Independent Crowdfunding: The DIY Approach

Undeniably, crowdfunding through a major registered portal has its perks — but it’s not the only way to go. In recent months, a few popular crowdfunding websites (most notably Kickstarter) revised their rules and regulations, and as a result, many projects previously eligible have been rejected
. As portal parameters tighten, more and more campaigns are forced into independent crowdfunding efforts. Thankfully, there are now many roads one can take if they must depart from the pack and find funding on their own.

Essentially, independent crowdfunding is a do-it-yourself strategy in which one develops, promotes, and manages a campaign from beginning to end, without the help of an established crowdfunding community. After the sheer success of Lockitron — a keyless entry system compatible with most smartphones — many crowdfunders feel optimistic that they too can find funding if denied by common portals (Lockitron raised $1,500,000 on their own, which is 1000% more than their original goal, after Kickstarter said “no”). But this may not be as promising as it sounds, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons of independent crowdfunding before launching a campaign:
Pros

• Avoid the 4-5% commission fees (9% for all-or-nothing models)
• Full customization, unrestricted administration, and no item prohibitions (i.e. Kickstarter and home improvement items, which is the category Lockitron was rejected in)
• Longer campaigns

Cons

• Less exposure (marketing is solely your responsibility)
• Less credible and accessible for investors
• Landing page development and payment processing difficulties
• Tech demands

How to Do It Yourself?
Thanks to SelfStarter, following in the footsteps of Lockitron’s “roll your own” crowdfunding success is possible. As an open-source launch-point, SelfStarter provides everything one would need to get a website up and running. GitHub has the initial code available for download, as well as a “Getting Started” section for those ready to dive into the world of DIY crowdfunding. For those, however, who are not tech savvy and fear that they will not be able to build a functional portal on their own, there are other options available.
Crowdhoster is a free, no-coding development platform for independent crowdfunders looking to launch multiple campaigns, with leveled incentives and controllable payment processing. While the code available on GitHub enables Amazon Payment, Crowdhoster’s easy checkout system is much more automated. Using wonderful themes and an array of functions at your command, administrating and authenticating a campaign could not be easier.
Just remember, regardless of your methods, marketing is completely up to you. It’s much harder to attract people to your website, so you must be aggressive in your promotion. Secondly, if you have chosen to develop the portal yourself, it is a smart idea to include multiple payment forms, including PayPal, Swipe, and credit card processing. Good luck!