Crowdfund your next creative endeavor.
When money is the only thing standing between an idea and its realization, crowdfunding is a good way to get things done.
If you need help paying for better equipment, hiring actors, or covering other production costs, you can turn to your own audience and the crowd funding community for assistance, as long as your idea is compelling enough.
Many successful crowdfunded projects include a teaser or “trailer,” so consider making a video explaining your project or providing a preview of what it will be like, such as the popular Kickstarter for Kung Fury, a short film homage to ’80s action movies.
Popular crowdfunding sites with a track record of successful YouTuber campaigns include:
Kickstarter.
One of the most well-known crowdfunding platforms, ideal for funding innovative products and creative projects. Set an attainable funding goal because you will only be able to secure it if you meet it.
Indiegogo.
A crowdfunding alternative with more flexible funding options.
Allow your audience to fund you through “fan funding.”
You can set up “fan funding” streams to raise funds from your audience in the same way that you can set up crowdfunding campaigns.
As a content creator, you contribute your voice to the Internet without requiring your audience to pay. People may be inclined to support your business on an ongoing basis if you provide good content.
Many fan-funding sites provide creators with another place for fans to discover their content as well as a way to thank them for their support by donating to their projects.
Wait But Why produces longer-form written articles rather than YouTube videos, but it is a great example of receiving funding from its Patreon community.
If you decide to use crowdfunding, there are a few best practices to keep in mind. To begin, create transparency about how the funds will be spent. This will pique your audience’s interest in your story or mission. Because they believe in the value of your content, they will be willing to invest in it.
Second, provide enticing incentives for higher pledges. You’re more likely to get donations and higher pledge amounts if you can make donors feel special by giving them access to things they wouldn’t normally be able to experience.
Among the most popular fan funding options are:
Super Chat on YouTube.
Super Chat is a feature on YouTube that is used when doing live streams. It allows you to set up a tip jar for your viewers to donate whenever and however much they want. You must configure your YouTube account for advertising purposes.
Membership in a channel.
Channel memberships allow viewers to support your channel by making monthly payments in exchange for exclusive member benefits. To use this feature, you must be a member of YouTube’s Partner Program, just like Super Chat.
Patreon.
The membership platform that makes it simple for creators to be compensated. Fans can receive exclusive rewards by subscribing to their favorite creators for as little as a dollar per month.
Tipeee.
This platform allows you to receive both one-time and recurring donations.
Purchase a coffee for me.
Creators and artists can accept donations and membership fees from their fans through Buy Me A Coffee. With over 300,000 creators, it’s dubbed the “#1 Patreon Alternative.” The differences are that Buy Me A Coffee makes it easier to accept payments, there is a flat 5% fee for all features (versus up to 12% for Patreon), and payouts are instant.
