Kickstarter

I am researching possible ways to fund a product. I have visited Kickstarter.com. Are there other kickstarter sites available?
I have also considered gofundme as an alternative.
Are there other sites suitable for projects that do not fit a kickstarter.
Would just using paypal be sufficient or be lacking in credibility?

From what I have read, it seems you have to really promote your kickstarter through all means to be successful. True or false?

Thanks,
Leslie

I am no expert, sometimes a little creative, but generally just a well intentioned person with my 2 cents readily given.

That said, when you look at Kickstarters that are blowing chunks, no real followers and hardly any money raised, if any... what do you see?
Usually it is a project that screams "me, me, me, me, me". Nothing there for anyone to really wrap themselves up into or around. I have seen
people that want you to invest in their "picket fences", "farm", book, whatever. Every one is secretly tuned into that radio
station WIIFM, What's In It For Me.

Now when you see Kickstarter projects that are raising tons of money, blowing past any initial goal what do you see?
I see someone offering a product, technology, art or something that makes you want to be a part of it. Some
product or item that you get to hold, I for instance purchased Sergei's Wild Edibles because I am always
wondering what is edible and no time to have a garden of my own right now.

"Wild Edibles"

I also backed a project by an art teacher that had created a book of partially started art doodles,
I like to doodle on occasion and I thought this was a great idea. I could see his product in
every kids desk at schools across the country.

"Heartless Machine"

I was going to be a part of Paul Wheaton and friends Ernie and Erica Wisener's Rocket Mass Heater kickstarter but the NetSpend
Visa card I purchased to use for the full enchilada (DVD's and Streaming videos) ended up being unuseable for anything except
counter purchases. I did participate at a lowly $5 level though.

Rocket Mass Heater 2.0

I have seen threads here that offer so much information, from so many sources that scream to be put into a book. They could probably
easily make there way into a kickstarter or even a createspace.com or lulu.com style self-published book. As a marketer that I have
followed in the past says, "You don't have to be the only source, but you should be the only Known source." so self-promotion is very
important but with a good product you could develop easy "host-beneficiary" arrangements with many websites, offline companies, etc.

How to Create a Product from Information You Already Know

As an example I will give you Paul Hartunian, "The Guy that really did sell The Brooklyn Bridge". Actually he sold pieces of a wooden
walkway that was being replaced, but he'd been looking for a way to use Free publicity to make himself money and after he did it
once, he did it again and again and eventually created a program to sell to people for them to learn to do the same.



Go looking at Amazon.com or your local magazine rack for ideas on what sort of products to create. The New York Times Best Seller List
is full of information on what people are interested in now. If you want to stick with permacultural ideas, do a google search on "sustainable
farming", permaculture, any of the names in the business; what are they already promoting and where do you see a gap or need that isn't
being filled? What do people want? Secrets, easy ways, information, how to, etc.

Leslie,

Just in case you think I missed your original question...

I love Google Advanced Search, my brain gets forgetful
though so when you asked what other sites are available I knew of IndieGoGO,
even though I have never went looking there. So I did a Google of Crowd Funding

As you can see there are tons of sites, some specializing in creative ventures like Kickstarter,
others are for personal causes like Give Forward

It is amazing what people will support but at the same time it sure gives us hope that we too can fuel
our dreams.

Best,

Mike

P.S. This is a kickstarter project that had all the makings of a hit, look at the reward levels and what
the author was doing with each level. Also note that she was giving the cookbook away in PDF
form. "Good and Cheap" the cookbook. :)

wasn't someone starting a crowdfunding site for farmers and homesteaders?

Rose, love that name,

I just found this here at permies of your farmer oriented crowd funding for farming.
They tell how the project is for smaller items and not complete farms but it is very informative.

EDIT
Well once again I jumped with information before knowing, this link is for a Loan group where you pay back the loan plus interest.
Sorry.

"Crowdfunding for Farmers"



Iceberg Approach Article

This is an audio of people talking about crowdfunding.



TedTalk on Crowdfunding

True Transparency
For one, crowdfunding values something that Upstart Farmers have in excess: transparency.
The best crowdfunding campaigns offer potential supporters a look at the process. In the case of
the Upstart Farmer, who lives by his value of transparency every day, potential customers not only
get a look at the process by which their food is produced, but are promised that knowledge permanently.
Upstart Farmers have no secrets to keep from their customers. Just honest, sustainably grown, local food.

