Want to self-publish a book but don't have the upfront capital? Crowdfunding allows you to raise money for your book project. From start-ups to albums, films to books, people use crowdfunding to finance their passions. With the increasing popularity of self-publishing and DIY options, more authors are using crowdfunding to finance their projects. Find out just how effective it can be before you get started.
"Crowdfunding is an opportunity to make your dream a reality."
The basic concept of crowdfunding for authors is this: you get a page on a crowdfunding website (such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter, or GoFundMe) where you can feature content such as text, graphics, and a video to pitch your idea. Individuals visit this page and pledge whatever amount they want to fund your project. There's a deadline to raise funds, so people must donate before time runs out. You can also offer incentives to entice people to give.
Most crowdfunding websites charge a percentage of the money raised. Each platform has its pros and cons so do your research before choosing the one that best suits your needs.
Whether you’re looking to self-publish your book or raise money for marketing efforts, crowdfunding is an opportunity to make your dream a reality. It allows for direct connection to your audience and helps build authority in your space when you are successful.
A great book idea is a good start, but you also need an audience to have a successful crowdfunding campaign. Although crowdfunding can help increase your audience, it's best to already have one before launching your campaign. Spend some time building your audience online using a blog or social media platform, like Twitter.
"Do your research before starting your crowdfunding campaign. Asking for too much or too little is setting yourself up for failure."
There may be companies and organizations in your community that would benefit from your book. You'll find success raising funds when you tap into communities of like-minded people who share your passion.
How much money do you really need to publish and launch your book? Do your research before starting your crowdfunding campaign. Asking for too much or too little is setting yourself up for failure.
"Not only do funders give because they want to read the book, but they also donate because they believe the story needs to be told."
People often fund authors because of emotional reasons. Not only do funders give because they want to read the book, but they also donate because they believe the story needs to be told. When writing the copy for your crowdfunding webpage, tell your story in an engaging way. Be passionate. Create a compelling video. Spend time writing persuasive bullet points on why someone should care about your book. Tell the audience what is unique about it. Will it help the reader in some way? These key marketing messages will not only help you fund your book project, but they will also help you sell your book once it's published.
People love free stuff. Don't forget to offer something to thank your funders and encourage larger gift donations. For smaller donations, you could offer a free copy of your book. For larger intervals of giving, get creative. You could offer items such as signed artwork from your book, a t-shirt featuring your book's cover art, or even a special service related to your expertise. The possibilities are endless.
Not all crowdfunding projects succeed. There's a lot of competition, which is why you have to be prepared before starting your campaign. Research other crowdfunding campaigns to see what works and what doesn’t. Explore various crowdfunding sites to discover where your project best fits. By planning ahead, building your audience, and targeting your audience directly with a compelling message that speaks to the heart of the reader, you can find success crowdfunding your next book.
Hello! I want to share my story about my book "Unsheltered". It's about my life from birth to adulthood. I was born with a crippling skin disease that is hereditary as well as incurable. My book speaks about the torment form the agonizing pain and the ridicule dished at me daily from other children. It is titled Unsheltered because it is the way my life unfolded from my perspective only. It was a life of little guidance and often no shelter. It shows how a young girl went astray but was realigned by God. An unfortunate life of drugs, sex and abuse that took her to rock bottom, was miraculously changed for the better. She was redeemed and made whole again. I want the world to know that God has been with me since birth; and he will manifest himself the same way in anyone's life who needs, and truly wants him to. It shows all the trials and tribulations I went through in my life. I was a homeless, teenage, crack head who committed several crimes but who cleaned up her life, got an education, became a mother and wife, raised four children and wrote a book about it. In 2010, I published my book and received a patent from the U.S. Government for inventing shoe covers for Barbers and Stylists.
I also wrote a book called Unsheltered, but mine has the subtitle "A Young Man Finds Respect" and is a fiction novel based on my life as a domestic violence victim. This is told through the eyes of the oldest son who experienced the domestic violence as a secondary victim who lived with hyper vigilance in which he tried to guard his mother and siblings The mother went to a domestic violence shelter, taking all four of her children with her. The son tells of the shelter from his perspective and of the family returning home with the restraining order that didn't protect them The father breaks into the house and strangles the mother, but realized what he was doing before she passed out. The son called 911 and worked through his observations about respect as a male. He works out his observations fathers in his family and others at their church and also the adventure of moving from California to Alaska, and all the culture shock involved with the move. He realizes the need for a relationship with Jesus, and finds that he can respect himself and expects respect from other like he sees his father needed. I self-published but it wasn't edited as well as it could have been (I see it now). My four adult children are still in shock over believing they recognize themselves in the characters that I thought I'd changed and rewritten enough to honestly call it fiction. I want to write another edition or rewrite and make more in a series so that each book will be from a different character's perspective. I'm disabled with multiple sclerosis and never had the funds to get the first one printed to go to local bookstores and so on. I'm trying to learn about crowd funding and how to use what I've already written and learned to publish again, maybe for children or young adults rather than for women. I'm hoping ALC will educate me further on the next step.