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Webinar Session
May 28th 5pm EDT
Meet The Team
Agenda
1. What is Rock The Post
2. What is crowdfunding
3. How to craft a pitch
4. Marketing efforts
5. Communications with followers
6. The JOBS Act
What is Rock The Post?
Founding and Launch
• Rock The Post was founded in October 2010.
• Rock The Post was launched in November 2011.
Where did the idea come from?
• Gap in the market• Entrepreneurs and small businesses had
difficulty gaining access to capital. • 98% of the time, VC’s and Angel
Investors would reject business plans.• Seed stages are funded mainly by
friends and family.
What is crowdfunding?
Definition of crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a collective cooperation, attention and trust by people who network and pool their money to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations.
Alternative way to fundraise
• Rock The Post is just like traditional fundraising.
• Via crowdfunding, project creators are able to reach the crowds with built in social media features.
• 25-40% of the traction comes from your inner networks, such as friends and family.
Mechanics of crowdfunding
1. Registration
2. Project creation
3. Approval process
4. Post is published
5. Marketing efforts
6. Target is successfully reached
Psychological component
People pledge for 3 reasons:
1. People connect with the message
2. People connect with the uniqueness in which you raise the funds
3. People connect with the rewards
Mistakes that lead to crowdfunding failure
• Not nailing the presentation • Not doing enough research • Weak planning ahead of time• Lack of a solid marketing plan • Asking for the wrong amount of money• Failure to promote • Ignoring the audience
Why is crowdfunding good
for companies ramping up?
1. Free marketing
2. Feedback or comments from other members
3. Funding
Tax implications
Did you think Uncle Sam would give you a pass?
3 categories of tax:
• Sales Tax • Income Tax • Gift
How to craft a pitch
Target the right audience
• Who will you target?• How do you relate to them?• How will you engage them?
Note: Make sure that your post is geared toward to the right industry, and that your marketing efforts stay aligned.
Having an awesome visual pitch
• The first 30 seconds is your chance to shine.
• With the video, you will raise 10 times more money.
• Keep it to 2-3 minutes maximum.
Clear description of the project
• Introduction• Overview of the project• Include team members, if possible• Long-term goals• Presence on the web (social media
website URL, etc. )
Setting reasonable goals
• Reasons for starting the campaign• Targets to achieve (weekly/monthly)• Be realistic with your numbers• Outline steps that will help you to meet
the objectives
Offer enticing rewards
• What will you give in return for their pledges?
• Will it be enough to turn heads?
Note: Offer cool tangible rewards in order to increase pledges and traffic to your post!
Launching the campaign Now is time to start spreading the word:
1. Friends
2. Family
3. Colleagues
4. Social media
5. Link to your project under your email signature
6. Target media publications
Marketing efforts
Strategy
• Find evangelists to help spread the word.
• Know what media publications you will target and who to contact.
• Put all the email lists and contacts all together so that you can start the email blasts right away.
Channels for spreading the word
• Speaking engagements• Affiliate with associations
and organizations• Blog writing• Widget on your website• Meetups and other events
• Email blasts• Forums• Press release• Community
bulletin boards• Social media
Passion and energy
• Don’t be shy • Open yourself to the world• Believe in yourself in order to have
others believing in you• Have a compelling story• Show off your knowledge within the
field of your post
Communications with followers
Comments • Questions• Feedback• Criticism• Compliments
Note: Avoid taking them personally!
Messages
Remember to be: • Responsive• Reliable • True to the people
who cared about your project
Purpose:• One to one
communication• Personal level
communication with your supporters
Engagement with your fans
• Constant updates• Keep supporters updated with your
progress• Keep your word• Be honest
Note: After all, what’s crowdfunding without the crowd? ! Keep your crowd happy!
The JOBS Act
What does it mean for crowdfunding?
• Before the JOBS Act, only accredited investors (1% of the US population), had access to investing in startups
• Crowdfunding is the solution to help small businesses lift up the US economy by having accredited and non accredited investors be part of private offerings.
Why are small businesses are so important?
• They pay 44% of total U.S. private payroll.
• Small businesses generated 65% of net new jobs over the past 17 years.
• They hire 43% of high tech workers.
Thank you for attending
For further questions or comments please contact
Alejandro Cremades [email protected]
Tanya Prive
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