How to Crowdfund for a

Self Published Book

Lorna Sixsmith

Why Crowdfund?

• Market Testing• To raise funds• To get pre-orders in • Instead of raising a loan with the bank• To increase awareness of product• To make your dream come alive

Who will pledge?

• Family • Friends• Fans of the Project• Readers of that genre• Philanthropists • Early adopters• Emotionally engaged in project• People who know you online and trust you to

deliver

Pre-Campaign – Growing Online Communities

• Blog – grow your readership by including extracts of your book and engaging with readers.

• Twitter – follow key influencers. Engage with other tweeps and have conversations.

• Facebook – Set up a facebook page, invite friends to like it and grow your audience

• LinkedIn – Connect with other writers and business people. Join relevant groups.

Pre-Campaign – Offline Preparation

• Decide on which crowdfunding site• Tell friends this is going to happen• Write various lists of people to contact• Draft your press releases• Create your video for the campaign• Identify short extracts to share• Have a bank of photos / illustrations• Decide on rewards – look at other campaigns

During Campaign

• Email Friends, Family & Connections• Send Press Releases to Offline and Online

Media• Send an update on average once a week (on

crowdfunding website)• Tweet Lots – Be Digital• Consider having surprises / extra rewards up

your sleeve

What You Need For Success

• An engaged following• Lots of time• A good project• Plenty of energy• Good online presence• A smartphone – you’ll be tweeting lots• Credibility• A couple of helpers (if only to test ideas with)

When It Is Over

• If successful – thank your pledgers • Keep in touch with pledgers – update them• Honour your rewards

• If unsuccessful – your project may just need tweaking, more preparation, different timing, more community building – think of a Plan B

‘Would You Marry A Farmer?’

My crowdfunding for ‘Would You Marry A Farmers’ ends on 31st July. Please pledge and pre-order my book for a good laugh as well as a social history on Farming.

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