Why You Should Think of Crowdfunding

10 Tips for Your Next Crowdfunding Venture

Fraser Bliss on Crowdfunding
Fraser Bliss quit the rat race to travel round the world for 5 years. He's been manager of
Bill Mollison's permaculture farm, speaker at Permaculture Voices and is the founder of Farmwell.

Crowdfunding no Substitute for Hard Work

Crowdfunding Urban Farm Projects

Barn Raiser

Some Successful Crowdfunding Projects

"Flow"

Good and Cheap, How to Eat on $4 per Day (Cookbook)

"Farm to Tea Cup"

Grow Gourmet Oyster Mushrooms Grown From Coffee Grounds?

"Mushroom Chocolate? Jerky?"

Veg Buddy

Vegetable Farmer Upcycle?

When looking at these I hope you will get the sense of what's possible plus check out the various
ways these promoters reward their backers.

Chicken Salt (a taste of Down Under remade by Yankees?)

DosaMaker

Coconut Jerky

Secret Tomato Project

Meepillow?

"We Call This Home"

"Ankle Seduction?"

When people ask me, I direct them to these two threads:

https://permies.com/t/32334/tnk/Lessons-Learned-Kickstarter-projects

https://permies.com/t/36732/tnk/promoting-kickstarter

Leslie West wrote:I am researching possible ways to fund a product.  I have visited Kickstarter.com.  Are there other kickstarter sites available?
I have also considered gofundme as an alternative. Are there other sites suitable for projects that do not fit a kickstarter.
Would just using paypal be sufficient or be lacking in credibility?

From what I have read, it seems you have to really promote your kickstarter through all means to be successful. True or false?

Thanks,
Leslie

Hi Leslie,

Yes, there are many crowdfunding sites. IndieGoGo, Kickstarter and GoFundMe are the best known. On all of them, you have a very small window during which to get a lot of activity to keep your project visible. Note how permies lined up a lot of support BEFORE they went live. That is what you must do.

Look at their Kickstarter as an example of how to do one very well. You need compelling videos that get to the point and don't ramble (at least not the main one - additional videos can ramble if you wish). Be very clear what the benefits are. Have compelling offers that will appeal to many.

There are sites influencers use to get others to share for them. Learn to use them or work with someone who already has accounts on them. (Some influencers can submit projects and have them go live immediately where new accounts and sometimes almost everyone else's accounts go into moderation for some number of hours or days).

Sites we use to promote links include: Viral Content Bee, JustRetweet, GuestCrew, Thunderclap. There are posts on growmap.com that explain how we use some of these. Also be sure to read the links here in Permies about what they've learned.

Hello, is anybody here?

No body talking about Kickstarter anymore?

Guys, it's time to learn. I just read Paul's book on Kickstarter Techniques, yes he told me not to buy it, it's not finished, but hey, I knew there would be some good information in there so I bought it anyway. I am so glad I did, I will definitely have to read it again, Sooo much information but it is really well explained.

He starts it off with his first exposure to the banking loan system and how utterly picky they are, touches on other forms of money generating organizations, nonprofits and such, exposes their nasty side then, settles on his Uncle who along with the bank gets his first loan. Some really good story there. then he goes into the Kickstarter stuff. He touches on all his kickstarters, all eight of them but uses the last two to illustrate the formula in more detail. Even how he came up with all the goodies. What is really nice is that he highlights the issues he had to work out and how he did it.

There is a lot he hasn't done yet, and I don't know enough to ask questions at this point but I feel that I could get one started now at least get a rough draft of one. Then perhaps get some help to color it in. and bold the strokes. In fact I was seeing flashes of my Little Box Patterns Website Launch in my mind as I read.

I will likely need some more clarification later as I get into this. But for now I am so honored that I got the chance to read it.

I will post again. and give updates. If anyone thinks I should post this in another thread please let me know as this thread is at least two years old now. I really want you all to know what a wonderful book this is, even though it isn't finished yet. I'm sure I'll think of more to add after I close out and try to sleep. Anyway here is the link to his book should you decide to take a peek.

https://permies.com/t/123522f197/Kickstarter-Techniques-eBook-DRAFT

Sincerely,
Evelyn