Introduction

In this article, I will discuss in general terms concerning some of the psychological types of people involved in crowdfunding (co-financing of projects of interest to them on special sites). Just recall that the term “backer” means a person who invests his money in a not yet existing project in order to support him or her and / or therefore obtain a bonus. This bonus could be a copy of the product for free or at a substantial discount, a copy of the product + prize, exclusive materials available for backer or something eschew. Backer does not mean co-founder, they merely receive shares in the company or stock. Due to the large number of backers, even with their small contribution (an average of $1 to $100, with the most popular payment is $20-25), companies collect funds for the development and / or manufacturing of the product. Products can be different, it can a game, book, movie, toothpicks, a screwdriver, a sound card, the installation of the monument in a place, or even to open a restaurant.

In general, the purpose of this article is to help new developers to understand with whom they have to deal with in their campaign to crowdfunding site. But even if you are just interested in what crowdfunding and what to pay people, why they are motivated to give their money to total strangers – then this material will be of interest to you.

So backers are different. They differ in their goals, interests, financial status, country, gender and so on. But all of them can be roughly divided into certain psychological types. However, I do not share these types of taste preferences. They can include a variety of different backers: games or interest in music, movies, gadgets or anything else.

 

1. Random (casual) backers

A backer might stumble across the project while surfing the Internet. They liked the video or the product itself, and they supported the project. These backers almost never write in comments on the draft, discuss, do not give any feedback. But it’s wrong to think that they have invested money and forgot about the project – they watch it, read the news and newsletters. They are in any case not ignored, because if something goes wrong – they are the first to cut their rates or completely remove them all and take away the money. In addition, they also may well be involved in the final cut (see below, paragraph 7), if the motivation for this is quite high. Later, random backers (if your news is interesting) can become active backer or evangelists.

2. Active backers

These backers actively are involved in supporting projects on your favorite site. They do not just happen to be in a particular project – they are looking for interesting projects and for ones that support them. For some projects, support backers become passionate and something of a competitor with other active backers. Sometimes in different forums, complaining can be done by an active backer, when they spend twice as much as expected this month. This is true – for some people ‘backing’ turns into a real obsession. This is a little-known, unusual and very interesting phenomenon. Active backers sometimes help to disseminate information about the project, and then give feedback intensively interact in the comments of the project, helping the developer to show all its advantages (and sometimes revealing the weaknesses of the project at this stage is to help improve the final product.) Later, the backer often becomes an active, core member of the community on the project (if the project provides for a community).

3. Evangelists

If a backer could rank as a saint, then surely it is this type of backer should give a halo. This is not just an active backer, who financially supported the project. Their monetary contribution may be small, but it does not matter. A backer is one helps disseminate information about the project, call up their friends and acquaintances, write e-mails to unfamiliar people in their contacts, asks Marcus Presson to tweet something nice about the project or write on neogaf.com, where the authors of game projects are likely to not account. They can help with translations into other languages, check spelling and grammar, or find contacts with large specialized portals. You will want to classify them as a saint because it is through such projects, that backers collect the necessary funds, because very often the indie team behind the campaign does not get the press coverage or does not have money even for small advertising fees or a PR agency. Without this project, if it claims to be more or less significant amount (at least more than $20,000), does not collect: the organic traffic to crowdfunding portals are very low and if the project is not something absolutely brilliant, without evangelical backer our advertising odds tend to drop to zero. Therefore, if you are the author of the project – like evangelists, reward them, even if their financial contribution is just $1 because they are the vital energy of your project.

