Introduction
When running a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, effective communication is key to keeping backers informed and engaged. Email marketing is a powerful tool that allows campaign owners to reach out to individuals who have supported their projects or those who may be interested in doing so. However, it is important to understand Indiegogo’s email policy and guidelines to ensure that your communication efforts are compliant and respectful.
Indiegogo has specific rules in place to regulate the number and frequency of emails you can send through their platform. These rules are designed to prevent spamming and ensure a positive experience for both backers and project creators. In this article, we will explore Indiegogo’s email policy and provide guidance on how to effectively use email campaigns to communicate with backers, potential backers, and manage opt-outs.
By understanding these guidelines and best practices, you can nurture relationships with your backers, attract new supporters, and maximize the potential for success with your Indiegogo campaign.
Indiegogo’s Email Policy
Indiegogo has established a clear email policy to ensure that campaign owners adhere to ethical practices when communicating with backers and potential backers. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Permission-Based Communication: Campaign owners are only permitted to send emails to individuals who have explicitly opted in to receive communications from their campaign. This ensures that recipients have actively expressed an interest in staying updated and informed about the project.
- No Spamming: Indiegogo strictly prohibits the sending of unsolicited or spam emails. Campaign owners must respect the privacy and preferences of their backers and refrain from sending excessive or irrelevant emails that may be perceived as spam.
- Compliance with Anti-Spam Laws: Campaign owners are responsible for ensuring that their email campaigns comply with relevant anti-spam laws such as the CAN-SPAM Act. This includes providing clear unsubscribe options, accurate sender information, and avoiding deceptive subject lines.
- Content Guidelines: Indiegogo encourages campaign owners to provide valuable and relevant content in their emails. This may include updates on the project’s progress, exclusive information or offers, and opportunities for backers to engage with the campaign. Campaign owners are advised to avoid using misleading or deceptive language in their email communications.
By adhering to these guidelines, campaign owners can maintain trust and respect from their backers while effectively conveying important information about their project.
Sending Updates to Backers
Keeping your backers informed and engaged throughout your Indiegogo campaign is crucial for maintaining their support and excitement. Email updates allow you to provide backers with the latest information and developments regarding your project. Here are some tips for effectively sending updates to your backers:
- Regular communication: Establish a consistent schedule for sending updates to your backers. This could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on the progress and milestones of your campaign. Consistency helps to keep your backers engaged and builds anticipation for future updates.
- Concise and engaging content: Make sure your updates are concise and to the point while still providing substantive information. Use a conversational tone to make the updates more engaging and relatable. Including visuals like images or videos can also help to capture your backers’ attention and showcase the progress of your project.
- Highlight achievements and milestones: Share your campaign’s accomplishments and milestones in your updates to celebrate the progress made. This helps to instill confidence in your backers and shows them that their support is making a tangible difference.
- Offer exclusive content or perks: Provide your backers with exclusive content or perks as a token of appreciation for their support. This could include behind-the-scenes footage, early access to product updates, or special discounts. These incentives incentivize continued engagement and support from your backers.
- Encourage feedback and interaction: Create opportunities for your backers to provide feedback, ask questions, or share their ideas. This fosters a sense of community and involvement, making your backers feel valued and connected to your campaign.
By effectively communicating with your backers through regular and engaging email updates, you can build trust, maintain the momentum of your campaign, and increase the likelihood of achieving your fundraising goals.
Sending Updates to Non-Backers
While your primary focus should be on communicating with your backers, it is also important to engage with non-backers who have shown interest in your Indiegogo campaign. These individuals may be potential backers in the future, and regular updates can help keep them engaged and informed. Here are some guidelines for sending updates to non-backers:
- Segment your email list: Separate your email list into different segments based on their level of engagement or interest in your campaign. This allows you to tailor your messaging and send targeted updates to specific groups, increasing the relevance and effectiveness of your communications.
- Keep non-backers in the loop: Provide non-backers with high-level updates and highlights of your campaign’s progress. Share exciting news, achievements, or any exclusive opportunities that might encourage them to become backers in the future.
- Offer incentives: Consider providing exclusive incentives or limited-time offers to non-backers to incentivize them to support your campaign. This could be early-bird discounts, exclusive perks, or access to special content. Make them feel like they are part of an exclusive group and highlight the benefits of backing your project.
- Share success stories and testimonials: Feature success stories or testimonials from your existing backers in your updates to non-backers. This social proof can help build trust and credibility, making non-backers more likely to support your campaign.
- Engage with questions and feedback: Encourage non-backers to ask questions or provide feedback about your campaign. Engage with them promptly and professionally to show that you value their thoughts and are willing to address any concerns they may have.
By including non-backers in your email updates and providing them with compelling reasons to support your campaign, you can nurture their interest and increase the chances of converting them into valuable backers.
Reaching out to Potential Backers
Expanding your reach and attracting new backers is crucial for the success of your Indiegogo campaign. While email updates primarily cater to your existing backers, reaching out to potential backers can help grow your support base. Here are some strategies for effectively reaching out to potential backers:
- Build a targeted email list: Identify your target audience and build an email list consisting of individuals who may be interested in your campaign. This can be done through various methods, such as lead generation campaigns, social media advertising, or partnerships with relevant influencers or communities.
- Create a compelling email pitch: Craft a persuasive email pitch that highlights the unique aspects and benefits of your campaign. Clearly communicate why someone should back your project and emphasize any exclusive perks or incentives they will receive by supporting you.
- Personalize your emails: Personalizing your emails can significantly increase their effectiveness. Address potential backers by their name and tailor the content to their interests or previous interactions with your campaign. Personalization shows that you value their individuality and increases the likelihood of engagement.
