The Power of Social Sharing: How It Elevates Crowdfunding Campaigns

Social sharing is the primary method to extend a fundraising or crowdfunding project’s reach and propel that campaign to new heights. For the greatest possibility for success, it is crucial to present a crowdfunding or fundraising campaign to many people as quickly as possible.

Whether you’re a project creator, a supporter, or a casual site visitor, harnessing the benefits of sharing through social media and targeted emails can significantly impact the success of crowdfunding endeavors. To this end, the Better Sharing for WordPress IgnitionDeck Addon provides a top-tier contact picker in three key locations within the IgnitionDeck Crowdfunding project interface for each persona to leverage peer-to-peer sharing.

Sharing messages are pre-loaded with dynamic information based on the user perspective and the project status and are optimized for sharing based on an analysis of industry best practices. Each sharing message also includes the option to personalize it to best suit the intended recipient. 

3 Perspectives, 3 Locations

The Better Sharing IgnitionDeck Addon allows us to socially share our three personas from critical locations within the IgnitionDeck project.

1. Project Owners
   Getting the word out upon launch is essential for a project to get noticed and gain supporters. As soon as a project has been published, project creators can share their project with personalized email messaging to their contact list and social networks directly from their project edit screen.
   
2. Supporters
   Sharing by supporters immediately after completing the financial transaction is critical. While the project is foremost in the mind of supporters, the customizable email and sharing tools are available from the popup confirmation of the completed transaction and includes up-to-date information on the project’s progress, goal, and web link.
   
3. General Site Visitor
   Sharing by site visitors that come across a project organically or by targeted searches can be quickly and easily accessed by email and social network sharing tools displayed prominently with the project’s goal and progress information.

Let’s learn how social sharing benefits each defined stakeholder in the crowdfunding ecosystem.

From the Perspective of a Project Creator:

For project creators, social sharing is akin to igniting a spark that can fuel the flames of success. Here’s how:

1. Front-loading the Campaign
   Crowdfunding statistics indicate that projects achieving 30% of funding within the first week of going live are more likely to meet the ultimate financial goal. The fastest way to achieve this initial milestone is through the project creator’s circle of contacts: family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. The sharing tools are readily available directly from the creator’s dashboard as soon as the project goes live.
   
2. Expanded Reach
   By encouraging supporters to share their campaigns across social media platforms, creators can exponentially expand their reach beyond their immediate network. Each share has the potential to reach a vast audience, increasing visibility and attracting more backers.
   
3. Validation and Social Proof
   When potential backers see a campaign being shared and endorsed by their peers, it instills a sense of trust and credibility. The first opportunity in initiating this process is by the project creator sharing the project within their own social contacts, who then share the project to theirs. Social proof plays a crucial role in convincing skeptics to pledge their support, as they perceive the project as vetted and endorsed by others they already know and trust.

From the Perspective of a Supporter:

Supporters are the lifeblood of any crowdfunding campaign, and social sharing empowers them to make a tangible impact:

1. Advocacy and Support
   Sharing a campaign on social media allows supporters to advocate for causes they believe in actively. It’s a simple yet effective way to show support and contribute to the success of a project.
   
2. Fostering Engagement
   Social sharing sparks conversations and interactions among supporters, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. It’s an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and build relationships within the community and thus expand a project’s potential to reach additional stretch goals and any associated rewards that come into play after the initial goal has been met.
   
3. Feeling of Ownership
   When supporters actively participate in sharing a campaign, they develop a sense of ownership and pride in its achievements. Their contributions extend beyond financial backing, making them integral partners in the project’s journey.

From the Perspective of a General Site Visitor:

Even for those who stumble upon a crowdfunding campaign as casual observers, social sharing holds inherent benefits:

1. Discovery of New Opportunities
   Social sharing exposes site visitors to various projects they may not have encountered otherwise. Each share is a gateway to discovering innovative ideas, creative endeavors, and meaningful causes.
   
2. Amplifying Impact
   Every share increases the campaign’s visibility, amplifying its impact. Supporters can leverage their social networks to reach individuals who may not have otherwise discovered the project, thus expanding its reach and potential for success. The social share template includes pre-loaded hashtags to increase visibility within the crowdfunding community.
   
3. Opportunity for Contribution
   Even if visitors choose not to back a campaign themselves, sharing it on social media provides an opportunity to contribute meaningfully. They become advocates for causes they believe in, playing a role in bringing them to fruition. For every order of magnitude (10, 100, 1000) of social media shares, the probability of success for the project drastically increases.

Final Thoughts

Social sharing is a cornerstone of success in the crowdfunding arena, benefiting project creators, supporters, and general site visitors alike. By harnessing the viral potential of social media with dynamic messaging and personal contact lists through the Better Sharing for WordPress IgnitionDeck Addon, invested persons can transform ideas into reality, build thriving communities, and make a lasting impact on the world through the reach of their IgnitionDeck Crowdfunding projects and campaigns.