4. Crowd Angels

Very rare people who can best be described as a “mini-business angels.” But this name is too long, so I call this type as described. Crowd Angels – is to ensure people who cannot support even a particularly interesting project to them personally (rarely) and which powerfully support their favorite projects (the most common case). Their work is of two types: support and insurance. Clear support from a backer is putting $1,000 to $10,000 per project and left there. Basically, they are not particularly interesting reward – they support the idea for the project, the benefit can. In rare cases, their motivation chat with the author of the project, but mostly it works only if the author – a celebrity. Insurance – this is when such backer at the start of the project are investing like $ 10,000 and then, as the project is gaining momentum and the necessary amount, gradually reduces your bet (may the way to zero.) This does not, in any way, relate to the fact that the project may lose one’s attention. They simply have to have a certain amount of this kind of charity. And it’s a huge help, because other people see that the project has already collected a good amount and it motivates them further.

5. Microinvestors

I would like to call this type of backer a ‘Speculator’, but in our country the word conotates a negative meaning, so I call them microinvestor (hereinafter – the MI). These types of backers mainly pursue selfish goals when they support the project. Most of those supported projects are ones in which backers will receive a copy of the product after completion at a significant discount (up to 75% of the value) . MIs support the project, receive a copy of the goods and resell it in the future either as 100%, or even higher. With such a backer, work is very simple: to make their reward something such as $1,000, which they will receive copies of the product such as the X10. Professional IP, knowledge of the market and the price, it can contribute $1,000 to later earn $ 10,000. But here it is necessary to understand that the higher the risks of the project, the lower the chance that the MIs will want to risk a lot of money. Thus, the higher the risk – the lower the price should be, and the less reward copies will be given to him. If the developer is confident in their product, they can make different rewards like $ 500 X 4 gives up, gives $1000 X10 copies, $ 2,000 gives X 25 copies (the higher the risk, the greater the benefit MI). In fact, for the developer it is a model wholesale pre-sales / pre-order.

6. Collectors

It’s a backer, who collects physical rewards. They are somewhat similar to those of blood donors who donate and collect badges and ribbons. The reasons are certainly quite noble and unselfish, easy for many to obtain material evidence of the good works that are even more pleasant. Thus, backers-collectors collect souvenirs, which are almost always granted for certain rewards. Someone can only collect jerseys and some do not care what it is, just to have certain objects is enough (e.g., space or environment). So someone can buy toys for their children and the children are happy, the project benefits and he was satisfied with the great outcome. The moral is: material rewards are necessary and useful. Even if there are only a few percent of these types of backers in the total number of your project, then it is a plus to a few percent of the collected amount. By the way, the percentage cannot be accurate yet because of the lack of data – it may well be that for some projects, the proportion of collectors may be ten, twenty percent (or more, it depends on the product.

7. Last Days Backers

I especially like the name – it sounds sublime and mysterious, an analogy with the Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Order of the Solar Temple. But in fact, these backers have nothing to do with sectarianism. The bottom line is, that this is the most impatient backer, the one who wants it all at once, and preferably right now. Therefore, they do not support projects in the early stages, not to exhaust themselves during the long waiting process, sometimes for a month or even two. Instead, they use the search functionality “soon ending” projects. This section contains all the projects before the end of which is 48-72 hours (depending on the platform). Thus, this category of backers are looking for interesting projects, which will soon be over, and where they can get something valuable or pleasant: a surprise reward, a copy of the game, a book, and so on. It is largely because of these backers, in the final days of projects, interest spikes sharply as opposed to funding in the early days. But there are also ideological backers in this style. They are specifically looking for projects, little did not quite live up to the required amount, and it is their support that gets these project their final push. Unfortunately, these people are few and far between, but they are helpful and for that we thank them.

8. Doubters

It’s a backer, who, in general, is in favor of supporting the project, but still not completely sure. On the one hand they are interested reward or the project itself, the other is something to hold them. There are two types of obstacles: lack of confidence in crowdfunding as such and something disturbing them in the project. The first type of uncertainty is difficult to overcome, as the developer can only answer for your project, but not for the whole concept crowdfunding. The author can describe how crowdfunding works as a project or in its text description. The second barrier – it’s something in the project. Very rarely doubters write messages to sponsors, more often they talk on the forum of the project, if any. Therefore, the forum is a must-have for any project. Very often it is the external forum doubters converted into random backer or even active, the conversion can occur without any action on the part of authors community, which gathers around the project, often the very people dispel doubts or answers to their questions. Besides feedback and conversion forum is useful and what unites and creates community from crowdfunding site. This is very useful in the future, after the fundraising campaign will end.