- Offer a call-to-action: Clearly state what action you would like potential backers to take in your email. Whether it’s visiting your Indiegogo campaign page, sharing your project with their network, or signing up for exclusive updates, provide a clear and enticing call-to-action that encourages them to take the next step.
- Follow up strategically: Don’t be afraid to follow up with potential backers who have shown interest but haven’t taken action. Send polite and engaging follow-up emails to remind them of your campaign and provide additional information or incentives to encourage their support.
By proactively reaching out to potential backers through targeted email campaigns and compelling messaging, you can attract new supporters and increase the visibility and success of your Indiegogo campaign.
Frequency of Email Campaigns
When it comes to the frequency of your email campaigns during your Indiegogo campaign, finding the right balance is crucial. You want to keep your backers and potential backers informed and engaged without overwhelming them with excessive emails. Here are some guidelines to help you determine the frequency of your email campaigns:
- Establish a schedule: Create a schedule for your email campaigns to ensure consistency. This could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on the length of your campaign and the amount of information you have to share. Consistency helps to manage expectations and keeps your audience tuned in.
- Quality over quantity: Rather than bombarding your audience with multiple emails in quick succession, focus on delivering high-quality content in each email. Ensure that each communication provides valuable and relevant information that your audience will find useful and interesting.
- Segment your audience: Segment your email list based on different criteria such as backer status, level of engagement, or preferences. This allows you to send targeted emails to specific segments, ensuring that the information you’re providing is relevant to each group. Avoid sending duplicate emails to individuals who may be part of multiple segments.
- Monitor engagement and feedback: Pay attention to how your audience responds to your email campaigns. Monitor open rates, click-through rates, and other engagement metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your communication. Additionally, listen to feedback from your audience and adjust your email frequency if necessary based on their preferences.
- Consider campaign milestones: Use significant milestones in your campaign as an opportunity to send more frequent updates. For example, when reaching a funding goal or introducing a new perk, you may want to send an additional email to celebrate the achievement and keep the momentum going.
Remember, it’s important to strike a balance between keeping your backers informed and engaged and avoiding email fatigue. By establishing a consistent schedule, focusing on quality content, segmenting your audience, monitoring engagement, and considering campaign milestones, you can optimize the frequency of your email campaigns and maintain the interest of your audience throughout your Indiegogo campaign.
Managing Opt-Outs and Unsubscribes
Respecting the preferences of your audience is essential when it comes to email marketing. It is important to provide an easy and straightforward process for opting out or unsubscribing from your email campaigns. Here are some best practices for managing opt-outs and unsubscribes:
- Include an unsubscribe link: Make sure every email you send includes a clearly visible and functioning unsubscribe link. This allows recipients to easily opt out of receiving further emails and demonstrates that you respect their decision to discontinue communication.
- Provide an unsubscribe option: In addition to the unsubscribe link, offer recipients the option to update their email preferences or reduce the frequency of emails. This allows them to tailor their communication experience with your campaign to better suit their needs.
- Process opt-out requests promptly: Ensure that opt-out requests or unsubscribe instructions are processed promptly. Make sure the unsubscribe link is functional and that any requests to be removed from your email list are honored in a timely manner to maintain compliance with privacy regulations and build trust with your audience.
- Monitor opt-out rates: Keep track of opt-out rates to understand the effectiveness of your email campaigns and identify areas for improvement. High opt-out rates may indicate that your emails are not meeting the expectations or preferences of your audience, and it may be necessary to refine your content or frequency of communication.
- Respect privacy and data protection: Ensure that you handle personal data in accordance with privacy regulations and best practices. Clearly communicate your privacy policy to your audience and assure them that their information will be handled securely and only used for the intended purpose.
By providing an easy and transparent process for opt-outs and respecting the privacy and preferences of your audience, you can cultivate a positive relationship and maintain the trust of your backers and potential backers.
Conclusion
Effective email communication plays a vital role in the success of your Indiegogo campaign. By understanding Indiegogo’s email policy and implementing best practices, you can maintain positive relationships with your backers, engage potential backers, and maximize the impact of your campaign. Here are the key takeaways:
First and foremost, familiarize yourself with Indiegogo’s email policy to ensure that you are compliant with their guidelines. Respect the privacy and preferences of your audience by sending emails only to those who have opted in and avoiding spamming or unsolicited emails.
When sending updates to your backers, establish a regular schedule, provide engaging content, highlight achievements, and offer exclusive perks to maintain their interest and support. Interacting with your backers and encouraging their feedback fosters a sense of community and strengthens their connection to your campaign.
Don’t forget about non-backers who have shown interest in your campaign. Send them regular updates, personalized content, and exclusive incentives to increase the likelihood of their future support.
When reaching out to potential backers, build a targeted email list, create compelling pitches, personalize your emails, and include clear calls-to-action. Following up strategically can also help convert potential backers into valuable supporters.
When determining the frequency of your email campaigns, focus on quality content, segment your audience, and monitor engagement and feedback. Strive to strike the right balance between providing valuable information and avoiding email fatigue.
Lastly, it is crucial to manage opt-outs and unsubscribes effectively. Provide an easy and visible unsubscribe link, honor opt-out requests promptly, monitor opt-out rates, and respect privacy and data protection regulations to maintain trust and respect with your audience.
By implementing these strategies, you can optimize your email campaigns, enhance communication with your backers, and increase the success of your Indiegogo campaign. Remember to be mindful of your audience’s preferences and consistently deliver valuable content to build long-lasting relationships and maximize your campaign’s impact.