Tag: Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding campaigns really help with raising funds, but they also give a chance to build essential links. Most firms miss out on this secret benefit since most of them do not understand how to utilize such campaigns to get quality links.

Crowdfunding is not about contributing money, it’s about smart contributions that help you earn trust, make your way through the markets, and strengthen your domain authority.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to leverage crowdfunding platforms to grow your backlink profile, boosting both your visibility and search engine rankings.

So, let’s get into the details and start building links the smart way!

What is Crowdfunding Link Building? 

Crowdfunding link building is a strategy where you earn backlinks by supporting crowdfunding campaigns. When you donate, many campaign organizers thank their supporters by listing their names and website links on their pages. This turns your contribution into a smart way to build quality backlinks.

Essentially, you’re helping fund a project, and in return, you get a valuable link that boosts your site’s authority and improves your SEO.

Is Crowdfunding Link Building Worth It in 2024?

Crowdfunding link building should be a smart addition to your SEO approach, but it has its pros and cons. Here’s what makes this valuable and what to watch out for:

Why It Works

Here’s how this method can help you get quality backlinks while maintaining Google’s guidelines:

1. Safe and Legitimate: Unlike buying links, which can lead to penalties from Google, crowdfunding links are earned through genuine support. Donating to a campaign is a legal way to secure backlinks without violating search engine rules.
2. Get Quality Backlinks: Many crowdfunding campaigns are run by reputable organizations with strong domain authority. A backlink from them can boost your site’s SEO, making it more credible to search engines.
3. Build Content and Brand Visibility: Supporting campaigns can fit well into your content strategy. You can write about the causes you back, share updates on social media, and build credibility. Plus, campaigns often give shout-outs to donors, increasing your brand’s visibility, even if the links are “nofollow.”

Things to Consider

Here’s what you should keep in mind to make the most out of this strategy and avoid common pitfalls:

1. Time-Consuming Process: Finding the right campaigns that align with your goals can take time. You need to look for those that offer quality backlinks and fit your niche.
2. Cost Factor: While it’s usually cost-effective, sometimes getting a backlink might require a higher donation. Make sure the benefit justifies the cost.

How to Use Crowdfunding for Link Building?

This section will likely introduce the steps or strategies on how to leverage crowdfunding platforms effectively to build quality backlinks.

1) Identify Promising Campaigns

Finding the right crowdfunding campaigns is the first step to building effective backlinks. Here’s how you can do it:

a) Use Google Search Operators

Google search operators can help you quickly locate crowdfunding campaigns that might offer backlink opportunities. Try using search strings like:

• site:kickstarter.com inurl:projects + “donor page”
• site:gofundme.com inurl:projects + “link to your website”

Switch out the platform URL for other crowdfunding sites to widen your search. This method helps you target projects that might mention linking benefits for donors.

b) Make Your Search More Specific

Add keywords related to your business to make your search more focused. For example:

• site:gofundme.com inurl:projects + “link to your website” AND “eco-friendly products”
• site:kickstarter.com inurl:projects + “donor page” AND “fitness gear”

These searches can help you find campaigns relevant to your niche, increasing the chance of earning valuable, related backlinks.

c) Check Credibility and Relevance

Focus on campaigns managed by reputable brands or individuals. Ensure they clearly outline their goals and have a good backing. This ensures that your backlink will be from a trusted, high-authority site, adding more value to your SEO.

d) Verify Real Backlink Opportunities

Not all campaigns will offer actual backlinks, even if they mention donors. Double-check the campaign details to confirm if your donation will lead to a linked mention on their site. Make sure you’re not just getting a name mention, but a proper link that boosts your SEO.

e) Pick Campaigns Related to Your Industry

Supporting campaigns that match your business niche is key. For instance, a tech blog can look for tech-related crowdfunding projects. These relevant backlinks carry more weight in search engine rankings, improving your site’s authority more effectively.

By following these steps, you can smartly support crowdfunding projects that offer solid backlink opportunities, helping to build your website’s authority and SEO.

2) Check the Domain’s Strength

Before supporting a crowdfunding campaign, make sure the backlink you receive will truly benefit your crowdfunding link building efforts. Many campaigns are run by startups, small businesses, or individuals, so not every link will be valuable.

Why This Matters:

• Some campaigns might offer links, but if their website’s Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA) is low, the link won’t do much for your SEO. You want to find crowd links from relevant websites with strong metrics.
• Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to check the domain’s authority, traffic, and backlink profile. Look for crowdfunding websites that have a good track record, solid DR or DA, and relevant backlinks. This will help you decide where to post crowdfunding links for the best results.
• Make sure to avoid sites with spammy links or low authority scores. These can do more harm than good, so focus on quality crowdfunding backlink building from reliable platforms that match your niche.

It can take time to find valuable crowdfunding opportunities, but checking the domain’s strength ensures you’re not wasting your resources. Prioritize high-quality links that will genuinely support your link building for donation platforms.

3) Support the Campaign with a Donation

After finding the right crowdfunding campaign, the next step is to donate. You’re not just helping fund a project—you’re also getting a chance to earn a valuable backlink. Here’s how to do it effectively:

Tips for Smart Donations:

• Pick the Right Tier: Look for reward levels that mention a backlink. If you don’t see it, contact the campaign organizer and ask if it’s possible to get a link for your donation.
• Stay Relevant: Support campaigns that fit your business niche. This helps your link building strategy by getting links from related websites, which search engines prefer.
• Propose a Custom Deal: If there’s no clear option for a backlink, suggest a donation in exchange for one. Many campaigns are flexible and willing to collaborate to attract more funds.

