How To Set Up A Referral Program On Indiegogo

Introduction

When it comes to crowdfunding campaigns, Indiegogo is a popular platform that offers great potential for success. With thousands of active backers, it’s a platform where innovative ideas can thrive. However, standing out in a sea of campaigns can be a challenge. This is where a well-executed referral program can make a significant difference.

A referral program on Indiegogo is a strategic way to leverage the power of word-of-mouth marketing to expand your campaign’s reach and attract more backers. By incentivizing your existing audience to refer their friends, family, and colleagues, you can tap into a wider network of potential supporters.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up a referral program on Indiegogo. We will cover the benefits of implementing such a program, as well as seven crucial steps to ensure its success. By the end, you will have all the tools and insights necessary to create a compelling and effective referral program for your Indiegogo campaign.

Benefits of Setting Up a Referral Program on Indiegogo

Implementing a referral program on Indiegogo can bring numerous advantages to your crowdfunding campaign. Here are some key benefits to consider:

Expanded Reach: One of the main benefits of a referral program is that it allows you to tap into the networks of your existing backers. By incentivizing them to refer others to your campaign, you can reach a wider audience that may not have been aware of your project otherwise.
Increased Backer Conversion: Referrals are more likely to convert into backers compared to other acquisition channels. When someone is referred by a trusted source, they are more inclined to support the project. A referral program encourages word-of-mouth marketing, which carries a significant amount of trust and credibility.
Cost-Effective Marketing: Traditional marketing channels can be expensive. However, implementing a referral program is a cost-effective way to grow your campaign. By offering incentives for referrals, you are essentially leveraging your existing backers to do the marketing for you.
Engaged Community: A referral program encourages participation and engagement from your backers. It creates a sense of community and belonging as they actively promote your project. This engagement can lead to increased loyalty and support in the long run.
Data and Insights: The tracking capabilities of a referral program provide valuable data and insights. You can see which referral sources are generating the most conversions, allowing you to focus your marketing efforts and resources accordingly.

By harnessing the power of a referral program on Indiegogo, you can amplify the impact of your campaign and create a strong network of backers who are invested in the success of your project.

Step 1: Decide on the Referral Program Structure

The first step in setting up a successful referral program on Indiegogo is to determine the structure that aligns with your campaign goals and resources. Here are some factors to consider:

Referral Incentives: Decide on the incentives you will offer to participants. This can range from exclusive discounts, early access to perks, or even special recognition. Make sure the incentives align with the value of the contribution and motivate participants to refer others.
Referral Tracking: Choose a method for tracking referrals. Indiegogo provides a referral tracking system, but you may also opt for using external tools or software for more advanced tracking capabilities.
Program Duration: Determine the timeframe for your referral program. Whether it’s for the entire duration of your campaign or a specific period, setting a clear start and end date helps create a sense of urgency and encourages participation.
Referral Limits: Decide if you want to set limits on the number of referrals a participant can make. This can ensure that participants focus on quality referrals rather than spamming their network.
Communication Strategy: Plan how you will communicate the referral program to your existing backers and potential participants. Utilize your email list, social media channels, campaign updates, and even personal outreach to effectively spread the word.

By carefully considering these factors, you can design a referral program structure that motivates participants, tracks referrals accurately, and aligns with your campaign objectives. The structure should be clear, easily understandable, and appealing to both existing backers and potential participants.

Step 2: Create a Unique Referral Link

Creating a unique referral link is a vital step in setting up your Indiegogo referral program. A unique referral link allows you to track and identify the participants who refer others to your campaign. Here’s how to create a unique referral link:

Utilize Indiegogo’s Referral Tracking System: Indiegogo offers a built-in referral tracking system that automatically generates unique referral links for your campaign. Each participant will receive a personalized link to share with their network, ensuring proper tracking of referrals.
Add UTM Parameters: To gain more detailed insights into your referral sources, consider adding UTM parameters to your referral links. UTM parameters are tags appended to URLs that help track the effectiveness of different marketing channels and campaigns. By including UTM parameters, you can determine which referral sources are driving the most conversions.
Shorten and Customize Links: Long and complicated referral links can be difficult to remember and share. Consider using a link shortening service like Bitly or Google URL shortener to create shorter and more user-friendly referral links. Additionally, customize the links to include your campaign name or any specific keywords that resonate with your audience.
Promote Sharing Buttons: Make it easy for participants to share their referral link by incorporating sharing buttons on your Indiegogo campaign page. These buttons allow participants to instantly share their referral link on social media platforms or via email, expanding the reach of your campaign.

