After hustling nonstop to ensure your Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign is a success, the last thing you want is for the momentum to taper off or quit altogether once it ends. Fortunately, there are a several post-campaign solutions that, with a little extra effort, will make for an easy transition to a typical ecommerce sales model.
Indiegogo’s InDemand
One of the most popular methods of keeping up with pre-orders after a crowdfunding campaign ends is Indiegogo’s InDemand feature. This allows successful campaigners from either Indiegogo or Kickstarter to continue to accept preorders and raise funds. This is particularly convenient if you’re still in production with limited inventory on hand. You’ll also be able to continue building and growing your community with publicity from the Indiegogo newsletter, social media and blog. Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of Indiegogo’s nearly 15 million monthly website visitors.
Even if you ran your campaign on Kickstarter, moving to InDemand is relatively easy. Just click “Get Started Today” on this page. If you ran your campaign on Indiegogo, simply check the “Opt in to InDemand” box in your Campaign Editor, and when your campaign ends, you’ll immediately move into InDemand. InDemand is built to be flexible with no fixed timelines, and you’ll have the ability to change perks or rewards offered while your InDemand campaign is live. In addition, you’ll have access to the same engagement tools and analytics that you had during your original campaign.
Shopify Store
Those who have migrated to Shopify after their crowdfunding campaign ended typically find it simplest to create a Shopify ecommerce account while the crowdfunding campaign is live. With Shopify, you can wait until your campaign ends, but it is easier to transition to your ecommerce business right after your campaign is finished if you are already prepared. Benefits of Shopify include:
- Simple, easy to customize, visually appealing themes
- A built-in mobile commerce shopping cart
- Easy payment processing
- Automated cart abandonment recovery features
- Built-in analytics and marketing features
- Inventory management and order fulfillment features
Unlike InDemand, which automatically rolls over if you opt-in, you’ll need to create the infrastructure and build a new site for your ecommerce store. The process is straightforward, but will take time and effort to ensure it is as engaging and functional as possible. ls.
Amazon Launchpad
If it sounds too daunting to open and manage your own Shopify store but you’re ready to begin selling, Amazon Launchpad is definitely worth considering. Launchpad has proven itself to be a dynamic one-stop shop to take orders and begin selling your product after your campaign ends.
Although initially launched as a useful tool for small businesses, Amazon Launchpad now offers expanded support for crowdfunding campaigns with dedicated support for the first year, an “about the startup” section, placement on the Amazon Launchpad storefront, inclusion in social media, and search engine optimization, along with placement in corporate Amazon events, public relations support, ad hoc promos and much more.
The platform is known for being user-friendly and saves campaigners time and money. In fact, Amazon doesn’t charge a fee to join Amazon Launchpad in the U.S. as long as you sign up as an Amazon vendor. You get the wholesale price that Amazon pays you for your product, which it turns around and sells for retail on its site. However, there are fees for selling globally.
All things considered, each of these post-campaign options have both weak and strong points. For help growing your business, deciding on post-campaign solutions and ensuring your crowdfunding project is a success, tune into our podcast and sign up for our newsletter.
