiction," (where he features short stories from writers), I decided to give it a go.

I came up the idea of THE UNFINISHED by marrying 1940's Film Noir with Sci-Fi. Love the idea of taking a character out of one world and implanting them in another... known as "fish out of water" story.

My lastest release, THE ABDUCTION OF NELLY DON; is a full length novel I am so proud of. It released July 2,

www.PatriceWilliamsMarks.com
Twitter: @PWilliamsMarks @Unfinished_The
Facebook.com/Author.PatriceWilliamsMarks

Keywords: film noir, crime, true crime, detective, 1940's, gumshoe, future, futuristic, short story, great depression, bootlegging, organized crime, gangsters, the dust bowl, bathtub gin, 1940s, 1930s, famous kidnapping

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great How To Book! It was an easy short read with great examples, support, and links to help you.

Hacking Kickstarter, Indeigogo: How to Raise Big Bucks in 30 Days (Secrets to Running a Successful Crowd Funding Campaign on a Budget), is not a book on how to start a KickStarter, you have all that support, FAQ's, and videos on the Kickstarter website. This is a book on organizing and planning a “successful” Kickstarter. I noticed that a lot of Kickstarter's do not make their goals, and the reason was they did not organize their campaign correctly. What this book does is give you examples and references to help you make sure you are successful and hopefully even go over your goal.

This was a quick and easy to read guide to help you start off on a good foot. The author first talks about building your fan base and excitement before you start the 30 day Kickstarter with examples and links for websites, newsletters, social site advice, and more. While the author gives examples, links, and suggestions, one thing I really liked was that she gave ideas to do things for FREE and the same things with a cost. Some people may have money to put into this, but I think every Kickstarter is looking to do as much as they can while saving as much as they can. The author also gives you tips on whom to help you spread the word, media websites, bloggers, where to link up with others to give support, and pitches. I found she really laid everything out in an easy to organize fashion. With a little organization, media setups, and follow through, you can have a successful Kickstarter.

I was involved in a Kickstarter just last month and I am thrilled to say that they not only met their goal early but went over the goal amount. One of the things Patrice Williams Mark says is to make a great video and humor is always a plus. I personally loved the video they made and you got to really see the guys personality and passion for what they were doing. They did almost everything recommended in the book and I am glad that they made their goals!

If you are looking to do a Kickstarter Campaign I highly recommend getting this ebook to help you organize, get started, and finish strong within the 30 days. Not only does it help you succeeded but build a fan base of real fans, which is who you want supporting you on this journey.

[Stacie Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Hacking Kickstarter, in exchange for review from Tomoson. The book was written by Patrice Williams Marks. The book discusses how to properly use and raise money for Crowdfunding websites, such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter, and Gofundme.

Crowdfunding allows people to post their projects, which need additional funding online. People donate money to the project until the goal is reached. The investors may also receive perks based on money given. Some crowdfunding projects may include investing money to produce a demo tape, fund a trip to Timbuktu, or help publish a book.

The project creator has to be willing to invest the time and patience into a crowdfunding project to ensure success.

Now, on to the book:

First, Marks discussed some things a successful project should incorporate:

A video. Talk about the project. Discuss how the money will be used. and don't forget to thank the investors/funders.
A website. Post regular updates about the project. Buy a domain or do a free domain. Incorporate videos and pictures.
Perks and rewards. Offer something good.
Contact Information. Name, email, phone numbers. Bio, picture of you.
Testimonials. Get quotes from supporters. Use their full name.
Consider costs and timeline of the project.
Research similar projects to find acceptable goals.
Don't start the project until everything is in place.
Marks also discusses how a successful crowdfund should start 6 months before the launch. Gather supporters. Give them a preview of your project. Set up a mailing list and a pop-up service. Start a twitter account and create a Facebook fan page. You also need to create a media list, a press release, sample pitches, and infographics. Finally, Marks provides tips for re-launching failed projects and a list of crowdfunding websites.


