6 Tips for Successful Facebook Sharing

and getting your friends to actually listen to you.

Once you’ve started a crowdfunding campaign, your FIRST method of social sharing should be on Facebook. It’s the one platform where you have a crowd of “friends and family” that are engaging and want to know about you. Before you just post your campaign link…let’s get organized. You’ve only just begun the journey by starting your campaign, now…let’s make a strategy for optimizing your crowd and reaching your fundraising goal as quickly as possible.

Are you active on Facebook? If you are, GREAT! You’re headed in the right direction. If you aren’t…it isn’t too late. You need to START TODAY. Post a couple times a day. Ask questions, comment on their status updates, TRY to be social.

My point is this…If you aren’t already talking on Facebook, WHY would anyone listen to you when you suddenly ask for donations?

Now, what do you do if you aren’t active on Facebook?

Don’t worry…I’m going to hold your hand and help you through this perilous journey of discovering Facebook.

• Engage with your friends. That means YOU should start posting status updates a few times a day. Nothing profound…just what you’re up to, what your day is like, what your likes and dislikes are. People actually like being “in the know” and really do want to know about you. This not only means that you should update YOUR status updates, but you should also comment on others’ updates! Yes…tell Sam that you like her new haircut, that Brian’s son looks cute in that picture, and that you can’t wait to try that recipe that Jenny just posted. When YOU comment on their status, they know then, that you’re interested in their lives and more likely than not, will be interested in yours.
• Make new friends. You’re never to old to make new friends. Grow your Facebook network. Have you “friended” your neighbors, all your family, your co-workers? If you’ve shyed away from it…now’s the time to break out of your social cocoon and put yourself OUT there. You’ll need these contacts to help donate to your campaign AND to share it with their friends.
• Share with your Friends. It’s something our parents have instilled in us…and you should remind YOUR friends. Ask them to “share” your campaign with their friends. Your campaign might not appeal to a stranger, but when introduced by someone that they know, it will have much more appeal. Don’t just ask them to share it once. Remind them weekly…but, do say “please”.
• Smile for the camera. Don’t be shy about posting pictures of yourself and of your fundraising cause. Pictures are worth a thousand words…use them. People are more responsive to images than text…so, you’ll appeal to them quicker with a great picture.
• Can you hear me now? They can if you provide a video. Show off your amazing personality with videos talking about your campaign and what an impact it will have. If YOU believe in your cause…your words will make others want to believe in it too. Use your voice to share your passion.
• Editorial Calendar. That’s scheduling reminders for yourself to post on Facebook (and different social media platforms). If this is new for you, don’t disregard reminder prompts from your phone or written notes on a calendar. Posting at least twice a day would be a great start…and see how it feels. Keep the reminders written down…they’ll make you accountable for posting and sharing.

Using these tips, you’ll find yourself in a great position to share your fundraising campaign with so many more people than you initially thought possible.

You started your crowdfunding campaign for a reason….now tell everyone about it!

Why did YOU start your crowdfunding campaign?