By creating a unique referral link, you provide participants with a tool to effectively refer others to your campaign while ensuring accurate tracking of their referrals. Remember to communicate to your participants the importance of using their unique referral link to track their progress and receive credit for their referrals.

Step 3: Spread the Word about Your Referral Program

Spreading the word about your referral program is crucial to its success. You need to effectively communicate the benefits and incentives to your existing backers and potential participants. Here’s how to spread the word:

Email Campaign: Start by sending an email to your existing backers, informing them about the referral program and how they can participate. Include clear instructions and emphasize the benefits and rewards they can earn by referring others.
Social Media Promotion: Leverage your social media platforms to generate buzz around your referral program. Create engaging posts, videos, and graphics that highlight the advantages and rewards of participating. Encourage your followers to share the information with their networks.
Campaign Updates: Utilize the Indiegogo campaign update feature to inform your backers about the referral program. Regularly post updates with the latest progress and remind them about the incentives they can earn by referring others.
Word of Mouth: Be proactive in promoting your referral program through offline channels as well. Encourage your existing backers to spread the word to their friends, family, and colleagues. Attend relevant events or networking opportunities to share information about your campaign and the referral program.
Affiliate Partnerships: Consider partnering with influencers, bloggers, or complementary campaigns who can help promote your referral program to their audiences. Offer them exclusive incentives and collaborate on content to maximize reach and engagement.

Remember to continuously promote your referral program throughout the duration of your campaign. Regularly remind your backers about the benefits and rewards they can earn while encouraging them to share their unique referral link with their networks. The more you actively spread the word, the higher the chances of reaching a wider audience and generating more referrals for your Indiegogo campaign.

Step 4: Track and Monitor Referrals

Tracking and monitoring the referrals generated through your Indiegogo referral program is essential to measure the effectiveness of your campaign and make necessary adjustments. Follow these steps to effectively track and monitor referrals:

Utilize Indiegogo’s Referral Dashboard: Indiegogo provides a referral dashboard that gives you access to real-time data on the number of referrals generated, conversions, and the overall performance of your referral program. Use this dashboard to monitor the progress and make data-driven decisions.
Set Goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Establish specific goals and KPIs for your referral program. Determine the number of referrals you aim to achieve, the conversion rate you expect, and the overall impact on your campaign’s success. Regularly assess whether you are meeting these targets.
Track Referral Sources: Identify the sources that are driving the most referrals. Analyze the data to determine which channels, such as social media platforms, email campaigns, or influencer partnerships, are most effective in generating referrals. This information will help you focus your efforts on the most successful channels.
Monitor Conversion Rate: Keep track of the conversion rate from referrals to actual backers. Compare this rate to other acquisition channels to gauge the effectiveness of your referral program in converting referrals into supporters. Adjust your program or incentives if needed to improve conversion rates.
Review Referral Traffic: Analyze the referral traffic to your Indiegogo campaign page. Identify patterns in the traffic sources, such as specific websites, social media posts, or blog mentions, that are driving the most visitors. This information can guide your future marketing efforts and help you optimize your campaign’s visibility.

Regularly revisit and analyze the data from your referral program to make informed decisions and optimize its performance. Tracking and monitoring referrals will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your campaign, allowing you to make adjustments and improvements to maximize the impact of your Indiegogo referral program.

Step 5: Reward Referral Participants

Rewarding referral participants is a crucial aspect of a successful Indiegogo referral program. By offering enticing incentives, you motivate participants to actively refer others and increase the reach of your campaign. Follow these guidelines to effectively reward referral participants:

Choose Reward Levels: Determine different reward levels based on the number of referrals made by each participant. For example, you can offer tiered rewards where participants receive increasing incentives as they refer more people. Make sure the rewards align with the value participants bring to your campaign.
Exclusive Perks: Provide exclusive perks or early access to new features to participants who refer a certain number of backers. This encourages them to actively support your campaign while giving them a sense of exclusivity and recognition for their efforts.
Social Proof: Highlight the success and impact of your referral participants by showcasing their achievements on your campaign page or through social media posts. This recognition not only rewards their efforts but also serves as social proof, motivating others to participate in the referral program.
Additional Rewards: Consider offering additional rewards for participants who go above and beyond in referring others. This can include special personalized shoutouts, merchandise, or even the opportunity to collaborate with your project in a meaningful way.
Timely Delivery: Ensure that you deliver the rewards promptly and fulfill your promises to participants. Delayed or unfulfilled rewards can lead to dissatisfaction and loss of trust, negatively impacting the success of your referral program and campaign as a whole.

