Crowdfunding is about much more than following a formula. Crowdfunders have to find a project that piques their interest and inspires confidence. Likewise, creators have to personally connect with supporters in order to earn their financial backing.

Here are four specific ways you can build a meaningful connection with donors of your next crowdfunding campaign:

1. Know Your Audience

Do you know who will be interested in your project? Which people can help you maximize your outreach time and effort? Research your audience’s age, gender, occupation, and anything else you can find. Search relevant Twitter hashtags, locate Facebook fan pages or groups that align with your project, and research blogs that appeal to your potential funders.

2. Target Outreach Efforts

Once you know who you’re interested in targeting, put all of your marketing effort into reaching that group. Learn how to connect with them through the right online channels. Pick a social network platform and really own it; use social media to spread awareness and connect with potential followers. Advertise or write for industry-relevant blogs that your audience regularly reads. If you build a following on your own blog, loyal readers will be the first ones to support your project.

But here is where this gets a bit tricky. You don’t want to blatantly promote yourself to your audience; no one wants to feel like they’re being spammed. The most effective way to reach people is by making connections and allowing your campaign to organically come up in conversation. The more personally you connect with people, the more likely they are to buy in to your idea.

3. Connect on a Personal Level

The more likable you are, the more successful your crowdfunding project will be. Asking for support is far more effective if you reach out on a personal level. Sending a generic tweet or Facebook message won’t feel genuine to your audience. Reach out to your closest friends, family members, and colleagues with a personal email and the link to your campaign.

4. Stay in Touch

Once you get a crowdfunding donor on board, don’t let them fade into the background. Keep your supporters in the loop by sending out updates about your campaign. Make sure they know you appreciate them.

The beauty of crowdfunding is the connection you can potentially build with your audience and the encouragement you receive for your project.

Amanda L. Barbara is Vice President of Pubslush, a global crowdfunding publishing platform for authors to raise funds and gauge their audience for new book ideas and for trendsetting readers to pledge their financial support to bring books to life.

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