One negative was the font was a little hard to read. I increased the font size on Adobe, but the text remained the same. I definitely could have used a larger font.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was offered a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d never heard of crowd-funding or Kickstarter till I discovered this book, so I had to do a bit of research to find out more about both before I read the book. Now, this isn’t a book on how to put a project together, it’s a book on how to succeed and get your project funded.

I greatly enjoyed this book, and learning all about the new (to me at least) world of crowd-funding. The book was engaging, plus there were plenty of helpful examples and recommendations. I definitely could tell that the author knew her stuff, and she seems like an expert on the process. The examples were helpful and relevant, as were the various sites she mentioned. The recommendations were great as well, some of which you couldn’t find just by googling them.

Also, I’m already considering using some of the advice she shared to increase exposure for my blog, so the book is useful even if you’re not doing a Kickstarter project yet. Plus, the author also included a section on how to succeed after a failure, which was great, since it often takes time and trial and error to succeed.

The only downsides I found with the book were the links and the grammatical errors. All the links that the author shared weren’t active, so when I clicked them they didn’t lead to the websites, though most of the sites weren’t that hard to find when I binged them, so it wasn’t too difficult to work around. It just took extra time and I couldn’t find some of the examples, which made it harder to visualize what the author was saying. Also, there were some grammatical errors that should have been fixed (ironically, that was part of her advice on how to succeed).

All in all though, this was an engaging read with plenty of advice, recommendations, and useful information, and I would highly recommend it not only for those looking to succeed with their crowd-funding venture, but also those looking to find success online (yes, that also includes fellow bloggers).

[Rose Siders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. I had only limited knowledge of crowd-funding prior to reading this book, and that is the audience it is geared for. If you've never heard of crowd funding, this is a good book to get your feet wet.
The title is a little misleading, as some reviewers have mentioned, as there is no literal 'hacking' involved, which of course to me, is a good thing. This is all legitimate ways to earn funding for your dream project, whether that is getting funding for an independent film, or a new record album.

I think if you're looking to start a crowd-funding project, this is a great resource, and you could easily earn more than the cost of the book, so it should have a great return on your investment.

If you're already familiar with crowd-funding however, this book has some more in-depth info than you would find in a typical Google search. There's some great examples of crowd-funding successes, and a good break down of how to maximize the experience.

Overall I would say this book is worth the investment if you're serious about trying to raise funds for a project.

[Athena Nagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrice Williams is a screenwriter, founder of a non-profit organization, producer/director of shorts and founder of the Going Green Film Festival. Patrice knows what she is talking about with this book and there is so much information in here to help navigate Kickstarter as well as so many tips that can help you along your journey even if you aren't using Kickstarter. Patrice did a great job with this book. I have never used Kickstarter - I know what it is and have some ideas for future use but haven't tried it yet. Now I am not nearly as leary of beginning the process - as soon as I have time. This is truly a must have book for anyone looking to run a campaign. Don't re-create the wheel. Allow someone to who has already had struggles and resolved them - help you through. This is a five star book for sure.



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

[Carol Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reviewed HACKING KICKSTARTER, INDIEGOGO: How to Raise Big Bucks in 30 Days (Secrets to Running a Successful Crowd Funding Campaign on a Budget). I must say it has awesome secrets about crowd funding projects. I actually am running a crowd funding project through teespring.com. I thought it would be alot more difficult but after reading this eBook I understand how crowd funding works and how to run a successful campaign.
Hacking Kickstarter, Indiegogo: How to Raise Big Bucks in 30 Days! Secrets to Running a Successful Crowd Funding Campaign on a Budget has a lot of information in it. I learned a few things. For one thing I learned that if I really want to be successful with a crowd funding campaign I need to put it off for a few months while I get everything all set up. This is it...the plan and inside secrets are all laid out for you, ready to be put into action and be successful! This is not a how to guide though, this eBook shows you how to increase fan influence on social media sites while promoting your crowd funding project.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was offered this book in exchange for a review, however, all opinions are my own.