4) Monitor for Your Backlink

After assisting in a crowdfunding campaign, you are not yet done. You should ensure that you get the backlink you were promised. Here’s how to do that effectively:

1. Check the Campaign’s Website Regularly: Try checking the campaign’s website and look for your link. It might take some days or even weeks, so be patient but persistent.
2. Set Up Alerts: Use tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs Alerts. By setting up notifications for mentions of your brand name, you can quickly find out if and when your link appears.
3. Reach Out if Necessary: If the campaign organizer hasn’t added your link, follow up with a polite email. Remind them of your support and kindly ask if they can place your link on their site.

Monitor the quality of your link regularly. Sometimes, campaigns might change their pages, which could lead to losing your backlink. Regular checks will help you maintain the effectiveness of your crowdfunding backlink building efforts.

Start Your Own Crowdfunding Campaign

You might wonder how having your own crowdfunding campaign relates to link building. Starting a crowdfunding campaign is one of the strongest ways to get good-quality backlinks while raising funds for new products, services, or projects. Here’s how that works:

Crowdfunding sites are held as extremely trustworthy, namely Kickstarter or Indiegogo. You can place the link to your own website on your campaign page. That helps you a bit for SEO because search engines consider links coming from good, high-authority sites as strong endorsements.

Why Consider This Strategy?

Here’s why this approach can be effective:

1. High-Authority Backlinks: Links from well-established platforms signal trust and credibility to search engines.
2. Keyword Optimization: Use relevant keywords in your campaign, helping it rank and drive traffic.
3. PR Boost: Successful campaigns often attract media coverage, generating additional backlinks.
4. Audience Engagement: Supporters may share your campaign, creating more visibility and link opportunities.

Before You Start:

• Have a clear, compelling product or cause.
• Ensure any supported cause is reputable.
• Be prepared to deliver on promises to avoid negative publicity.

Top 9 Crowdfunding Platforms

Here are the top crowdfunding platforms to consider for your link building campaign:

1) Kickstarter

Kickstarter is one of the largest and most popular crowdfunding platforms. It’s perfect for creative projects such as film, music, art, and technology. In terms of fees, Kickstarter charges a 5% fee on funds raised, and there is a 3-5% processing fee charged by the payment provider.

2) Indiegogo

Indiegogo is another popular crowdfunding platform that has helped entrepreneurs and small businesses raise millions of dollars. It’s perfect for startups, tech companies, and creative projects. Similarly, Indiegogo charges a 5% fee on funds raised, and there is a 3% processing fee charged by the payment provider.

3) GoFundMe

GoFundMe is the world’s largest social fundraising platform. It’s perfect for individuals who need to raise money for personal causes such as medical bills or emergency expenses. Unlike other platforms, GoFundMe charges a 5% fee on funds raised, and there is a 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee.

4) Patreon

Patreon is a unique crowdfunding platform that’s designed for artists and creatives. It allows artists to receive recurring payments from their fans and supporters. In terms of fees, Patreon charges a 5-12% fee on funds raised, depending on the subscription plan chosen by the creator.

5) Mightycause

Mightycause focuses on helping nonprofits and social causes through its crowdfunding platform. It’s perfect for charities and community organizations. Importantly, Mightycause charges a 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee, and there are no platform fees.

6) Crowdfunder

Crowdfunder is a crowdfunding platform that’s designed for businesses and startups. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs who are looking to raise funds from investors. In terms of fees, Crowdfunder charges a 5% fee on funds raised, and there is a 3-5% payment processing fee.

7) StartEngine

StartEngine is a crowdfunding platform that’s focused on helping startups and businesses raise funds through equity crowdfunding. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital from investors. StartEngine charges a 6% fee on funds raised, and there is a 3.5% payment processing fee.

8) Fundable

Fundable is a crowdfunding platform that’s focused on helping startups and small businesses raise funds from investors. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs who are looking to raise seed or early-stage capital. However, Fundable charges a $179 monthly fee, and there is a 3.5% payment processing fee.

9) Wefunder

Wefunder is a crowdfunding platform that’s focused on helping startups and businesses raise funds through equity crowdfunding. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs who are looking to raise capital from investors. In terms of fees, Wefunder charges a 7.5% fee on funds raised, and there is a 2.5% payment processing fee.

These are just a few of the many crowdfunding platforms available. Choosing the platform that best suits your project or venture is important. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s important to do your research before choosing a platform.

Conclusion

Crowdfunding link building is a unique way to boost your SEO while supporting meaningful projects. But do keep in mind that the true success with this strategy isn’t all about finding campaigns or creating one’s own. It’s about building genuine and lasting connections. 

Every time you contribute to a crowdfunded project, contact the project organizers and let them know you’d be happy to contribute to any other work they may need. Chances are you’ll start getting opportunities for future guest posts and collaborations that further solidify better quality backlinks and strong relationships.

FAQs on Crowdfunding Link Building

Can I Use Backlink Services For Crowdfunding Campaigns?

Yes, you can collaborate with backlink services for crowdfunding to promote your project. These services can help place your links on relevant blogs, news sites, or even on other crowdfunding campaigns, boosting your online presence and supporting your crowdfunding link building strategy.

How Much Should I Budget For Crowdfunding Backlink Building?

The cost can vary depending on your approach. If you’re donating to other campaigns to get backlinks, set a budget based on how much you’re willing to contribute. If you’re using backlink services for crowdfunding, consider their fees, and choose a plan that matches your campaign’s scope and goals, ensuring you get quality crowd links.

What Makes Crowd Link Building Different From Traditional Link Building?

Crowd link building involves gaining backlinks by supporting or creating crowdfunding campaigns. It’s a more organic method as it connects with real projects, unlike traditional methods that focus purely on content marketing or outreach. This makes it effective for link building for fundraising websites and link building for donation platforms, where authenticity matters.