In addition, for the doubters, you should premeditate planned updates and news, which shows the development of the project and the work being done on it. Backers in doubt are often converted to casual or even active if they see that the project is “live” and grows in front of their eyes. Speaking of the renovation plan, I note in passing that it is very important and helps keep backers in the project, especially if the duration of the project is more than 30 days. I will discuss more on this point in a different article.

9. Claimants

These people are not likely to become your backer; there is really a very little chance. However, they write letters in an ultimatum tone, which is to promise to support the project if … Each backer promises to support your idea “if” certain things happen such as, if the main character is gay, if the statue is made of iron and matches, and if you dance in your next video on one leg and a helmet! Very rarely are these requirements done. However, if others suggest the same – and only if many suggest the same – then maybe it’s a sign and you should do it so that you can improve your project. Otherwise, if you try to fit your project’s individual requirements to each backer, most likely in the end, you will have made a product of too many pieces – like Frankenstein. The exception is the category linuxoids (for software products, mainly – games). It’s pretty strong and active type (at least for Kickstarter), which can well support your project if you do support Linux. If not, and you make a game, you have to put up with regular requirements to support Linux and disturbances as to why you do not do. Summarizing this type of backer – do not succumb to persuasion of individuals to change your project, but make sure that they do not express the general view audience.

10. Dog in the Manger

This is not a backer, however, they are actively involved in the life crowdfunding outside these areas – in forums, groups and blogs. These people are doing a very important job in their opinion; they preach the idea that – is evil and a scam. They not only do not support the project, but also do everything possible to maximum number of people to withdraw their funding. It is sad. These people have always been, and will continue to, willing to destroy entrepreneur’s spirit and funding. Clashing with them is expected and you should be prepared. If these people are in your groups or on your forums, I recommend that in advance, you have enough information, facts and arguments to justify their claims and have clear answers ready (and not allow to convert the doubters in dogs). If your argument falls on deaf ears – safely get spam blockers and if properly used, you can block these pests. The main thing, not matter what, do no lower yourself to their level! Stay polite and correct, even if you block that person for life

13. Anti-backers

This is the most unpleasant type of backers – pests. Which is why the number is not 12, as should have been, but immediately 13. They make a minimum investment amount (usually $1) for one purpose: to troll in the comments of the draft. There are people who move in such a way on different projects with the sole aim to cause maximum damage to them, to instill in backer uncertainty and doubt. If you have this type of parasite on your project, then in any case, do not lower yourself to their level, but try to explain something to him, or to convince, as disputes with trolls and / or spammers can lead to blocking of your account and the cancellation of the project, as it happened like here. Instead, write a letter to the platform with a request to cancel the payment of the troll and block his access to your project. And in any case, do not give in to provocation, as soon as you suspect it – a troll, give one warning, and if that does not work, immediately ask for help from the administration. Fortunately, there are very few people who behave this way and I sincerely hope you will not meet them on your way

Epilogue

This article is the result of research of different areas of crowdfunding mainly Kickstarter.com , during the preparation of our project “Divine Space” toward the deployment of (I will not give the link to avoid confusion). I have described only those types of backers I have encountered and interacted with personally. It is likely that, in addition to these types, there are others, who managed to escape my attention. Your observations are welcome (can be anonymous, if for some reason you do not want to comment here).

Resources

Website Statistics projects Kickstarter – Kicktraq.com. Before creating the project on Kickstarter, I highly recommend you study similar projects, the daily influx backer, average payment, and more.