Film crowdfunding campaigns rarely succeed without solid pre-launch preparation. In this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to set your film crowdfunding campaign up for success before it even launches, focusing on essential pre-launch strategies and planning tips.
Crowdfunding campaigns can be one of the most effective and reliable methods to raise money for a film, but they are rarely straightforward or successful without a solid strategy. In this guide, I will provide you with actionable, straightforward tips to help you build a strong foundation for your film crowdfunding campaign before you even launch.
Prepare to dive into the essentials—I'll see you in the trenches!
Social Media #1: Get to build you audience.
A successful crowdfunding campaign doesn't begin on launch day—it starts months before. Click here to see an example. To ensure your film's crowdfunding campaign is a success, it's crucial to begin building your audience well in advance, ideally 3-4 months before the launch. Social media is a powerful tool for audience building, and while it doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be time-consuming. To make this process more manageable, follow these tips:
Open a Free Canva Account: Use Canva to create posts that align with the aesthetic and vibe of your film. Even if the film’s visuals aren’t finalized, focus on setting a mood. Be bold, be strong, and have a clear point of view. Quality matters.
Build Your Network: Follow as many people as possible within your immediate circle and extend that reach to friends of friends. Your crowdfunding support will likely come from your network, so engaging with those two to three degrees away is key.
Start Posting Regularly: Begin with three posts per week and gradually increase the frequency. By the month leading up to your launch, aim to post daily. Remember, video content is king, so incorporate video whenever possible. Use relevant hashtags to increase your reach. You can use Adobe schedule or Planoly to schedule posts in advanced.
These pre-launch strategies will help you create a strong foundation for your crowdfunding campaign, ensuring you're well-prepared by the time you officially go live.
Emails #2: Tap into your inner sales person
When I say email everyone you know, I mean literally everyone. Craft a short, personalized, and to-the-point email for each recipient, introducing your project and your upcoming crowdfunding campaign. Steer clear of mass emails—each message should be heartfelt and individual. Include direct links to your Instagram account and encourage them to follow for project updates.
Express genuine enthusiasm about your project in your email. Most importantly, ask if they would be interested in contributing to your campaign on DAY 1. Track all responses (or lack thereof) meticulously—Google Sheets is a great tool for this. Send follow-up emails to those who don’t respond. While this may feel persistent, remember that successful sales often require multiple follow-ups. At this stage, you are essentially a salesperson for your film.
Use this information throughout your campaign. Before launch day, email everyone who expressed interest, and keep them updated on the project throughout the campaign and even years after filming.
Crowdfunding #3: Start drafting your campaign
At Pink Mud Productions, we’ve used Seed&Spark in the past and find it to be a straightforward platform, though it does have its nuances.
One common mistake filmmakers make is waiting until the last minute to draft their campaign. This can lead to unnecessary stress and frustration in an already challenging process. Running a crowdfunding campaign is time-consuming and often uncertain, so be kind to yourself and START EARLY.
Don’t underestimate the time it takes to build your campaign site. Aim to start preparing at least 2 months before your launch and submit it for review 1 month before. Use successful campaigns as references to guide your preparation. Starting early gives you ample time to make revisions based on feedback and allows you to email a link to your supporters before the launch, asking them to follow the campaign.
It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: do not send the link until the campaign is fully completed. Starting early ensures that your campaign is finalized at least one week before the launch—ideally 2 weeks.
Good luck!!
Spotlight Filmmaker: Seehum Isa
Seehum is a full time Creative Producer in Fort Worth, TX. She has produced and written award winning commercials for a variety of brands in different industries, such as Betterhelp and Medieval Times. In addition to a branded television series for Professional Bull Riders. Furthermore, she has produced multiple short films in DFW and Austin area. From Smoke, a film about the mental health of a firefighter, to Somewhere You Feel Free, a story about a young woman yearning to live an adventurous lifestyle in a world that continues to make women feel unsafe. Seehum enjoys pulling together the proper team that is passionate about a project and looking for those details every producer should have their eyes on to make a story come to life on screen. A native of El Paso, TX, and a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Seehum gave a Ted Talk when she was only 20; and has authored two children’s books on culture and religion. You can dive more into her producing work here.
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Thank you for joining us this month and see you on your next campaign!
xoxo
Jenny & Catie
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