I think this is a great guide of you're looking to start a project and need funding. As a blogger, I see this more and more. People want to get their books or music published and going the traditional route is not always easy or successful.

I appreciate how this book gives you examples and tips on how to make your project a success. However, if it;s not, there is a chapter on how to relaunch a failed campaign. A lot of the information may seem obvious but if you're going about it at the wrong time of place, it doesn't work. The book also provides a list of crowd-funding sites, ensuring that you're not just limited to one site.

If you've got a project you need to fund and aren't sure how to go about it, this book will get you started in the right direction.

[Julz Cali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was offered this book in exchange for a review, however, all opinions are my own.

Patrice Williams is a screenwriter, founder of a non-profit organization, producer/director of shorts and founder of the Going Green Film Festival.

I have never used Kickstarter, yet I feel like I can succuessfully start Crowdfunding for my next project. The book was very insightful and had more information than expected.
I like the book provides a list of crowd-funding sites, so you're not just limited to one site.

I would also like to thank Patrice Williams-Marks for giving me the chance to be one of the first to read and put into action all the great advice she offers in the book.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crowd-Funding is a really awesome new trend and a new spin on social media. Using various websites (Kickstarter probably being the most popular) those who have great ideas but not the money to fund these ideas can pitch their ideas to the public in hopes that they will donate money to help fund them.
Hacking Kickstater is a book by Patrice Williams Marks that anyone considering starting a crowd funding project must check out. Kickstarter says that about 44% of their projects get funded – except the numbers are a bit skewed and these focus on only dance related projects. Other categories are much less.

The book is rather short, but full of really great insight and information that anyone considering starting a kickstarter (or other similar site) should definitely read and use to their advantage before making their projects live.

[Becky Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Hacking Kickstarter, for Patrice Williams Marks to give her my honest opinion about it. The book discusses how to properly use and raise money for Crowd-funding websites, such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter, and Gofundme.

I read this and was amaze about the amount of time and research that Patrice put into this book. hacking Kidkstarter is a short read with easy-to-follow instructions, tips and a few templates. I didn't realize that this type type of funding exisr and is out there for people, really opened my eyes since I'm trying to start my own small business. I greatly enjoyed this book, and learning all about the new world of crowd-funding to me at least. This book is full of really great insight and information that anyone considering starting a kickstarter or a other similar site should definitely read and use to their advantage before making their projects live.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I have been trying for the last 3 months to get something like this going. Once I started reading this book, the author has given me something to think about. Very insightful, and I am ready to give this crowdfunding idea another round, only this time, I am using her techniques. Great book, and I am on chapter 5.
This is helpful to me as a blogger. I also run my own business, and often times, banks are not kind to small business owners, and investors will not give you the time of day, unless they feel like they can buy your business from you. Ms Marks puts her method of earning funds into a language that anyone looking for money for their project can understand.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really helpful book. Especially for someone who has never done a crowd funding campaign and has no clue how they work.

It would also help someone who has done such a campaign too. Especially if the campaign failed.

It was especially helpful to learn that you really get started getting your duckies lined up WAY before you actually launch your campaign.

If you or someone you know is considering trying a crowd funding site...I recommend reading this book first.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, great book. Very informational. I would have loved to have had even more guidance from her on this subject, since I never even knew such a thing existed and I guess I considered myself pretty savy as an entrepreneur. I can't wait for the follow up and I also am signing up to have a couple projects funded.

[Glenda Cates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to find this book and to be able to read it. I am so glad I did as it has helped me in my business as a blogger. Plus I now know what I could have done differently when I was raising money to pay for my daughters funeral. If I have to ever raise money again this is going to be my go to book

[Love Of · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing informational book. A friend passed this on to me just when I needed it. The step by step hands on help this gave me was priceless. When she gave me the book she had used it and swore by it now I know why! Thank you...

[Paula Huie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written insightful book if you are planning on doing any crowed funded projects you must read this book before you do anything !!!