In the last couple of years, crowdfunding has gained enormous popularity. Especially over the internet, contributing for a project en masse seems to be one of the easiest, most convenient ways to actually gather funds. Crowdfunding basically follows the mindset that “together, anything is possible”. Small businesses and freelancers in particular can utilize crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo and a couple others to actually turn huge projects and ideas into a reality. Here are the top 5 reasons for using crowdfunding.
The easiest way to prove how good crowdfunding works is by actual, real-life examples. The Pebble smartwatch is, to this day, one of the most hyped smartwatches in the entire tech market. It started out with a goal of 0,000 and reached over million. Let that sink in – an independent idea gained more popularity in a field where similar products are pushed by tech giants like Microsoft, Samsung and LG. Occulus Rift, the virtual head-mounted display is another astonishing example. What started as an idea and a call to others to finance that idea by 0,000 turned into one of the best virtual reality projects for years and eventually got bought by Microsoft for billion. The examples are countless – video games, technology, movies, sites, you name it.
2. It is free
The best thing about most crowdfunding platforms is that they don’t actually take their commission until you reach the financial goal that you have preset. It is an opportunity that you can only learn from, refine, present and develop your ideas. Even if it doesn’t work out it can still provide an incredible boost to your business.
3. You get to test the market
No matter how many market studies you do, how many articles you read or with how many business experts you talk, the only way to be sure if an idea has a potential is to actually see if people like it enough to spend their hard-earned money on it. Most of the times on sites like Kickstarter, you will get feedback, be it negative or positive. You can learn from that, improve, and come back even stronger next time.
4. Establish a community
One other really great thing about crowdfunding is the way you get to interact with others. Sure, it is a big challenge, you must present your project in a suitable fashion and get attention. You need to build certain rewards that are not only appealing, but interesting and with a certain flair to them. But seeing people get excited for what you do is one of the best feelings you can get as a freelancer – on crowdfunding sites you are bound to get that interaction. You can also win potential customers, establish long-term business connections and more by showcasing just how good you are at what you do.
5. It is lots of fun
When describing freelancing, you will often hear or drop words and phrases like “living the freelance dream”, “being free to do what you want” and other similar ones. Crowdfunding offers exactly that – you confront the world with your idea, with your thoughts, with a thing you deem productive and useful in some manner. The experience is going to be amazing, I guarantee it. You will 100% learn something new, not only about your idea, but about yourself and your business in general. So if you have an innovative idea, just go ahead and try – you have nothing to lose.
