Question
Yesterday I launched my first startup via Indiegogo. Numerous things unraveled, including IGG itself crashing. We do have $970 of support, which I am thankful for.
Our initial goal is to get to $6,000. By doing so, we'll be able to offer other startups, bloggers, and internet entrepreneurs web hosting with:
1. A control panel to optimize site speed and increase page value with improved SEO ranking.
2. A safety switch that automatically allocates free resources at the first sign of a traffic surge or DDoS attack.
3. Direct access to friendly technical support to minimize wait times.
4. Increased security to better handle malicious hacker attacks and privacy invasions.
If we are able to reach $250,000, we'll be able to created a free shared hosting plan. This will greatly help our audience we want to serve as they can launch a project without fearing it will crash on them (as we experienced with Indiegogo).
What we have going for us:
1. An email list of 240. Some saying they would back us at the $1,700 level.
2. A prominent person in the SEO industry who said they would spread the word once we get backed.
3. Willingness to give a commission up to 20% of what someone helps us raise.
4. ~$500 for advertising
What I'm considering:
1. Influencer/Blogger outreach to those that share our audience
2. PR - less focused, but gives stronger credibility signals
3. Sending personal, video emails to each person on our email list asking to back us. Maybe stand on our head to get attention :).
4. Do a secondary "launch" within the same campaign.
If it helps, you can view our campaign at http://igg.me/at/decibite.
-> What one area of marketing would you suggest I focus on?
Thanks in advance!
Answer
Good luck! Forget about SEO. This is just a temporary improvement. Not worth your effort right now specially if you have to pay. If is free, take it as long as it doesn't distract you with "useless busy" work.
Focus on the emails. This has huge upside potential!!
A video is a powerful tool that automatically enables you to connect with those who share your interests and can make people find you simply because they like you. This also reassures them that you haven't forgotten about them, that you are doing what you can but also need the communities help. Share this on all your social networks.
Leverage the power and newly harnessed interest of Periscope or Meerkat of both and announce(schedule) through Twitter a video pitch of what you trying to do. This will get you potential viral spread if you ask your viewers to use a hashtag or to simply tweet your live streaming.
If you have backers you're doing something right, you just have to now drive traffic to the campaign. Not really work on the pitch itself... Now you're in the numbers business...
:)
Humberto Valle
Best of luck.