Remember, the rewards should be attractive enough to motivate participants, but also manageable for your campaign’s budget and resources. Show appreciation for their valuable contribution and create a positive experience that encourages ongoing support and engagement in your Indiegogo referral program.

Step 6: Engage and Encourage Referral Participants

Engaging and encouraging referral participants is crucial to keep them motivated and actively promoting your Indiegogo campaign. Here are some strategies to effectively engage and encourage your referral participants:

Regular Communication: Keep your referral participants informed and engaged by frequently communicating with them. Provide updates on the progress of your campaign, any milestones achieved, and remind them of the incentives they are working towards. Use email newsletters, campaign updates, or even private messaging to maintain an open line of communication.
Recognize and Reward Milestones: Acknowledge and reward referral participants when they reach significant milestones, such as referring a certain number of backers or helping your campaign achieve a specific funding goal. Celebrate their accomplishments and express gratitude for their contribution.
Create a Community: Foster a sense of community among your referral participants. Create a dedicated space, such as a private Facebook group or forum, where they can connect, share their experiences, and discuss strategies for successful referrals. Encourage participants to support and motivate each other.
Share Success Stories: Highlight success stories of referral participants who have made a significant impact on your campaign. Share their stories on your campaign page, social media channels, or through personalized email newsletters. This not only rewards their efforts but also inspires others to follow in their footsteps.
Offer Incentives for Referral Improvements: Keep your referral program competitive by offering additional incentives for participants who continually improve their referral efforts. For example, you can provide bonus rewards or recognition for participants who surpass their initial referral goals or consistently refer high-quality backers.

Engaging and encouraging referral participants helps create a strong and dedicated support system for your Indiegogo campaign. By fostering a sense of community, acknowledging their contributions, and providing ongoing motivation, you can build a loyal network of referral participants who are enthusiastic advocates for your campaign.

Step 7: Analyze the Success of Your Referral Program

Analyzing the success of your Indiegogo referral program is essential to measure its effectiveness and make informed decisions for future campaigns. Here’s how you can analyze the success of your referral program:

Review Referral Data: Use the referral tracking system provided by Indiegogo to gather data on the number of referrals generated, conversions, and overall performance of your program. Analyze this data to identify trends and patterns that can help you understand the impact of the program on your campaign’s success.
Track Conversion Rates: Measure the conversion rate of referrals into actual backers. Compare this rate to other acquisition channels to assess the effectiveness of your referral program in attracting high-quality backers. Adjust your program or incentives if needed to improve conversion rates.
Evaluate Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the return on investment of your referral program by comparing the cost of incentives offered with the value generated through new backers acquired. Assess whether the results justify the resources invested and make adjustments accordingly.
Identify Top Referral Sources: Determine the top referral sources that have generated the most conversions. Assess the effectiveness of different marketing channels, such as social media platforms, email campaigns, or affiliate partnerships, in driving referrals. Allocate resources to the most successful channels for future campaigns.
Solicit Feedback: Get feedback from your referral participants on their experience with the program. This can be done through surveys, interviews, or even informal discussions. Use this feedback to identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments to enhance future referral programs.

By analyzing the success of your referral program, you gain valuable insights into its impact on your Indiegogo campaign. This analysis allows you to make data-driven decisions, optimize your marketing strategies, and improve future referral programs to achieve even greater success.

Conclusion

Setting up a referral program on Indiegogo can significantly boost the reach, engagement, and success of your crowdfunding campaign. By leveraging the power of word-of-mouth marketing and tapping into the networks of your existing backers, you can attract a wider audience and increase conversions. Here’s a recap of the key steps to set up an effective referral program:

Decide on the referral program structure that aligns with your campaign goals.
Create unique referral links to accurately track and monitor referrals.
Spread the word about your referral program through various channels.
Track and monitor referrals to measure the effectiveness of your program.
Reward referral participants to motivate and incentivize their ongoing support.
Engage and encourage referral participants to maintain their active involvement.
Analyze the success of your referral program to make data-driven decisions.

Through careful planning, communication, and strategic implementation, a well-executed referral program can create a sense of community, expand your campaign’s reach, and attract high-quality backers. Remember to continuously evaluate and optimize your program based on the data and feedback gathered, ensuring its ongoing effectiveness and success.

So, take the leap and implement a robust referral program for your Indiegogo campaign. Harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing and let your existing backers become your most influential advocates. With their support and the reach of their networks, you can maximize the potential of your Indiegogo campaign and achieve crowdfunding success.