Half Way

22 days left, we're halfway through the IndieGoGo campaign. But there's still a ways to go to reach our goal.

http://www.indiegogo.com/Bringing-Music-Videos-Back-but-with-a-twist?a=290080&i=addr

BETTER PREPERATION

Looking back now— even though I'm only 11 days into this— there are a few things I wish I would have done before to better prepare. I blame the lack of these preparations on the upcoming holidays. I was more worried about the final days of the campaign falling too close to Christmas, and wanted to get the campaign launched ASAP. But now, I think properly preparing, like I knew I should've, would have resulted in a heftier amount of contributions at the beginning (which will help push those people who want to contribute, but are waiting to see if it looks like it will be successful before they do).

So here is what I should have done, before launching the IndieGoGo campaign:

1) Update my email contacts at least 30 days before going live with the campaign. This time frame is important. In fact you may want to get this one ready 60-90 days in advance. And make sure to use Facebook to get all of your family and friends updated emails. I thought I had many of my family's emails already in my contacts, but I was wrong.

2) After updating the email list (again, do this at least 30 days before you go live) send an email to all the email contacts you gathered. Inform your family and friends on what you're doing and when you plan to go live with the campaign. Make sure to ask them for help in raising the contributions and sharing IndieGoGo project.

3) Use FaceBook and Twitter (and whatever else you do) to send the same message you sent in step 2 to those people who you couldn't find an email for.

4) During the next 30 days, send one to two reminders to your contacts about campaign launch. For the people who you emailed the first notice, you may want to Facebook for the second notice. It takes on average 3 to 6 calls-to-action to take effect. And using different media types will up your averages.

5) After launching, call your family and friends to action spreading the word and contributing what they can.

I'm going to publish this post. But I'm going to edit and finish this in the next several days, so you will see changes.

ARTISTIC NATURE

I don't know why, but I always feel funny saying I'm artistic. But I am, most of my family is. I draw, I sketch, and I love photography (and do it as a side gig– after many years of people telling me I should do it professionally). As an artistic person there's times when you have something you just have to sketch or paint. It eats at you like a pack of rats devouring a wheel of cheese. You just have to get it out. Make it physical.

Well, I have never had it as strong as I do with this music video network idea/project. When I can't work on it, it just eats at me. There's times when all I can think about is the code for the website or overcoming an issue with the video server. I HAVE TO make this project come to full physical realization. There's no IFs, ANDs, or BUTs about it. I have to!!!

http://www.indiegogo.com/Bringing-Music-Videos-Back-but-with-a-twist?a=290080&i=addr

TOUGHER THAN YOU THINK

I know it never works this way... but whenever I hear a success story about someone making money on the internet there's a part of me that assumes it's that easy. Get on the internet with a GREAT idea, and make money. But really, I think its more hope I have, that it's that easy. Because I know its harder than that, much harder.

So I thought with some hard work I'd be able to get this GREAT idea funded and off the ground, using crowd funding– IndieGoGo to be exact. So did many others I talked to, especially since I've spent the past 2+ years developing the website, working on the video servers. It turns out, it's even tougher than I thought. And by now– just 10 days into the 45 day campaign– I'm sure my friends and family are tired of seeing my emails asking for there help, or seeing my FaceBook posts about the project. I thought by now I'd have raised 10x what I'm actually at. I'm very grateful for what's been contributed to date. It's just been an eye opener. It's tougher than you think. And takes more work that you might realize.

Help me realize my dream of sharing some AWESOME music videos with everyone, and contribute to my project.

http://www.indiegogo.com/Bringing-Music-Videos-Back-but-with-a-twist?a=290080&i=addr

MUSIC VIDEOS MAKING A COMEBACK

We're launching a music video network. But we need your help to launch it. Please check out our page on IndieGoGo to see how you can help (link below). And share the IndieGoGo link below with your family, friends, facebook-buddies, twitter followers, co-workers and anyone else you interact with.

http://www.indiegogo.com/Bringing-Music-Videos-Back-but-with-a-twist?a=290080&i=addr